Embrace the Fire Read online

  “Where's Ayden?” Her voice was rusty from disuse, and she coughed to clear it.

  A familiar form moved in her peripheral vision. Ayden stood, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against a tent pole.

  “Ayden.” She wanted him to come to her, to take her hand, to tell her everything would be okay, but he only watched her from the doorway. When she lifted her free hand to him, a muscle jumped in his jaw. A moment later, he was gone.

  Kinna sighed. “What did I do?”

  Lincoln's smile had turned to a frown. “I'll go talk to him.” He strode from the tent, and Kinna turned to Julian who hadn't taken his eyes from her face. A moment later, her surroundings began to sink in. She glanced above at the tent pole that held the canvas in place and then at the makeshift cot that lay opposite her.

  “What happened, Julian? Where am I?” Alarm quickened her pulse. If she was in a tent...

  “In the medic tent, Kinna. You took a knife to the stomach—”

  “Sebastian's medic tent?” Kinna tried to sit up, but her muscles screamed in protest. Panic clawed her throat. “Julian, I've got to get out! He'll find me here, and I'll be his prisoner—”

  Julian pressed her back against the cot. “Calm down, Kinna—”

  “Calm down?” Kinna thrashed against his hold, shoving the pain to the side.

  “Kinna! Trust me. You are safe. You're safe. Sebastian is gone; he's not with this Division. I'm in command of this Division, and what I say, goes. Don't panic; you don't need to flee. Until Sebastian returns, there is no reason to be afraid.”

  Kinna's pulse slowed as she stared at Julian and relaxed onto the cot. Her abdomen throbbed with pain. She cleared her throat. “Please tell me what happened, then, Julian. On the battlefield. I remember taking the dagger, and then—”

  Julian didn't prompt her. Realization dawned on Kinna. “You were—were you the one who healed me? Did you have Sage do it? I remember the knife and the pain, and then it seemed like something sucked the pain of the knife out and only left a burning sensation behind.”

  Julian smiled briefly and squeezed her hand. “It's not important, Kinna—”

  “It is important, to me. Thank you, Julian. I owe you, quite literally, my life.” She raised her hand and cupped his cheek, smoothing the skin beneath his eye. She had admitted where her own heart lay; she would never love Julian the way he wished she would. But if she were forced to marry against her desires, he wasn't a terrible second choice. She only hoped that the marriage would keep her father safe. She sighed.

  Julian covered her hand with his own. He smiled, but a shadow cloaked his normally clear gaze, stirring unease inside Kinna. Strain touched his voice. “Then I'm glad to hold the debt.”

  * * *

  Kinna's wound-site was a mystery to the apothecary. He fussed and clucked and couldn't understand how the streaks of fresh blood that had pooled over her stomach meshed with the closed and healed wound. After two days of sitting on the cot, pleading to be released, the apothecary, mystified by her fast recovery, let her go.

  Julian conducted her through the tents to the war horses. Dimn and soldiers prepared the animals for travel as tents came down all around them. Kinna kept her mantle hood over her fiery hair despite Julian's assurances that she would be safe.

  “One thing about an army this size,” Julian remarked as he introduced Kinna to his horse. “They take forever to move any distance. Erlane's armies move more quickly on their home territory. We've only had the one skirmish where you were wounded. The Lismarian armies fled over the mountains, no doubt to set their stronghold in ClarenVale.”

  “Is the plan to reach ClarenVale, then?” Kinna asked, smoothing the horse's forelock beneath her fingers. She could see Sage, Julian's Pixie packing saddlebags at some of the makeshift tables behind them. The turquoise-haired Pixie frowned in Kinna's direction, and Kinna quickly returned her attention to the horse.

  “Ultimately.” Julian patted the horse's neck. “I want you to ride with me.”

  Kinna jerked her head up. “What?”

  “Aye. We are betrothed, after all, and no one would think twice about it.”

  “I'm not worried about what people think,” Kinna said, wondering what Ayden would think. Not wondering; she knew what Ayden would think. But he had made himself scarce since she'd woken up in the medic tent. She couldn't pin him down. She shook her head. “I'm going to ride Chennuh.”

  “Your Dragon, from what Lincoln has told me, has gone with that other Mirage down the coast, out of sight of the army.”

  Kinna lifted her chin. “He'll return to me.”

  Cynicism crept into Julian's brown eyes. He laid his hands gently on her shoulders. “Is this the same girl who told me fiercely many times over that creatures were not ours to command? That they have a will and freedom of their own?”

  Kinna swallowed. “Yes.”

  “Then why, when your Dragon has found a mate, do you force him from his chosen life back to you?”

  Kinna had no answer. Her shoulders slumped. “I—I need to find Lincoln.”

  She stepped away from the horse, barely registering Julian's words. “Be back here soon. We leave at midday.”

  Guilt nipped Kinna's heels as she walked away. She owed Julian everything, even her life. And yet her heart stubbornly refused to release a young man with silver eyes who avoided her like a plague.

  * * *

  Kinna walked to the beach, drawing her hood farther over her forehead. No one gave her a second glance, and the bustle of moving camp continued about her. Nervous thoughts skittered through her head as she searched for Ayden. Lincoln appeared at her side, his silent steps startling her. “Luasa's down that way,” he said, nonchalantly.

  “Julian said they were to the south. I can sense Chennuh now,” Kinna nodded, “but only just.”

  “You need to dust off your range.”

  “You need to keep quiet.”

  “Just trying to be helpful.”

  “You are,” Kinna said, in an unexpected turn of sympathy. “I couldn't do without you, Linc.”

  The Pixie's face turned a brilliant red and he kicked the stones of the beach with his leather shoe. “I'll—go check ... something.”

  He ambled off, and Kinna grinned as she watched him. She'd spoken the truth, she couldn't do without him; the Pixie had been her backbone and support since he'd followed her from the Pixie Glades the previous autumn, and had rarely left her side since.

  He'd mentioned having a wife once. But he'd never told her the rest of the story. She wanted to ask, but she hated to pry.

  The rocks were uneven beneath Kinna's boots as she wandered along the crashing surf-line. She could see a shimmer on the horizon—two mirrored bodies moving through the water and back up onto the shore, spurts of smoke and flame occasionally erupting from their nostrils.

  Chennuh.

  Luasa flew at his side, which meant Ayden wasn't far.

  Ayden saw her coming. He didn't move, but he didn't walk toward her either.

  As Kinna approached, she asked, “Where have you been the last couple of days?”

  “Explaining my extended absence to Commander Jerrus.”

  “Oh.” The word was flat and empty. Kinna hadn't thought about the fact that Ayden had essentially deserted Sebastian's forces and would likely face consequences. “Is ... everything all right?”

  Ayden shrugged. “I'm not in prison.”

  “Are they going to do anything else to you for deserting?”

  “I've lost my position as troupe leader for the Elves.”

  “Something tells me you didn't particularly care for that position anyway.” Kinna moved closer and leaned against the neighboring tree, squinting her eyes as she watched the Dragons.

  “Aye, I'm glad to be rid of it. I had avoided contact with anyone for fear of imprisonment, but ran into an Elvendimn who had been in my troupe earlier. He turned me in to Jerrus.” Ayden glanced at her, his silver eyes glinting. “It was a close c
all; I was sure it was prison for me. But Jerrus took me aside and told me I never should have been recruited to be a leader of Elvendimn anyway.”

  Kinna slid her woolen mantle from her head; the sun was warming the beach. “That's unusual, but... it's a good thing, right?”

  “Too good,” Ayden grunted. “Had it been anyone else, I would be rusting in the gaol tent, ready for a trip to Sebastian's dungeons.”

  “You're saying Jerrus can't be trusted?” Kinna's eyes widened.

  Ayden shrugged. “He let me go. I just can't see why.”

  Kinna stepped nearer, the urge to touch him hard to resist. “Ayden. Be careful.”

  His troubled gaze hid behind a quick smile. “I will.” He stood. “Why did you seek me out?”

  Kinna twisted her braid around her fist. “Ayden, can you do me a favor?”

  Ayden turned to look at her, his silver eyes spiking brilliantly in the morning sun. Kinna swallowed. “I—want to take Chennuh and fly over the mountains to search for Cedric near where Iolar said he and his Clan discovered my brother.”

  A short burst of speed from Luasa pulled Kinna's gaze back to the water. The Dragon beat her huge armored wings, her talons skimming the water as she snatched a huge fish out of it. She brought it back to shore, and she and Chennuh dug their snouts in, chomping on the pale, bloody flesh.

  The silent pause extended, and Kinna was sure that Ayden would refuse. “I know it's a lot to ask, what with everything that's been happening—me getting hurt and your talk with Jerrus, and—”

  “What about Julian?”

  Kinna stiffened at his abrasive tone. “What about Julian?”

  “What does he say about your idea?”

  “N—nothing.”

  Ayden's eyes narrowed. “Nothing? Or doesn't he know? You haven't told him, have you?”

  “And why would I? He doesn't own me.”

  “No, he doesn't. But don't you think your betrothed might appreciate being kept in the loop?”

  Guilt fed Kinna's frustration. She wasn't grateful enough to Julian for saving her life. Furious helplessness fed her anger; she'd lain senseless in a tent, unable to continue her quest to find Cedric.

  “If I tell Julian, he won't let me go, don't you understand, Ayden?” Kinna yelled, releasing her temper in full fiery form. “I'm not interested in being a prisoner to anyone, and—”

  “You yourself have said he's your best friend, Kinna. You would so quickly turn your back on him?”

  Kinna blushed furiously and her shoulders sagged. “You're right. But I still don't want to tell him. You can understand why, can't you?”

  Ayden nodded slowly, one eyebrow arching upward. “So, Kinna, what do we do first?”

  Kinna stared at him. He was really agreeing. “Um—let's—take off on the Dragons. Their eyesight and sense of smell are keen; if Cedric is still in these mountains,” she motioned to the range above them, “Chennuh or Luasa will find him.”

  “May I suggest,” Ayden paused, glancing up at the bright, blue autumn sky, “that we start our search at the mouth of the Silver Rush River? It flows from the Marron Mountains into the Channel, and if Cedric escaped along that river, he may still be near it. We'll need to be careful, though.” He pushed himself off the tree and straightened. “Dragons may have sharp eyes, but there are many other creatures in Sebastian's army and Nicholas Erlane's as well, and it wouldn't end well for any of us to be the target of poison-tipped arrows or a Poison-Quill's sky attack.”

  “Poison-Quills are lumbering in the air,” Kinna snorted. “Chennuh would fly circles around them, and Luasa's even faster than he is.”

  “That may be true, but their quills are lightning quick, and there's no telling when one of their tips will find you. You, of all people, should know that.”

  Kinna flushed. The previous year when she'd lain prone on the sand floor of Sebastian's arena, a wound had blackened and festered where a quill had lodged.

  Cedric had saved her that time.

  Now it was her turn to save Cedric.

  “Well, what are we waiting for, then?” Kinna asked. “Let's find my brother.”

  * * *

  Chennuh was uneasy; Kinna could tell. They'd circled three times over the mouth of the Silver Rush where it flowed into the Channel of Lise, and the Dragon couldn't catch any scent from their position. Kinna struggled to see beneath the thick tree cover, but it was no good.

  “We'll have to go down and follow the river beneath the trees,” Kinna shouted to Ayden. “Even Chennuh can't see beneath them.”

  Ayden frowned, but nodded. “Aye, so be it.” They plunged downward to the rough waters and entered the tunnel of trees. Chennuh splashed into a narrow pocket of water, his talons gripping the boulders that lined the sides of the Silver Rush. The mountains pierced the sky above them, dropping steeply in rocky cliffs to the rushing narrow gorge ahead of them. Trees clung to the vertical walls.

  Kinna shivered as Chennuh and Luasa climbed the gorge, their talons scrambling for footholds. They reached the spot where the cliffs closed narrowly over their heads, and Chennuh clawed up the sheer sides of the cliff, his armored wings anchoring on ledges to assist his progress. Kinna clung to his back.

  Chennuh leaped from place to place, approaching the tall clifftops beneath the tree cover. When Kinna glanced down, the height made her dizzy. She shut her eyes and buried her face into Chennuh's back.

  When Chennuh stopped, Kinna opened her eyes. They stood atop the gorge. Chennuh raised his head, sniffing.

  Danger.

  “Ayden—”

  “I know. Luasa smells it, too.”

  “Smells ... what, exactly?”

  Ayden didn't reply. A sound like liquid silver coated them, flowing through them like the most powerful herbs from the apothecary, sending Kinna into a halcyon of nothingness and ecstasy.

  For no reason that she could identify, they needed to head northwest. She pointed in that direction, and the Dragon lurched forward.

  Faster, Chennuh. It's taking too long to get there.

  A low rumble shook Chennuh's thoughts, but Kinna ignored him. Behind her, Luasa crashed through the woods, spurred on by Ayden's impatient commands.

  Chennuh skidded to a stop as the gorge yawned in front of him, nearly tumbling Kinna over his head. The water rushed and foamed hundreds of spans below them. In the opposite cliffside, the dark opening of a cave gaped in the rock face.

  The pull from the cave was irresistible. The music that poured across the cliffs nearly vaulted Kinna forward, with or without her Dragon. “Chennuh, in.” For the first time, hesitation slowed Chennuh's movements.

  Kinna glanced at Ayden. Luasa had also stopped, and Ayden pointed at the cave, urging the Dragon over the sharp drop. “In,” he commanded.

  The Dragons, though hesitant, dragged their feet from the clifftop, their wings beating the air as they flew across the opening into the blackness of the cave.

  The music swelled, filling Kinna with thoughts of what she most desired—home, family, safety, happiness, friends, and ... of course, Ayden. She tried to squash that last thought, but she seemed to have lost all control. She turned to him, and he was gazing at her as well.

  “Kinna,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and raw. The longing in it was palpable.

  “Welcome.” A new voice split the interior, the melody soft and lilting through both syllables.

  Kinna whirled, her gaze lighting on a bent shape who huddled on sackcloth inside the cave.

  “Who are you?” she asked. She felt warm and comfortable and ... peaceful. She never wanted to leave. She would have to live here.

  “My name is Strynn. This is my home.” The woman stood, her head level with her own waist as she bent double and moved forward into the light. The cracks and wrinkles of her face sharply contrasted with the music that moved through her throat.

  Naturally. Kinna didn't think to question it. All she knew was that whatever the woman said was the absolute truth. She only need
ed to listen.

  She looked over at Ayden again. He had leaned both elbows on Luasa's neck and was staring dreamily at the woman, pure bliss in his expression.

  “Please dismount your Dragons,” the woman said, “and instruct them to leave the way they came. You will stay with me, and they can return to whence they came.”

  A tiny frisson of fear needled Kinna's mind, but she pushed it away. She swung her leg over Chennuh's neck and slid down the warm scales to dirt-crusted stone, her boots landing with a soft thud.

  “Chennuh, leave,” she instructed.

  The Dragon snorted a fireball. It billowed around her, but Kinna shook her head stubbornly. “She says you must go. You and Luasa. Go back the way you've come. I will stay here.”

  Ayden also swung down beside his Dragon and approached the bent woman. “You have our protection, madam, if you wish it,” he said with courtly courtesy, bowing.

  When he did so, Luasa rammed into his legs, sending him head-first into the woman, who tumbled backward, cracking her head against the stone wall.

  The music stuttered to a stop, and cold, crisp air breathed through the cave, erasing the warm, muted feel of what had been, like wisps of ghosts long forgotten.

  Kinna felt as if she'd just stood up in winter air from an ice-bath. She gulped in a huge breath, her heart beating wildly.

  “Wh—at just happened, Ayden?”

  Ayden shook his head, his hands rubbing his temples. “I—I feel like a fool.”

  “As do I.” Kinna stared at the woman. “Ayden, she's coming to!”

  Ayden tackled the woman, clamping his hand across her lips so that no words could possibly form even if she could produce sound. He looked up at Kinna.

  “A Siren.”

  “Aye, and a powerful one. She called to us from a long way away.”

  “But why? Why did she draw us here?”

  “Sirens are destruction to whomever they pull into their web. I've never heard of a good Siren.”

  The woman struggled against Ayden's strong grip, her bugging eyes darting.