Birthright (The Stone Legacy Series Book 5) (12 page)

“Oh.” Zanya stepped back. “That’s…”
Disgusting
. “I mean…thank you.”

Balam chuffed, and then slunk back into the jungle.

“I guess we’re having ham for dinner.” Zanya patted Arwan on the shoulder. “Have fun cleaning it. I’m going to rest.”

Truth be told, she wasn’t just tired. Exhaustion had settled so deep into her bones, and her legs were like fifty-pound weights as she dragged one foot in front of the other.

Near the entrance of the house, she caught a glimpse of Grima and Beigarth having what looked like a heated discussion.

Beigarth’s lip was curled as he spoke harshly.

A spike of pain wrenched Zanya’s stomach. The pain wound around her back and shot down her legs. Mixed with the fatigue, it was too much to bear. She paused, her legs shaking, and then dropped to her knees.

“Zanya!” Tara’s frantic call cut through the air. “Peter, get over here!”

Arwan was beside her soon after.

Then the rest of them.

They gathered nearby while Peter crouched beside her and laid his hands on her back. “Tell me what’s wrong. I don’t…” He skimmed his hands over her arms and head. “I don’t sense anything.”

Pain coiled around her muscles. She ground her teeth. “I’m just…tired.” She tried to push to her feet, but didn’t have the strength to get off the ground.

“Get her inside,” Peter ordered.

When Arwan scooped her into his arms, everything went black.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Arwan

Hours later, the entire group gathered in the house, all concerned about Zanya’s condition—no one more than him.

Eleuia stood beside the fireplace in the living room. “We have to figure out what we know so far.”

“And then what?” Jayden said.

“Then we will know best what our next step should be,” Renato responded.

Arwan lingered by the window, staring at the vast jungle in the distance. The only one missing from the meeting was Balam, who stood sentry outside in case Contessa returned for another round.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Zanya to wake up before having this discussion?” Hawa said.

Arwan looked at her. “She knows as much as I do about this situation, and I know more than
all
of you.”

Eleuia glared. “Apparently so.”

Arwan ignored the remark and continued. “We know Yaxche, the tree of life, is being controlled by Contessa.”

Tara coiled her arm around Peter’s and leaned into him. “Why hasn’t it destroyed everything by now? I mean, it would be easy enough, right?”

“Thanks to Drina’s protective circle, as long as we’re in the house or on the training platform, we’re out of the tree’s reach. But Contessa—I have no idea if she can cross.”

“The question is,” Marzena said, “why has she not yet tried?”

“I think she’s too weak. The last time I saw her, she was falling apart. Now she stays in the underworld for the most part, only braving the middleworld when it’s necessary.”

“She certainly thought talking to you was necessary,” Eleuia mumbled.

Denying Contessa’s interest in him would only make the group more suspicious. He’d have to address this—right here, right now. “She wanted something from me. The same thing she wanted back in Moscow, when I went to her home to find out more about my mother.” Arwan cast his gaze to the floor, too ashamed to look them in the eye when he said it aloud. “She wants the darkness inside of me.”

The room was silent for a brief moment before Peter spoke up. “This may be a stupid question, but
why
?”

“She was dying. She wanted the darkness inside of me then, probably to fuel her.”

“That makes perfect sense,” Renato said, now pacing. “She gorged on the souls of men, but it wasn’t enough. Your darkness would have given her everything she needed, and more.”

“She’s no kitten,” Grima said. “That’s clear as day. Why doesn’t she just take it?”

Renato paused, shaking his finger as if chasing a thought. “Grima is absolutely right. Killing
you
should be no difficult task for a dark witch like Contessa. She has lived for thousands of years and consumed countless souls in her lifetime to sustain herself.” He lowered his hand and watched Arwan. “Why are you different?”

“Because we’re lucky,” Jayden said, probably half-joking.

“No.” Arwan’s single word made the room fall silent. “She needs my permission to take that part of me, and I wouldn’t give it.”

Tara puckered her lips. “I don’t get it. You don’t ask permission to steal something. I mean—” she snorted, “not if you want to get away with it, anyway.”

“He’s royalty,” Eleuia said, crossing her arms and examining him with a smug curl of her lip. “Prince of the underworld, and heir to the throne. No one can take from royalty without permission.”

“Oohh,” Tara said. “So, it’s a hierarchy thing.”

“You know the old saying,” Jayden said. “Don’t look the horse that someone gave you in its mouth, or something like that.”

“Do not look a gift horse in the mouth,” Yousef said, the taller of the twin windthrowers.

The entire group stopped and stared.

Jayden’s jaw dropped. “Since when do you speak English?”

“Always.” Yousef stood from the couch. “My brother and I learned when we were boys. Our father was a scholar from our people.”

“You didn’t think it would be helpful to say something sooner?” Tara said. “You know, just in case.”

“I knew since the moment they arrived.” Marzena pushed a lock of golden hair away from her tiny features. “But there is no need to share something someone wishes to be kept private unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Beigarth cringed away from Marzena. “It’s unnatural for a wee child to have such power. It’s not right.”

Marzena bowed her head politely. “I’m the first dreamwalker you have ever met.”

“And my hope is you’re the last.” The stout Viking rubbed his beard and averted his gaze, mumbling in some kind of Celtic tongue Arwan didn’t understand.

“We’re thankful for your discretion,” Yousef said. “To listen without speaking is the best means to gain knowledge. That is what our father taught us.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.” Renato smirked—not surprisingly. He and Marzena had been friends for as long as Arwan knew his mentor.

Ahmed, the other windthrower, stood from his seat. “Our father taught us our abilities are a gift to appreciate, even though they make us different from our clan.”

“That’s great,” Hawa said sharply. “That’s great.
Kumbaya
moment over with. Moving on. We know Contessa is still too weak to attack.” She counted the points out on her fingers. “And we know she’s after Arwan’s darker half to give her enough strength to make her pretty much unstoppable. We also know Zanya isn’t exactly on her A-game.”

“If Arwan never gives Contessa what she wants,” Tara said, “we’re safe, right?”

“But if Contessa is weak, she can’t be controlling the tree alone. Who’s backing her up?”

Eleuia chuckled.

Renato looked at her. “Is something funny?”

“I’m just thinking about how absolutely screwed we are.”

Peter glanced around the room. “
That’s
funny?”

“Who do you think is behind Contessa?” Eleuia studied Arwan. “Who is the
one
person in this
entire
universe who has enough power, and would be willing to back up Contessa’s scheme?”

Arwan’s stomach clenched and his lips parted.

There was only one. One who could, and who would support the destruction of the middleworld.

“Why are you staring at him?” Hawa said. “How is he supposed to know?”

“Oh, he knows.” Eleuia pushed away from the fireplace. “He knows, because they happen to be very close.” She scanned the faces in the room, commanding everyone’s undivided attention. “Nobody wanted to listen to me when I warned you all against keeping him around. Maybe now you’ll trust me when I say the
half-breed
shouldn’t be trusted. He is his father’s son. God only knows what really happened between him and Contessa that he’s not telling us.”

“
Ellie
,” Renato scolded.

“No.” She narrowed her eyes. “You are all dedicated to Zanya as the guardian, and he is a threat to everything we’ve worked for.”

“Except…” Tara bit her bottom lip. “I mean, I’m only human and all, but Arwan and Zanya bonded. So…doesn’t that mean we’re all on the same team?”

Eleuia huffed. “What it means is he’s deceived Zanya, and he will turn on us the first chance he gets.”

“Ellie!” Renato stepped forward, his dark eyes focused on his sister.

Arwan stayed quiet. In all the years he had known Renato, he had only heard him raise his voice a handful of times.

“You
will
respect Arwan in his home. I will not tolerate anything different. Is that clear?”

She snapped her jaw shut and shook her head. “You’re all fools, and it’s going to get us killed.” Before Renato could say another word, Eleuia turned and flung open the door, then walked outside.

Arwan drew in a deep breath through his nose, working to calm his nerves.

“I am truly sorry.” Renato gripped the lapel of his dress blazer. “She has not come to terms with her daughter’s bonding. Perhaps Zanya will be able to get through to Ellie once she is well.”

“Aye,” Grima said. “But ye have to know what is wrong with the lass before she falls ill a second time.”

“I didn’t sense anything wrong with her,” Peter said. “Her ability should keep her from getting sick, and should heal any wounds almost immediately.”

“They do,” Arwan said. “She burned herself during training with Eadith, and it barely fazed her.”

Peter shrugged. “The only other thing I can think of is she’s not used to using her abilities so often, and it’s draining her.”

“We can’t let the lass rest,” Beigarth said. “Not now.”

“We can’t keep pushing her either,” Tara said. “If she falls apart, there’s no one to take her place. I know Zanya better than anyone.” She looked at Arwan. “Even better than you. When it comes down to it, she will come through. She always does.”

“I’m glad to hear someone has faith in me.”

Arwan turned to find Zanya standing in the hall, slumped against the wall for support.

He clenched his jaw. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“Showing you I’m not giving up.” Zanya forced herself to stand up straight. “I won’t let this—whatever it is—beat me.”

“That’s the lass,” Grima said with a smile. “A true warrior, she is.”

Zanya grimaced and gripped her stomach.

Arwan rushed to her side and hooked his arm around her waist. “You need to rest.”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar.” Tara walked toward them. “Stop trying to be a superhero and get your butt in bed before you toss cookies all over the floor.”

Zanya’s lips twitched, and she gave a faint smile. “Fair enough.”

Arwan led her back into the bedroom, onto the pillow top mattress. She eased onto the sheets, cringing under the effort. “I feel like I have the flu or something.” She pressed her hand to her forehead.

“Peter says you don’t.”

“I know.” She groaned as she leaned back. “I’m sorry I’m not out there with you guys trying to figure stuff out.”

“We’re doing fine,” he lied. It was better she missed her mother’s outburst. It would only cause her more stress.

“Will you lie down with me? I’d like the company.”

Arwan grinned. “Absolutely.” He rounded the bed and sat on his side.

She gestured him closer.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’ll let you know if you do.”

He turned and rested his head on her stomach. Being near her made him whole, and eased the doubts that haunted him.

She raked her fingers through his hair, relaxing his muscles. “Be honest,” she said. “Everyone’s freaking out, aren’t they?”

He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “You shouldn’t worry about that now.”

“I have to do
something
while I’m lying in bed. I may as well worry.”

He laced his fingers between hers, making small circles over the back of her hand with his thumb. “They’re mostly worried about you, trying to figure out why you’re so weak.”

“I’ll be back on my feet soon enough. All this training just has me feeling like crap.”

He frowned. “They’re also worried about me. They think I’ll turn on them the first chance I get.”

“I have a feeling
they
is mostly my mom.”

He gave an honest nod.

“Figures. Don’t let her get to you. You and I know the truth.” She stroked his head. “Arwan, son of Star.”

“Renato believes in me without even knowing who my mother is.”

“Of course he does. He loves you.”

Arwan couldn’t hold back his smile. “If it weren’t for him, I would have no one.”

“He’s incredible, I know. He took me and Tara in when he didn’t have to. Gave Tara a place to call home for the first time in her life. He doesn’t treat her any different. It takes a special kind of man to do that.”

Arwan tilted his head and examined Zanya’s face, paler than usual. “If you’re tired, close your eyes.”

“I am—” She covered her mouth and yawned. “Kind of tired.” She blinked sleepily.

He touched her cheek while listening to her stomach make ungodly noises. He chuckled. “We’ll have to get you something to eat soon.”

She crinkled her nose. “Boar, I’m guessing?”

“It wasn’t bad after Grima and Beigarth roasted it over a fire outside.”

She shook her head. “I’ll stick with fruits and veggies as long as Cualli keeps growing them for us.”

He heard her heartbeat quicken.

She didn’t have a fever. No virus. No infection.

The thud of Zanya’s heart was like a nervous snare drum.

He sat up and pressed his palm on her chest.

A slow, steady rhythm beat under his touch.