Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) (32 page)

Wicked snarls erupted behind her. Spinning to face the new threat, Brienne nearly stumbled. Hatred shining in her eyes, Kendra, Wesken’s mate, glared at Evan.

“Kendra, stop.” Time stood still. The female packmate Brienne had considered a friend snarled and growled.

“This land should be ours, and it will be.” Kendra didn’t spare Brienne a glance. “We’ve fought for our chance to take it from you for so long. Our time has finally come.” Her entire body shook as she advanced, never taking her eyes off Evan. “You,” she said as she gathered black energy to her palms, “killed my father.”

Brienne threw herself in the line of fire, but she was too late. The huge blast soared past, straight toward Evan. Helpless to stop it, she screamed and screamed.

Out of nowhere, Rhia came running, her anguished cry mingling with Brienne’s as Evan fell.

Kendra’s lips curled, an evil smile twisting her face. Already she had more energy sizzling in her furry palms. With a flick of her wrists, she sent the huge ball careening toward Rhia.

Brienne saw Drake whip past to remove Rhia from the line of fire, but numbness kept her from moving.

Wesken roared long and loud, but when he sprang on Kendra, taking her to the ground, it was too late. Energy from all around had slammed into her the moment she’d unleashed her power against Rhia. The she-beast crumpled, her life energy ripped from her in an instant. Wesken fell to his knees, head hung low, his fists clenched at his sides.

Everything happened in a matter of seconds, yet eternity had never been so long. She had to get to Evan.

Even though the battle raged all around her, Brienne couldn’t hear a thing but her heart’s frantic pounding. The air hissed out of her lungs as she stumbled to the ground several feet shy of where Evan lay unmoving. All she could see was his still form. She had to get to him. Nothing else mattered. If she could get to him, she’d save him. He’d be okay.

“Evan.”
The whispered word met nothing but blank silence.

Crawling on hands and knees, she closed the distance between them. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away. Her lungs burned for air that refused to be drawn. This couldn’t be happening. She refused to think it. Evan was too strong, too stubborn to fall at the hands of the enemy.

Gathering energy, she shoved the pain deep into her soul, focusing on her task. She would bring him back. As long as he hadn’t completely let go, she could do it. Energy flowing through her, she sent it seeking his, reaching for that small glimmer of hope that would keep him with her, but found nothing but a cold void.

It took her a moment to realise the small whimper she heard came from her own lips as she gathered more energy still. He wasn’t gone. She refused to believe it. Just a tiny spark, that’s all she needed. She’d grab hold and pull him back from the edge. All she needed was that little spark. She swept his body again, filling his entire being with energy, desperate in her search.

Drake crouched next to her, his mouth moving, but she didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Acknowledging the pain and sorrow in his eyes and the slump in his shoulders was more than she could take.

“Help me! I can’t find him.” Her voice cracked as she pleaded with him. “Drake, I can’t find him.”

“Brienne—”

“Help me, damn you.” Fire, hotter than she’d ever created, churned in her chest, burning her lungs and throat. She flooded Evan’s body once more.

“He’s gone.” Drake’s softly spoken words screamed in her mind.

“He’s not.” Her hands fisted and she glared at him. What kind of friend was he that he wouldn’t help her get him back? She needed Aiken. He wouldn’t sit back and let Evan die. Where was he? Her pack surrounded her, faces solemn. At some point, the battle had ended, but solace was not hers. She stared, unable to do anything more as Wesken threw his head back and roared. One by one, each of her packmates did the same, honoring Evan as a warrior and her mate.

No. She shook her head. No, they were all wrong. He wasn’t gone.

“I need Aiken.” The words barely whispered past her lips.

She didn’t care if they all thought she’d lost her sanity. Fingers shaking, she reached up with a feather light touch to stroke his cold cheek. A small sob wrenched from her soul as she leaned down to press her lips to the coolness of his.

Lifting her head, she roared, long and loud, the dragon within realizing her mate had gone from this world even if Brienne herself could not. Fire spewed from her lips, blistering them, but she didn’t care. Filling her lungs, she roared again and again. Her pack joined in, lending their support. Hearing them, then Drake and the other men she could have handled, but when Rhia added her mournful roar to the mix, overwhelming pain poured into her broken soul.

Deep, wracking sobs tore through her. A great fissure ripped her life energy in two, making her spirit bleed. She didn’t know how long she remained, her body covering his chest, but it didn’t matter. There was nothing left for her, nothing more for her to do in this life. No one who mattered enough to make her want to stay, so when her people gathered around with their warm, healing energy, she closed her eyes and stopped their infusions before they got anywhere near her. Even the dragon, who had always fought for her to stand and fight, lay with her, defeated and unwilling to go on without its mate.

She didn’t know how long it would take, but she’d stay until the darkness took her, then maybe they’d find a way to be together again. Her life’s energy seeped from her body. She heard the gasps around her and the soft voices, some masculine, some feminine, trying to convince her to see reason, but what they didn’t realize was that there was no choice, not really. Her fractured soul wouldn’t allow her survival even if she wished for it.

Deep rumbles followed by harshly spoken words registered in her mind as if from far away. Before she realized what was happening, strong, fur-covered arms lifted her from her mate and held her tight.

“I’m not fucking letting you do this.” Argram shook her.

When her eyes snapped open she saw the bright orange and yellow form of his body heat, too close to see clearly. Fire raged within her. The sharp, pointed edges of her teeth cut through her gums and her tongue slithered over their tips. Her fingers burned as though someone had taken a fiery stake to each one as her claws broke through the skin.

Who dared take her away from her mate? Who was so bold to remove her from his body to mourn as was her right? Her growl vibrated through her as she fought against the offender’s hold and broke free.

“Get away from her if you wish to live.” Drake’s garbled voice resonated close behind her. He didn’t touch her, he knew better.

Panting, she took a step closer, her fists clenching at her sides. Her claws dug into her palms, slicing them open. The smell of her own blood infuriated the dragon. Energy sailed from her hands, straight and true, sending the offender stumbling back as it hit its mark.

Three large bodies stepped before her, blocking her from the enemy. Her growls echoed on the castle walls. She wasn’t done. Side stepping, she tried to get around them, but they followed her movement, protecting the fallen.

Pale blue light emanated from each of them, making her heart clench. Sorrow, soul deep, broke through the rage.

“He is no threat to you. Go back to Evan.”
Drake’s faraway voice trickled into her mind.

Turning her head, she saw her mate’s lifeless form and fury rose once more.

“I said, go back to him—now. Killing your friend won’t bring him back.”
The command in his voice was unmistakable. If she chose to continue with her pursuit, he’d step in to stop her, and a part of her wished he would.

Her friend? She looked past the three phoenix men before her to see through the haze of fury. Argram’s body lay crumpled on the ground. His energy throbbed and shivered around him as he fought for his life.

She’d done this. The one who’d taken her in when she’d had no one else in the world now lay fighting for his life because of her. Now more than ever, she had to go. No one would be safe if she stayed in this world. What would have happened if Rhia had been the one to approach her? Would she have attacked her, killed her? No, she couldn’t stay, she wouldn’t. Without Evan, she had no will to remain anyway.

Without uttering a word, she went back to him, taking his head onto her lap. Silent tears fell as she held him, her hand caressing his cold cheek.

“Rhiannon approaches.”
Drake’s stern voice slid into her mind.
“No amount of grieving will excuse you should you try to harm her in any way.”

Only another dragon would dare speak to her that way when she was so close to the edge. She didn’t lift her eyes from her mate, but nodded as the tears continued to fall.

“Brienne…” Rhia’s voice cracked. “Let me help you. Please.”

She looked up, not seeing, shaking her head. “No. I don’t—” Her voice broke. “I don’t deserve it. Forgive me, my queen, but I don’t want it.”

Rhia came closer. “You do. You deserve comfort and love. Evan—”

“I don’t,” she spat. Her gaze caught the marking on her hand and a sob slipped past her lips. “Evan died thinking that I didn’t love him enough to stay. He didn’t get comfort and neither will I.”

The others might be able to move past that, but she never would. She’d carry her burden with her into the next world and beg forgiveness there.

The sun beat down on Brienne’s back, but it wasn’t hot or even warm. Ice ran in her veins where only fire had ever dwelled. She could let her life’s essence go in one big blast, expelling it into the universe and snuffing her own light, but she wouldn’t. She deserved to feel it, to have the crippling pain take the breath from her lungs and the life from her body.

Her packmates stood vigil. They’d stepped back, allowing Evan’s family close, but they hadn’t retreated to the forest as she’d expected they would. Several of them attended to the injured, including Argram, while the others stood silent. What were they waiting for? Did they expect her to leave with them, to go on as if nothing had changed? She couldn’t complete the mission now. They
had
to know that.

“I need to speak with Wesken. I don’t want him harmed if he comes to me.”

Drake, who was holding his mate as she wept, glanced at her, and for the first time, she saw the pain in his eyes. He’d been so stoic, standing tall, being strong for everyone else, yet he’d lost someone as close to a brother as anyone could be without sharing the same blood.

Disapproving murmurs rumbled through the Coalition and a few deep guttural grunts resonated from a little further back within her pack, but when she looked up Drake had returned, bringing Wesken with him.

Her packmate crouched next to her, not saying a word.

“How is he? How’s Argram?” She could hardly force the words from her mouth.

“He’ll live.”

“How about you?” What Kendra had done was more than traitorous; it was cold and heartless. She’d made him love her, all the while sticking a long knife in his back. Each time she’d run to her father’s pack—her pack—and gave them the information she’d gathered, she’d twisted that knife a little deeper.

His arms bunched and his jaw clenched, but when he spoke, his voice was calm. “Don’t worry for me.”

He was hurting, there was no way he wouldn’t be, but she didn’t press him. The men in her pack, even those with some restored emotion, didn’t show it. His pride wouldn’t allow such a display of weakness. “I can’t go back.” Her voice broke on the last word. They would have to fight their own battle to break the curse.

“We know.” His chin rested against his chest and he closed his eyes.

“Go back to the Dark Lands. Break the curse. You’re so close now. You can find a way to do it.”

“No.” He didn’t lift his head, didn’t raise his voice.

“Please go, take the pack with you. I’m not going back. I’m not going to change my mind.” Even now, her head spun a little and she made herself focus on him.

His growl, too low for anyone else to hear, drifted to her ears. “We don’t leave a packmate behind.” His gaze snapped back to hers, anguish and anger fighting for supremacy in their depths. “We’ll return to the Dark Lands once you’ve gone. Not before.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He knew what she was doing. He knew, and he didn’t like it, but he was respecting her decision just the same.

His face blurred before her, and all she could do was offer a weak smile. “Thank you.”

“Argram wants you to know that he understands. He should not have approached you, much less touch you while you were in that state. He knows you didn’t intend to harm him.”

She couldn’t speak around the lump in her throat. She didn’t deserve forgiveness, but she cherished it anyway. Breathing became difficult, each breath shorter than the last as her body fought to stay alive. Her head pounded with the buzz of voices, but she couldn’t tell if they were present or past. She could no longer filter the psychic noise.

Just when she thought she’d go mad with the cacophony of sound inside her own head, all went silent. The sun warmed her cheeks as she lifted her face into its inviting rays, relishing in the peace washing over her.