Soren's Bondmate (28 page)

"Rolf, you'll lead. I'll follow with Skye behind me and then the rest of you. Pelyn, I want you and your brothers to stay here and guard our six." He conjured krystal for them. "If anyone comes along kill them. Once we get the babies we're going to have to move fast."

Pelyn motioned to his brothers and the three of them disappeared back into the canyon.

Rolf nodded to Soren and began climbing. Soren waited half a micro-unit and followed him. One at a time they reached the top and lined up on the ledge.

Soren and Rolf slid over the top and searched the immediate area for guards. When they didn't find any Soren returned to the cliff edge, reached down and pulled Skye up next to him. The other three warriors joined them.

"Davyn, I want the four of you to stay here and keep the area clear of raiders," Soren said. He didn't wait for their agreement as he knew they'd follow his orders.

He pulled Skye close and placed his lips against her ear. "I sense the babies but I can't tell how close they are to us."

Ahead of them there were two long rows of large tents with a few smaller ones scattered down the center between them.

Rolf began to move toward the row on the left. Skye stepped around Soren and tugged on Rolf's cloak. He turned and looked down at her.

"Go to the right so the moon won't throw our shadows on the tent walls."

Rolf smiled then nodded and moved to the area she indicated. They moved passed the first tent taking their time and moving with caution. When they reached the middle of it they paused for a moment. Soren looked at Skye and she shook her head.

Soren signaled Rolf to move on. At the next tent they stopped and waited until Skye shook her head again. When they approached the third tent Skye grabbed Soren's arm. "We're moving farther away from them."

Soren nodded then signaled to Rolf to follow him. They moved between two tents toward the center of the camp with Skye between them.

She pointed toward a smaller tent in the center. "They're in that one."

A guard sat at the entrance to the tent. His chin rested on his chest and he was obviously asleep. Soren looked for more guards and didn't see any.

"Rolf, you stay here and keep watch." He looked at Skye. "I'll take the guard out then we enter the tent together. If there's anyone with them I'll handle them. You concentrate on getting the babies."

Skye nodded. "Let's go."

They waited until the clouds covered the moon again then Soren started across the clearing with Skye one step behind him. When they reached the guard he dealt with him then slid into the opening. Skye followed him.

The babies were asleep on a thick mat with an older female watching over them. She looked up as soon as they entered and began to scream. Soren grabbed her, covered her mouth and knocked her out. He eased her to the ground and tied her up while Skye wrapped Rilyn and Abrianna in a blanket and tucked them beneath her cloak.

Soren moved to the opening and glanced out. "It's clear. Let's go. Don't stop for anything no matter what happens. Get back to the cliff."

"Okay."

They were halfway back to Rolf when he stood up and threw a knife. Soren looked back in time to see a raider fall to the ground. Rolf grinned and beckoned them to move.

Soren led the way with Skye on behind him and Rolf bringing up the rear. They reached Davyn without running into anyone. Soren sent Rolf and Davyn down the ladder with Skye behind them then he and the others followed. They joined the three brothers and began the trek across the canyon floor to the other cliff.

A unit later they'd climbed to the top again and walked halfway back to the cave when Soren conjured a shelter. "We'll rest for fifteen micro-units." He conjured a thick mat for Skye and she sat down and unwrapped the babies.

Rilyn and Abrianna looked up at her and smiled. Skye picked them up and held them while she kissed them over and over again. "Oh, my sweet babies. I've missed you so much."

Soren took Abrianna from her and cradled her in his arms. He kissed her forehead then ran his finger down her downy cheek. She smiled at him and cooed and he spoke softly to her. "I've missed you, baby girl. I wanted to be there to help bring you into the world." His eyes glazed over with tears of sorrow and joy. "I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll always be here for you and I'll always love you."

Skye touched his hand and smiled. "We'll both always be with them."

She scooted around him and leaned her back against his, making the four of them one unit, one family, while she nursed Rilyn. Her son stared up at her the entire time, making her smile. "You knew your father and I would come for you didn't you, Rilyn?"

Rilyn smiled then went back to suckling. After several more micro-units he stopped and Skye handed him to Soren and took Abrianna. She ran her hand over the soft tufts of hair on her head and kissed her cheeks before she held her to her breast. Abrianna latched on and nursed as if she was starving.

Behind her she heard Soren talking softly to Rilyn.

"Hey, son, have you been looking out for your little sister? It's going to take both of us to keep her and your mother safe."

Skye smiled and unwrapped Abrianna. She'd lost weight. She pressed back against Soren. "Soren, unwrap Rilyn. Abrianna is thinner than she was when Arlyn took her. I don't think they've been feeding them."

Soren unwrapped Rilyn and cursed. "He's thin too." He wrapped him up again then lifted him to his shoulder. "I've never wanted to harm a female but I'm going to kill Arlyn."

Skye finished nursing Abrianna. "Can you conjure two pieces of cloth for me? A meter wide and two meters long." He did and she fashioned them into two slings before she smiled at Rolf and beckoned to him. When he joined them she said, "Soren has to be ready to fight with dark krystal so he can't carry Rilyn. Will you?"

Rolf grinned. "I'd be honored to carry and guard your son."

Skye placed the sling around him then took Rilyn from Soren and placed him in it. "Just close your cloak over him and that will protect him." She pulled the second sling around her body and slid Abrianna into it then closed her cloak over her. "Okay, we're ready."

Soren chuckled. "My mate says it's time to move."

Pelyn stood. "My brothers and I will take point."

"My warriors and I will take the rear guard," Davyn said.

"Take two Zarronians in each group. We'll stay in the middle with the babies." Soren waved his hands and the shelter disappeared. Pelyn's group moved out. Soren gave them a five micro-unit lead.

"What are we going to do about Ronin and the unit he's with?" Rolf asked.

"First I'm going to get Skye and the babies back to the cave. Pelyn and his brothers will guard them while we gather the troops and attack the camp. I'm going to make it clear to Taryq and Bellya that I get to deal with Merykh and Arlyn my way."

Soren signaled his warriors to move into position then he held up his hand sending them the signal to wait until the others moved into place. Teryq and his warriors would attack from the east end of the camp while Korbyn's warriors had taken up a position at the west end. His group was in the center, closest to Merykh and Arlyn.

Soren waited five micro-units then gave the signal to attack. The raiders, caught unaware and unprepared, swarmed out of the tents and were cut down.

"Go," Rolf yelled while he swung a sword at an enemy. "We've got this."

Soren nodded and moved toward the tent in the center of the camp. He and Falyn had agreed that the first to reach it would imprison Merykh and Arlyn in dark krystal. Bellya had arrived halfway through the planning meeting and had heard their plans for Merykh and his evil enchantress. She'd agreed to the plan to capture them but he knew she couldn't be trusted.

As he moved forward he threw dark krystal, taking out anyone who got in his way. Finally he reached the tent. Instead of going through the door he sliced an opening in the back, moved inside and stepped to the side. He expected to be ducking a shard of dark krystal. What he found surprised him more—a figure encased in dark krystal.

He searched the tent, suspicious of a trap. When he didn't find anyone else he moved around the figure and recognized Merykh. His face was uncovered and his eyes blazed with anger. A constant stream of curses left his lips.

The sound of the tent flap being opened behind him forced Soren to turn, prepared to defend himself.

Korbyn and his enchantress Falyn entered, saw him, saw Merykh and searched for Arlyn.

"Where is she?" Falyn asked.

"Not here." Soren turned back to Merykh. "Looks like she betrayed him and took off."

Falyn stepped back. "You didn't encase him?"

"No. Why?" Soren asked.

"She could release him at any moment," Falyn said.

Soren turned toward Merykh in time to see the layer of dark krystal disintegrate. He waved his hands and encased him again. "Where's Arlyn?"

"You'll never catch up to her," Merykh said.

Soren laughed. "You're more ignorant than I thought you were. She's left you here as a decoy while she escapes."

"That's not true. She's waiting for me to meet up with her," Merykh said.

"That's not going to happen," Soren said. "I have a long, slow death planned for you. Have you ever heard of the Zylians?"

Merykh's eyes widened and he began to rant. "I'll tell you where I'm supposed to meet her."

Soren shook his head and laughed. "The only thing you're going to do is be food for a Zylian larva." He waved his hand and covered Merykh's face in mid-scream.

The tent flap opened and Rolf joined them. "The raiders are dead. The prisoners have been set free."

"Magnys arrived in time to cover the battle from the south side," Korbyn said. "He reports that the village has been taken and the raiders are dead. Their prisoners have been set free as well."

"I suggest we move away from this camp, make a shelter and get some rest," Soren said. "At sun's rising we can begin moving toward the coast with our prisoner."

"It's only twelve kilometers from here," Korbyn said.

"By now Arlyn might be on a boat to Crimeryn. We'll capture her when we attack them," Soren said. "In the meantime, let's figure out a way to move our prisoner."

# # #

Three units later Soren and Skye rested inside a huge krystal shelter. They each held a baby while they ate and celebrated their victory with the other warriors, enchantresses and conjurers.

Korbyn stood and held up his tankard. "To victory. The peninsula now belongs to us again."

The others joined him in the toast and drank.

Magnys stood and held up his tankard. "To our next battle. Let's take the war to Crimeryn."

The other warriors stood and held up their tankards. "To the next battle."

Skye handed Abrianna to Soren then she and the other enchantresses, conjurers and healers rose. They stood silent for several nano-units then Skye spoke. "You all know what happened to me. The penalty for betrayal of the sisterhood is to be cast out. This cycle our trust was broken again when Arlyn of the Kouncil was warned of our attack. This could only have been done by a traitor among us. By Bellya." She made eye contact with the accused. "Do you deny this?"

"You can't prove any of that." Bellya moved toward Skye until she was only a meter way. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at Skye. "You've always hated me." She turned to the other enchantresses. "How could I have contacted my mother? How could I have betrayed you?"

"You're the only one who knew what Soren said to me in the tavern when he regained his memory," Skye said. "Do you deny that you heard what he said to me?"

"No, I don't deny it." Bellya moved closer to Skye, an arrogant look on her face. "You claimed him without his full consent. You don’t deserve to have him."

Skye moved toward her until they were almost nose to nose. "There were only five people present at the planning meeting for the attack on the raider camp. You were one of them."

"That doesn't make me guilty," Bellya said. "Maybe Falyn betrayed us. Or, her mate."

Teryq stepped up behind Bellya. "That's enough, Bellya. I've suspected for a long time that you've been spying on us for mother and now I'm sure of it."

Belly spun around, planted her hands on his chest and pushed him away. "You, too?" She looked around then stuck her chin in the air. "You'll be sorry. All of you."

"You are cast out," Skye said. "You may live near us for your own safety but none in the sisterhood will acknowledge your existence."

"Farg off." Bellya shoved people out of her way as she crossed the shelter and left without looking back.

They watched her walk away until she disappeared into a large clump of bushes.

Skye sat down, took Rilyn from Soren and hid her face against him while she cried.

Soren pulled her close. "It had to be done."

"I know. I just hated doing it. We were friends at one time but when we turned sixteen all of a sudden she began to hate all of us but me most of all."

"Perhaps there's a reason for her behavior," Ronin said as he gathered his supplies.

"Where are you going?" Soren asked.

Ronin smiled. "I'm not part of the sisterhood and I have a female to discipline."

The End

Mardi Maxwell loves the quirky and the unique. She believe in UFOs, ghosts, and that we have a moon station on the dark side of the moon. She likes books that put the reader "through the wringer" so expect a lot of drama and laughter in her books along with a happy ending.

Today she writes contemporary erotic romance and steamy sci-fi romance. Her first book two books were banished to the garage for a very long time (they've finally been rescued and published as the Zarronian Warriors series). A third book was written on a dare from her best friend. It was sent to a publisher in 2012 and accepted. It's been joined by five more books in that series.

When she's not writing you can find her in her garden or spending time with family and friends. She loves cooking, traveling, movies and spontaneous trips to wherever the road takes her.