Chapter 28 #2
“Feldema’s entrapment and Nessum’s fear of you have left us without leadership. I and others have tried to talk sense to the masses, but…” He faltered, the puddle at his feet growing fast.
“You’re hurt. I’ll get some help.” I started toward the door.
“No!” It was the loudest word I had ever heard from a Slaugh.
“I am dead already.” He held up his arms and let the sleeves on the robe fall back to his elbows.
His hands had both been cut off above the wrists.
“They will kill me no matter what now. The rest of the upper ranks are already dead. Feldema must call Nessum back to her or the others will destroy everything. They are joining ranks with the Gremlins who have sided with us for centuries. A war comes.”
“Feldema can call to Nessum?”
“She is irrevocably connected to him. Nessum took her at a very early age, after she came fully into her powers, and she has been with no other since. He controls her completely.”
He tried to steady himself then took a step to the side, away from the cabinet. “You must stop this, priestess.”
“How am I supposed to stop it?” I retreated and sank back onto the bed. “If Feldema has shared herself with Nessum, doesn’t she have much of his power?”
“He holds back from her. He has used her, drained her almost completely, and given her only the impression of power. He will continue to use her to exact his revenge on humanity. I know not what he fears in you, but you must use that fear to destroy what cannot be destroyed.” His voice faltered again.
He drew in a long, gurgling breath. The black blood came faster and dribbled along the entire front of his robe.
I hadn’t realized the dry creatures could even bleed.
“You must, Priestess…” His eyes slowly looked down.
“I’ll do what I can, Dannaiva.” His eyes burned a bit brighter for an instant.
“I have but one last request of you, Priestess.” He looked up into my eyes with his red ones. “Please put me out of my misery. They have taken my hands and most of my insides.”
I looked down at the puddle where he stood. He had risked himself and others to warn us. I went to the cabinet and pulled out my mother’s blade.
“I bid you rest, Dannaiva.” He tilted his head into a nod and I plunged the blade through his chest. I heard the ribs give way.
He didn’t close his eyes but the glowing red faded to black, his last breath escaping with a real yell—and he shattered into dust. All that remained was the pool of black on the floor coated in the dust.
The doors all burst open at the sound of his final cry.
The guards swept the room with guns and magic.
I felt it on my skin. I stood still, not wanting to distract them from their search.
The guard from the hall straightened first and mumbled something into a microphone hanging over his mouth.
He stepped toward me. The others turned to face the outside to watch for anything else.
“I’m okay,” I said. He only nodded and moved to examine the puddle.
I sat back on the bed with the blade dangling between my knees.
A spot of the dark blood not covered in dust glimmered in the moonlight.
I had thought of the Slaugh as soulless creatures and had not held any respect for them, or remorse at their deaths.
Now I did. They weren’t honorless, just a different species.
I felt guilt over those I had killed on Thule.
I had told myself they deserved to die. They had earned it.
But they were soldiers, as Jordan was a soldier, and doing what they felt was right for their race.
“What happened?” Jordan shouted at the guards, not me.
He had tucked in his shirt and removed the hat.
I moved to put the bed between us, the most distance I could get in the room.
The need started to boil as soon as he’d arrived.
I held back my magic as it tried to call to him and checked to make sure the wall was protecting him from my thoughts.
All was intact. I was getting better. He needed to work and not be distracted by my weakness. Doran and Bevin rushed in after him.
“I don’t know, sir,” the guard said. “We checked the room and no one was here. We have been standing guard at the doors.”
“How did it get in then?” His face was red, the veins in his neck pulsing.
I spoke up to stop him. “Jordan, the Slaugh was here to give us a warning. He meant no harm to me.” Doran was by my side instantly.
I told them the rest. “Nessum has had Feldema since her maturity. She hasn’t been with anyone else since.
” All movement in the room stopped. Everyone looked shocked.
I quickly explained the rest of what Dannaiva had told me.
I was fighting my needs hard. My legs were trembling as if I would swoon.
I felt my pants getting wetter from having Jordan so close.
Bevin slipped another amulet in my hand while they talked about the intruder.
“It will take the edge off the need, Keena, but it won’t work forever. I hope it buys you some time.”
As soon as the chain was in my hand, I found some relief.
The desire was still there, lingering like a mysterious fog around me, but the urgent need receded.
I slipped it over my head and let the opal stones fall against my heart.
It cooled the fire considerably. I squeezed her hand.
“Thank you.” Even exhausted from working on Manus, she had managed to make me an amulet.
“It will not last long. Use it to make the decision your own.” She smiled, but her face was pained and weary.
Doran looked at me. “What is it that Nessum fears from you?” Her gaze was hard, searching. If I told her, I would have to tell her how I knew and about the deal with Karackos. I wasn’t ready to do that.
“I’m not sure I know.” I kept my face as bland as I could. She tilted her head, skeptical. “Really. I don’t know why he’s left his minions.” That was the truth, anyway.
She made an exasperated huff and glided out of the room. Bevin squeezed my hand again and followed her. That left me alone with Jordan and his guards.
“Sure you’re okay?” His tone hadn’t softened, and he didn’t try to come any closer. I nodded and held up the amulet. He gave the slightest of nods to the guards, and they returned to their positions. “That work?” he asked again.
“I’m able to maintain the illusion of control right this minute, yes.” I knew it was just a spell to make me feel less of the tension, but I’d take it. If I took off the necklace, need for him would envelop me.
“Go out with me then.” It sounded like a command he would give his guards. He never took his eyes off me. His confidence was so appealing.
“Date? Me? I hardly think I’m capable of dating anymore. This thing”—I lifted the amulet off my chest and dropped it again—“may give me some peace, but it’s all still there. I’m still trapped by what my body wants no matter what my heart or mind says.”
He took another step toward me and then, obviously thinking better of it, backed up.
“Keena, I would really like to get to know you. Remember, I was raised human too. I know you. I know what your mind wants. It wants courtship and respect before you give your body. I understand.” His face softened just slightly, despite the hard lines of masculinity.
He did understand and was willing to give me the time I needed. Somehow, that was more attractive than his incredible body and alpha persona. “I appreciate that, Jordan. But the reality is that with all this going on, we can’t really date. Can we?”
“Fine. I’ll meet you in the gym in the morning, and I’ll be your sparring partner until Manus is back up to it.”
Maybe I couldn’t date him, but I could spar with him? The thought of hitting the man had its appeal.