Taken (2 page)

“Wake up. We need to get you back to the shack.”

“Josh?” She reached for him, but all she found was empty air.

“He’s already gone.”

~***~

No!
The frigid air sucking the life from Channie’s body was nothing compared to the icy resignation that froze her soul. It wasn’t fair. They’d been married for less than two weeks. Channie didn’t want to live without Josh. She
couldn’t
live without him. “Leave me alone.” A few more minutes and she would join him in death.

Hunter said, “He was in worse shape than you, so Ms. Wisdom made me haul him back to the shack after she cast a warmth spell over you.”
 

“Josh is alive?”

“Yeah, but that warmth spell ain’t gonna last much longer. We need to get going. Can you walk?”

Channie had passed the shivering stage of hypothermia before losing consciousness, and Aunt Wisdom’s warmth spell still enveloped her like a magical quilt. But her entire body convulsed as relief and joy shot adrenaline into her blood.
 

“Ms. Wisdom is gonna skin me alive if I let you freeze to death,” then picked her up and carried her back to the shack. He set her down on the apple crate she and Josh used for a chair and tried to unzip the top of her coat.
 

She batted his hand away before he could touch her and leaned around him to get a better look at Josh. He was in bed, buried under a pile of quilts. The dark circles under his eyes were so purple, they looked like bruises. White patches on his cheeks and the tip of his nose indicated frost bite. “How is he?”
 

Aunt Wisdom looked over her shoulder at Channie. “He’ll live. Did you do what I told you to do? With your phone?”

“I threw it down the mountainside about half way between here and Whistler’s Gulch. So, what’s wrong with Josh?”
 

“He’s completely drained of power and has a touch of frostbite. Nothing a little rest and magically enhanced ointment won’t cure. What’s he been doing? Casting warmth spells?” Aunt Wisdom’s tone of voice was conciliatory, but her words put Channie on the defensive.

Anger flushed her cheeks and stung her frostbitten skin. “Of course he’s been casting warmth spells. You left us out here in the middle of nowhere, for an entire week, without so much as a charcoal heater.”

“Why didn’t you heat some rocks in the fire pit to keep the bed warm?”

“I can’t start a fire with wet wood in the middle of a blizzard without magic! I’m an Empty, remember.” The derogatory slang for magically disabled people was an insult, but it made perfect sense. Without Josh’s love — and magic — to ease her pain, the emptiness created by the loss of her own powers would’ve consumed her by now.
 

Hunter said, “I cast a warmth spell on the place as soon as I got here. It should last until morning.”

Was he bragging or just stating a fact?

Channie stood up and stumbled sideways when the room spun. Hunter grabbed her arm and tried to guide her back to the apple crate, but she was focused on getting to Josh. She patted Hunter’s hand, then pried it off her arm. “I’m fine. Stop hovering.”

He bowed his head and said, “Sorry,” then stepped to the side and let her pass.
 

Channie lurched towards the bed and reached for Josh, but Aunt Wisdom grabbed her wrist before she could touch him. “Are the two of you maintaining your heart-bond?”

Blood rushed to Channie’s cheeks again. As a heart-bound, married couple, she and Josh needed to strengthen their bond with physical intimacy. She nodded.
 

“I didn’t think that was the problem, but I had to ask.” Aunt Wisdom handed the jar of magically enhanced calendula, aloe and rosehip ointment to Channie. “Dab a little of that on your face.”
 

Aunt Wisdom had the ability to heal Channie and Josh’s damaged skin with magic, but as a master-healer it was her responsibility to conserve her energy for real emergencies. Ordinarily, she’d turn the treatment of frostbite over to one of her apprentices.
Like me
.
The thought formed a lump in her throat.

Josh’s smile turned into a grin. “So … it sounds like we need to strengthen our bond. Maybe you guys should give us a little privacy.”

Aunt Wisdom grabbed Josh’s foot through the quilt and gave it a shake. “No more
bonding
until you get your strength back.”

Josh lifted his hand from the mattress and reached for Channie. This time Aunt Wisdom didn’t interfere when Channie knelt beside the bed and took his hand in hers. “I thought sex was supposed to make us stronger.”
 

Aunt Wisdom frowned then folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes as she locked her gaze on their interwoven fingers.
 

“It’s supposed to be a mutual exchange, benefitting both parties, but the fact that she can’t produce magic anymore … well, I’m afraid your bond is more parasitic than symbiotic.”

Channie’s heart fell to the floor.
I’m a parasite?

Josh squeezed her hand. “If it were anything to worry about, I would have felt it.”

Aunt Wisdom said, “Ordinarily, I’d say it wasn’t a concern, but since you’re already so drained, you can’t afford to waste even a small amount of energy on sex until you’ve recovered.”
 

Josh sighed and rolled his eyes. “And how long will that take?”

“No intercourse for at least two weeks.”

Josh propped himself up on his elbows. “Oh, hell no.”

Aunt Wisdom pushed him flat on his back with one hand. “Do you see how weak you are?”

“I’m not waiting for two freakin’ weeks—”

Hunter cleared his throat and started edging towards the door.

He’d been so quiet, Channie had forgotten he was still there. All this talk about sex was beyond embarrassing. She could excuse Josh. He wasn’t raised with the idea that what happened between the sheets was sacred and not a subject for public discussion. But Aunt Wisdom knew better. She should have made Hunter leave before she started interrogating them about their bond.

Aunt Wisdom said, “Stay put, Hunter. I’m not done with you,” then shook her finger at Josh. “Two weeks is the minimum time span. I want to examine you before you resume marital relations.”

A quick glance at Hunter revealed he was just as embarrassed as Channie. Aunt Wisdom and Josh didn’t seem to notice, or maybe they just didn’t care.

Josh said, “We aren’t going to be here in two weeks. I’ve already missed so much school, it’ll be a miracle if I graduate on time.”

Channie had done everything in her power to avoid this particular conversation. So far, she’d been able to distract Josh every time he mentioned going home. But now that they couldn’t have sex, she no longer had the means to refocus his attention.

Aunt Wisdom put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “School is the least of your concerns. It takes the average mage ten years to learn what you’ll need to know by next winter’s solstice.”

“I’m not taking a year off from school just so I can learn how to zap people. And I’m not waiting two weeks to have sex with my
wife
.”
 

By now Channie’s cheeks felt as if they were on fire.

Aunt Wisdom closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and took a slow, deep breath before she spoke. “While you’ve been rolling around in bed, good men and women have died fighting your war.”

The blood drained from Josh’s face. “What do you mean,
my
war
?”

“Someone tried to assassinate the Queen the night of your wedding. And while that would have been convenient, you aren’t ready to assume the throne.”

Josh let go of Channie’s hand and struggled into a sitting position. He held the hair off his forehead with both hands. “I never asked for any of this. I don’t want people fighting and dying for me. I don’t want anyone’s stupid throne!”

“The minute you and Channie opened the Book of the Dead, you set all of this in motion. So, yes, you did ask for it even if you didn’t realize it at the time. And what you want is irrelevant.”

“Not to me, it’s not! In fact I don’t think I’m going to show up for your little party on solstice night.”

Guilt contaminated the relief Channie felt at Josh’s declaration. She knew the consequences would be dire for all mages if Josh didn’t fulfill his destiny. But if she had to choose between Josh and all other mages, she’d choose him.
 

Josh narrowed his eyes. “As soon as I learn how to protect Channie, we’re outta here.”

“You can’t leave the protection of my misdirection spells. Not while the trackers are still in the area. And you have to fight on solstice night.
 
The Book of the Dead declared it. You can’t run from destiny.” Aunt Wisdom closed her eyes as if in a trance and quoted the book…

Son of Vengeance seeking light,

Grasp the hilt and join the fight.

Claim your place among your kin

And lay to rest your father’s sin.

For you were born to rule and reign,

To save us all from ruin and pain.

You have one year to learn and grow,

To gain the skills you need to know.

For the total eclipse on solstice night

Ordains the heir that wins the fight.
 

Nothing is promised, nothing is given,

When you do your best, all is forgiven.

Follow your heart and save her life,

Take the enemy’s daughter and make her your wife.

“I’m sure my mom isn’t the only woman Vengeance Veyjivik seduced. I’ll bet I’m not the only ‘Son of Vengeance’ on the planet.”

“Are you saying you shouldn’t have married Channie? Are you the wrong man for her? Should I try to find one of your half-brothers and bind him to her?”

“You already told me there’s no divorce in the mage world so you can’t manipulate me with that empty threat.”

“Josh, you have to accept responsibility for your actions. You opened the book. You are a royal mage and the rightful heir to the throne. Deal with it.”

Channie’s throat tightened. She sat back on her heels and bowed her head. “I’m the one that stole the book.”
 

Aunt Wisdom leaned over and put a finger under Channie’s chin, tilting her face up until she was forced to meet her gaze. “It’s his name on the cover. And it’s his grandmother that’s threatening to destroy our world. She has to be stopped. At any cost.”

“Not if it costs Josh his life. That’s asking too much.”

“Tell that to the families of the men and women that have already died.”

Hunter said, “Who died?”

Aunt Wisdom sighed. Channie knew her well enough to know she wasn’t going to let this go. She’d allow the change of subject, but she wasn’t done harassing Josh. Not by a long shot. “No one you know. The Ozark Mages aren’t the only ones worried about the way Dominance Veyjivik is grasping for even more power. I suspect it was someone from one of the Appalachia clans.”

Josh said, “How many clans are there?”

“Too many to name. The Ozark community is the smallest with fourteen allied clans. The Cumberland Mages have thirty-two. The majority are unallied and scattered all over Appalachia.” Aunt Wisdom pulled on her coat and slid her hands into fur-lined gloves. “Hunter, go start a fire in the pit and heat up about a dozen rocks to warm the bed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”
 

“Keep an eye on the place. I don’t expect any trouble, but on the off chance that someone defeats my misdirection spells, Josh is too weak to fight. You’ll need to protect him and Channie.”

Hunter fidgeted and looked at the floor, peering at Aunt Wisdom from beneath lowered lashes. “It’s mighty cold outside, even with a fire.”

“Once you’ve heated up the rocks, come on inside. You can sleep on the floor.”

Josh groaned as if he were in pain. “For how long? This shack isn’t big enough for three people.”

Hunter edged closer to the door. “Beggin’ your pardon, Mr. Veyjivik. I shouldn’t have complained. I’ll just go chop some extra wood, the exercise’ll keep me warm.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to make you stay outside in a blizzard, no matter how much you annoy me. And don’t call me ‘Mr. Veyjivik.’ I don’t care what that stupid book says. I’m still an Abrim.

“Yessir, Mr. Abrim.”

“It’s Josh, okay?”

“Sure thing, Mr. Josh. Whatever you say.”

“I’m not Mr. anybody! Just call me Josh.”

Hunter chewed on the corner of his mouth and shook his head slowly. “You’re gonna be king someday.”

Josh clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth.
 

Channie brushed the hair out of his eyes then leaned over and kissed his cheek. She dropped her voice so only Josh could hear. “Let it go.”
 

Aunt Wisdom said, “I’m going to go buy a gasoline generator and electric heater. I don’t want anyone wasting any more energy on warmth spells. You two stay put and let Hunter take care of things. And you,” She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at Josh. “Stay away from Channie.”

~***~

No matter what Channie did, Josh seemed grumpier and more depressed every day. She was sorry he was so unhappy about the situation, but she couldn’t help it if she enjoyed spending more time talking and just snuggling. They’d gone from not even being able to hold hands to being able to do
everything
in such a short span of time that Channie felt cheated. She’d never admit that to Josh, but it seemed like sex was all he cared about.
 

He didn’t even thank Aunt Wisdom when she brought them the gasoline generator, electric heater and hotplate. But Channie had enough gratitude for both of them.
 

The little hut was beginning to feel like a home. Especially after Aunt Wisdom replaced the plywood over the window with glass and unloaded a truckload of potted plants. The plants were for Josh — so he could learn to tap into their energy and speed his recovery — but Channie enjoyed them too. What was left of them anyway. There was a dead ficus tree, two dried up ferns and a dying philodendron testifying to Josh’s lack of control.