Chapter 71
CHAPTER 71
JULIET
A wareness slowly trickles back into my mind and my eyes blink open to unfamiliar surroundings. My wrists are bound, my head throbs, and pain radiates through my entire body. I’m sitting on a horse, surrounded by a dense forest, heavy snow falling around us.
I try to shift in the saddle, but a strong arm tightens around my waist. “We’re almost to Corvania,” Jonathan says. “And then it’s not much further until we reach Aralon.”
Anger burns through my veins as I pull against the rope binding my wrists, the rough twine digging into my already raw skin. “Untie me,” I demand. “Let me go.”
Jonathan leans in, and a shiver of disgust moves through me as he whispers in my ear. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re obviously still under the Vampire’s thrall.”
“He is my husband,” I snap. “He wasn’t holding me against my will.”
He grips my chin roughly, twisting my head back to him. “Those bite marks on your neck tell me otherwise.”
“And what about the bruises you gave me?” I shoot back. “What are those? They’re certainly not proof of your chivalrous nature.”
He wraps his hand around my throat, his eyes turning raven-black. “Watch what you say.”
“Or what?” I challenge.
He tightens his grip on my neck. “Can you truly not see that I’m saving you from a monster?”
“Valaric isn’t a monster. You are.” I meet his gaze evenly. “You’re under some kind of dark spell, Jonathan. You are not yourself.”
“I am more myself than I’ve ever been,” he grits through his teeth. “Trust me. You will thank me for saving you later.”
“No, I won’t.” I shake my head. “This isn’t you. You need to fight whatever this is that has hold of you. You—”
“Enough,” he snaps. “It is you who is under a dark spell. Not me.”
I glance at the High Elf woman on the horse beside us, glaring at her. “It’s her, Jonathan.” I’m certain of it. “She’s ensorcelled you.”
Her eyes flash with a purple glow a moment before returning to their amber color as she gives me an evil grin.
“She is not the enemy, Juliet. Lena is going to use her High Elf magic to help you break free of the Vampire’s dark magic.”
Anger tightens my chest, but I bite my tongue and remain silent. Jonathan is completely under this woman’s spell, and nothing I say will change that.
Dark smoke spirals into the wintry sky in the distance as we approach the village at the base of the mountain.
“We’ll rest the horses in Corvania,” Jonathan calls out to his men. “And then we’ll be on our way. We should cross into Aralon before nightfall.”
As we approach the village gates, an idea occurs to me. Perhaps I can signal one of the guards, and—
Something sharp digs into my back, just below my rib cage. “Do not speak when we approach,” Jonathan hisses. “Do you understand?”
Narrowing my eyes, I look back at him. “You’re not going to kill me.”
“I’d rather not.” His eyes turn into obsidian orbs. “But if I cannot have you, no one can.”
My breath catches, horror filling me at his words.
“Try anything, and you will force my hand,” he grinds out. “Do you understand?”
I give him a tight nod.
He pulls the hood over my head, hiding my face in shadow so that no one can see my features or my bruises. I’m sure the last thing he wants is someone asking questions about my injuries.
The wind picks up, clawing at my cloak as snow falls steadily, filling in the tracks of our horses almost as fast as we make them.
Regardless, I’m sure Valaric knows where Jonathan is taking me. He’ll find me. I know he will.
When we reach the village gates, two guards along the fortress wall train their arrows toward us as the ones below call out a question. “What business do you have here, travelers?”
“We are simply passing through, on our way to Aralon,” Jonathan replies, gesturing to the king’s banner, carried by one of his men. “We merely wish to rest our horses for a few hours and then we will continue on our journey.”
“There’s a storm brewing,” one of them says, gesturing to the dark sky overhead. “Could be a bad one from the looks of it. There’s an inn here in town if you need a place to ride it out. They have good meals and a stable for your horses.”
“Thank you for the warning, friend,” Jonathan says. “But I believe we can stay ahead of the weather.”
“I hope so,” the guard says. “The storms around here tend to come in fast and brutal. Take care, traveler.”
Last time we were here, it was during a blizzard. The snowfall was so thick we could barely see our hands in front of us. Closing my eyes, I send a silent prayer to the gods, begging for a storm to force us to take shelter here for the night. Anything to delay our crossing the border.
If we make it to Aralon before Valaric finds me, it will be that much more dangerous for him. Jonathan’s uncle is the king, and I have no doubt he will give his nephew as many soldiers and protection as he needs to keep me from my Vampire husband.
The guards open the town gates, closing them securely behind us as we enter. As we head for the inn, my mind races as I try to come up with a plan to get Minda’s attention discreetly. If I can somehow alert her to my plight, she can help me escape.
When we pull up at the inn, Jonathan cuts the ropes binding me, freeing my hands. I rub at the raw skin on my wrists, wincing slightly.
“Try anything, and you’ll regret it,” he murmurs in my ear.
He dismounts and then pulls me from the saddle, setting me roughly on the ground next to him.
I recognize the innkeeper’s husband, Bernyd, as he approaches. When I try to catch his eye, Jonathan pulls me behind him. “Do you need a room, good sir?” he asks cheerfully.
“Just a meal for me, my wife, and my men,” he replies.
“Aye, you’ll find a good one here,” Bernyd says proudly. “But I think you might be wanting some rooms as well. Especially with the way this wind has picked up.”
“No thank you,” he replies quickly.
“Suit yourself.” Bernyd shrugs. “The last travelers that came through during a storm decided to continue on as well. Found their bodies all frozen up in the drifts near the border when the weather finally cleared.” He shakes his head. “A tragic end, if you ask me.”
Jonathan’s shoulders tense and one of his men moves to his side, whispering in his ear. “Perhaps we should stay the night.” He drops his voice even lower. “The castle will have burned up by now. We shouldn’t have to worry about being followed.”
Worry tightens my chest, but I force it back down. I refuse to believe Valaric is dead. He showed me the escape tunnel that leads from the castle. He and Damar would have gone there. I know it. They are alive, and once I find a way to escape, I will make my way back to him.
“Fine,” Jonathan murmurs. “We’ll rent a few rooms.”
The door swings open and Minda greets us with a friendly smile, but Jonathan blocks me from her view before she notices me under my dark hood. “Welcome, weary travelers. Did I hear you say you were interested in staying the night?”
Jonathan nods.
“Well, then, if you’ll follow me, you can take your meal in the dining hall while we ready your rooms.” She glances at the soldiers behind us. “You must leave your weapons here.” She points to a large chest near the door. “We’ve had a bit of violence this past week, and I’ll not be having a repeat of it anytime soon.”
Reluctantly, Jonathan and the others do as she says.
She leads us to the dining area and I’m surprised by how full it is. Boisterous laughter fills the air as several of the patrons cheer and then take a swig of their ale.
Minda seats us at a table in the far back corner.
“Come on, Minda,” one of the men calls out, raising his tankard. “Give us a song.”
Smiling, she waves a dismissive hand in his direction. “Come now, Travys. I’m too busy to bother with your nonsense today.”
He laughs even louder as do the rest of his friends while Jonathan looks on with disgust.
“Forgive me,” he says, leaning close. “I would have chosen somewhere nicer if one were available.”
I frown at him, confused by his sudden change in demeanor. But when he takes my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles, I realize he’s playing the part of the doting fiancé. The same way he did when we were still betrothed.
Since he is trying to be nice, I may as well take advantage. “If you’ll excuse me. I must visit the cleansing room.”
“Fine.” His eyes turn black once more. “But remember, there’s a storm coming and you wouldn’t want to be caught outside with nowhere to go.”
I’m sure he thinks his thinly veiled threat will scare me, but he’s wrong. He underestimates me. I’d much rather take my chances with the weather than remain his prisoner.
I stand, but Lena’s hand clamps around my wrist, stopping me from moving. Her eyes snap up to mine, full of menace. “I’ll go with you.”
Worry spikes through me, but I ignore it and give her a tight nod. I’d hoped to go alone, but as I glance at all the people around us, I know it won’t take much to get lost in the crowd. I just need to time it right.
A bead of sweat trickles down my back as I make my way to the cleansing room, my skin prickling with awareness of the High Elf’s proximity as she trails me through the inn. My heart pounds as the throng of people thins in the hallway. I need to make my move and I need to do it fast.
We’re nearly to the entrance of the kitchen when Minda rounds the corner, carrying a tray full of food. Lightning fast, I grasp the tray and spin back toward the High Elf, smacking her over the head with all my strength.
Minda lets out a startled shriek as Lena hits the wall and slides down to the floor in a crumpled heap. Her eyes are wide as she stares down at the High Elf. “What in the—”
“Minda, it’s me.” I throw back my hood.
“Seven hells!” She gasps as she takes in my face. “Lady Juliet, what happened to you?”
Concerned that we’ll draw too much attention, I pull her into the kitchen. “Those men are holding me against my will. They hurt my husband and set fire to the castle.” The words leave me in a panicked rush. I glance over my shoulder, afraid Jonathan will appear at any moment. “I need your help to escape. Can I borrow a horse from your stables?”
“Of course, my Lady.” She replies without hesitation. “Come with me.” She leads me through the kitchen to a door in the back. “This way to the stables.”
She removes her cloak and wraps it around my shoulders. “Here. You’ll need this.” Cold wind blasts through the entrance when she opens the door, scattering snowflakes across the stone floor. “Bernyd!” she calls out.
He rushes toward us. “Yes, my dear wife?” He grins. “What can I do for you on this fine day?” he jokes, gesturing to the cloud covered sky overhead.
“I’ve no time for your teasing.” She hits at his shoulder. “Lady Juliet needs our help.”
His expression falls as his head snaps to me. “Lady Greyvale?” His gaze rakes over my bruised face. “What in the seven hells—”
“She’s been abducted by those men who arrived earlier. She needs a horse. Give her Allegra. She’s the fastest,” she adds. “Now hurry!”
His eyes are full of questions as he looks me up and down, but instead of asking, he gestures. “Follow me, my Lady.”
“I’ll do what I can to keep them here,” Minda calls after me. “Be careful.”
Bernyd leads me to the stables. Quickly, he readies a horse and then helps me into the saddle. “Allegra’s fast, my Lady. She’ll get you away from here in a hurry.”
He hands me the reins and then gestures in the direction of the town entrance. “Ride swiftly to the gates. Call out for Edgyr and Danor when you approach. Tell them their father said to allow you to pass and for them to shut the gates behind you. It will slow down the men if they come after you.”
Tears blur my vision. “Thank you,” I tell him, touched by the kindness of him and his wife.
“You can thank me by being careful, my Lady,” he replies. “Go now. Before those terrible men realize you’re missing.”
“What about you and Minda?” I ask, concerned. “You need to be careful. Some of them are soldiers and they have a High Elf woman with them.”
“Aye,” he says. “We’ll do what we can to try to keep them here, to slow them down.”
Before I can say anything else, he smacks a hand on the horse’s flank and she breaks into a run.
When I reach the gates, I call out to Edgyr and Danor, relaying their father’s message.
Edgyr runs down the ladder from his post on the wall, mounting his horse, while Danor and the other guards open the gates. As I wait for them to open, he rides up beside me and hands me a sword. “Take this, my Lady.”
I’m shocked he would part with his weapon. “Do you not need it?”
He pats another one sheathed at his side. “I’ve got a spare.” He glances over his shoulder. “Hopefully, we won’t need to use them.”
“We?”
“Aye. I’m going with you.”
A lump of emotions rises in my throat. “That’s not necessary. I—”
Before I can finish, he gestures to the other guards. “Whatever happens, you hold the others here. Do you understand?”
Edgyr turns his attention back to me. “You’re Lady Juliet Greyvale. Wife of Lord Valaric, the First Knight of the Shadow Blade of Aralon, and Sanishon of the Fallen Knight,” he says, his voice full of reverence. “My sword is yours. Now, follow me, my Lady.”
The rest of the guards bow to me, and then rush to secure the gates.
Together, we race out into the forest toward the mountain road, trying to put as much distance between us and the village as possible.
“Stop her!” Jonathan’s voice echoes through the woods. “Open the gates!”
The ringing sound of sword clanging fills the air behind us, and I glance back to see the gates are still partially open. Danor and the other guards fight Jonathan’s soldiers, but a blinding arc of red magic takes out one and then the other. Horror fills me when I see Lena in the distance, using her High Elf magic to render them unconscious.
“Juliet!” Jonathan yells as he rides through the gates, two of his men trailing behind him on their mounts.
The cold wind whips through my hair as I follow Edgyr, urging my horse faster through the dense forest. My heart hammers in my chest, beating a resonant drum of fear and resolve.
I will not be captured again.
“Go on, my Lady,” Edgyr calls out. “I’ll hold them off.”
I glance back at him as he turns his horse toward danger, racing to meet our pursuers head on.
A searing flash of red light arcs toward us as Lena strikes out with her destructive magic. It slams into the tree beside me in a brilliant explosion, splintering the wood with a sharp crack.
My horse rears up, and I cling to her mane, barely managing to avoid being thrown from the saddle.
“Lady Greyvale!” Edgyr yells.
His warning is a heartbeat too late as another burst of crimson light streaks toward me, slamming into my chest and knocking me from my horse.
Pain tears through my body and the world tilts as I tumble from the saddle to the snow-covered ground. I struggle to push up onto my arms, but another blast of searing magic hits my side, and I collapse.
The distant sounds of battle echo through the woods. My limbs feel heavy, but I somehow manage to roll onto my back, blinking my eyelids open and closed, forcing myself to stay awake. Time slows as I stare up at the dark blanket of clouds overhead as snow falls all around me.
Jonathan kneels at my side. “I told you not to escape. I warned you, Juliet.” His voice breaks as his eyes slowly return to their normal blue coloring. “Why didn’t you listen?”
“There you are,” I whisper. “Now, you’re Jonathan again.”
“I don’t know what happened to me.” He shakes his head. “It’s like I’m watching myself do these terrible things. I didn’t mean to get so angry when you said you wanted to wait for our wedding night. But it was like I was watching myself say all those horrible things to you.”
He draws in a shaking breath. “And then I—” A broken sob escapes him. “I’m the one who hurt you, Juliet. It was me who attacked you at Lucy’s wedding, but I—I… it was like I was outside of my body and I couldn’t stop myself.”
My heart hammers as he admits to being my attacker. The one who has haunted my nightmares these past few months.
“I didn’t want to believe it.” His voice quavers. “I didn’t want it to be real, but it was me. I nearly killed you, and I—”
He falls completely still and his expression hardens as his eyes turn pitch black once more.
“Jonathan?”
“Bring her here,” Lena calls out from behind him. “Now. There’s no use dwelling on the past. You’ve served your purpose well.”
Roughly, he takes my hands and binds my wrists in front of me. I’m too weak to move. All I can do is lie still as he hoists me to his chest and carries me toward his horse.
A large shadow passes overhead, and I lift my eyes to see my husband, his dark wings beating furiously as he races across the sky.
A tear escapes my lashes as I whisper the name of my beloved, both a prayer and a thanks to the gods. “Valaric.”