Raelia (The Medoran Chronicles Book 2) (51 page)

When she turned back to Jordan, she found him looking at her with eyes full of hurt.

“It
is
me, Alex,” he whispered. “I’m still me. Aven Claimed me for my own protection. It’ll help him keep me safe while he saves Meya from its evil rulers. And after that, we’re going to search for Luka together. A brother for a brother, that was our agreement.”

Alex couldn’t accept his words.

“Your agreement?” she repeated, despite her better judgement.

“Jordan,” Aven interrupted. “Answer truthfully. Did I offer to Claim you?”

Jordan hesitated, but then he whispered a quiet, “No.”

Alex’s blood turned to ice.

“Did I Claim you against your will?” Aven pressed.

Jordan’s answer was even quieter this time. “No.”

She felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her windpipe.

Aven grinned victoriously and asked his final question. “Then tell us, Jordan, how did you come to be in my service?”

Jordan’s vibrant blue eyes stared straight at Alex when he said, “I asked Aven to Claim me. It was my idea. And I don’t regret it.”

NO!

Alex felt as if the ground had been pulled out from underneath her. “No!
NO!
” she screamed out loud, adding to the horrified sounds coming from D.C. and Bear. She couldn’t keep the tears from welling in her eyes as she begged, “Tell me it’s not true. Please, Jordan.
Tell me it’s not true!
”

“It’s for the best, Alex,” he said, his voice anguished. “You’ll see.”

She had to hold back a sob at his brainwashed words. Where was her cocky, overprotective best friend? Where was the Jordan she knew—the one who would never have surrendered to Aven, let alone
asked
for a life of controlled servitude?

“Jordan,” Alex whimpered, unable to say more.

“Alex,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”

His apology broke her. Tears poured down her face, dripping down her cheeks and landing on the snow-covered ground, melting the ice as her blood remained frozen in her veins.

Her grief nearly brought her to her knees, but she knew that she had to keep it together and protect her friends until help arrived. Darrius might not be able to step through the Library into Meya, but she had to hope he’d find another way to summon reinforcements.

“As touching as this is, it’s time for us to leave. I have a rebellion to lead.”

Alex snapped her head up at Aven’s words and croaked out, “Over my dead body.”

He smirked at her. “That’s one thing we agree upon.”

She wiped a shaky hand across her eyes, preparing herself for what she knew would be her final battle with the Meyarin. He no longer needed her, so he would have no problem killing her.

Just like Skyla.

Alex swallowed back fresh tears as the shock of such a pointless murder hit her anew.

Focus
, she told herself.
Grieve later. Focus now.

“Ready when you are, Aven.”

“You misunderstand me, Alexandra,” he said, his eyes glittering. “I’m not going to fight you.”

She frowned in bewilderment. Didn’t he want her dead?

“You seem confused,” Aven observed. “I have to admit, I do enjoy toying with you.”

At the look she shot him, he sighed mockingly.

“I can see you’re not in the mood for games, so we’ll end this quickly,” Aven said. Then he called, “Jordan?”

Her friend turned to look at Aven, and Alex wished she could run away and hide in the forest for the rest of her life just to avoid the pain she was currently feeling. But she would never leave D.C. and Bear, not when their lives could end like Skyla’s had at one word from Aven. Or two words, as the case may be, since they were the exact words he spoke to Jordan with his next command.

“Kill her.”

No.

Twenty-Five

Jordan stepped forward at Aven’s order. Alex
had been too focused on his face earlier to notice the cape he wore that concealed a sword belted to his waist. But she could see it clearly now, since Jordan had pulled it free.

“Don’t do this, Jordan,” Alex begged, stepping backwards as he continued to stalk towards her. “I won’t fight you.”

Her words meant nothing to him. His eyes were unfocused and his body obediently followed Aven’s orders. Alex knew exactly what that felt like—having no control, but being able to witness everything that was happening. More tears leaked out of her eyes at the thought of her friend trapped in his own mind while his body prepared to fight her, maybe even kill her.

“Do it now, Jordan,” Aven ordered louder. “I don’t have all day.”

“No, Jordan,” Alex said. “Don’t listen to him. Fight him!”

But her words were useless. Jordan’s eyes narrowed as he raised his sword a fraction and lunged towards her.

“No!” she cried, jumping out of the way. “Don’t!”

He came at her again, swiping his blade at her torso, and again she jumped away.

“I won’t fight you!” she repeated. “I won’t!”

“Then you’ll die quickly,” Jordan said, his voice devoid of emotion as he swung his weapon towards her neck.

It might have been his words, or the strength she could see behind his attack, but something within Alex shifted and a fierce resolve came over her. If she could make it out of Raelia alive, then she might be able to find a way to help him. Anything was possible; she was living proof of that. So, rather than avoiding his attack, Alex needed to disable him—hopefully without causing too much damage in the process.

“A’enara!” she yelled instinctively, and the glowing weapon appeared in her hand before she’d even finished calling its name. The ice-coloured blade—which was again the length of a sword—intercepted Jordan’s blow, with blue sparks flying furiously between them.

Alex barely heard Aven’s enraged growl as she focused on defending against Jordan’s next strike.

Her friend was rated Delta in Combat. That was only one level down from Alex, and he’d been taking the class for years. He was more than capable with his blade. But he now also had Aven’s Claim on him, supplementing his strength, speed and skill. It also didn’t help that, while half of Alex’s mind was concentrating on staying alive, the other half was trying to come up with a plan to get Jordan out of there in one piece. So far, both halves were at a loss for ideas.

“Stop playing around, Jordan,” Aven ordered. “Finish her.”

Alex frowned at the Meyarin’s words. But then she jerked in surprise when Jordan disappeared, using his gift to make himself—and his weapon—invisible. Only a deep-rooted survival instinct caused Alex to raise A’enara in time to intercept Jordan’s sword when she sensed his attempt to slice her in two.

Definitely not good.

“That’s more like it,” Aven called out smugly.

Concentrate
, Alex told herself.
Concentrate or you’ll die. Concentrate or Bear and D.C. will die, too. Concentrate or you won’t be able to help Jordan.

Remembering her blindfolded fight with Roka, Alex closed her eyes and let go of everything else to focus on the power within her. It was waiting for her, just under the surface, welcoming her acceptance like a warm embrace.

She opened her eyes again when she felt the air move around her and she raised her weapon, blocking Jordan’s invisible attack. Again he lunged at her, and again she defended. She jumped when she felt his leg swing out to trip her, and she kicked out towards where she thought his torso was while he was undefended. Her foot landed hard and she heard him stumble backwards with an “
ooof
” sound.

When he came at her again, she was ready for him. But rather than letting him continue to attack her, she made the first move, beginning a quick series of swipes and lunges for him to defend against. The problem was that she didn’t want to hurt him, which severely restricted her ability to incapacitate him. Unlike when she’d fought Roka, Jordan was
human
. It was difficult to injure or kill a Meyarin, but humans were much more vulnerable.

That was why having the upper hand in the fight didn’t turn out so well for Alex. The moment her blade skimmed lightly across where she thought Jordan’s forearm was and he hissed in pain, Alex hesitated. Her sword stilled in the air when Jordan became visible again, clutching at his bleeding arm.

“You wounded me,” he panted, exhausted from the fight as well as having to maintain his transcended state. “For that you will die.”

“Listen to yourself!” Alex cried. “That’s not you speaking, it’s Aven! Resist him!”

“
Enough!
” Aven roared, striding over to where they stood. His infuriated glare could have set the snow on fire. “How are you are able to fight an invisible opponent?”

She stilled at his question, recalling Roka’s warnings to not let Aven discover the truth of her blood status. “I’ve been practising,” she said evasively.

“Answer me!”

“I did,” Alex replied, remaining as deliberately vague as possible.

He took a menacing step forward but then froze, tilting his head as if listening to something only he could hear.

“
No
,” he breathed, his eyes quickly looking around the clearing until they fell on his companion. “Calista, stay here and keep them occupied for as long as you can. Then come and find us.”

The woman nodded and turned her focus back to D.C. and Bear who remained suspended in the air.

“You,” Aven said to Alex, capturing her in his burning gaze. “You’re coming with us.”

“I’m not going
anywhere
with you,” Alex argued, raising her blade defiantly.

Aven didn’t so much as blink as he said, “Jordan.”

Alex dreaded the thought of continuing the fight with her best friend. But this time Aven’s order had a different meaning, and she discovered his intent a moment too late when Jordan reached out to grasp the Meyarin’s shoulder and they both dis

She wasn’t quick enough to tap into her new senses again before both her hands were yanked behind her back and her sword was forced from her grip. A’enara disappeared immediately and she hissed at the pain of her arms being tugged almost out of their sockets. Before she could so much as cry out, the pommel of Jordan’s sword smashed into her temple.

She was unconscious before she hit the snow-covered ground.

A stinging pain forced Alex back to half-consciousness, and a second sharp slap to her face woke her completely.

Ouch
.

She opened her eyes and winced at the throbbing pulse beating through her skull. Aven stood directly above where she lay in the icy snow, looking down at her with flared nostrils.

“The reason you’re still alive is because I need an answer. If you tell me quickly, I’ll be merciful and end your life just as fast. If you delay, I’ll take great delight in prolonging your pain.”

“At least one of us will be happy,” Alex slurred. “That’s something.”

Clearly her damaged head was affecting her judgement.
Note to self: don’t antagonise the murderous psychopath.

Aven snarled at her.

Oops. Too late.

“Answer me!” he demanded loudly, causing Alex to wince in discomfort.

“It might have escaped your notice, but I can barely remember my own name after that sucker punch, let alone what I’m supposed to be answering,” Alex said. “And where are we, anyway?”

They weren’t in Raelia anymore, that much she could tell. But judging by the colour of the forest surrounding them they were still somewhere in the Silverwood.

“How did you fight Jordan when you couldn’t see him?” Aven repeated his question, barely reining in his temper.

“You didn’t tell me where we are,” Alex singsonged. “Quid pro quo?”

Before she could draw a startled breath, Jordan was kneeling beside her in the snow with the point of his sword resting against her windpipe. “Answer him!” he growled.

Alex couldn’t utter a single word, she was too consumed by the fiery blue eyes staring at her out from her friend’s face. She
reached out her hand without thinking and stroked his cheek, whispering, “Oh, Jordan.”

His gaze flickered with what she thought was genuine emotion at her touch, but as he pressed his blade into her skin reality washed over her. This wasn’t her best friend. This was Aven’s puppet. And he was willing to kill her for his master.

“Answer him now or I’ll slit your throat,” Jordan threatened.

Alex stared from his eyes to her hand on his cheek and back again. On her third glance, something other than his hardened expression caught her attention. Maybe it was because she was dazed from the bump on her head, but the swirling darkness in her Shadow Ring seemed more beautiful than usual.

A whispered memory came back to her.

“
When your need is great, you’ll be able to activate the Shadow Essence contained within the stone… But you’ll have to immerse yourself fully in the Shadow to do so
.”

Then another memory came to her.

“
Alexandra, we’re all born with Shadow inside us. But, as with anything, it’s up to us to decide what we do with that Shadow. We can succumb to its power, or we can overcome it and use it. Our level of control depends upon our ability to resist the Shadow’s hold on us. It’s a choice we must all make.
”