Chapter 13
Ember’s hunting screech brought Daya up short just as awareness from the mountain rumbled through her soul. Stopping, she placed her hand on the nearest tree to deepen her connection.
What is it? She opened the question to all of them—a trick it had taken her forever to master.
It’s time, the mountain responded.
They search for a child to the southeast at the abandoned watch post. Ember relayed.
Ridgecrest. Daya’s heart thudded in concern.
Altering her direction, Daya resumed her path, this time pointing toward home. It appeared she wouldn’t be watching Connor leave quite as soon as she thought.
Turmoil brewed inside her as she realized that she’d need to work with not only him, but his companions, to take down the fortress. She was grateful for the help but wary. Guarding the mountain had always been a solo endeavor. A team was something she’d never been a part of.
Magic notwithstanding, her skills most closely aligned with the two Preddari hunters. Connor and the female warrior would be most experienced for this mission, so she’d let them lead unless she needed to step up.
Her goal was to eliminate the darkness, and she was willing to accept whatever conditions best supported that outcome. The mountain had bidden her to wait until they arrived, so she needed to use them as the resources they were.
Where is he?
In the barn, practicing with the Wolflumen, Ember said.
That gave her pause. You’re sure they used that term?
Yes.
The Wolflumen clan is ancient, like us.
But not as good at keeping secrets. Ember sounded pleased at their superiority on this front.
The hawk’s comment made her smile, yet she felt a strange sensation in her chest. Connor had quite the array of rescuers. Even though he’d never met the hunters before, he clearly had strong ties at home. That wasn’t where her jealousy stemmed from though.
She knew a little about the Wolflumen—or rather, their ancient predecessors. It was clear from the other woman’s interactions with Connor and his sister that she was able to have friends and relationships. She wasn’t alone in the same way Daya was.
On the contrary, she was in the middle of everything.
Not standing on the outside. The difference between their stances bothered her.
With Draven, her desires had been solely family oriented.
This new yearning was different. For the first time in her long life, she wanted to be involved. Not just an observer.
But this was just a one-time occurrence. She’d guide them to Ridgecrest and back, and then they would leave. Was it worth it to strive for that camaraderie when she was unlikely to ever have it again?
Indistinct chatter floated to her on the breeze as she approached her home. She paused out of view to watch the activity for a moment. The four—five—of them were preparing to depart.
Celina and Rodric sat on the porch, pressed close together. Connor hovered next to them, pointing out something on the map that Rodric held. Nearby, the Wolflumen was checking weapons and re-packing saddlebags with the other hunter.
Steeling herself, she walked into the group. Ember soared in front of her, catching Connor’s attention. His eyes immediately sought her out. A single glance toward the barn had him rising.
He walked beside her in silence until they entered the cavern. It was out of hearing range of the others, giving them a semblance of privacy.
“I’m sorry to do this to you. To us,” Connor said. “I was hoping for more time, but we have to leave immediately.”
“I know. And I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“Ridgecrest. The abandoned fortress? Not so abandoned. Some mercenaries have invaded the southern bank of the mountain range. They seem to be using it as a base.”
His eyes narrowed. “You know this how?”
“Because I was there recently.”
His jaw flexed with tension.
“Ember says you’re going to rescue the children being held. I’m going with you.”
Irritation flared in the downward pull of his brows before he visibly refocused and his lips shifted to form a different question. “You know for a fact that they’re keeping children there?”
“Yes, at least four children,” she admitted. He was going to hate this part. “I’ve been hunting an elusive darkness in the mountain since shortly after you arrived. A few days ago—the last time I went out—I surveilled that area.”
“That’s what you’ve been out hunting? By yourself?”
“I’m a guardian, Connor. It’s part of what I do.”
Realization dawned in his eyes. “That’s what you were so upset about the other night.”
“Yes. I’ve been waiting on help to eradicate it. Imagine my surprise when the help I needed turned out to be your rescuers.”
He stepped away from her, shaking his head and running a hand over his face as he worked through everything she’d said. She held her tongue and waited, sensing he needed space. After a moment he came back to face her, jaw still tense.
“And you’re absolutely sure about the children being present there?” he asked.
“I only saw one. The others I just overheard the mercenaries discussing.”
“Tell me about the one you saw.”
Daya thought back to the little girl’s appearance. The stormy sky hadn’t allowed her the best view. “It was just a glimpse, but she seemed healthy enough to be moving around with the horses without a problem. She was young to possess magic, though.”
A sickening look crossed his features, coloring him with a nauseous tinge as he closed his eyes. “Tiny thing? White-blonde hair?”
“Yes.”
“Opal.”
“You know her?”
“She’s one of the two girls that my team…” He stopped and swallowed hard. “One of the girls that we failed to protect.”
She knew that look and pushed a bit of steel into her voice. “Whatever you’re thinking, just stop. She’s alive. We’ll get to her.”
Connor nodded, seeming to draw strength from her words. “Don’t tell the others. If Rodric’s soul-daughter isn’t with them…” He shook his head. “Let’s wait and see what we observe during the reconnaissance. It’s necessary either way.”
“Alright. I’ll follow your lead.”
She wanted to reach out to him, but an odd barrier had grown up between them in the course of the short conversation. She wasn’t sure how to get past it.
A guarded look stole over his features as he met her gaze. “I don’t want you coming into battle with us.”
The statement surprised her given how supportive and respectful he’d been of her. “Do you not grasp the responsibilities of a guardian?”
“Daya, please. You don’t understand.”
Incredulity mottled with anger and hurt deep inside her. “It’s my mountain, Connor. Mine to guard. To protect, purge, and purify as is called for. All three in this case.”
Connor’s eyes darkened with intense emotion, stifling her instinctive response to fight back. The brief flash was enough to show her that grief and fear mingled with his pain.
She grabbed his arm when he started to turn away. Memory returned or not, he’d still been through great trauma recently. It poured off him now in waves.
“Stop. Talk to me.”
When he resisted, she stepped into his path and put her other hand on his chest over his lungs. Breathe with me. The silent command hovered between them. She knew by his shuddering intake of breath that he’d heard it through her touch.
After a moment, his rapid breathing settled, and he dipped his head to press against hers. “Why does that always work?”
“It reminds you that someone is with you, caring for you.”
“I’ve been hearing a woman’s scream in my memories,” he explained. “It’s persisted this whole time. My teammate, Thalia. Her mate Jax was with us too, when we were attacked. I heard her soul shatter when Jax died. Felt it in my bones. I can’t—” He swallowed hoarse words. “I can’t let that be you.”
Deep inside, she wept at the irony. He wasn’t worried about her skills or even her getting hurt. Just her soul if something happened to him like it had to Jax. If he died in battle and left her.
Too late, my sky hunter.
What could she give him in response that wouldn’t be a lie? His pain emanated only partially from fear. She focused in on the other part—a pain she knew all too well.
“Thalia knew the risk and decided it was worth the potential sacrifice. That loving Jax even for a short time was better than never bonding with her. Grieve with her when you get home, but don’t take that away from her. She’d make the same choice knowing the end.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because when you leave, I’ll love you and grieve you for the rest of my time, and I won’t regret a single moment of it.” What she would regret, what she couldn’t live with, was him dying for her.
“Daya.” The single word bled with emotion.
“And believe me, a 500-year lifespan is a long time to live with only your memory.”
“I wish you’d let me fight for you.”
“You don’t understand. There’s no fight to be won. It’s Hannelore’s choice.”
Connor sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. “We never had a chance, did we?”
“Just because our time was borrowed doesn’t make it any less meaningful,” she repeated his words back. “I still believe that. Do you?”
“Of course. This changes nothing.”
Connor kissed her deeply, sending joy and agony crashing through her soul. His embrace spoke the truth between them. It changes everything. Desperate passion rose, and she held on to him as she met his intensity, emotions melding into a storm of fire inside her.
The warrior looked back at her when he broke the kiss. “Alright, guardian. Let’s go purge your mountain of darkness.”
Ridgecrest Forest, Border of Eldridge and Zamyra
Daya’s initial contribution to the wary team of travelers was a shortened route through the wilderness to their destination.
Ridgecrest was most easily accessed by a path directly from the town of Mountainview, the border town to the east that had sprung up under the watchful gaze of the fortress nearly a century ago.