Bound to Blackwood (51 page)

She just smiled that sweet smile of hers and some of Kaden’s anger waned.

“Did you know?” he asked.

Still smiling, she said, “No, but then I do not expect to know everything.”

Ouch!
“Point taken."
 

“Lena and Thorn are the key to everything, Kaden. It doesn’t matter how they got here; just be happy that they’ve arrived.”

Kaden pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes and caught sight of Thorn making his way over. “Great.”

Soraya’s smile widened at the sight of her brother. She laid a gentle hand on Kaden’s arm. “Let me take that for you,” she said as she took the empty bottle from his hand and walked away. Probably just as well, since Kaden’s sense of calm left with her and that bottle would have made a useful weapon.

Thorn sensed the change in Kaden as soon as Soraya moved away. The guy's brilliant blue eyes narrowed as Thorn made his way over. “Look,” Thorn said as he reached his friend, “I didn't plan any of this.”

Kaden remained unmoved, fury swirling in the iciness of his eyes. Thorn grimaced, anger of his own slowly bubbling away in the pit of his stomach. “I mean it, Kaden.”

“Right.”

“When Lucine told us who Lena really was, I thought it was a joke.”

Kaden crossed his arms over his wide chest. “How convenient for you that Lena seems to believe it.”

Thorn moved closer. “You listen to me, Keeper of the Watch. You will not ruin this for me,” he hissed, “or Lena.”

Kaden flashed a machete smile back at him. “I have no intention of ruining anything, My Lord,” he replied, making the perfectly innocent sentiment sound like an insult and a threat, all at the same time. The guy dipped his head to whisper in Thorn's ear. “I am not Keeper of the Watch for nothing.”

Thorn sighed. His friend was uptight at the best of times, but this was in a whole different class of tense. “Can't you just be happy for us?” Thorn asked.

Kaden just looked at him. “Tell me what happened.”

Thorn leant against the mantel that ran across the unlit fire-place. “It's probably the most surreal thing I've ever witnessed.”

Lena's heart clenched as she watched Thorn talking to Kaden. The Keeper of the Watch did not look amused. But then, Kaden didn't look amused too often these days.

Soraya sat next to her and handed her a beer. They kept silent for a while, nursing their drinks. In fact, apart from Kaden and Thorn talking in hushed tones by the fireplace, no one else was speaking either.

Phoenix, Sky, and Mercury seemed to be trying to have some sort of conversation using their eyebrows alone. Their foreheads lifted and creased as they conveyed their thoughts to each other. Ryver just stared into space.

“Everything is as it should be,” Soraya said quietly.

“You sure about that?”

“Of course.”

Lena nodded, deep in thought. Visions of Thorn's face as she suckled at his wrist danced in front of her eyes. Whether she lived another thousand years or perished tomorrow, she would cherish that memory forever, keep it close to her heart. She could still taste his delicious blood and a yearning spread through her.

She glanced over at Thorn. Clearly sensing her, he turned from his friend to meet her gaze. A small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth as he simply nodded at her and turned his attention back to the Keeper of the Watch.

It was enough. For now.

In her mind, she went back to the moment she'd pierced Thorn's wrist and tasted his blood for the first time. Jesus, the power that coursed through his veins. Just thought of it made her shudder. Taking that delicious claret had set a fire in her, yet the burning wasn't the same as it had been before, because Thorn was with her, sharing the heat. Gods, she had been burning for so long, she was surprised she hadn't disintegrated into a pile of ash.

She smiled, remembering the taste. That beautiful, sensual taste that was all Thorn. It had been such a relief.

A thought tugged at the back of her mind. It unsettled her, but she couldn't quite get a hold of it.

“Would you like another drink?” Soraya asked.

A drink? Something triggered in Lena's brain. She stared at the Princess.

Soraya shifted in her seat. “Is everything alright?”

“You knew,” Lena whispered.

Soraya's pale gold eyes widened. “Knew what?”

Lena's mouth felt dry. “The drugs just weren't cutting it any more. You knew I needed blood.” She swallowed hard. “You knew I needed Thorn's blood.”

Soraya wouldn't meet Lena's incredulous stare. Instead, the Princess shot worried glances over to Thorn and Kaden.

“Soraya,” Lena said in warning.

Soraya looked stricken. “Oh Gods, don't hate me,” she whispered.

Lena puffed out an explosive sigh. “Last night wasn't the first time I've tasted Thorn's blood, was it?”

Soraya shook her head.

“The drink you gave me. The one with the special additives?”

Soraya shot her a hopeful smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

“Why?” Lena demanded.

The smile fell from the other woman's face, her glittering eyes full of worry. Lena watched her wring her hands and Soraya glanced over at her brother once again before she turned back to Lena. “Nobody could be more pleased than I that my brother found you, Lena.”

“Okaaay.” Lena frowned. “I hear a 'but' coming.”

Soraya gave a small smile. “But, whether you like it or not, this isn't just about the two of you. It's far bigger than that.”

“What do you mean?” Lena asked, her brow furrowing further.

Soraya looked across the room again, staring intently at her brother and the Keeper of the Watch. The two were still talking. Kaden still didn't look happy.

Lena watched the Princess closely. The petite woman may look harmless, but the royal blood that flowed through Soraya's veins packed a punch like no other, and that power gave the other woman the ability to mask her emotions better than anyone Lena had ever met. Usually it was impressive. Now, it just made Lena uneasy.

“Soraya, please,” Lena prompted, unable to stand it any longer.

Soraya seemed to come to some sort of decision and her body language changed immediately. “There are none of us left who remember the old days, before the gates to Faerie were sealed. With each generation, our magic grows weaker.”

“What about you and Ryver, or Kaden for that matter?” Lena interrupted, still not sure where this was going. “You three have powers beyond what the rest of us could even imagine.”

Soraya waved her hand in dismissal. “I have royal blood and Ryver and Kaden are warriors, Lena. It stands to reason we should be among the strongest of the race, but we are anomalies, nothing more.”

“But…”

“But nothing! Please, listen to me, Lena,” Soraya implored.

Lena nodded, surprised by Soraya's candour.

Soraya took a deep breath. “The three of us notwithstanding, as a race, we are nowhere near as powerful as we once were. We were never meant to live for so long this side of the gateway.” The Princess sounded wistful.

“I don't understand,” Lena said.

Soraya took Lena's hand in hers. “You, and Ryver of course, are the youngest of us.”

“Yes, I know, but…”

“I don't mean the Order, Lena. I mean
all
of us.”
 

“W-what?”

“Ryver is the last of us.”

“He can't be.”

“I assure you, I've been keeping very accurate records. There have been no new matings in over five hundred years, no true pairs left. We are all of us orphans.” A sad smile touched Soraya's mouth. “All except you.”

Lena felt her eyes widen as a sharp stab of icy sadness pierced her heart. She stifled her gasp with her hands. “Heath! I hadn't even thought about him!”

Soraya squeezed her shoulder. “There is still time, Lena. Heath is not ready to leave us just yet.”

Lena searched the other woman's face and saw nothing but sincerity. “You're sure?”

“Positive.”

Lena nodded, too stunned for anything else.

“But before you go and meet your father properly, you need to understand why I did what I did.”

Lena swallowed hard. Faerie only knew what else Soraya had up her sleeve.

“The power of our race has always flowed from Faerie, through the King or Queen and so on to the rest of us. I've been waiting for you and Thorn to find each other for centuries. You two are the key to our future.”

Lena's brow shot skyward. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Soraya gave a gentle sigh. “I'm not explaining myself very well, am I? What I mean is that without your mating, there would be no further matings…for any of us.”

Lena's mouth fell open. “What the fuck?”

Soraya blinked. “I had a premonition years ago, before you were even born. It has taken me centuries of research to decipher what it all means.”

“What premonition?” Lena croaked.

Soraya closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. When her lids fluttered open again, Lena noticed the pale, pink wash of tears threatening to overspill her lashes. “Born to rule, though not to inherit, he will find the light that owns his heart and soul, and in so doing so, find the key to Faerie.”

Bloody hell, what was she supposed to say to that?

“It gets better,” Soraya said.

Lena didn't think it could get much worse.

“As years passed, the insight grew. The words became more forceful, more ominous.”

“Like how?”

“There is only one light.”

“Okay.”

“If he does not find the light, there will be only darkness. Without the one light, you will all live in the shadows, alone.”

Well shit
. “How do you know that's what it means? Why does it mean that Thorn and I are some last, great hope? You could be wrong.” As soon as she said it, she knew it was a forlorn hope.
 

Soraya was never wrong. Ever. The Princess was always very careful with her words when it came to things she knew about the future—and Lena was pretty sure the woman kept more secrets than Kaden—but she was never wrong.

“Like I said, I've had centuries to research this.”

Lena thought about the insights, mulling the words over in her mind. “Not born to inherit?”

The tears in Soraya's in eyes welled and trickled down the alabaster white of her face. Deep, heartfelt sorrow permeated the air and Lena wondered what it was she had said that could have caused so much hurt. Then… “Oh, Holy Mother of Fae, Jett!”

Soraya nodded as she wiped the tears from her face.

“When did you first have this premonition?” Lena asked.

“Over five hundred years ago,” Soraya whispered.

“And when did you realise?”

“About a century after that,” she said flatly.

Holy fuck!
Soraya knew her brother was going to die centuries before it actually happened. It was the worst kind of nightmare Lena could imagine. “Oh Gods, Soraya. I am so sorry.”
 

Soraya grabbed Lena's hand. “You can't tell anyone, Lena. Not even Thorn.”

“Whoa. Hang on, Soraya!”

“I mean it. He cannot know.”

“Jett was ill, Soraya, for a long time. It isn't your fault he died before his time.”

The poor woman stifled a sob. “They all still hoped, Lena. My parents tried everything to find a cure. Thorn brought in any expert he could find. If he knew…”

“He loves you, Soraya. He wouldn't blame you.”

“I betrayed them.”

Lena gave a violent shake of her head. “No! I will not have it.”

“Please, Lena.”

The desperation in Soraya's pale, gold eyes, near broke Lena's heart. She huffed. “Fine. I won't tell him.”

“Thank you.”

“But I won't lie to him if he ever asks.”

“I understand.”

“There is one thing I still don't get.”

“What is it?”

“Why'd you spike my drink?”

“Do you know the literal translation of
Amocinta
? It means to
light up the soul
. And although Lena isn't your given name, it's an old Seelie word for
light of Faerie
. It had to be you. But the pair of you are so stubborn!