Quinn's Lady (13 page)

Chapter 25

Annis lay curled in Rajj’s arms, happier than she had ever been in her life. She had never imagined that making love could be so pleasurable, so wonderful. So exciting. How was it possible to have fallen in love with him so quickly? Was it love? Or had he cast a spell on her? How was she to know? Whatever it was, she never wanted to leave him…

She sat abruptly as the afterglow of his lovemaking melted in the face of reality. “Nardik will come for me.”

“Is that your father?” Rajj asked, apparently unconcerned.

“No, but he’s engaged to my mother. My sister is Marri, Queen of Brynn Tor.”

He chuckled softly. “I’ve fallen in love with a princess!”

“You love me?”

“How can I help it?”

“This could start a war! I have to go home.”

“Nonsense.” His fingers stroked her cheek. “No one will ever find you here.”

“You don’t understand. Nardik is a powerful wizard.”

“Not as powerful as my father.”

“If you truly love me, you’ll let me go home, at least long enough to let my mother and sister know I’m well.”

His hand skimmed her breast, her thigh. “Perhaps I’ll suggest it to my father in a day or two. But first we must wed so that you will truly be mine. With our marriage consummated, no one can take you from me.”

She blinked at him. “Married? You and me?”

“Of course. Had you not pleased me, had we not bonded together so well…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“What would have happened to me?”

“You would have been given to another. But do not worry, my lovely one. That will never happen now. You are mine, always and forever. No one will ever harm you or take you from me. No one.”

Chapter 26

Nardik stood on the wall of Brynn Castle, gazing into the distance. Notice of Annis’ disappearance had been sent to every city and village in Brynn Tor. Many of the guards sent to find her had returned. None bearing good news. There had been no demand for ransom. Amerris had taken to her bed. Marri hoped for the best even as she prepared herself to accept the worst.

As worried as he was for Annis, his major concern was for Seleena’s safety. There was no telling what evil Serepta had in mind. Unbidden, came the memory of his daughter as a little girl, taking her first step, saying her first word, conjuring her first spell. How had his lovely, innocent, child turned into such a depraved creature? Would she have turned out differently if he had been the one to raise her? He thrust that thought aside. Seleena had been a devoted mother.

It pleased him that Seleena was staying at the Fortress. Was she remembering their time together? The nights they had surrendered to the passion that had smoldered between them? He should never have let her go. Too late, he had realized that what he had assumed was only a passing fancy for a beautiful woman had been stronger, deeper. But she had left him, and his foolish masculine pride had kept him from going after her.

He frowned as a wisp of yellow smoke drifted into view. He held out his hand and it settled in his palm, the smoke inscribing letters on his hand.
Nardik, I need you.

Hurrying to his room, he penned a short note for Amerris. After donning his cloak, he spoke the words that would carry him to the Fortress.

#

Seleena opened the door before he knocked. “Thank you for coming.”

“What is wrong?” He followed her into the living room, removed his cloak, and tossed it on the back of a sofa. “How can I help?”

“Serepta has Quinn.”

“I see. You are certain of this?”

“Of course!”

“What do you want of me?”

“What do you think?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “I know you don’t like him, but that doesn’t matter. We can’t leave him there.” She swallowed the growing lump in her throat. “If you won’t help me, I’ll go alone.”

“No, you will not.”

“She’s torturing him. We have to go, now, before it’s too late. Before she grows weary of her sport. Before she kills him and unleashes the dragon’s power. I’m afraid there will be no stopping her then.”

“There can be no hesitation on our part this time,” he said. “No mercy. I will take her heart and her head and burn what is left. If you cannot condone her destruction, then you should stay here.”

“I am going with you.” Not long ago, she would have been horrified to even contemplate such a thing. But Serepta was their daughter. They had brought her into the world. And although they weren’t responsible for her devotion to the dark arts, it was up to them to put an end to her reign of terror before Serepta took any more innocent lives.

Before she caused Quinn any more pain.

#

He writhed on the floor of his cell in a pool of his own blood, the silver that bound him rendering him helpless to resist as Serepta dragged a razor-sharp blade over his flesh. Had he not been shackled, the cuts, though painful, would have healed instantly. But they did not heal quickly now. The loss of blood weakened him still further.

Worse than the pain was the way she gloated as she tormented him, describing in vivid detail how she planned to kill him, promising it would be more excruciating than anything he could imagine. Promising that her mother would be there to watch every glorious moment.

He prayed fervently that Seleena would stay locked in the Fortress, that Nardik could keep her safe. That, hopefully, between the two of them, they could put an end to Serepta’s evil.

Quinn remained as stoic as he could, refusing to grovel, biting back the desire to give voice to the agony she inflicted.

Relief washed through him when, with a grimace of displeasure, she left the dungeon in a cloud of black smoke.

Curled in on himself, he closed his eyes, seeing respite in sleep. But sleep wouldn’t come.

It took him a moment to realize it wasn’t the pain keeping him awake, but the restless dragon on his shoulder.

#

Standing in front of Serepta’s castle, Seleena fought a growing sense of despair as another of Nardik’s spells failed. She gasped when he breathed out an oath. Swearing was something he rarely did and only served to emphasize his anger and frustration. Separately and together, they had tried to breach the wards around Serepta’s castle, but to no avail.

“There has to be a way!” Seleena cried.

“Her magic is stronger than it ever was,” he replied, his brow furrowed. “I do not understand how that is possible.”

“Me, either. If only we knew who restored it.”

He nodded. “I can think of no wizard or witch on Brynn Tor who possesses greater magic than we do. Even with the addition of her vampire powers, we should be able to break any spell she can conjure.”

“Perhaps she didn’t get help from anyone on Brynn Tor.”

Nardik grunted thoughtfully. “Centuries ago, there was a coven of dark witches on Caynn.”

“Where are they now?”

“Still there, perhaps, though no one has heard anything about them in decades.”

“They might be our only hope. Do you know any of them?”

“No.”

“What are we waiting for? We should go there now! There’s no time to waste.”

“It could be dangerous.”

“I don’t care. I’m going, with or without you.”

#

With Nardik’s magic, it took only moments to arrive at the nearest spaceport. He found a pilot who was willing to transport them to Caynn, for the right price. Again using his magic, the required number of credits appeared in the pilot’s account. Half an hour later, the Airship was fired up and ready to go.

Seleena sat rigid in her seat. She had never traveled through outer space before and vowed there and then she would never do so again. She didn’t like not being in control.

She glanced out the window. The photos she had seen of Caynn depicted mountains and valleys and vast swaths of green. But the landscape below looked bleak and inhospitable.

The Airship landed smoothly on a barren stretch of ground beneath a dull gray sky. Seleena disembarked gratefully, relieved that the trip had been remarkably, blessedly, short.

She glanced around as Nardik stepped out behind her. She was about to ask him how they would find the coven when she sensed it - the unmistakable signature of black magic. She turned toward the east, where it was strongest.

“You sense it, too?” Nardik asked, moving up beside her.

Seleena nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Nardik drew his wand from inside his cloak, waved it once, then murmured an incantation. “She is here.”

“What you talking about? Who’s here?”

“Annis.” He smiled grimly. “Perhaps we can solve two problems with one visit.”

#

Serepta’s scent preceded her into the dungeon. But it was another scent that brought Quinn to his feet. He swayed unsteadily, the scent of fresh blood - human blood - stirring a hunger already roaring out of control due to the blood he had lost and the pain thrumming through him.

“I brought your dinner,” Serepta said as she unlocked the door and thrust a young girl inside. She was no more than fifteen or sixteen, with stringy blonde hair. Blood leaked from a long gash in her left arm. “Enjoy.”

Quinn backed away as far as the chain would allow. “Get her out of here!”

“Not your type?” Serepta asked.

“Get her out of here!” He clenched his hands. He had never known a hunger like this. He had to resist the urge to kill her. She was young, innocent, her eyes wide with terror. The pounding of her heart called to him. Fresh blood. An end to the pain ripping through him. “No!” He had promised Seleena he wouldn’t take a human life.

“I’ll just leave you to it,” Serepta said. “Think of it as your last meal.”

Her laughter trailed behind her as she left the dungeon.

Tears welled in the girl’s eyes. “Please, don’t.”

“Put something over that cut.” He ground the words through clenched teeth.

She stared at him then removed her torn shirt and wrapped it around her arm.

It didn’t help.

Quinn cursed under his breath as blood quickly soaked the cloth. The smell was just as strong. Just as tempting. With a low groan, he turned his back on her and dropped to his knees. He hadn’t uttered a prayer since the night his mother died. But he prayed now, desperately pleading for the strength to resist the siren call of the girl’s blood.

Chapter 27

Seleena stared at the walled citadel that crouched like a lion on the flat rise before them. This close, the signature of Black Magic was overpowering. It crawled over her skin, made her insides clench with revulsion.

“Do you want to wait out here?” Nardik asked, sensing her reluctance to enter.

“No.”

With a nod, he started up the hill.

Seleena followed him. It would have taken little effort to transport themselves to the top of the rise, but it was never wise to use one’s magic in another’s territory. A narrow path led from the top of the rise to the wall, which rose one hundred feet into the air.

There was no visible entrance.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“The wall is to keep invaders and non-magical folk out,” Nardik said.

Seleena frowned. “So, we need to go over it. But you said we shouldn’t use magic.”

“In this instance, they will be expecting it. Together,” he said, reaching for her hand. A murmured incantation carried them over the wall into a barren courtyard. A large gray stone dwelling stood at its center.

A thick oak door swung open at their approach. A man clad in a long, black robe stood in the doorway. Slight of stature, he had regular features, devil-dark eyes, and hair as white as the snow atop the mountains of Brynn Tor. Power radiated from him.

With a slight now, Nardik introduced himself, then inclined his head in her direction. “And this is Seleena.”

“What brings you here, uninvited?”

Though he was small of stature, the wizard’s voice rang like thunder in Seleena’s ears.

“I am Serepta’s father. And this is her mother.”

Face void of any emotion, Wyrick said, “I have been expecting you.”

“Indeed?”

The wizard nodded. “I am Wyrick. Please, come inside.”

Seleena followed Nardik and the other wizard down a long narrow corridor and into a large, square room furnished with a number of couches and tables. A large stone fireplace took up one wall. Ancient weapons and instruments of torture rested on shelves and adorned the walls.

“Please, sit,” the wizard invited. A wave of his hand, and a tray holding three crystal goblets and a decanter appeared on a table. He filled the three glasses, offered one to Nardik and Seleena. Keeping the third for himself, he sat on the sofa opposite theirs. “How may I help you?”

“Our daughter was here,” Nardik said.

Seleena wondered if the wizard would deny it, though it would be foolish to do so. The signature of her magic lingered in the room.

“Yes,” Wyrick said. “She asked that I restore the magic you took from her.”

“She is stronger now than before.”

“Of course. That is why she came to me. You think to destroy her, do you not?”

“It must be done, though we take no pleasure in it. Is there a way to weaken her powers?”

Wyrick shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Will you tell me how it can be done?”

“No.”

“What did she give you in return?”

“That is for me to know.”

“It was a young woman, was it not?” Nardik asked. “A young woman by name of Annis. Sister to the queen of Brynn Tor.”

The wizard said nothing.

“Serepta kidnapped Annis from the cloister where she had taken her vows.”

Surprise flashed in the wizard’s eyes.

“She is here,” Nardik said.

Wyrick sipped from his glass, then put it aside. “Yes. No harm has come to her. She is to wed my son.”

“What?” Seleena leaned forward. “She is already married to the church.”

“That is unfortunate,” Wyrick replied. “The date of the marriage has been set.”

“You cannot force her to marry against her will!” Seleena exclaimed.

“She willingly accepted my son’s proposal. Their union has been consummated.”

Seleena stared at Wyrick.

“I wish to speak with her,” Nardik said. “I wish to hear from her own lips that she comes to this union of her own free will.”

“As you wish. Follow me.”

Wyrick led them through a warren of corridors and up a flight of stone stairs. He paused before the only chamber on the floor and knocked once.

Several moments passed before the door opened. A tall, handsome man stood on at threshold. He smiled at Wyrick, then frowned when he saw Nardik and Seleena. “Father?”

“These two wish to speak with Annis.”

“To what end?”

“They have come to assure themselves that she is not being forced into this marriage.”

The man glanced over his shoulder. “Annis, we have guests.”

Smiling, she came to his side, her eyes growing wide when she saw their visitors.

“Nardik! What are you doing here?”

“I have come to take you home.”

Annis looked at Rajj. “You’re sending me away?”

“Only if you wish to go.”

“But I don’t!” She looked at Nardik, her eyes wide. “I want to stay here, with Rajj.”

Nardik’s gaze searched hers. He detected no hint of witchcraft compelling her to lie, no sense that she spoke anything but the truth. No mistaking the fact that she was truly happy.

“I was afraid at first,” she said, taking Rajj’s hand in hers, “but I’m not any more. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I know we were meant to be together.”

“Is there anything you need?” Seleena asked. “Any message for your family?”

“Yes. Please tell Marri and my mother I’m well and happy and that I send them my love.” She smiled at Rajj. “And that we hope to visit them soon.”

#

Seleena was pensive as she and Nardik left the citadel. “Did you believe her?”

“Yes. She was not compelled in any way.”

To her surprise, an opening appeared in the wall when they approached. Nardik hesitated a moment, then passed through. Seleena stared after him. Her body tingled with foreign magic as she followed him. The opening closed silently behind her.

“We’re no better off now than we were before,” she remarked as they made their way down the hill toward the Airship. “We still don’t know how to defeat Serepta or how to breach the wards she’s set round her lair.”

“At least we know Annis is well,” Nardik said matter-of-factly. “No doubt our daughter will be displeased to learn that, quite inadvertently, she has made someone happy.”

“I’m not worried about her,” Seleena said, settling herself inside the craft. “Right now, I can’t think of anyone but Quinn.” Leaning forward in her seat, she spoke to the pilot. “Please, hurry!”

Sitting back, she closed her eyes. Going to see Wyrick had been a waste of precious time. Time they didn’t have to waste.

“When we get back to Brynn Tor, I want you to go to the Fortress and wait for me,” Nardik said.

“No! I’m going after Quinn.”

“You cannot go alone. I need to let Amerris and Marri know that Annis is safe.”

Seleena stared at him. “Surely Quinn’s life is more important that allaying their fears!”

“Do not argue with me. We have not been able to breach her wards. You will accomplish nothing by going there now. Sooner or later, she will come to us.”

Seleena nodded.

“I will return as soon as possible. Consult the grimoire. Perhaps you will find an answer there.”

She nodded again, hands clenched at her sides. Nardik could do whatever he wished.

She was going after Quinn.