Authors: Lynda Aicher
Airiana froze, a unified action with Louk. They remained tightly entwined, his lips a breath away, his gaze focused on her.
He was with her. He felt it, too, she saw it his eyes, felt it in his energy that flowed through her.
They were together in whatever was unfolding around them. Within them.
To them.
The universe sucked in a large gulping gasp, then breathed.
The bars creaked and moaned around a cage she had no comprehension of. But, it rang on her conscious and vibrated through their absorbing minds. The animal within shifted, stirred and rolled. Its nose twitched lightly, sensing, feeling, anticipating.
The pending sense of dread flooded her being and sucked away at the joy she had just experienced. A lone tear rolled from the corner of her eye to trail down the side her face. The grief unexplainable, the emotion too much.
And the world shifted again, the light returned and the tingling started. It encompassed them before either could react. His muscles tensed around her and then they were moving, floating on the energy in a familiar mode of travel.
But his face said it all. Louk didn’t do it. They were porting through the energy together, forced against their will.
Her mind reeled, and she tried to think strategically about what was happening. But there was absolutely no scenario that she could devise in which the outcome of what was happening would be good.
For either of them.
Chapter Six
What the fuck?
Louk held tightly to Airiana as they were spirited through the energy to a destination unknown. One second they’d been hotly on track to easy his aching cock and the next second the world turned over. Literally. Or so it felt like.
Hell, he’d admit their connection was phenomenal, but earth shattering was a poetic euphemism. Not a reality. But the earth most certainly moved.
Something unbelievably crazy had just happened, was
still
happening, and it pissed him off that he had no control over it. Anger was way better than admitting to the niggling of fear that tickled over his spine.
He kept Airiana close and prepared for the landing. Wherever that was. If it was. The longer they traveled in their molecular state, the higher his shit meter went. As of now, they were in really, really deep shit.
This wasn’t his doing and it certainly couldn’t be hers, the energy collar prevented her from porting or using the energy. He concentrated and tried to pull out, to meld with the energy and command it as he knew he could. But whoever was controlling it was more powerful than him. Way more.
The vibe was ancient. Strong. Deadly.
They solidified in a mingling of limbs exactly as they’d been hijacked. Instantly, Louk sprang to his feet and crouched, prepared for anything. Airiana was next to him a half second later. He rotated so his back braced against hers.
Together they breathed and waited.
“Where are we?” she questioned softly.
“I don’t know.”
They were in a dark room full of shadows and hidden recesses, the only light shone from above and directly down on them. He tested the energy and cursed.
“What?”
“We’re inside a circle.” Trapped.
The raven circled and glided—open, hunting, seeking. The mystery as unnerving to it as it was to Louk.
The room itself was devoid of all but a minimal amount of furniture that formed faint outlines against the blackness outside of their small circle of light. Louk’s boots sank into plush, red carpeting that absorbed all sound and added to the padded cell feeling. Dark curtains hung over the windows and allowed for absolutely no light to leak through which made it impossible to tell if it was even night or day.
His unease increased as he opened his senses to absorb his surroundings.
“Who’s there?” he called out even as he slowly rotated to take in more of the room. Airiana stayed with him, keeping her back to him, guarding his hidden half.
“One who has waited a very long time for you to arrive.” The voice came from the depths of the darkness, but floated around them. The odd distribution made it impossible for Louk to identify where it came from. He stopped his movement and simply focused on the verbal play.
Behind him, Airiana stilled.
“What do you mean?” Louk straightened and casually tucked his hand in the folds of his jacket. “Why did you bring us here?”
“I did not bring you here. The energy did,” the voice answered mysteriously.
“Is this a joke?” Airiana shot out.
A low chuckle rolled across the space before the voice replied. “This is the furthest thing from a joke that I can think of.”
“Show yourself,” Louk demanded, tired of the anonymity.
Immediately an elderly man appeared to their side. Reflexes had them turned, crouched and ready to defend, their movements matched as if they’d fought together for years.
“Better?” the man asked.
The man stood straight, his hands clasped nonchalantly behind his back. He was of Asian descent, with long white hair that was neatly braided down his back and the wisps of two equally long mustache tips that framed his mouth and extended well past his chin. His skin was time worn, but his face remained wrinkle free. His eyes held more than a millennium of wisdom, and his energy confirmed it. He was an Ancient. One of the few who had lived longer than most could remember.
He wore a long white robe cut in an Asian style with gold embroidery along the edges that flowed in soft waves to his knees. Matching white, silk pants hung loosely below the robe and simple white slippers poked out from beneath the hem of the garment as if their—Louk and Airiana’s—appearance had disturbed his morning lounge.
A smile curved across his lips and his brown eyes flashed with a bit of humor. “Ah, I am not what you were expecting,” he said lightly. “You are wise. Don’t let appearances fool you. I can take you both down before you blink.”
It had taken some very strong power to pull them out of his circle and force them to this location, but Louk didn’t sense a threat. He relaxed his stance and let go of the grip he had on the knife. He slipped his hand out of his jacket and contemplated their next move.
“You have questions,” the man said politely. “I may have answers, but they may not make you happy.”
“Why are we here?” Airiana advanced a half step before she paused as if she realized what she was doing. Tipping her head, she retreated back and waited. Obviously she recognized him as an Ancient and was showing him the respect he was due. The man was thousands of years old, and that distinction alone elevated his authority and position of power to one that was much higher than theirs.
No matter which side he was on.
The man tilted his head then nodded in apparent approval. “Airiana Draco. A woman lost and hiding a secret shame. Riddled with doubt, you are poised with questions and seeking answers.” Airiana gasped softly. “Yes, the energy told me about you.”
He turned his attention to Louk. “Loukianos Aeros. Also seeking answers and desiring truth. A man filled with need and a desire to believe.” Louk’s gut tightened at the truth of the man’s words. “The energy tells me much.”
“Did it tell you why we’re here?” Louk asked.
The man bowed forward slightly as if to give appreciation for the question. “Yes and no. Like I said, I’ve awaited your arrival for many years. Many times I thought it might happen. Many times I was proven wrong. Now, you are here and I can only find sadness in my heart.”
Louk exhaled slowly and rested his hands on his hips. “Where are we?”
“Where do you think you are?”
“I’m not in the mood for games,” Louk responded, irritation building. “Tell us where we are.”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Forceful. Not a bad trait.” He looked them over. “Does it matter where you are?”
“Yes,” Airiana insisted.
“No,” the man countered. “What matters now is
why
you are here. Not where.”
Louk puffed out an exasperated breath. “Whatever. Stop playing games and tell us something or send us back.”
“But what do you need to know?” the man continued cryptically. “The prophecy?
“One of light, one of dark. Born the same, but raised apart. The Two will join, the end will start. The first to fall to balance them all. A year to the day the dragon will rise. Without the balance, the world will die.”
He paused. “Is that what you wanted to hear, Louk? Or maybe you want confirmation that your brother is good. That his future is not set nor his past as it seems. And Airiana, doubt is your plague. Is balance better? You already know the answer to that or you would not be here.”
The words bounded around in Louk’s head, and he latched on to the only piece he could process. “What do you know about Damian?”
“Only what you will soon know yourself.”
Louk gave a low growl of frustration. “Do you ever give a straight answer?” The man shrugged.
Louk sighed. “Are we supposed to be a part of that prophecy?”
Airiana scoffed softly, “I’d say that much was obvious.”
Louk’s lips thinned. “I’m going to bet you’re the dark one in the scenario.”
She ignored him and addressed the other man instead. “Trust me, joining with him is about as likely as the moon falling to earth. So the prophecy is either wrong or we are not the two it’s talking about.”
“Really?” The man questioned, raising one slight eyebrow. “Denial will not change the facts.”
“There are no facts to deny,” she sputtered indignantly. “We’re from opposing sides. Two forces that have fought each other forever. There is no way we can be together.”
Although she spoke the truth, Louk couldn’t deny that the thought of being with her didn’t revolt him as much as it should. They definitely had one hell of a connection. But, the forever thing? He was with her on the not likely scenario.
“Trust me, sweet cheeks, I’m quite a catch.” He winked at her, burying his unease behind the flirty bravado.
Her brows drew together in irritation. “Arrogant much?”
“Confident.”
She snorted. “Conceited.”
“Self-assured,” he countered.
A deep laugh halted their banter and drew Louk’s attention back to the Ancient who was now watching them with obvious amusement.
“What?” Louk and Airiana said in unison.
“It is the young that keep us alive,” he said. “A freshness not jaded by age, or war, or death. I see now why the energy chose you. You will need that spirit to conquer and withstand all that is before you.”
He turned away and shuffled back into the shadows. “Come children, the tea is ready.”
Louk looked at Airiana. She shrugged.
“I’m sure you’re the child in that scenario,” she said under her breath as she moved to follow the man.
He laughed. Damn, the woman made him laugh. Her sharp tongue was refreshing and kept him on his toes. He absolutely loved a good challenge.
And Airiana Draco had just become a challenge he was intent on winning.
One way or the other.
The delicate teacup clanked softly against the matching plate, the tiny sound ringing like a gong through the silence. Airiana withheld her cringe. She’d already shown too much.
Emotion only got one killed.
Or thoroughly fucked on a mouse shit floor in an abandoned silo. Almost.
Where had her mind gone?
She slipped a side-glance at Louk, who looked completely befuddled trying to handle the tiny tea cup in his large hands without breaking it. Cute. If he wasn’t the enemy.
Why did she have to keep reminding herself of that?
“Because you are not enemies.”
Airiana’s head shot up, and she gaped at the man who sat across from them at the little table. “Of course we are,” she automatically insisted before comprehension set in. Her eyes narrowed. “A spirit power. I should have known. It’s bad manners to invade someone’s thoughts.”
The man only smiled that little worldly grin that left one feeling like they’d missed out on the joke. Their abductor had the power to control the energy of the spirit, which gave him the ability to read minds and project thoughts. She carefully dropped her thoughts to blank him out.
“You can’t hide them from me,” the man said. “I’m far too old for you to evade or block. But, I only pry because the time is short. Misunderstandings and old wars cannot block your way. You two must bond before the day ends or all will be lost before it starts.”
Louk choked on his tea. He coughed and set the cup down as he tried to clear his throat of the misguided liquid. Airiana understood how he felt.
“Just like that?” Louk finally croaked out. “Wham bam thank you, ma’am, and it’s done? I doubt that’s going to happen.”
“It almost happened on the cold, dirty floor of an old silo,” the man countered. “Why wouldn’t it happen again?”
It was Airiana’s turn to choke. Louk had the decency to look away, and her cheeks flushed hot in embarrassment.
“That was a mistake,” she insisted. “It was the heat of the moment and nothing more.”
“Definitely,” Louk agreed.
“Was it? Really?” The man leaned in intently. “A heat so strong, so right that it displaced the energy and woke the beast? A mistake that was felt by all for its power? For what it was? For what it is?” He stood so suddenly, his chair tipped and tumbled to land with a muted thud on the carpet. “Do not fool yourself. Your union was predestined from birth. Together you are strong. Together you will survive. Stay apart…and we all die.”
The silence pounded through the room. Airiana was too shocked to respond. Could he be speaking the truth? She tugged on the cold metal still locked around her neck. The damn collar was blocking the energy, and she wanted to feel it. Needed to sink into it and sense if the man spoke the truth. If all the words that flowed were in harmony with what was around them.
“Remove her collar,” the man snapped at Louk and pointed at her neck. “There is no need for it now.” As an energy collar can only be removed by the person who applied it, Louk would have to agree with the Ancient’s demands. Surprisingly, he consented without question. His warm fingers caressed her skin as he quickly flicked the lock and pulled the collar off. The energy immediately invaded her dulled senses and stroked over every never ending in a soft wave of welcome. She bit her lip to hold back the moan that threatened at the pure joy and rightness of the returning energy. Euphoria. Or as close to it as she could get. An endorphin high without the pain.