Willing Sacrifice (6 page)

T
orr sat there, shocked. The Solarc’s wife was not five feet from him. How could he not have known? “No wonder he’s looking for you. I can’t imagine that he was pleased that you left him.”

“He killed thousands of our subjects in his rage. Earthquakes, floods, interrogations. For that, I am truly sorry.” Some of her wrinkles deepened for a moment before smoothing once again.

“What will he do if he finds you?”

“He can see through sunlight, peering in on distant worlds. It is why the Sanguinar cannot step foot into the sunlight. He
sees
them and sends his Wardens to slay them. The twin suns here prevent him from seeing me. He must have learned that such a thing blinded him, so he has begun using other means to find me—sending his Wardens to all the worlds where I might hide.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. What will he do?”

“Bring me home. Strip my mind clean of all I have done to defy him. All who have ever aided my cause will die a horrible death.”

The crescent-shaped mark on his arm burned. “Does anyone else happen to use the same mark as you put on me?”

“No. It is mine alone.”

“Then I guess it’s in my best interests to make sure he doesn’t find you.”

“It is. But for more reasons than you may realize. If he finds me, this whole world and every creature on it will be slain. Including your Grace. I have touched her mind in my efforts to heal her. That leaves a kind of mark the Solarc will recognize instantly.”

Like hell. “Tell me what to do.”

“As long as I am free, he cannot use me to find those I have touched.”

“If you’re safe, we’re safe.”

“Yes. You must kill the minions who seek me and destroy their entrance to this world.”

“Where is the entrance?”

“When I came here, there were no portals, no Sentinel Stones, no way for any being less powerful than myself to travel here. It was safe. Clean.”

“But I saw a Sentinel Stone in the village.”

“Then you saw that it only opens to one place: Earth.”

“Is that why there were so few runes over the surface?”

“Yes. I needed a way for my daughters to come to me and return home, but I sense every time it opens. Nothing has come through that I did not allow.”

“You built it, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

She really was powerful. Maybe she was weaker now, but he would be smart to remember that the woman had serious juice. “If you know every time the Stone is used, then how did the Solarc’s minions get here?”

“The only way his creatures could be here now is if someone powerful allowed them passage.”

“So the Solarc sent them directly,” guessed Torr. “The same way you got here.”

“Yes, but he would not have sent them after me without some way for them to force my return.”

“Are you sure he wouldn’t just send his guys here to kill you?”

“He doubtlessly wants me dead, but my death will not be a simple one. Nor will it come quickly. He will make an example of me first.”

“And that means bringing you home,” he said. “What kind of minions are we talking about?”

“Wardens are likely.”

Torr let out a low whistle. “They’re hard to kill.”

“Extremely. They are designed to withstand the blade of a Theronai, so you will need to find the hammer of a Mason.”

“A Mason?”

“They are the Solarc’s craftsmen. They built the Sentinel Stones and will likely be here to erect a portal powerful enough to send me home. They work in pairs, so if you see one, know another is nearby.”

“Will my sword kill them?”

“For a time.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“They wield the power of creation.”

“So . . . what? They rebuild themselves?”

“Yes.”

“Then how do I kill them?”

“You do not. You may delay their efforts, but that is all.”

“So there’s no way to win.”

“The Masons are rare, precious creatures. Only the Solarc can create them, and the effort leaves him weakened for a time. The Masons will stay here only until their task is done. Once that happens, they will be sent to the next world to do the Solarc’s bidding.”

“That means we have to let them do their job, which is probably all kinds of bad news for us.”

“Precisely. He will have sent Masons who will carve their own portal. Once that is complete, I will have lost control of this world and what beings come here. That is why I sent for you.”

“You want me to find whoever—whatever—the Solarc sent here, keep them away from your people, then destroy their way in before any more bad guys can arrive.”

Brenya gave a tired nod. “The Masons have already created beasts to protect them—Hunters that will scour the area in search of me.”

“How do you know? Have you seen them?”

“Grace has. I have kept careful watch over her mind since you arrived, and it was easy to see what she saw earlier today. The Hunters are close. My magic will mask our village, but not for long. You must kill them.”

“Won’t that give away your location?” he asked.

“Not if it is done by a hand other than mine. There are many worlds like this one—many places the Solarc must search. He will assume my hatred for him will demand I fight back. He will be searching for the essence of my power in every one of his minions’ deaths. Nothing I do can give away my presence. If he cannot sense my power trying to keep him from this world, he will keep searching elsewhere.”

“You mean you can’t kill them yourself or he’ll know you did.”

“Indeed. He knows the feel of my magic too well for me to mask it. Your strength must be enough to defeat the Solarc’s minions. Do this in repayment for me saving the life of your precious Grace.”

There wasn’t even a question of whether he’d agree.

“I do so swear,” he vowed without hesitation, bracing himself for the weight of his word. Not only was the repayment a tiny one for Grace’s recovery, but she was still in danger so long as the Solarc touched this world.

With the life of the woman he loved at stake, he would find a way to protect this planet, no matter what it took.

T
orr sat outside all night waiting for the Solarc’s Hunters to appear. With Grace’s life—as well as those of many other women and children—on the line, he wasn’t going to trust the magical defenses of one weakened woman.

The tingling edge of Brenya’s protective barrier was at his back. The dark woods surrounding the village spread out in front of him, filled with the sounds of wild, alien creatures.

He saw a few small nocturnal animals scurrying about, but nothing more.

The morning sky was beginning to take on the color of burning embers when he heard someone approach from behind. He turned, sword in hand, to find Grace pushing through the brush at the edge of the village.

As soon as she saw him, relief eased the lines across her brow. “You’re safe.”

“Did you think I wasn’t?”

“Your bed was empty when I came to check on you in the middle of the night. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”

What he wouldn’t have given to have been there in his bed when she’d come. Nighttime had its own sort of magic. Maybe seeing him in the depths of night would remind her of all those times she’d sat with him in his suite back at Dabyr, holding a hand he couldn’t feel. He could see her touching him and know that she cared, but her warmth was a distant thing beyond his reach.

But not now. Now if she touched him he’d feel every gentle stroke, every bit of gliding pressure and heat.

It seemed that no matter how close he and Grace were, they were always destined to be separated. He couldn’t feel her touch before, and now that he could, she had no reason to touch him. He was no more to her than a stranger.

“I’m sorry if I scared you,” he said.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” She leaned against the thick black trunk of a nearby tree. The metallic leaves cast shimmering bits of reflected light across her face. “What are you doing out here?”

“Guarding against attack.”

“From those creatures? I thought Brenya was doing that with her magic.”

“She is. But my way is better.”

“What’s your way?”

“I won’t just keep them out. I’ll kill them.”

Grace shivered, but he couldn’t tell if it was the latent violence of his words or the chill of night that caused it. “You should come back and eat. As soon as it’s lighter, I’ll show you where I saw the creatures.”

He had no trouble seeing in the dim light, which only served to highlight Grace’s humanity. She had no magic, no powers she could use to defend herself.

“I’d rather go alone. If you could just point me in the right direction . . .”

“You’ll get lost out there. The trees are thick, and it’s easy to get turned around.”

“I have a good sense of direction.”

“Brenya told me it was my duty to guide you to what I saw.”

“Aren’t you afraid to go with me?” He knew she was. He could see it in her eyes. But she was hiding it well. If he hadn’t known her like he did—if he hadn’t spent hours talking with her and watching her face and studying her expression—he might not have even seen her fear.

She bit her lip, drawing his attention to the little dent she’d left behind.

Torr wanted to lick away the mark and ease the sting, and make her forget all about her worries.

When she spoke, her voice was steady, without a hint of fear. “After what I saw . . . I wouldn’t want anyone going out there alone. If you were to get hurt, you’d never be able to make it back here for help. At least if I’m there, you’ll have someone who can keep you safe.”

The idea tickled him, forcing a smile to lift one side of his mouth. The move felt so odd after going as long as he had without smiling, he was afraid he might pull a muscle. “You want to protect me?”

She nodded, and curly locks of dark hair slid over her shoulder. “Someone has to.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re important.”

She thought he was important? The idea sent a thrill racing through him until he was puffed up and feeling like a champion. “What makes you think that?”

“Brenya brought you here. She wouldn’t have done that unless we needed you for some reason, and that means I should do whatever I can to keep you safe.”

Some of his pride deflated a bit, but he tried to hide it. “Do I look like I need a protector?”

Her gaze slid over his body so slowly that he swore he could feel it against his skin. Places that had been chilled by the damp air grew warm, and the disk along his spine tingled.

“You look invincible,” she said. “But then, what do I know? You’re the only man I remember meeting.”

You’ve met me before. You’ve felt my lips on yours.
Those were the words that bulged behind his teeth, trying to break free. He held them back, but the effort left him shaking with fury that he was required to stay silent when the woman he loved was within reach.

“I’m not invincible,” he admitted. “But I’m far more suited to battle than you.”

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug, drawing his attention to the slim line of her arms. Goose bumps puckered her skin.

Torr removed the blanket he’d tossed over his shoulders the previous night to cover his bare chest. There were no clothes here that fit him, but he’d been forced to wear worse things than a clean blanket before.

He pulled the fabric around her body, wrapping her in the warmth that clung to it.

The move pulled her close. His fists stayed bunched at the edges of the blanket, unable to let go. Her head tilted back as she looked up at him, and until this moment, he hadn’t realized just how perfectly she fit his frame. Since the night he’d met her, after saving her family from attack by Synestryn demons, one or the other of them had been paralyzed. First him, then her. He’d never stood in front of her like this until coming here. It felt incredibly right, which was its own kind of torture.

One hand held the blanket tight. The other slid over her shoulder, across the nape of her neck. His fingers parted as they moved through her hair to cup the back of her head.

Her dark eyes widened, and her mouth opened on a silent, sudden breath.

His hold on her was absolute. She couldn’t have broken free if she’d tried. She was trapped, and yet there was no sign of fear this time. Only curiosity and excitement.

“I’m not sure if we should be this close,” she whispered.

“Why not?”

“I can hear a voice inside telling me it’s wrong. But . . .” She trailed off, frowning.

“But what?”

“If it’s wrong, then why does it feel so nice?”

Her innocence hit him like a falling tree. With her memories gone, and no experience with men, she had no way of knowing what a man like him wanted from her.

And he did want from her. So much.

Torr released her and took a step back. It wasn’t as far as it should have been, but even moving away that distance was an effort of will.

“Why are there no men here?” he asked.

“Brenya doesn’t allow it.”

“But she brought me here.”

“None of us know why. Unless you’re here to give someone a child or meet one of your children.”

Shock drifted through him. “What? Why would you think that?”

Grace backed up a couple of steps, gripping the blanket. The flicker of fear that passed through her expression was quick, but he still saw it.

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said. “I’m sorry if that question was out of line.”

“It’s not that. You can ask me whatever you want. I’m just a little surprised that you’d think that’s why I’m here.”

“Athanasian women come here sometimes after meeting with special men on Earth. The women stay here and have their children before going back home. I thought maybe you were one of the fathers since you’re from Earth.”

“I’m not one of the fathers, nor did I come here to become one.” It wasn’t possible. He’d heard rumors that there was a serum that could restore his fertility and that all the men had been ordered to take it, but in order to get it he would have had to go back to Dabyr. And that wasn’t an option. If he had gone back, his brothers might not have let him leave again, and he couldn’t have stood being around so many happy couples when he didn’t even know if Grace was safe.

Her gaze drifted past him, growing distant. “I’ve often wondered if I had a child before Brenya saved me. I keep seeing the face of a little boy in my dreams.”

Torr guessed it was her stepbrother she saw. Blake. They’d been close, but he couldn’t tell her that without revealing that he had known her in her old life. Doing that would come too close to breaking his vow to Brenya. Instead, he settled for, “How old was he?”

“Nine or ten.”

“How old are you?”

“I don’t know.”

Torr did. She was twenty-eight now, after her years here. “You’re still young. You would have had to have been pregnant as a child to have a son that old. I’m sure he’s just someone you were close to.”

“A brother?”

“Possibly,” he said, hedging. “If you regain your memories, I’m sure you’ll be able to find him.”

“Do you think he’s looking for me?”

“Anyone who lost you would never stop looking for you, never stop trying to get you back, never stop wondering if you were safe and happy.”

A sad smile shaped her mouth. The last time he’d touched it had been the time he’d had to breathe for her. He’d wished his lips had been on hers for any other reason but to force air into her lungs. She’d been so frail then. At death’s door. He’d known it might be the last time he would ever see her, and yet here she was, safe and so beautiful it made his chest ache.

“You’re sweet,” she told him. “If all men are like you, it’s no wonder Brenya keeps them away. None of us would ever get any work done.”

“Brenya would be smarter to bring more men like me here to keep you all safe.”

“If you’re going to keep anyone safe, you’ll need to eat something. Let’s get you some food and I’ll see if we have any clothes that might fit.”

He fell in line behind her as she started walking toward the cluster of huts around the Sentinel Stone. “Are you saying you don’t like me running around half naked?”

“I try not to lie, so I won’t say that, but it is distracting. The girls all want to touch you, which I have to admit I
don’t
like.”

Jealousy? He couldn’t be sure. What he was sure of was that he’d wear pink stockings and a clown wig if it made Grace happy. “We can’t have that. I bruise easily.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyebrows raised. “I don’t believe that, not after seeing how fast you heal. You barely needed more than to have the blood cleaned away.”

“Fast healing comes with the job.”

“What job is that?”

“Getting beaten to a pulp all the time.”

“Well, I hope you’re good at it. If we’re going after those things in the woods, you’re going to need to be an expert.”

“
We’re
not going after them.
I
am.”

“You won’t find them without my help. Even Brenya agreed I needed to go along, and she doesn’t want me anywhere near danger.”

“You can just point the way.”

Grace stopped so suddenly he nearly ran into her. Her chin was set in a way he recognized—one that said she was going to get her way.

In that instant, he remembered how she’d gotten him to start eating again after he’d decided to starve to death. None of his brothers would kill him and free him from the prison his body had created. He was paralyzed, and all the Sanguinar around were pouring all of their energy into trying to heal him. Nothing had worked, and he’d become nothing but a drain on the people he loved.

Joseph, his leader, had refused to let him meet an honorable death, so Torr had taken the decision out of his hands. No one could force him to eat. It was the only thing he had left that he controlled.

And then Grace had come to him, so sweetly coaxing, offering to remove one item of clothing for every bite he took. The temptation had been more than he could resist. She’d fed him and made him hunger all at the same time.

He’d found his honor before she’d stripped herself bare, but it had been a close call. Even now he could remember just how she looked with only her bra covering her full breasts. His body had been unable to respond at the time, but it was more than able now. He had to clasp his hands in front of his groin to keep her from seeing what she did to him.

She didn’t raise her voice. There was no heat in her tone, but that made it no less final. “I’m going with you. We all follow Brenya’s orders here. Even you. And she ordered me to show you where I saw the Hunters.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll just have to find a way to change your mind.”

Just as she had with him starving himself.

If she started taking off clothes now, he was sure he wouldn’t be enough of a man to stop her. He’d wanted her for too long, and having her close again was almost too good to believe. Touching her—taking her—would definitely go a long way toward convincing him that this was all real and not some beautiful dream.

Torr cleared his throat to keep a squeak from his voice. “Are you saying I should just give in?”

“I’m saying I’ll meet you by the well after you’re finished eating. Don’t leave without me.”

Clearly her mind was made up. And he was supposed to earn her trust somehow. He couldn’t do that from a distance, so Grace would go with him. But as soon as she showed him where to find the Hunters, he was bringing her right back. No way was he putting his sweet Grace in danger for one second longer than necessary.

•   •   •

Grace led Torr through the woods, relieved that his body was now covered. At least that’s what she tried to tell herself.

Not that what she’d been able to find could really count as him being covered. She’d had to cut the sleeves off of a loose shirt that one of the larger women wore. After she sliced open the front to make room for the width of his shoulders and ribs, the shirt was more of a vest. It did nothing to hide his arms and little to hide his chest. Every time he walked, the edges parted, revealing that tantalizing image of the tree and the flashing, iridescent necklace.

“What is that picture you wear?” she finally asked as she led the way to the area where she’d been collecting herbs yesterday.