From Spirit and Binding Read online

  Now, I was king.

  And trapped in a cage

  “I can’t get you water,” Garrik whispered through the iron bars.

  I opened my eyes, my lips so dry they had cracked, blood seeping into my mouth.

  The magical whips that Durlan had used had sucked the magic out of my body. And had injected something else into my bloodstream.

  I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I knew that it would kill me sooner rather than later if I didn’t get out of here.

  Why was Garrik trying to help me?

  What did he want?

  “The Gray is coming, but I can try to help you out.”

  I narrowed my eyes with the energy I had left. “Why?”

  “Because no one deserves to die in a cage.”

  I studied his face, the paleness of his skin, the dark circles under his wide eyes.

  Had he been in a cage before?

  That would make sense. It seemed that Durlan had appetites, demons that he needed to exorcise, and in order to do that, maybe he needed someone in the cage. If Garrik was out, and I was in, perhaps that’s exactly what Durlan wanted.

  If Garrik let me out, what would that mean for him?

  “And you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart?” I asked.

  “If I let you out, you have to take me with you. Away from all of this.” His voice shook, and the other man set the bowl of water down outside the cage, his hands shaking, as well.

  “Take you where?”

  “To…to your people. Your place. You’re the king there. You can protect me from The Gray.”

  I couldn’t even protect myself if the current state of things was any indication. Not sure why he thought I could protect him. Or that I would want to.

  “I see.” I didn’t. But, beggars couldn’t be choosers. And maybe if this wasn’t a trap, he could get me out.

  “Be back soon.” He scurried away, and I tried to lean against the wall, blood pooling beneath me. My wounds hadn’t closed, and they hadn’t bothered to clean them this time. Apparently, they wanted me to die from malnutrition and/or an infection.

  Oh, yes, that was a great way for the King of Obscurité to go out. In a pool of his own blood—and probably vomit at some point if my nausea didn’t let up.

  I still had the shackles around my wrists, unable to Wield.

  If Garrik really wanted to get me out of here, he’d need to get rid of those. Because I had to use my Wielding. Being cut off from it like I was, felt like losing a limb. That foul taste in my mouth wasn’t just from whatever toxins were being pumped into my body. No, it was what I missed. What I needed.

  Before I could really focus on anything, robes billowed around, and The Gray was there. He stood outside of my cage and tilted his cowled head at me.

  I would love to see exactly who this man is, and know why he holds so much power.

  Shadow wasn’t an element one could Wield. At least not that I knew of. There were only five, and Lyric was the only one who could Wield them all.

  Was it shadow magic?

  No, I didn’t know any defense for that. If I got out of here, I would learn. Because this man was going after Lyric. And I would be damned if I let him get her.

  Not that I loved her. I couldn’t. I felt nothing when it came to her. But she was our salvation. She was important. And I would save her. Even if it meant the end of me. Of course, that time seemed a bit closer than it should at the moment. And that was fine. I would be okay.

  “I see that Durlan had his fun while I was away,” The Gray said, his voice smooth and dark.

  If I were tempted by power, I might have been drawn in.

  I had my own, even if it was shackled at the moment.

  “Well, you know what they say, when the cat’s away, the mouse will play.”

  “Ah, but you seem to be the mouse, the one in a cage. Who is the cat’s master? That is the important thing.”

  I tried to raise a brow, but I didn’t really have the energy for it. This was not going to end well.

  “Have you thought about your curse in the time I’ve been gone?” The Gray asked, his voice a purr.

  “No.”

  Lie. It was the only thing I kept thinking about, wondering if I could be closer to Lyric if I broke it. Pondering if I could help her. If I did, that would mean I could help my kingdom, too.

  That’s what mattered. My kingdom. Not whatever was missing between Lyric and me.

  She was a weapon. One that I would Wield.

  “Well, I know that was a lie, but I’m going to tell you anyway. The curse was to bring you to me. And, soon, I will use you for what I need. I’m going to give you a hint. Mostly because I enjoy watching you fight. Because you try so hard, and then you fail, which brings you right back to me.”

  I just stared at him, letting him go on. Maybe if he kept talking, I would get something out of him. I needed to get out of here. I had to get to my people. I didn’t even know where they were. Had they made it back to the Obscurité Kingdom? Or had the light king wiped them all out? I didn’t think it was the latter because The Gray would have taunted me with it. He hadn’t, so I still had hope that everyone I cared about was alive.

  At least, everyone that had been left when I was taken.

  “In order to break the curse, there will be death and change. You need to change within, find the essence of who you are and who you could be, and kill what was not meant to be there.”

  Riddles. Of course, there would be riddles that didn’t make any sense.

  Because it couldn’t just be a potion or a scenario where I found a key to suddenly unlock my curse. No, it had to be something that made no sense.

  Just like the prophecy that surrounded Lyric.

  There was a reason I didn’t work in the shadows like some of the others. There was a reason I had become king and tried to protect my people without a façade.

  I hated riddles and prophecies and innuendos.

  I might have to work with them occasionally, but I despised them.

  “Are you done?” I asked, trying to sound bored. I knew I just sounded weak.

  And I was starting to get lightheaded. I knew if I didn’t staunch the blood on my back soon, I wouldn’t be around long enough to stop the curse and whatever else The Gray had planned.

  “I look forward to seeing you again. First, however, I have other plans.”

  And then he was gone. A cold chill whipped over me.

  Other plans? That didn’t sound good.

  I slept, not wanting to, but my body needed it.

  If I weren’t careful, I would die here, alone in a cage, unable to help anyone. What would become of my kingdom if I were gone?

  I didn’t have a successor, but maybe the uncles could take over.

  Or maybe they would allow Lyric to rule.

  Not that she was my consort or my queen. She was the one with power, though.

  Perhaps Wyn or Teagan could do it. After all, each of them was connected to the lords and ladies.

  There needed to be a clear line of succession, something I would do in writing once I got out of here.

  Because I would get out.

  As if he had been drawn in by my thoughts, Garrik arrived, a key in his shaking hands.

  “We have to be quick.”

  “I didn’t promise you anything,” I said quickly, trying to summon any strength I could.

  “I know. But we don’t have much time. Durlan and The Gray are away, leaving me in charge.”

  “They’ll know it was you.”

  “They would have always known. That’s why I have to go with you.”

  “If you say so,” I said, trying to sit up.

  The cage snapped open, and I attempted to straighten, but I was too weak to do so. Garrik was suddenly there, undoing my shackles.

  My Wielding slammed into me once they fell away, the Fire within my veins pushing out and licking at my fingers.

  I grinned down at them. I’d missed my preci
ous babies.

  But before I could say anything, Garrik was shoving something into my mouth, and I tried to spit it out.

  “It’s a potion to help you heal. It’s going to take out the toxins, just takes a while. But it’ll at least help your back so we can get out of here.”

  “Really?” I mumbled over the foul-tasting concoction.

  “Trust me.”

  I didn’t trust him, but the brew tasted familiar. Something that my uncle had given me in the past. So, I swallowed, hoping it wouldn’t kill me. However, everything was probably about to kill me, so I might as well just go with it.

  It worked immediately, at least giving me enough energy to sit up.

  My foot slid in my blood, and I cursed under my breath when Garrik reached out to help me.

  His lack of magic stung me, and I shook my head, pulling away. It wasn’t that I didn’t like humans or Danes. Far from it. But the absence of magic within him seemed so hollow, far more extreme than a usual Dane. And that worried me.

  Nevertheless, I didn’t have a choice. He was getting me out. Maybe to take me to another cage where I’d be tortured more, but I at least had an inkling of hope.

  One that whispered Lyric’s name in my ear, and that meant I had to be quick.

  “There’s a tunnel out of here, and then we can make it to the portal to your kingdom. At least on the edge of the territory. We have to go.”

  “A portal, huh?” I’d have to figure out exactly where that was so I could close it later. But it didn’t really matter in the end, did it? Because The Gray still held my curse, and he could apparently snatch me anytime he wanted.

  I’d have to end it.

  Change and death.

  Well, considering we were at war, I was pretty sure that could mean anything.

  We scrambled through the hallways, and I tried to ignore the cages on either side of me. They stank of death, but I couldn’t hear anything within. Whoever had been there before was long gone. I couldn’t help.

  Damn this man, this orchestrator, this puppet master.

  I would find out who he was. And I would kill him.

  We were nearing the end of the tunnel when a familiar foot tread hit my ears. I turned and growled.

  “I should have known not to trust you,” Durlan said, leaning against the wall as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  He was broad, muscular, and far stronger than me at the moment.

  I might have a healing potion running through my veins, but I wasn’t whole yet. I was sick, and I would have to be sneaky to get out of here.

  Given how Garrik had frozen and tried to look small, he wasn’t going to be any help.

  Good. Apparently, Garrik was the mouse, not me.

  Well, this was about to get interesting.

  “I was kind of annoyed with the accommodations, so I’m going to find my own. Hope that’s okay.”

  “I’m sorry it wasn’t to your liking. I’ll have to find you something darker and a little colder next time.”

  Durlan stood up, a knife in his hand.

  I had my Wielding. That would have to help me at some point.

  I reached for my power, but as soon as I searched for it, the magic in the walls pulsated. I cursed.

  Great. I couldn’t actually use my Wielding, I could only feel it. Damn, the Shadow realm.

  I’d need to get that blade, then.

  Hopefully, I could still fight, even if I wasn’t a hundred percent yet.

  Durlan came at me, blade in hand, a snarl on his face. Garrik shivered and huddled to the side. I ignored him.

  He was at my back, so if he was going to turn on me, this was his best opportunity. I didn’t have time to worry about him, though. I had to deal with the behemoth in front of me with the knife.

  I ducked out of the way of Durlan’s first swing and elbowed him in the gut. He let out an oof and sliced at my arm.

  More blood ran, and I knew this needed to end quickly. I didn’t have a lot of energy as it was, and I really didn’t think I could lose any more blood and stay standing. Or alive.

  Durlan slashed at me again. I gripped his elbow and twisted.

  He let out a sound of rage and pain, and I reached for his wrist. The knife bit into me, slicing into my skin, but I ignored the fiery burst of pain.

  My Wielding pulsated again, wanting to come out. It couldn’t.

  This was why I trained with others. Well, not this exact situation, but I couldn’t rely on only my Wielding.

  That’s why I trained. That’s why I was a soldier first.

  I was also the King of Obscurité.

  And I would not die in this tunnel.

  I squeezed Durlan’s wrist hard enough that I heard a bone snap, and then I grinned.

  The knife fell out of his grip, and I grabbed it with my left hand before it fell too far. It might not be my dominant hand, but I had fought with both. I slid the blade between his ribs, right into his heart.

  The soft sound of flesh tearing and muscles rending filled my ears. I ignored it.

  I didn’t like to kill. I didn’t enjoy being that person.

  Though I would do it. For my people. For Lyric. And for myself.

  I twisted the blade, and Durlan made a shocked gasp, blood trickling from his mouth.

  I pulled the blade out, and Durlan fell to his knees, looking at me, opening his mouth like a fish but not saying anything. I had pierced his lung, and he was having trouble breathing.

  Good.

  I kicked him in the chest, watched him fall, and then I turned.

  Durlan wouldn’t be coming after me. However, The Gray could be here at any moment.

  I didn’t know where the portal was, so Garrik would have to lead. I pulled at his arm, thankfully shaking him out of his stupor. And then we were off.

  I needed to get to Lyric. Had to get to the Obscurité Kingdom. I didn’t know if we were going to make it. It didn’t matter. We were fighting. We were trying.

  And I had a curse to break.

  Chapter Nine

  Lyric

  * * *

  “Hold onto the power and try to keep it at bay.” I nodded at Teagan’s orders and clenched my fists at my sides. My Fire Wielding was so strong that I sometimes couldn’t hold it back. Okay, most of the time I had trouble doing so. And I needed to control it so I didn’t let another innocent Wielder die because of me like they had on the battlefield.

  Plus, I didn’t want to burn down another castle if I could help it.

  Rhodes stood in front of me, studying my face as he held himself back from trying to physically help me.

  So far, we’d been able to delay the curiosity when it came to Easton’s whereabouts. Still, it was getting harder to hold them off.

  People needed to see their king.

  And I did too if I were honest with myself.

  Justise and Ridley were doing their best to stand in for Easton as they had the entire time we’d been gone. Soon, it would be apparent that their king wasn’t here. And the uncles, as well as Wyn and Teagan, were trying to devise a plan for that. The lords and ladies hadn’t been told yet, but I knew that was only a matter of time. In the two days we’d been back, we’d only put out some fires, not all of them.

  I, on the other hand, had to train and get ready to take the next steps. I wasn’t truly part of the court, so I wasn’t much help there.

  We were out in the courtyard in front of the Obscurité Court, training as a group. Wyn and Luken were sparring against one another, their Earth and Air Wieldings creating intriguing matchups of soil and wind. It was so fascinating, that I sometimes forgot I was also supposed to be training.

  Of course, having them near meant I usually ended up on my butt instead of doing what I was supposed to do.

  I couldn’t help it, though. Watching the two of them spar was like watching power and grace come at each other in awed silence.

  Luken used his sword to direct his Air Wielding with such precision that I was envious. Wyn
was the graceful one. She didn’t have the grounded power that I thought most Earth Wielders had.

  Instead, she was light on her feet as she pushed her hands up into the air and then pulled them down, creating cascades of dirt and rock and soil as she moved towards Luken. Luken directed the Earth away using his Air, and I couldn’t help but want to stop and watch.

  Of course, considering that I was supposed to be training on how to use all of my Wielding, it wasn’t easy.

  My distractions led to a few bruises, a couple of cuts, and one slightly severe burn that Ridley was able to heal quickly. He had come out of nowhere. I’d thought he was working with Justise on the court issues, but he had shown up immediately to heal the burn Teagan had given me.

  Teagan, ever the warrior, hadn’t even looked apologetic.

  After all, if I had been paying attention like I should have been instead of watching Wyn and Luken, I wouldn’t have been burned like I was.

  It didn’t help that Braelynn was with us, using her little bat wings to flap around and hover about three inches off the ground as she watched Luken and Wyn, as well.

  There was something weird about it all. I shouldn’t have been paying attention to them. I really should have been paying attention to Rhodes and Teagan.

  Rhodes stood in front of me now, his arms outstretched as spirals of Water and Air danced in front of him, a little smirk on his face.

  And that expression reminded me of Easton, sending pain straight to my heart. I ignored it.

  Because this was Rhodes, not Easton.

  This was my friend. The one who had helped me find my way at first, who’d almost died to protect me. I had to be okay with this, as well. Because while we were training, we didn’t have a lot of time to worry about anything except what was after us and the power within our realm.

  I had to work on my elements, on my control. That way, we could continue on our journeys.

  “Keep going, hold in that Fire,” Teagan ordered, and I nodded. Teagan was trying to teach me how to use my Fire Wielding, and while it wasn’t going super well, I was at least learning some technique. It wasn’t all about throwing fireballs at my opponent.

  No, there had to be precision and control when it came to Fire Wielding. So much that it exhausted me more than using any of my other elements.