Fervor (The Fervor Chronicles Book 1) (23 page)

The big blond grabbed her by the arm, not bothering to untie her hands.

So the one with the killer dimples and blond hair was Fisk? Maybe she could make him understand. “Listen to me. I can fix this—” Caprice tugged as he grabbed her by the arm.

The First and Cameo ran through the Bicullis next, followed by ten or so women with those deadly wooden sticks. In a few more seconds the darts were going to start flying and they’d all be in trouble.

“Holy hells…
look at
her.”
Fisk sounded awed. His eyes were firmly fixed on the approaching women, one woman in particular. “I have never seen hair the color of the sun.”

“Let me go! I have to get to Arun.” No answer came; Fisk’s eyes were too busy tracking his mystery woman, so she tried to get his attention. “I can help you with the Bicullis; I read your father’s journal.”

His eyes snapped back to hers at the mention of his father. “If you want to talk Bicullis, you’re barking up the wrong brother. I don’t care where it leads us, as long as it’s away from here. Can’t be any worse than a volcano, right?”

You won’t say that after you meet my father.

As Fisk dragged her along, Caprice had a better view of the lake of lava that inched toward a city. No, not a city, a
kingdom
, made of white marble and flowing gold. The opulence alone made her gasp. It was beautiful, a treasure, and it was about to be decimated.

“So you are
deliberately
ignorant. Perfect!” To think she’d wasted her time trying to reason with this ice-block. The decision was made. She didn’t like him,
not one bit.
She dug in her heels; he never slowed, didn’t even seem to notice. She searched around and saw not a drop of water in this cursed place. Approaching a colorful tent, he drew back the material.

“No time to talk, I’ve got a date to make with a luscious redhead.”

“Get me back to Arun, right now.”

“No can do.”

“Listen to me, you stupid snow-ape. If he dies, it will be your fault. Are you prepared for that? Or is his death what you’ve been after all along? From what I read, you are next in line to the throne.” The ice was back, if only in her tone. She spoke to him as if he were the Pre-Dom, hoping to cut quick, trying to find a weakness.

He released her arm. In seconds, his ruggedly handsome face held fury, the dimples having vanished. “Now who said anything about my brother dying?” His voice was whisper soft, deadly intent dripping from each word.

“He has been drugged, multiple times. He is also battling the
fervor
and trying to kill my blood thirsty family. What do you think that means. Of course, he is in danger of dying.”

As he opened his mouth to answer, his legs went out from under him. Shadows swirled, delivering kicks, slaps, but nothing lethal. Springing to his feet, Fisk grabbed his sword and swung in a wild circle. “What the …?”

The women warriors had found their target.
Thank the gods!

“Don’t kill him! Just keep him busy!” she called out to the Hamazakaran as she sprinted back toward Arun. “Fisk? I have decided I do not like you in the least, so I shouldn’t waste my breath with a warning,
but
I will tell you this: the shadow warriors beating you to a pulp are
women,
and they are all sisters to the beautiful redhead you want to get to know.”

He bellowed, but he was too preoccupied to stop Caprice, blocking shoves and kicks, mostly aimed at his crotch.

Caprice’s strength seeped quickly, her body not able to endure this exposure to the heat. She may be half Hamazakaran, but she was also Glissante, needing the frigid cold. It was part of who she was, and now she was dying here, drained slowly of strength.

Caprice passed the groups of people that milled nervously, watching the progression of fiery lava. More warrior women, these in plain sight, circled the long expanse of rocky sand that lay between the people and the portal. Smack in the middle of the melee stood the three brothers, two standing with swords, and Arun with nothing but his bare palms.

Even in pain, he looks magnificent.
Stumbling toward him, ready to take down Brant and Ives if she had to, Caprice approached from behind. The First materialized by her side. “Are you all right, niece?”

“The name’s Caprice. Why did you shoot him again?”

“He tried to destroy our sacred meeting place.”

“I
know
that, but he thought you
kidnapped
me. How long does he have?”

“Rest easy, niece. We administered the same sleep potion as before.”

Thank the gods.

“But I must admit, he may still perish. Being hit with two doses so close together, it’s unheard of. He should still be asleep from the initial dart.” The wizened warrior’s eyes tracked the surrounding area. Caprice knew her aunt could pinpoint the exact location of each of the Hamazakaran.

“I told you I needed a little time to explain.” They slowed now, because Caprice could no longer run, she didn’t have the strength.

“Yes, but you did not say he would bind you before you had a chance to explain. Do you truly want this man? Do you want to have a mate who imposes his will upon you, a mate lacking in self control?” Grabbing a small knife from her thigh, her aunt cut the binds around her wrists.

I get to choose?
Since when? “I haven’t chosen anything. I am a slave to my past, my father, the Glissante… I’ve never lived with choices. So far I’ve just tried to survive.” She rested her palm against her forehead, the heat muddling her brain.
Have to get to Arun.

“I will simplify things for you. You choose him or not. Nothing is more important than that one decision. We act depending on your choice. Another member of my family will not be taken against her will.” Falling back, RyAhn joined the rest of the warrior’s circling the men.

“Arun.” She stated simply, ready to drop. He looked like a madman, glowing so bright a white she thought he might explode. He wouldn’t release the energy that pounded through him because it kept him alive, the only antidote to the poison flowing through his veins. But at what cost? He stood to the side of his brothers, his hands flung out, his head dropping forward against his chest.

The other two circled in front of Arun, swords in hand. “Stay back, lady. What the hell did you do to him? He’s as bright as a torch! You’re not getting near him.” Brant looked around, watching his people, the women, and the Bicullis. Ives stood stock still, his eyes never leaving Caprice.

If I don’t act now, Arun will hurt himself or one of the women that have come through the Bicullis to help me.
“Cameo!” Caprice shouted across the sand. “Could you do me a favor and sing these two a nice lullaby? But
don’t hurt them.”

“Sure thing, where do you want them?” Cameo pulled down the leather straps that held her lush breasts in place, causing the men’s eyes to bulge out of their sockets. Caprice heard Fisk roar in the background.

“Is there any way you can do that
with
your clothes on?”

“Of course I can, but where’s the fun in that? All right, all right. You don’t look so good right now, Icy. I won’t argue. But remember, you asked for this. I’d better not get a water slap.” Lifting her hands, she sang into the heavens the most gorgeous melody Caprice ever heard. Focusing in on the brothers, Cameo ran her hands across her stomach, as if the sound of her own voice excited her.

The song was lilting, delicate, promising peace and tranquility, safety.
Walk away…walk away from your brother…
Shaking her head, Caprice realized the power of Cameo’s voice had started to work on her. The pull was nothing compared to what it did to the men, but it was still strong. The look in Ives’s eyes as he was forced to walk away from Arun almost broke her heart. He looked as if he’d suffered much and valued control. “I’m sorry, Ives. Please trust I would never hurt your brother—
Arun
, that is. Fisk, on the other hand, is an arrogant fool.”

The path to Arun was clear; he looked lost, almost unconscious with his eyes open. The glow increased, and he rose off the ground.

Dear gods, he’s levitating
. Oblivious to everything and everyone, he dangled in the air. She approached, but he didn’t look down and didn’t acknowledge her. She felt terrified by what he was experiencing, but she also felt… furious, and hot,
extremely hot
and really frustrated. Plus tired. She missed his attention and she wanted him focused on her. “Arun, look at me.”

No answer. He rose higher.

“Arun, I can’t take this anymore! I… I
hurt
. I need you.” Her voice broke, speaking the truth. Wobbling on her feet, she wondered how long she would remain standing.

His body jerked as he looked down, his eyes glowing neon white. Blinking once, then twice, he focused in on her face. “I can see you.” His deep voice sounded eerie, booming with a soft echo at the end of each word. “Just your outline, but even that is so beautiful. Won’t be able to fight much longer. It’s too much, too strong.”

“Arun.”
Her voice caught on a sob, she felt him pulling away from her.

“Don’t—Don’t cry.
Please.”
A wave of current jumped and lanced his body, making him undulate and shout out in pain. He looked like a marionette on strings. “Don’t understand… It’s… something… wrong. I want—”

She watched helplessly as he floated above her, fighting the agony yet using the energy to combat the poison within him. The heat made her sway, but she remained standing, hardly acknowledging the battles surrounding them.

“So much… have to say. Want to tell you—” He roared as sparks of lightning flew from his skin.

“Tell me later, when you feel better.” A peace fell over her, because as he faded, she matched him. Was she ready to just give up? Float away? “Do you trust me?”

“With everything I have, Caprice.
Everything.”

“Good.” Reaching forward, she registered his shout of
NO
as if from a distance. She geared up the last of her strength, her courage, and grabbed his ankle. He descended, light as down feathers. His energy instantly coursed through her, a living current made up of smells, feelings, tastes. Arun’s essence.

Then came the pain.

Her skin lit up, radiating heat and … electricity. The live wire shot through her, down her arms, invading every inch of her, jolting her heart, stopping it, then restarting it again in another burst of power. Throbbing pain surrounded her, but she shared it with Arun, understanding his suffering.

Trapped in a current, she wondered if the world could see them, hear them. He reached down, pulling her up and wrapped his arms around her as they floated together, feet from the ground. “You shouldn’t have done it, Princess. I can’t control it. I might die, and now you will share my fate.”

“That’s why you have to fight for us. There’s so much you still don’t know about your father, the journal… The things I read were wondrous.”

Another wave crested and broke within them, swelling and swelling until they both cried out, undulating in space.

“You will not die, because this power you posses is a gift from your mother.”

“I have no—” Arun said.

“Shhh, my love. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to speak. She was Faradician, able to control the lightning in the sky. Your father used the Bicullis to find the most powerful women on our planet, and fathered children with them. And there are more…”

“More?”

“He only brought back you four. I don’t know—” Her teeth clenched as another jolt speared her heart, but she continued, “I don’t know why he chose you, why he never brought the girls.”

“Sisters? I have sisters? But… the power, it’s…” A surge of white light shot out from him and pierced her skull as it flew through her and into the sky above them.

A gasp went through the crowd, alerting Caprice to the audience. The whole kingdom, the Hamazakaran, everyone, had stopped mid-fight, stunned into inactivity, listening to her story. But Caprice only focused on Arun and breathing. One ragged inhale at a time. “This
power
is a natural part of you; you need only learn to accept it. The gift manifests with the
fervor.
This is supposed to happen. And it is the reason the power has never harmed me. The pain we’re feeling right now is because of the poison from the darts. I think the
fervor
is burning away the effects, but you have to accept this. You have so much to live for, so many people who need you.
I
need you.”

“Caprice, I can’t—”

“You
can.
Make peace with this. Find a way to accept your gift. I trust you.” Her head flopped forward, landing in the crook between his neck and shoulder. She took a deep breath, dragging in a lungful of his musky scent. He smelled so… right. She didn’t have the strength to lift her head. “Would you… Would you kiss me? I love the feel of your lips.”

“Gods
yes.”
The stubble on his cheek scraped against her cheek, making her forget the pain for a few seconds. His large hand cupped her neck. The tiny shock of his lips touched her deeply. She felt grateful her last minutes would be in his arms.

“Now, let me go.”

“No!” His voice boomed, and his arms tightened around her.

“There is no more I can do. It’s up to you. Let go.
Now.”
Her voice held no emotion except resolve.

“Let her go. I will catch her.” The First was below them, her expression as determined as ever.

“She will aid me. She is my aunt. I am one of these women. You’re not the only one who has learned of new family today. My father also travelled through the Bicullis. The results were the same, but his methods were far more sinister.”

“Don’t want to let you go. Never—
Never
want to let you go.” He roared to the heavens, but he listened. His arms loosened. As his hands pulled away, she dropped to the ground, her body convulsing as she separated from the power surrounding Arun.

Her aunt caught her, dropping to her knees from the weight.

“No, don’t touch me. Might not be safe.”

“Shh, I do not fear you.” RyAhn’s hands roamed her hair, her face. “Niece, what is this? What is happening?”