Temperance (13 page)

“She won’t wake up,” she said, turning away in disgust. Tears stung her eyes as she stroked Siobhan’s hair.
 

“We need to keep moving. She will only slow us down.”

Naeve’s mouth fell open, outraged by his lack of compassion. If he thought she was going to leave, he had another thing coming.
 

She stood and pointed at Siobhan. “I’m not going
anywhere
without her. You asked me where my other sister was. Well, here she is.”

His eyes turned to slits as he glared at her, and then he took the bow from his shoulder and thrust it at her. “Here. Hold this.”

Naeve looked at the unfamiliar weapon and gingerly took it from him.
 

“You need to move out of the way.”

She stepped aside as he crouched down beside Siobhan, unfastening the buckle on his left shoulder, which secured his coat.

“Gods…” he muttered under his breath as he reached for Siobhan's chin and moved it to the side.
 

That was when Naeve noticed a dark line extending up her sister's neck almost as though it were following an artery.

“What is that? Why would your men do this to her?”

He brought her head back to the center so he could lean down and tilt his ear over her mouth to see if she was still breathing.

“Is she…” Naeve trailed off, unable to finish her thought.

“Alive?” he supplied, and she nodded quickly. “Yes. She’s breathing,” he told her as he straightened and looked past her shoulder, always alert. His mouth pulled into a taut, unrelenting line. “But we need to hurry and find the others.”

“The others?”

“Bastian, your sisters, and my—” He stopped abruptly.

Naeve couldn’t help but ask, “Your?”

Instead of continuing, he said, “The Imperial Guard.”

He turned back to Siobhan, bent down, and, as easily as if he were carrying a bag of groceries, scooped her up in his arms with the cape draped around her. Hefting her farther up his body, he held his left arm out and gestured to the bow.

“Put it over my shoulder. Unless, of course, you plan to carry it for me.”
 

Naeve studied the apparatus, which was taller than she was, and then looked to him. Stepping in close, she drew it over his arm and up to his shoulder, which she had to stand on tiptoes to reach and still had trouble. When it was in place, she licked her lips and moved away, finding that being close to this man affected her in ways she couldn’t begin to understand.

Maybe it’s because he’s so different from everyone I know?
 

From the way he spoke to the way he dressed.
 

Or the fact that he carries around a bow and arrow for God’s sake.
 

The guy wasn’t like anyone from Wilmington.

* * *

Kai looked down at the woman in his arms and then glanced at the blonde, who was valiantly trying to keep pace at his side. Ever since they’d started up again, she hadn’t taken her eyes off him.
Or, more likely, her sister.
 

He found himself continually checking to make sure she was okay beside him, and he was starting to wonder why he gave a damn. But as she trudged through the forest in those ridiculous-looking boots and minuscule shift, the little rabbit was proving her resilience.

He thought that maybe he should try to explain to her who he was. But every time he ran the conversation over in his mind, it just seemed as though it would confuse her more. So, instead, he decided that it was time he asked some questions.
 

Starting with the one he knew was the most important. One that would possibly give him more sense of her—
if
he received an answer.

“Where are you from?”

When she stopped, Kai knew she was looking at him and not her sister this time.

“What do you mean?”

He turned towards her, still cradling the unconscious woman in his arms, and asked again, “Where are you from?”

Looking a little confused, she answered softly, “Wilmington, North Carolina.”

Having never heard of it, Kai assumed she was lying and told her so. “Lies will get you nowhere. But if you want safe passage back to L’Mere, I advise you to start being honest. I’m the only thing protecting you out here.”

“I’m not lying,” she insisted, placing her hands on her narrow hips.

“I disagree. I know every village and castle in this place. None of which are Wilmington.”

The woman glowered at him so hard that he almost smiled at her audacity. He had men who wouldn’t even look at him, yet she bravely tried to kill him with one glance.

“Do I look like someone from around here?” she asked in a way that suggested he were dim-witted.
 

He leisurely took his time inspecting her and noticed the way she shifted where she stood as his eyes traced from her boots, up her body, to her face.

“You could pass as some, yes. But since the business of whoring died right around the time the men started to, I don’t suppose you are one of those.”

Her mouth fell open as though she were about to say something, but instead, she clamped it shut and stomped her foot on the ground. It was such an unexpected move that he couldn’t hold his laughter this time.

“What’s so funny?” she demanded. “That is the second time you’ve called me a whore.”

“No, it is the first. And what’s funny is you. Stomping your foot on the ground like some petulant child.”

“First, I’m a whore, and now, I’m a child? Didn’t your mother ever teach you any manners?”

Kai quit laughing then, and the silence that remained was palpable. “My mother is dead.”

Remorse immediately crossed her features, but he wasn’t in the mood for pity, and he sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to discuss it.

“I’m sorry—”

“Why?” he interrupted. “You didn’t kill her.” He paused, remembering exactly who had, and then looked at her shocked expression. “We must keep going if we are to reach the meeting point on the West side of the Falls.”

Without another word, they started on their way.

His first instinct had been right. Conversing with her had only confused matters.
 

He just hadn’t expected to be the one left baffled.

* * *

Naeve followed closely beside her brooding companion and kept an eye on Siobhan. That’s what she told herself, anyway.

If she was being honest, she was really keeping an eye on the both of them.

Kai was starting to say more the longer they were together. She still didn't know much, but the one thing she was sure of was that she was no longer anywhere near Wilmington.

When she’d mentioned her hometown and state, Kai had looked at her as though she were talking in another language. Then he’d accused her of being a whore because of the way she was dressed—and that seemed completely out of place.

She was wearing a perfectly respectable sundress, but the way he’d inspected her had made her feel practically naked. It was as though he’d never seen a woman in anything other than head-to-toe coverings.
Or maybe corsets and gowns.
 

Naeve thought of Bastian and the image he’d shown her of her mother. She’d been dressed as someone from an era long forgotten, and as she stared at the man beside her, she realized he also resembled someone from another time.
 

A hunter? Maybe.
 

He was holding on to Siobhan as though it were an everyday thing for him to carry a woman in his arms. Then he continued to survey the terrain with wary eyes.

At first, he’d scared her half to death in his hooded cape. But she understood now that it was camouflage. He’d merely been blending into the shadows. Either way, she was glad he was no longer wearing the hood and mask. She found him much less intimidating when she could see his entire face.
 

Bastian had told them that this forest was darkened with death. So Naeve had to wonder what promises had been made to this man to persuade him to step inside.

“This is where we cross.”

His deep voice pulled her from her thoughts and had her glancing at the rushing water barreling between the two banks. She then looked up into the face she’d just been thinking of and shook her head.

“Are you crazy?”

“Trust me when I tell you that I like this plan much less than you.”

“I highly doubt it.”

He turned back to the water and then bent down to gently lay Siobhan on the ground. “Listen to me very carefully. See the water. Look at the surface.”

She did as requested and noticed a heavy sheen on the top of it. “What is that?”

He stood and walked down to the edge of the bank. Naeve didn’t take her eyes off him, noticing for the first time that his dark hair was tied in a small knot at the base of his neck.

“Deadly. That’s what it is.”

She looked down to where Siobhan lay and then stepped forward, clutching her hands in front of herself. “What do you mean it’s deadly? I don’t understand. I thought we had to cross here?”

He turned and made his way back to her, a frown on his face. “We do.”

She didn’t know what to say as he bent down to where his cape rested over Siobhan. He then removed a thick loop of rope and an ax and walked towards a large tree, where he raised that dangerous-looking weapon and thrust it into the trunk.
 

Then he started to climb.

She ran over to the base of the tree as he scaled it like it was second nature. Once he reached the branch above, he pulled an arrow from the case on his back and brought it around in front of himself before unraveling the rope he’d attached to his belt.

Naeve couldn’t tear her eyes away as she remained rooted to the spot, witnessing the totally foreign action take place.

Oh, God. There is no way I’m anywhere close to home. Not when a guy is using a bow and arrow.
 

That was when he raised the bow with ease, lined the arrow up, and drew the string back. He released it with a soft
whoosh
, and the arrow spiraled out across the stream, with the rope attached, hitting its target—an enormous trunk on the opposite side of the water.

She focused on it for a second and then peered up at him, dreading what he would say next.

“I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”

Yep
, that’s what she’d feared.

* * *

Bastian had found a small alcove at the foot of a Redwood and moved to sit inside it while they waited. Opening his eyes, he felt Kai reach out to his mind.

Bastian…

Kai, where are you?

Across the river. Won’t be long now. I have the other two sisters. One is injured.

Naeve?

No, the other.

The redhead. Siobhan.
How bad?

Looks like a head wound, and it appears she's been infected. She hasn’t woken since we reached her.

Bastian squeezed his eyes shut. This couldn’t be happening. His father's instructions had been that all four of the women were to be brought back to L’Mere alive and well.

What happened?

I don’t know. She was this way when we found her.

Your men, do you think?

There was a pause in the link, and then Kai was back.

No. I thought so at first, but when I saw the marking...

Bastian knew Kai to be right. The mark of infection was only caused by one.

You suspect the Empress?
Bastian asked.

That would be my first guess. The kleptors are stirring. She’s regaining strength, Bastian. I think this sister was the first to encounter Seraphine. But she left her alive, so I assume she needs them that way—at least for now. Have everyone ready to leave as soon as we arrive. We can’t afford to wait.

Bastian agreed quickly.

Bastian?

Yes?
He waited on the man who’d become an odd sort of companion to himself over the years.

These four women are very different from us, yes?

What do you mean ‘us’?
Bastian thought.
I'm not like you, Kai.

How well I know it. Fine. Are they like…

Yes?
Bastian questioned, knowing what was coming.

Are they like you? Sensualeers?

Bastian managed a small chuckle and felt Kai’s immediate irritation at being the brunt of his humor.
No, they are not. Why do you ask?

He sensed Kai’s confusion, but instead of answering his question, Kai merely reiterated,
We’ll be there soon. Tell Ry’Ker to be ready to move.

Bastian acknowledged the request, not pushing any further before shutting down the link.

Kai watched the woman pace back and forth as he climbed down from the tree. He’d secured the rope to the trunk with several swings of his ax and now had to decide how to get the unconscious woman safely across the stream.

As his boots hit the ground, the rabbit looked up—startled.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking,” she told him, “but you need to stop thinking it.”

Marching past her, he made his way over to the woman on the ground.
How am I going to—