The Silvia Saga: Boxset

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Dara

I jerk upright, my chest heaving, my body drenched in sweat. The hammock sways from my weight. Wide-eyed, I glance around the room, taking in the details. I’m okay. I’m safe.

“A dream. Just a dream,” I remind myself, falling back down. I shut my eyes again, but my father’s words haunt me …

“Dara, my darling daughter, emerald will bring you more than you will realise. It will bring you the power to heal and insight that will contribute to you becoming the best you can be. Embrace it and believe the intuition that comes from within. Trust your warriors. They will be with you as you fulfil your destiny. I love you, my girl. Make us proud.”

It’s been seven days, three hours, and forty-one minutes since James, my arsehole uncle, took Blair. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I am utterly inconsolable. Not knowing what’s happening to Blair hurts like hell. Something is wrong; our connection—our bond—has been severed, and I can no longer communicate telepathically with him. I can’t feel him and it’s driving me insane. James is torturing him—of that I’m sure. Keeping Blair alive is just the leverage he needs to keep me in line but also to punish me for obtaining the emerald.

Silvia is in ruins, ravaged by a war James has waged to bring the inhabitants to their knees. He wants to be worshipped as a god, to be obeyed, to have power. Killing my parents was just the start.

I’ve been sitting on this hammock on our rooftop for hours now … Hours or days? I don’t know anymore. All I know is I’ve played and replayed the events leading up to Blair’s capture over and over in my head—of how things could have gone differently. Could I have prevented Blair’s abduction? Maybe if I’d been quicker, quieter … I shake my head. It doesn’t matter. What-ifs aren’t going to get Blair back. But I am.

The brown-haired, brown-eyed Harlan, leader of my warriors, is having a hard time coming up with a solid rescue plan. He keeps telling me it’s not time yet. I understand we need to have every little detail worked out before rescuing Blair; if we don’t, it could result in another disaster. It’s been a week, though, and nothing has been decided. My warriors have been by my side as I recover from receiving emerald, the magic that I had to use drained me and I’m only now feeling well enough to get moving. I think my warriors are just scared of failure and what it could result in, but I’m tired of waiting and now I’m feeling better it’s time. That’s why I am taking things into my own hands. I can’t do it alone though. I may be stubborn, but I’m not stupid.

The roof door opens with a creak. Oliver’s standing there with his eyes downcast, his shoulders slumped. Considering how my warriors can hear my thoughts, I thought it wouldn’t take long for one of them to show up.

He slowly walks over and leans down to kiss my forehead before joining me on the hammock. His body presses tightly against mine. “What’s on your mind?” he mutters in my ear so softly I barely hear it.

I move to face him. “Okay, I’ve just got a progress report from Harlan, and we need to do something more. As much as I just want to walk up to the kingdom and save him, I know that’s not realistic. It’s impossible, actually. I just …” I blow out a breath. “I just don’t know what else we can do. We don’t even know if he’s in the kingdom! James could’ve taken him anywhere, but we need to do something.”

Oliver sits up suddenly, the motion swinging the hammock. “Wait, we need to utilise Alaric as inside help to get the ball rolling. I’m pretty sure that’s what Harlan and Declan have been trying to do, but he’s been having issues getting through mentally to Alaric. They’ve been avoiding using your magic while you heal but now maybe together we can push through that blockage?”

The slayers, James’s brutal warriors who serve and protect him, would be watching us. Our only advantage is Alaric. When I was sent away from Silvia, my father asked his trusted friend to work undercover as a slayer to gather information. It’s this inside knowledge that will give us an upper hand.

I run a hand over my face. “It’s worth a try. Let’s go and find the guys.”

He takes my hand and lifts me out of the hammock, pulling me into a tight hug that says a million things he clearly doesn’t want to voice out loud. I know he’ll do everything in his power to get our Blair back in one piece.

All too soon, we break apart and make our way downstairs to find Harlan.

We find him and Declan in the training room, and despite my initial protests, I’ve grown to like this space. It’s decked out with everything we need, workout equipment, an archery range, and the magic dome. Oliver clears his throat, and Harlan’s eyes snap toward us. He lets go of the twenty-kilogram dumbbell, sending it to the ground with a dull thud. He eyes both Oliver and me suspiciously, already knowing what we’re going to say. Taking his time to wipe off the sweat from his face, he makes his way over to us.

“Dec, get over here. It looks like these two have something to say,” Harlan says.

Jolie appears coming down the stairs, joining us. I glance at her, my face grim, but when she gives me a small nod, I know I’ll have her full support on this. Declan comes to stand beside Harlan, all three of them clearly waiting for us to begin. Oliver gives my hand a squeeze.

All right, here goes nothing.

I chew on my thumbnail for a moment, my eyes downcast. “So, first things first: I’m tired of waiting around to rescue Blair. Enough is enough and I’m feeling so much better. I’m ready. I’m going to rescue him within the next twelve hours with or without your help.” I risk an upward glance. “If I’m honest, though, I would love your help. If I can’t get it, I’ll go without you.” I cross my arms defensively, bracing myself for their refusal. Lifting my chin, I ask, “So? What will it be?”

They’re silent for a few agonising minutes.

“You know I have your back,” Oliver confirms, putting his arm around my waist and pulling me tightly against him. My shoulders deflate as I relax into him.

Jolie nods in approval. “Mine too.” We all look to Harlan and Declan, waiting for their responses.

“I don’t want you three going in there by yourselves,” Declan says. “So, yes, I will come. But on one condition.” He stares at me pointedly. “We need to map out our plan of attack. I heard from Elijah …”

Jolie cheeks tinge red like strawberries at the mention of this Elijah’s name. Interesting.

“Okay then, fine.” I shoot Jolie a smile then turn to our leader.

“I think the rational answer is yes. But …”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. I knew there’d be a catch; there always is. “Yes?” I ask, somewhat impatiently.

“Dara, you must follow our orders. You may contribute while we organise the mission, but once it’s confirmed you must stick to the plan. No going rogue, okay?” he asks like I have a fucking choice in the matter.

I roll my eyes but nod in agreement.

“Was that a yes, Dara? I didn’t quite catch it,” he says with a teasing smile.

I growl softly under my breath. “Yes, now let’s get this fucking plan going already. Blair is counting on us. We’ve already wasted enough time,” I say, raising my voice. I move up the stairs into the living room before everyone else. I just need a minute to get my shit together.

I head to the couch and drop down into it with a thump. I close my eyes. Negative thoughts flood my mind. Will we have what it takes? What if one of us gets hurt? What is he doing with Blair?

I have to let go of these what-ifs. Instead, in these precious moments of silence, I try to focus on rescuing Blair and how we can succeed.

The news of Elijah is positive, especially after the trouble that Declan was having getting through to Alaric. This is just what we’ve needed. I imagine Declan would have to be very careful when he mentally connects with Alaric to ensure James doesn’t find out. After all, to lose that insider knowledge would be catastrophic.

My warriors move up the stairs from the training room. Oliver and Jolie make their way over to me. I sink farther into the couch, lying down. Oliver lifts my feet. Sitting down, he places them on top of his knees. Jolie sits on my other side. Harlan and Declan make themselves comfy on the other sofa.

I grin, straighten my spine, and crack my knuckles. This is where I excel.

It’s time to work out a plan.