"My payment to find and kill Ambrose was significant. I ambushed him, expecting to have my knife in his heart before he could draw breath to cry out. But he blocked the blow, and I found myself fighting for my life, and losing.

"Instead of killing me, though, Ambrose carved a C on my chest with my own knife. The same weapon, by the way, that I later used to kill the King. Then Ambrose declared himself my Commander, and announced that I now worked for him and no one else. I agreed, and I promised him that if he got me close enough to kill the King, I would be loyal to him forever.

"My first a.s.signment was to kill the person who had paid me to a.s.sa.s.sinate Ambrose. Throughout these years, I've watched him achieve his goals with a single-minded determination and without excess violence and pain. He hasn't been corrupted by power or greed. He's consistent and loyal to his people. And there's been no one in this world that I care for more. Until now."

I held my breath. It had been a simple, innocent question. I hadn't expected such an intimate response.

"Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.

"But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart."

"That sounds more like a poison than a person," was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.

"Exactly," Valek replied. "You have poisoned me." He rolled me over to face him. Before I could make another sound, he kissed me.

Long suppressed desire flared to life as I wrapped my arms around his neck, returning his kiss with equal pa.s.sion.

My response was a delightful surprise. I had feared, after Reyad's abuse, my body would clench tight in horror and revulsion. But the intertwining of our bodies linked our minds and spirits together.

The distant sound of music vibrated in the air. Pulsing, the magical harmony soon rose to a crescendo and encompa.s.sed us like a warm blanket. The prison cell and filthy straw dropped away from our awareness. Whiteness draped in snowy silk surrounded us. On this plane we were equals, partners. Our souls bonded. His pleasure was my ecstasy. My blood pumped in his heart.

Utter bliss came in short s.n.a.t.c.hes, although, Valek and I were happy to try again. We had merged, our minds had become one. I drew in his essence, feasting on the feel of his body in mine, exhilarating in the caress of his skin against mine. He filled the hollow emptiness inside my heart with joy and light. Even though we lay in the grubby straw and faced an uncertain future, a deep hum of contentment vibrated throughout my body.

31.

REALITY AND THE RANK ODOR of a decomposing animal intruded. Darkness had descended.

"Let's go," Valek said, pulling me to my feet.

"Where?" I asked, adjusting my uniform.

"The Commander's room, so we can take him back to the castle with us." Valek brushed the straw from his hair and clothes.

"Won't work."

"Why not?" Valek demanded.

"As soon as you touch him, Mogkan will know." I explained about Mogkan's link with the Commander and how he had established that connection using Criollo.

"How do we break the bond?" Valek asked.

It was time to tell him about my magic. I felt light-headed, as if I stood on the edge of the world. Taking a deep breath, I related the encounters and conversations I'd had with Irys, and how she might be able to help us.

Valek stood still for a full minute, while my heart thumped madly in my chest.

"Do you trust her?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Is there anything else you haven't told me?"

My head spun. So much had happened and we still needed to stop a powerful magician. Death was a real possibility. I wanted Valek to know how I felt.

"I love you."

Valek wrapped me in his arms. "My love has been yours since the fire festival. If those goons had killed you, I knew then that I would never be the same. I didn't want or expect this. But I couldn't resist you."

I molded my body to him, wanting to share his skin.

He took my hand. "Let's go."

We raided the guardroom for uniforms before slipping into the hallway. Wearing Brazell's colors of black and green, we hoped to avoid discovery as we stole through the manor.

Valek needed his bag of tricks, so we headed toward the barracks. While I retrieved my cloak, Valek slid inside the empty wooden building. The soldiers had gone to search for us.

I paced in the shadows of the building, chanting Irys's name in my mind. We needed a plan of attack. We had to move tonight.

Shouts and curses emanated from the barracks. Running inside, I found Ari and Janco with their swords drawn and pointed at Valek.

"Stop," I said.

Spotting me, Ari and Janco sheathed their weapons, smiling.

"We thought Valek had escaped without you," Ari said, giving me a bear hug.

"Aren't you supposed to be with a search party?" Valek asked as he pulled his black bag from under a bunk. He had changed into an ebony coverall with numerous pockets.

"We're too sick," Janco said, his best smirk in place.

"What?" I asked.

"The charges against you were obviously fabricated, so we refused to take part in the hunt," Janco said.

"That's insubordination." Valek extracted a long knife and some darts from his bag.

"That was the point. What's a fellow have to do around here in order to get arrested and thrown in the dungeon?" Janco asked.

I stared at Janco in amazement. They had been willing to risk a court martial in order to help me. He had meant what he had inscribed on my switchblade.

"Which direction did the search parties go?" Valek asked. He placed weapons in various pockets and strapped his sword and knife onto his belt.

"Mainly south and east, although a few small groups were sent west and north," Ari replied.

"Dogs?"

"Yes."

"And the manor?"

"Minimal coverage."

"Good. You're with us," Valek ordered them both.

They snapped to attention. "Yes, sir."

"Prep for covert ops, but keep the swords. You're going to need them." Valek finished dressing as Ari and Janco got ready.

"Wait," I said. "I don't want them getting into trouble." My heart started to skitter around in my chest and a nauseous wave threatened to send bile up my throat as fear of what we were planning to do overcame me.

Valek squeezed my shoulder. "We need their help."

"You're going to need more than that." Irys's voice came out of the darkness. Three men simultaneously drew their swords. When she stepped into the weak lantern light, Valek relaxed, but Ari and Janco brandished their weapons.

"At ease," Valek ordered.

Seeing their reluctance, I said, "She's a friend. She's here to help." I looked at her. "We discovered Mogkan's extra power source."

"What is it?"

I told her about the mindless captives and how they had been chained in circles, and then explained my theory that Mogkan had wiped their minds to seize their power. Horror and revulsion touched her face. Despite her rough exterior, her concern went deep. She managed to regain her no-nonsense frown, but Ari and Janco looked a little green, as if they were going to be sick.

"What's this all about?" Ari asked.

"I'll explain it later. Right now-" I stopped short. A complete plan of attack snapped into my mind, but it included Ari and Janco. I had been hoping to keep them safe, but Valek was right. We needed their help.

"I want you to protect Irys with everything you have. It's very important," I told my friends.

"Yes, sir," Ari and Janco said together.

Stunned, I stared at them. They had addressed me as sir, meaning they would follow my orders, even if it led to their death.

Valek's eyes drilled into mine. "You have a strategy?"

"Yes."

"Tell us."

Why, I thought as Valek and I crept through the silent empty halls of the manor, had I opened my mouth? My plan. What did I know? Valek, Ari and Janco had years of experience doing this nerve-racking, stomach-turning work, but everyone risked their necks following my plan.

In the dark corridor, I swallowed my fear and reviewed the strategy. At the Commander's door, we waited to give the others time to move into position. My short breaths seemed to echo off the walls, and I felt as if I was either going to scream or pa.s.s out.

After a few moments, Valek picked the lock and we slipped inside. He secured the door. Lighting a lantern, he moved toward the oversize four-poster bed. The Commander was stretched out on top of the bedding, fully clothed. His vacant eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. He made no acknowledgment of our presence.

I sat beside him and took his hand in mine. Following Irys's brief instructions, I imagined my brick wall, then expanded it until I had built a dome of brick that encompa.s.sed us both. Valek pressed against the wall next to the door, waiting for Mogkan. His expression had hardened into his battle face. He was stone cold on the exterior, but I knew that a lethal, molten fury resided within.

It wasn't long before a key turned in the lock. Silence. Then the door burst open. Four armed guards rushed in. Valek had one down before the man could react. The ringing of swords filled the room.

Mogkan slinked into the chamber after his men had Valek fully engaged. Avoiding the fighting, he moved toward me. A condescending smile touched his lips.

"A brick igloo. How nice. Come on, Yelena, give me some credit. A stone fortress or a steel wall would have been more of a challenge."

I felt a solid blow strike my mental defenses. Brick crumbled. Patching holes as he hammered on my shield, I prayed with desperation that Ari, Janco and Irys had made it to the room where Mogkan kept the prisoners chained. Irys had explained that she needed to be there with them in order to block Mogkan's extra power. Even if she succeeded, I would still have to deal with Mogkan's own magic.

Halting his attack for a second, Mogkan jerked his head to the side, staring off into the distance. "Nice trick," he said. "Friends of yours? They're in Reyad's hallway, but unless they can fight their way through ten men, they won't make it to my children."

My heart sank. Mogkan resumed his onslaught with renewed determination. One guard out of four remained in battle with Valek. Hurry, I thought. My defenses weakened with each blow. I threw every ounce of strength into my wall, but it collapsed into a cloud of dust.

Mogkan's power gripped me like a giant's fist around my rib cage. I yelped in pain and dropped the Commander's hand. I stood on weak legs beside the bed just as Valek yanked his sword from the last guard's dead body.

"Stop or she dies," Mogkan ordered.

Valek froze. Three more guards hustled into the room, Brazell on their heels. They surrounded Valek. Taking his sword, they forced him to his knees with his hands on his head.

"Go ahead, General. Kill her," Mogkan said, stepping back to let Brazell pa.s.s. "I should have let you slit her throat the first day she arrived."

"Why listen to Mogkan?" I asked Brazell. "He's not to be trusted." Pain crawled along my spine as Mogkan turned his burning eyes upon me.

"What do you mean?" Brazell demanded. He gripped his sword as he glanced from me to Mogkan.

Mogkan laughed. "She's only trying to delay the inevitable."

"Like when you tried to delay the Sitian treaty negotiations by poisoning the cognac? Or were you aiming to stop the delegation altogether?" I asked him.

Mogkan's shock revealed his guilt. Although surprise touched Valek's face, he remained silent. His body tensed, ready to spring into action.

"That doesn't make sense," Brazell said.

"Mogkan wants to avoid contact with the southerners. They would know about-" My throat closed. I clawed at my neck, unable to breathe.

Brazell turned on Mogkan. His square face creased with anger. "What have you been up to?"

"We don't need a treaty with Sitia. We were getting our supplies without any problems. But you wouldn't listen to me. You had to be greedy. After establishing a trade treaty it would only be a matter of time before we'd have southerners crossing the border, sniffing around, finding us." Mogkan showed no fear of Brazell, only anger that he had to explain his actions. "Now, do you want to kill her or should I?"

Spots spun in my eyes as my vision blurred. Before Brazell could answer, Mogkan staggered. His hold on me slipped slightly, releasing my airway. I gasped for air.

"My children!" Mogkan roared. "Even without them, I still have more power than you!"

Like a fish on a hook, I was yanked off my feet and hurled against the wall. My head banged on the stone. Pinned in midair, Mogkan's power pelted me. Each blow felt like a boulder crashing into me. This is it, I thought. Reyad was right; becoming the food taster had just delayed the inevitable.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Valek fighting his guards as he tried to reach Mogkan. Too late for me. With a final surge of strength, I mentally reached out. I hit an impenetrable barrier as I felt my consciousness drain. Blackness filled my world.