Rise of the Shadow Warriors (22 page)

“They…he…he said you were dead.”

Argan smoothed the hair back from her forehead. Lines of strain bracketed her full lips. Her face was pale and her body trembled in his arms. The use of her power at this level drained her. “We will speak of it later but you must end this before you harm yourself and other innocent lives.”

She nodded and her hands clenched on his shoulders. When she closed her eyes, Argan stiffened for fear he’d lost her again but the sounds of battle faded and the howling cries of the shadows ceased. Dark ropes snapped around her forming a funnel. A cooling breeze trailed over him as they past before fading into her chest. When silence filled the air, Shaina collapsed. His heart leaped in his chest but Argan managed to catch her. With utmost care he gently gathered her into his arms, her slight weight sending a bolt of fear through him. A quick glance around revealed only the wounded Olak’din standing alongside the out of breath Warlords who had surrounded Vaan. His fellow Warlords formed a protective circle around the Overlord, which Argan knew would frustrate his friend. He glanced back down to the woman in his arms.

Thank the Blessed One he had her.

Chapter 27

“My apologies for arriving late, Argan.” His Overlord’s brows pinched tight as he offered his regret. Sweat-soaked hair was smoothed back on his head and there was no missing his anger and frustration.

Argan shook his head in immediate denial. “If not for your timely arrival Bjorn would have sent me to the Blessed One.”

Vaan had brought ten Warlords with him. It pleased Argan to note only minor bruises and cuts among them. His brethren would survive and for that he was ever grateful. The odds in the clearing had been against them. The Aerilians had led the Gornan to the meeting. Mindless creatures at best, the attack was perfectly planned and would have succeeded if not for Shaina.

Shaking and trembling, she’d ignored Argan’s desire for her to rest while he took care of the traitorous Ivak. Acceding to her had not been easy but then she’d said the one thing guaranteed to change his mind. “I’m Shadow Queen, husband.”

Alin, who’d been severely injured by a Gornan club, rested with a healer keeping watch while he slept. The healer believed he’d mend but at a slower pace.

Now Argan, Vaan and the Warlords gathered in one of the main caverns and Shaina wasted no time having Ivak summoned. Moments later, Justan and Luka entered with the calm warrior between them. White bandages covered Justan’s left forearm while Luka had a smaller one over his right temple. Ivak surveyed the occupants in the room, smirking all the while. Fesin and Ogar who’d been called to witness looked on with sadness in their gazes.

“You almost destroyed us, Ivak,” Shaina announced.

Argan settled for a position in full view and leaned against the back wall, eyes never leaving the man who’d worked against his own people yet close enough to aid his bride should she need him. Luka and Justan never loosened their grip while Ivak faced Shaina’s judgment.

“Do you have anything to say on your behalf?” Shaina continued.

The elder warrior lifted his head high. “I don’t need to defend my actions.”

Argan snorted in disbelief. This hapfe dung had almost gotten Shaina and her warriors killed. People he claimed to care for.

“It saddens me to know a warrior my father called friend has turned against the Olak’din.” Shaina pushed at the hair tumbling about her shoulders. Blood and dirt covered her since neither of them had a chance to clean or change.

“Your father was a good King. He knew what the Olak’din needed to survive. You’re wishes of alliances are grand talk to allow you to bring a stranger among us.” Ivak practically spit out the slew of words.

“You have no remorse.” Shaina said it as if truly puzzled.

“Remorse? For wanting our race to continue as we were? No, I don’t regret that.”

Ivak truly believed his words and a small part of Argan pitied him but then he remembered how his bride had looked with eyes of empty silver as she prepared to destroy everyone in her efforts to fight back. Ivak didn’t deserve pity.

Shaina tipped her head down. Argan straightened, about to go to her when she lifted her head and black strands swirled among the silver orbs. “I sentence you to death, Ivak.”

Finally realizing the seriousness of his situation, Ivak jerked against the arms that held him. He turned toward the two elders present, beseeching them. “You’ll let her take us down this dangerous path?”

Ogar stood spine straight. “What you did was far more dangerous, Ivak. Everyone in the caverns felt our Queen rip the fabric between this world and the one of shadows. She did that because you endangered all of us. The Gornan would have continued their rampage, killing all of us if the Aerilians had helped to defeat her. No one would have survived.”

Ivak gazed toward Fesin in desperation but the elder warrior turned his back on Ivak.

“I should have been King,” Ivak exploded. “The title should not have gone to a mere child.”

No one responded to his wild claim.

“Fine.” Ivak’s mouth curled in the corner. “No challenge, my Queen?”

Argan jerked away from the wall, the protest already on his lips when Shaina’s shoulders braced. The strain of the day was clearly defined on her face but she squared off with Ivak. Vaan and the others closed in tighter, casting disgruntled looks at one another for Ivak’s temerity.

“You want to challenge me, now?”

Argan came to stand behind Shaina in silent support, hands at her shoulders. Despite her calm façade her muscles locked tight beneath his touch, every inch of her body vibrating with restrained violence. Argan squeezed gently, relieved when she exhaled and eased back bringing her against his front.

Ivak’s smile turned smug. Shaina directed her next comment to Justan and Luka. “Let him go.”

They looked to him for confirmation seeing what Argan saw. She was worn out. Argan wanted to refuse. The thought of watching Shaina fight another battle when exhaustion bore heavily upon her was difficult to accept. His bride elbowed him hard in the mid-section and Argan found his first real smile since his terror of earlier. He leaned in close and whispered, “Have a care with what belongs to me, bride.”

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled, relaxing Argan further as he moved away to allow her to be Queen and not just his bride. The young Olak’din warriors released Ivak.

The older warrior stretched his arms out, palms open. Small spheres appeared filled with swirling bundles of gray. The grin that stretched his face filled with triumph. “I will rule the Shadow Warriors.”

“I’ve bested you before, Ivak.” Shaina stated the fact calmly.

“Not this time!” Ivak threw the balls her way but Shaina raised her hands and they hovered in the air before dissolving.

Ivak created another and another, slinging them at Shaina one after the other. Rage lit his face in his desperate efforts.

Shaina flicked away the shadows before they fully formed then pointed a single finger at him and shadows erupted from the tip to consume the elder warrior. Ivak screamed, arms covering his head and vanished in a blink, swallowed by the dark powers Shaina wielded so effortlessly.

Argan winced at the evidence of his bride’s power though satisfaction coursed through him at Ivak’s death. Shaina stumbled back and Argan rushed to her side. “Now you will rest,” he ordered.

She smiled, her lips quivering at the edges and closed her eyes. “Now, I will rest.”

Epilogue

It had taken him weeks. More time than such a project should have warranted but there were valid reasons for the delay. One because his bride could smell a secret from a distance and two because he had to do the work away from the caverns and Argan didn’t like to be away from Shaina for long periods of time. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be over the worry and fear that she’d be taken away from him.

Her silence now bothered him and compelled Argan to speak first. “I know it is not as good as your father’s but I hoped it would ease your pain a little.”

Shaina continued to stare at his gift, making Argan nervous. Perhaps his idea had been a bad one. He’d force Justan to spar with him later for agreeing that Shaina would like it. The warrior probably hoped Argan would fail.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered running her hands along the edges of the blond and brown headboard, which had taken him months to carve.

She traced the swirling design in the middle and Argan’s cheeks heated. Shaina faced him, eyes wide. “You used Olak’din letters?”

He nodded at that bit of foolishness. Justan had to help him copy the letters precisely in order to get it right.

His bride wiped at the tears on her face and asked, “Where’s my name?”

Argan ran a hand over his shoulder length hair. Shaina insisted he grow it back. The letters on the bed spelled out his name only. He’d thought long over what he wanted and the possessive Warlord in him liked that she’d sleep in a bed bearing his name. “I can add your name.”

Shaina’s eyes danced and her mouth curved in a familiar smile. “But you don’t want to.”

Argan took the easy response. “If you ask, I will do anything for you, Shaina.”

She touched the headboard with the tarka wolves and geili birds carved around the edges one last time and straightened. When she neared Argan, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “The only thing I need you to do is love me.”

He did and would never stop. Argan enfolded Shaina in his embrace. “I love you, bride.”

Behind her back, streams of gray swirled around his fingers. Argan curled his right hand into a fist, dispelling the wisps. He’d ask her about the shadows later.

 Author’s Note

Hello Readers,

As always I have to thank Beth and Sally for their amazing help on keeping me on track. Shout out to Carol at Bella Media for fine tuning my rambles. I appreciate everything you do, ladies!

Well, here we are. Another Warlord book comes to an end. I must admit to having a lot of fun writing Argan’s story. I started a few months ago when the idea first came to me but had to set it aside to do the other books ahead of it. Finally, I got to go back to the Kabanian Warlords. I re-read Honor Bound to make sure I captured Argan’s personality but he’d grown so much. The Overlord’s Heir is where you really see the shift in his personality and I knew he could accept a heroine who would fight beside her hero..um…Warlord. LOL.

I enjoyed Shaina’s character too and loved that in spite of being responsible for her people and with a battle brewing, she still had a fun side. (One that she used to tease Argan quite a bit) While Honor Bound-Book 1 was originally written to be a stand alone, I’m glad for the demands of more because it gives me a chance to see what I can come up with next.

For all of you who’ve emailed me or written lovely words to share your joy of the series, I’m also releasing another Warlord novella. There won’t be a long wait either. It features Vaan and Mikayla but also another Warlord who will have his heart taken by a woman who’s perfect for him. The novella titled, A Warlord’s Heart, will release in April if I can get cover and editing done in time so keep your eyes out. I’ve even included an excerpt if you keep scrolling.

Lastly my novella Mating Urge from the Love Without Boundaries anthology will also be released as a solo read the first week of April. If you haven’t had a chance to read this story it has the first appearance of my Jutak warriors from Torkel’s Chosen.

Many thanks and happy reading,

Michelle

Books by Michelle

* Honor Bound (Book 1 Warlord Series)

* The Overlord’s Heir (Book 1.5 Warlord Series)

* A King’s Revenge (Book 2 Warlord Series)

* Rise of the Shadow Warriors (Book 3 Warlord Series)

* Project Genesis (Alpha Squad)

* No Reason to Run (A Harmony Novel)

* Mating Urge (novella)

* Torkel’s Chosen (A World Beyond Book 1)

Coming Spring 2015

Arak’s story (A World Beyond Book 2)

A Warlord’s Heart (Book 3.5 Warlord series)

A Warlord’s Heart
(unedited excerpt)

“Vaan, you can’t change my mind,” Miki warned as her mate trailed kisses up the sensitive curve of her neck.

“I but seek to warm you,” he murmured.

Miki held back a smile at the blatant lie. His hands curved around her hips, tugging her close. The evidence of his arousal prodded her thigh.

“I’m very warm.”

“Mmm. You are now.” The whisper teased her ear as he straightened and tucked her hair behind the lobe.

Midnight eyes gazed down at her. “You are insistent on leaving yes?”

Miki stroked her hand over the length of his braid. “It’s important that I meet with the neighboring Su-Su. A lot of changes have occurred and we’ve relied on their trust because of what happened with Thenl. Now I wish to meet with them and listen to their concerns and desires.”

His lips twisted as his hands slid from her waist and he stepped away. “Why you? I could speak with them.”

Miki snorted. “You frighten them.”

In fact no Raasa would dare gainsay the Overlord. His defeat of Thenl acted as a double edged sword. They feared him and were grateful to him. It was why Miki knew she had to be the one to conduct the visits and confirm that the treaty with Kaban, Raasa and Desani had no negative repercussions.

“If they are frightened then they are weak,” he declared.

Miki rolled her eyes and walked toward the last of the bags she’d packed before Vaan interrupted her. “They’re not weak. They’re Raasa. As am I. Do you think I’m weak?”

Vaan didn’t answer. Miki glanced over her shoulder. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, a dark frown aimed her way.

“Vaan?”

He released a frustrated sound. “You know my answer in this. If not for your courage, she’ma, my Warlords and I would be asleep in a dark cave my vengeance unknown.”

She eased the heavy luggage to the floor. “You do know calling your mate a weed is not sensitive or sweet.”

“Good as I am neither,” he countered, coming over to take the bag from her. “What of our youngling?”

He followed her out the door and to the lower level of their home, muttering all the way down the stairs. Miki sighed. She knew her decision to travel without him would meet with resistance but it needed to be done. If she took Vaan along he’d intimidate everyone with his presence alone.

Miki hurried down the steps. Excitement rolled through her at this opportunity.

“Slow down or you will land on your head and I will not be pleased, Mikayla.”

Miki ignored Vaan’s growl and met Balal and Kavan at the bottom. Each Warlord held one of her daughters. Her heart melted at the sight of the tough warriors, hands calloused by swords cupping the youngling by the head and the butt. It took a while but now all of Vaan’s Warlords were comfortable carrying the girls if needed.

“Is Hapani ready?”

It was Kavan who answered. “Yes, my lady.”

Miki ran a hand through Erana’s black curls. The silky length reached her shoulders. They grew quickly. Erana bounced in Kavan’s arms her diamond shaped green eyes glowing with happiness.

“Mikayla,” Vaan snapped reaching her side. The bag he carried thumped on the floor loudly. “If I allow you this trip you will take several of my men with you.”

Perfect. She smiled and leaned over Balal to kiss a drowsy Arane who blinked in her direction and yawned. Tiny fangs flashed before she closed her mouth and snuggled securely in the arms around her.

“I agree, Vaan. You can send someone with me.”

His arm lashed around her waist as he pulled her to his side. “Not one. Kavan, Marek, Eatan and Carog will accompany you.”

That was four. Mikayla could imagine the reaction she’d receive with such a large Kaban escort.