Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

The moment Lucenna saw the Essence fade from Dyna’s eyes, she knew what would happen before her cousin collapsed. Cassiel dropped at the same time, as though someone had snipped both of their strings.

“No,” Cassiel gasped in pain, clutching his chest as he tried to drag himself to her. Lucenna leaped over him and ran for Dyna. Klyde reached her at the same time.

“What happened?” Rawn yanked Cassiel up.

Lucenna said as Klyde helped her flip Dyna over. “He’s reacting to their bond.”

“Her heart,” Cassiel groaned, slumping on the floor.

Lucenna pressed an ear to Dyna’s chest, listening for her heartbeat. Panic filled her when she didn’t hear it.

“She’s not breathing,” Klyde said, his fingers pressed to her wrist.

Lucenna felt her entire body go cold. She shut her eyes and went into the other dimension, searching for Dyna’s Essence. But…she couldn’t see it. Dyna’s life force—it was gone. She saw her Essence channels collapsing because no power was holding them together.

But she had seen this before.

“Don’t touch her!” Lucenna shoved them out of her way. She placed a hand over Dyna’s chest and a bright volt of electricity shot out. Everyone in the room gaped at her in horror.

“What are you doing?” Cassiel snatched Lucenna’s arm.

She ripped free. “I need to charge her life force.” She hit Dyna with another shock of electricity. They flinched at the brutal wrench on her small body. They watched her, waiting for something to happen.

“I felt the bond,” Cassiel said. “Do it again!”

Lucenna zapped her. Dyna’s body jerked violently and the pathways to her Essence lit up briefly, before going out again. “Come on, Dyna.”

Lucenna’s entire body glowed purple. She sent out a stronger voltage to her chest. The Essence Channels blazed bright. And stayed. She slumped over when Dyna’s eyes fluttered.

“Lev sheli?” Cassiel’s trembling hands took her face. “Dyna?”

She managed a small moan and they all collectively sighed in relief.

Lucenna laughed wetly, wiping her eyes. “You scared us, silly girl.”

Cassiel gathered Dyna in his arms and carried her out of the room with Rawn following.

“What was that?” Klyde asked as he helped Lucenna stand. “What happened to her?”

She exhaled a sigh. “Dyna used all of her power to keep Gale alive. We knew the pregnancy was at risk, but we didn’t expect— ” Lucenna cut off in a wince, realizing her slip.

But Klyde’s frigid eyes were already pinned on Eagon and Edith.

Both looked back at him grimly.

He looked at his unconscious sister covered in blood and pointed a shaking finger at Eagon. “You lied to me.”

“Klyde.”

The Captain moved so fast, Lucenna missed the exact moment his fist collided into Eagon’s face. The blow sent him crashing into the wall. Lucenna didn’t move as Klyde strode out the room past them and went down the stairs.

“Klyde!” Edith shrieked. “Come back here and apologize.”

“It’s fine,” Eagon said as he wiped his bloodied lip. He returned to Gale’s side, looking down at her with a raw brokenness. “I deserved it.”

It was late when Lucenna went outside into the courtyard for some air. Unfortunately, she found the Captain of the Skelling Mercenaries there. He was perched on the banister, drinking by himself. The moon was full and bright, casting the courtyard in a silvery haze.

“I thought you left already,” Lucenna said, lifting the hood of her furred cloak against the chill.

Klyde glanced at her over his shoulder and the corner of his mouth quirked in a faint smile. “Sorry, love. I’m not going anywhere while my sister is here.” When she didn’t respond he raised his eyebrows. “No threats or insults this evening?”

“I’m trying to be nice. Don’t make me change my mind.”

“I didn’t know that was possible.”

“Why are you out here drinking your sorrows away? Gale is fine. She is awake now if you’d like to see her.”

“Is Eagon there?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll see her later.” He lifted his tankard to her in salute. “Cheers.”

Lucenna didn’t like seeing the grim side of drunk Klyde. But she would take it over the man who ran into the manor screaming for help. He had looked so terrified, she felt it and his helplessness.

She sighed and sat down next to him. “They only intended to spare you. Gale mentioned how hard you took her first difficult pregnancy. They didn’t wish for you to worry.”

Klyde’s eyes smoldered with irritation. “I’m her brother. It’s my job to worry.”

Lucenna couldn’t argue with that. Lucien was the same with her. It annoyed her sometimes, but she knew he did it out of love.

“You know Eagon feels terrible for lying to you,” she said. “Don’t punish him for too long.”

One end of his mouth twitched. “We’ll be fine. He’s been my best mate since we were tykes, and even then we liked to resolve our disagreements with our fists. We will sort this in the same way.” Sighing, Klyde rubbed his jaw. “If I had known Gale was this sick, I would have taken her to the nearest city for an Herb Master at first notice.”

“Well, how fortunate that you have by far the best Herb Master possible handling her care. No one else would have risked that spell. It nearly killed her.”

“Aye,” he said softly. “And you brought her back.”

There was genuine wonder on his face, like she was some sort of miracle. Lucenna looked away from him to the horses grazing in the courtyard.

“How is she doing?” he asked.

“She’s resting now.” Seeing her drop had been scary. Lucenna was glad Zev hadn’t been present to see it.

“Who would have predicted that our meeting would lead to Dyna saving my sister’s life.” He leaned his head back, inhaling the brisk night air. “Odd it be the way of fates.”

Lucenna observed him as he looked up at the bright moon. It radiated against his face, causing his irises to crystalize like white pools of ice.

Klyde caught her staring and winked. “Have you fallen for me yet?”

“No.” She rolled her eyes. “I was only wondering why you hide behind this ugly thing.” Lucenna tugged on the bristles of his chin. A flush rose up her neck when she caught herself touching him. She quickly dropped her hand.

Klyde’s mischievous grin returned. “If I shave, then you won’t be able to resist me. You would be so helplessly in love it wouldn’t be fair.”

Lucenna smirked. “You’re delusional.”

“Hmm,” he hummed behind the rim of his drink. “A few weeks ago, you couldn’t stand the sight of me, yet now you’re out here. Doting.”

The blush worked its way up to Lucenna’s cheeks. She only wanted to make sure he was all right. “Stop drinking.” She snatched the tankard from his lips. “You’re creating fantasies in your head.”

“Is that so?” Klyde leaned in close enough to brush his nose against the rim of her ear.

The fluttering touch sent a tingle down Lucenna’s back. She shoved him off the banister, and he fell snickering into the snow. He was always doing and saying things that caught her off guard. It aggravated her.

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?” he asked.

“You turn even the direst moments into another joke.”

Klyde rolled on his side to face her and bent his arm to rest his head in his palm. A soft smile played on his lips as he gazed at her. Lucenna squirmed, realizing she unintentionally let on again that she was paying attention to him as much as he had been doing to her.

“Humor eases the strain of life. You should try it sometime. I bet you would feel better if you let yourself laugh for once. Don’t take yourself so seriously.”

“I don’t.”

“Then laugh.”

“I cannot simply laugh like some madwoman.”

“Very well. Let me help you.” Klyde got up to sit next to her again and looked at her with a sudden intensity. “Listen carefully now. What do you call a lost wolf?”

Lucenna considered the odd question, not sure where this was going. “What?”

He grinned. “A where-wolf.”

She stared at him for a stunned moment. But Lucenna’s mouth twitched at the stupid jest, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Klyde.

“Ha! You almost laughed. Admit it, you find me amusing.”

“I’ll admit no such thing. I find you to be an annoying bore.”

He only laughed again and the sound carried the jovial amusement she hadn’t seen in days. “I think you’re trying to convince yourself of that, love.”

She crossed her arms, shrugging sarcastically. “Oh, no, I assure you there is nothing pleasant about you in the slightest, Captain. I loathe you.”

“I wonder if you truly do hate me half as much as you pretend.” The next look Klyde gave her stripped her bare, because he was looking at her in a way no one ever had before. “I find you enchanting, Lucenna.”

His eyes briefly trap her in the shades of blue and black and her pulse slowed.

She forced herself to look away first. “You’re supposed to be some fearsome mercenary the rest of Azure only whispers about, yet they have no idea what an absurd man you are.” She frowned at the sigil on his sleeve. “Is the bird’s skull part of your persona, or does the Skelling have any meaning?”

He studied her a moment before standing. “If you want to know, then come with me.”

“Come with you where?”

Klyde whistled at his horse where it grazed with Fair. Onyx canted over and he mounted the saddle. He smiled at her; his eyes bright as he held out an inviting hand. “I’ll show you.”

Lucenna considered going back inside, but as he gazed at her beneath the moon, she suddenly felt a little…curious.

She moved past his offered hand. “Fair.” At her call, the elvish stallion galloped to her. Slipping her foot in the stirrup, she climbed onto the saddle and patted his neck. “Shall we go for a ride?”

They rode off into the forest. Every coated branch and stretch of land shimmered beneath the moonlight. He brought her past a frozen pool that gleamed like glass. They kept going and at one point she spotted a set of old rusted gates built into a hill, chained closed.

“What is that place?” Lucenna asked.

Klyde didn’t bother turning. “It’s a dungeon made when Azurite first settled here. It’s not used anymore.”

As she watched him ride beside her, she found herself saying, “You were here, weren’t you? When the trolls came.”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask.”

“Why not simply tell Rawn when he asked about it? Does it need to be a secret?”

Klyde was quiet a moment as he led them out of the trees into a clearing of vast open plains. “That time of our lives was filled with blood and loss. We saw our families and friends be torn apart and eaten in front of us. Everything we knew was gone. That sort of thing leaves a mark.” He looked down and she saw the disfigured scars on his arms where his sleeves had been rolled up. Flesh torn by teeth. “The Lord and all of his knights fell that day. We had to begin anew and learn how to survive. For some reason, those left looked to me for that. Some welp who had nothing and knew nothing of the world. Only that we had been abandoned to it. Everything I have done since then, was to change the powerless existence we found ourselves in.” His eyes met hers and they reminded her of the ocean again, the way the blues crashed into each other like devastating waves. “We fought for the peace we made, and I’m severely protective of that.”

Lucenna asked no more questions. As she watched this ridiculous man, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like as a child facing all of that alone. But she knew what it meant to fight so others could live. The town was his moonstone.

“Peace is a rare thing,” she said. “Many cross the Gates without ever finding it. But you did, and I won’t let anyone take that from you, Klyde.”

His face softened and the way he was gazing at her again made her stomach pitch.

She scowled. “But if I find this is some half-cocked story to gain my favor, I will break every single bone in your body, then I will flay you alive.”

He laughed and she didn’t know why it sounded nice to her. “So vicious. Your sweet words are like honey to my ears.”

“I mean it.”

“Oh, I believe you.”

They came to a stop on the edge of sheer cliffs that faced the open sea. Below came the roar of crashing waves beating against the bluffs. The moon shone above it in the clear night sky speckled with stars. It was a majestic view.

The moment, this place, there was something soothing about it. Perhaps because she understood a little more of Klyde, and she oddly didn’t seem to mind him anymore. Or perhaps she was simply becoming accustomed to his eccentrics that secretly made her smile.

“Why are we here?” Lucenna asked.

“I like coming out here,” he said, his gaze pensive as he watched the waves. “It’s quiet. It wasn’t always like that. In the First Age, this sea was once ruled by the Skelling. It was under constant storm because of its presence, creating these dangerous monsoons and any ship that fell to their waves were destroyed. They say if you ever see one to hide and pray, because it means the Seven Gates have opened and death would surely follow.”

“Ah, so it is part of the identity of the formidable Skelling Mercenaries.”

He flashed a shrewd grin. “Perhaps.”

With a click of his tongue, they gingerly rode their horses along the plains.

“That’s a mighty legend for a bird who only makes a little storm,” she said.

“The reason why the Skelling was so feared wasn’t because of the storms. They were massive birds, as large and powerful as dragons.” There was a look on Klyde’s face that she couldn’t quite interpret. “And it was the only creature that could kill the Ice Phoenix.”