Horizon (30 page)

That made sense, too, but it didn’t change how much I missed her. It didn’t change how much I worried about her. “Is Theran working with Valen?”

“I believe so.”

“How much of a problem is that?”

Jett came to my side, pressing his hand against my shoulder. “We need to keep you focused on what matters at the moment.”

I shook my head at him. “What does matter at
this
moment?”

Jett merely shrugged. “Until we have the Order under control we cannot hope to find a resolution to your situation or your brother’s. If we don’t make a decision soon, we may not get to decide anything.”

Taylor peeked his dark head into the room bringing his fresh scent with him. It was like my mind just had the benefit of a spring breeze blowing through. “My lady, we have need of you.”

I gave Jett a nod and followed Taylor. His body held a visible tension. I’d heard bits and pieces of conversation from the other room, but I could have never prepared myself for the scene that greeted me.

Luke hunched over a large table covered with maps. When he ran his finger over an area in the far corner, Creed shook his head, tapping a different spot a couple times. “Here,” he said. “High ground has always been the preferred position.”

Luke grunted. “That’s why we can’t use it. He’ll expect it.”

“What are you discussing?” I asked, voice as strong as I could make it.

Creed gave me a hearty smile. “Now we will make some progress.”

“Someone want to get me up to speed?” I asked, ignoring the gnawing rent in my heart for my family. What I really wanted to do was barge in there, guns blazing, but we needed a better plan than that.

Creed spoke first. “A group of my men will work on the shield, the rest of you will gather forces…here.” He pointed at the original spot he’d chosen, the corners of his mouth quirking.

Luke shook his head, but this time he didn’t argue. I felt Heath before he entered the room. His soul seemed to rub up against mine in a caress. I turned, meeting his gaze the minute he walked through the door.

For the tiniest of moments I allowed myself to want him, to throw my love toward him. He gave me a nod of acknowledgement, but that’s all I got.

I couldn’t stand this. He and I were supposed to be together. When Valen and Lambert were out of the way, I was going to make sure everyone knew who my true bondmate was. I cared for Zach, but he’d never be my Heath. It wouldn’t matter if five centuries passed. I would always love Heath. That love may not have been enough to convince the elements, but it was all that mattered to me.

I made myself look away from him, concentrating instead on the diagram in front of me. Zach came in a few minutes later with a few men and women in tow. All in all we had maybe fifteen dark fae to sort out taking down the shield while the rest of us waited at the border to attack.

We waited in the woods just outside the sanctuary perimeter. For all I knew we could have been somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Bright green moss covered nearly every surface and the brisk air carried the scent of pine and wet leaves. My lungs greedily expanded, taking in every ounce of oxygen they could get.

If air could be pure in this world, I had no doubt this would be the place to find it. Despite my tranquil surroundings, I paced a line between two trees. Jett watched me, shaking his head a few times. He’d already told me to calm down, but my blood pressure didn’t seem to want to obey his command.

The lords were unusually quiet, which didn’t exactly give me much confidence. We had so much riding on one simple mission. If Creed failed, I had no idea what we’d do.

Ainessa had been gone way too long for my liking and I worried that she was ratting us out to Lambert, or worse, to Valen right now. Gibbit still hadn’t shown which didn’t give me any comfort.

Zach had tried to console me several times, but the truth was I needed Heath. He hadn’t said more than two words to me and his input about the mission had been minimal. It was like he was holding back for some reason, and I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him.

If I had to guess I’d say pride was involved. He’d been bested by Levi of all people. Back in Ignis when he’d first tried to compel me he’d gotten me to do simple things while I was able to swat away every attempt Levi made. It didn’t really matter that Levi had taken his one chance to win against Heath. Everyone fell under Valen’s sword. It wouldn’t matter if the four remaining lords went up against him. They’d lose. He wasn’t exactly playing fair. Even after she’d abandoned us, I wanted to talk to Tabitha.

I still couldn’t get Jett’s story about Braesal out of my head. If that story was true, Valen was probably the underlord that had made a mess of things. What was really weird was no one could seem to see the obvious connections I had formed. Tabitha—the girl. Creed—Braesal. The underlord—Valen. It was like their minds were blocked or something.

Man I was stupid. I’d had Creed here with me for hours and hadn’t asked him the one question that might give me the upper hand. If I could find out Valen’s true name, I might be able to compel him. Styx had warned me that compulsion went both ways, but I still didn’t really know what he meant by that.

It had already taken half an hour longer than it should have for Creed to get back here. Chances were they’d been discovered. We were all risking so much to save my family, but no one had complained.

I wandered over to Zach, taking in his rounded shoulders and permanent frown. Something was wrong. When I sought a mental link it rebounded back toward me. I didn’t want to draw too much attention toward us, so I made my approach as casual as I could manage.

“Hey,” I said.

He gave me a knowing glance. “Hey yourself.”

“Worried?” I asked when he didn’t say anything else.

His beautiful eyes found mine and that’s when I realized his sulky attitude had more to do with my inner resolve than the impending battle. My heart gave a little at that moment. I felt like I was on a seesaw. One minute I was up and all I could think about was Heath and getting him back then the next I was down and all that mattered was the bond I had with Zach.

Conflicted emotions swirled side by side through me. What could I say to him? Sorry for leading you on, but once I’m safe to do it I’m outta here. Even if I tried to slather this with sugar, it would still be me dumping him. Again.

I reached out and clasped his hand. The moment our skin touched electricity shot through me. It ricocheted from place to place until it found my source. I stiffened when my mind succumbed to a memory that wasn’t my own.

I stare at delicate hands placed in my lap. I’m seated at a table in front of a window that overlooks a garden. Despite my calm demeanor sweat drips down my back in rivulets while my heart pounds out an anthem.

No—
this
is not me. I have to remember that.

Faine’s foot taps against the wood floor, creating a rhythm to match her heartbeat. She sucks in a deep breath, and suddenly, I’m connected to her mind, her thoughts.

She’s not sure this will work. She’s risking so much but if it works it will be worth it.

Now if I could only figure out what
it
was.

Her mind flits over the details, and I want to stiffen but this isn’t my body. I’m not in the driver’s seat. She is, and it’s like she knows I’m here.

A man enters the room, his effect washing over her. He’s tried for centuries to compel her into wanting him. She’s taken the challenge with a determination to win, a determination that has withered through the years. If she doesn’t do something soon, she could lose everything she loves.

Ammon waits for her outside, oblivious to the machinations of the evil man in front of her. He should be a trusted friend. He should be like a brother to her bondmate, but this man is brother to no one. His charming demeanor has nearly disarmed her several times, but she always sees through to his rancid core. Her gift and her curse. She can see the heart of everyone.

Valen smiles at her, but he doesn’t look the same. I don’t know how I know it is the same man, but I do. His face is completely different, except for the eyes. Suddenly I realize it’s how he makes her feel. I’ve felt the feeling too many times to mistake him for anyone else despite his appearance.

Wearing full glamour, he shines like the sun at noonday. His long brown hair brushes past his shoulders, and his velvet blue eyes caress her. She stiffens as she always does when he’s near. Despite his promises, he’s always made her nervous and never in a good way.

Ammon is her protector, her life, and this man wants to take her from him. She will do anything to keep that from happening, including sacrificing a girl she knows nothing about. Her daughter generations removed.

Me.

Faine reminds herself that her actions cannot affect my decisions. She can’t bind me to a man. Only I can do that.

My body shakes in tremors, threatening to expel me from this dream.

My mind detaches from hers momentarily. She could have given me anything and this was the memory she sent with her gift. Zach’s deep voice called out for me, beckoning me back to my own time and place. I shoved that voice to the surface. I was staying deep.

The tremor moved from my stomach to my head, shaking my foundations. Willing all my strength, I commanded my body to still. I disconnected from feeling and space, relying on my mind to keep me grounded.

If she was about to tell me the secret to choosing the man I wanted, no force from heaven or hell would move me.

Valen steps closer, entombing her limbs with his stare. His satin voice slithers over her senses. “Have you made a decision, my lovely Faine?”

Every word he utters is like an ice pick to her resolve. She closes her eyes against the terrible sight of him. Ignoring the warmth of his fingers as he caresses her cheek, she imagines her Ammon standing near whispering the promises of future love.

Her eyes spring open. She steps back and takes a seat on the lounge.

A dark chuckle follows her, but Valen stays put. His smile widens as if taunting her.

“I have,” she says, crossing her ankles. “I agree to your terms.”

He sits next to her and grasps her hand. She detests his touch, but part of her, a secret, dark part, purrs because of it. His compulsion is like a tidal wave crashing against her, over and over again, wearing down her defenses.

He reaches out; his touch feathers along her jaw-line. “Such a shame,” he says. “I could have shown you true pleasure.”

She stands and glides to the doorway without a backward glance. With trembling fingers she reaches for the handle.

“Oh, and Faine?” he says, halting her mid step. “She will know you have done this.”

What? I screamed inside. What will I know?

Someone called my name, pulling me toward the surface of consciousness. I had to stay. I had to find out what deal she made with Valen. What kind of memory was this? How was this helpful at all? I fought to stay under, to ignore the call of my bondmate, but I couldn’t hold it. Zach’s pull was too strong.

I rose upward, gasping a breath when my eyes shot open. Zach’s mouth slanted against mine. His kiss seared a shock straight to my heart, and I gasped for the breath he’d stolen from me.

He drew back, his eyes scanning every inch of my face. “Oh, thank God,” he said, his fingers tracing my hairline. “I couldn’t rouse you, love.”

“I know,” I said. “I wanted it that way.”

His eyes sharpened, along with his words. “I know. I was there.”

An instant frown captured my lips. “You remember from your life before me or you relived the memory through my mind?”

His cringe was barely noticeable, but I caught it. “Your defenses were down. I had no idea what was happening. I had to find out.”

I nodded. “What do you think of your Faine now? She sold me out, but I couldn’t hang around long enough to find out the details because of you. Care to tell me why you brought me up when you know how important this information could be?”

“It was a trap, Rayla. It was their agreement, not mine. When I realized what was happening I tried to warn you, but you were too immersed into the memory. My only recourse was to use physical contact.”

Heat rose up my neck from the memory of that physical contact. Something shifted in his expression I couldn’t name, maybe remorse. “What is it,” I asked.

“Don’t think badly of her. She was young.”

“So am I,” I nearly growled. “She had no right to trade her happiness for mine.”

“I can make you happy,” he said. “If you’ll let me. You continue to deny our bond. Why? Why do you discount what we have for something inferior?”

He wouldn’t ever convince me that my love for Heath was inferior to anything. I didn’t understand why he was the one I bonded with, but I had to believe I could change it. I had to believe I had hope.

Inner musings aside, I was grateful for Zach’s protection. I smiled at him. “Like you said before, we’ll sort it out later.”

“You bet you will,” said Jett from over my shoulder. The terror in his voice made me bolt upright. “Because right now we have company.”

I saw them before I heard them. A wall of men rushed at us in a soundless parade—most likely Order soldiers come to dispatch us. I scrabbled to my feet, calling the elements to the surface, and just as surprised when they obeyed me. I thanked the heavens, my power was back. I just hoped it would stay.

This was so odd. Why would the Order attack when they knew we had our powers still? My arms glowed with white light. Zach stood beside me, his body lit by a purple haze. All of us stood steady waiting for a battle none of us wanted to wage.

At least I didn’t. The men surrounding me had bloodlust in their eyes.

When the mass of blurred bodies solidified into recognizable men, I gasped. Travis led the attack. He’d grown into a muscled mass of a man carrying a gigantic broadsword in front of him.

I might have thought he was another person entirely, but no one could mistake his bright blond hair and his nearly black eyes.

Anger rose up my throat and a wail came out of me that blocked out all other sound. My eyes narrowed in on my brother. This couldn’t be happening.