A Soul for Trouble (35 page)

The end of his sentence pierced her already aching heart like an arrow.
If he survives
. An image of Kell’s hazel eyes staring lifelessly up at the heavens sent a shiver down her spine and made her skin burn where he touched her. She wrestled free of him and turned away, unable to bear being this close to him and keep herself together. Confusion swirled in her chest, making it hard to breathe. How could she care this much for him when she loved Dev?

“It is possible to love two men in entirely different ways, my little Soulbearer.”
She chewed her swollen lip and tasted his kiss. Steel formed in her veins. She knew what she needed to do. She wasn’t going to let Kell die, either. Not when she could do something to save him.

“Arden, did I say or do something wrong?”

She looked at him, and her heart wrenched when she saw the pain etched on his normally carefree face. She took one of his hands in her own and caressed his cheek with the other. He brought their hands to his chest. The steady beat of his heart helped her find the right words.

“I’m not leaving.”

His pulse quickened, and his fingers tightened around hers. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s the only way.”

She shook her head, grinning. It was time to stop playing the coward and destroy Sulaino once and for all.

“Ah, vengeance suits you. Of course, we’ll cause a little chaos along the way, right, my
dear?”

“I can’t do this without you, Loku.”

The god’s squeal of delight widened her smile and renewed her energy like a good night’s sleep.

Kell’s fingers fell slack, but he didn’t release her even when Dev joined them. “Talk some sense into her. She’s refusing to leave now.”

Dev lunged for her as if he wanted to throw her over his shoulder, but she easily danced away from him. A scowl twisted his mouth. “Trouble, stop playing games.”

“I will once I’m done with Sulaino.” She took a deep breath and stared at both of them with her back straight and gaze steady. “I’m going to fight, and you’re either with me or against me.”

For a moment, neither man said anything. A heady delight, almost like having too much ale, rolled through her.

“Trouble, don’t be ridiculous.”

Kell nodded. “Dev’s right. There’s no way you can take on that army alone.” She stubbornly lifted her chin and crossed her arms. “I won’t be taking them on alone.” She let her gaze rest on Dev to let him know exactly what she was planning.

His face hardened. “Don’t even consider it. The consequences—”

“Are mine alone to bear. Personally, I’d rather live in an insane state of bliss knowing I did something to help others rather than have guilt slowly consume my mind.”

“I have half the mind to beat some sense into you.” He took another step toward her and swiped his hand, hoping to catch her arm. Instead, he only fanned the air.

“What kind of protector would you be if you did that?”

“One who kept you alive.”

“Do you doubt our power?”

“That’s right. Remind him I’m still a god, even if I’m trapped inside your body.”

“Dev may be able to use magic, but I’m just an ordinary human.”

“She’s not talking about us.” Dev clenched his hands into fists. “Don’t do it, Trouble.”

“You’re not changing my mind. I told you before: I’m a Ranellian, and I won’t sit back and watch my homeland overrun with undead.”

“Damn it, woman, it’s a suicide mission.”

“Perhaps, but I’ll take my chances. Besides, I’m the Soulbearer. You’re my protector.

Time to remember that oath you pledged.”

Kell’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Am I missing something?”

“It’s none of your business, Your Highness.” Dev’s face darkened, and he stared at her as if daring her to challenge him further.

“Let’s just say I have an ally I can call upon when needed.” She looped her arm through Kell’s. “Now, if you would be so kind as to show me which tunnel leads to the city wall, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

He shook his head, but his feet moved with hers. “This is insane.” Her lips curled up into a smile. “Exactly. Sulaino will never expect it. It’s the only thing we have to our advantage.” She paused and looked behind her. “Are you coming, Dev?” His knuckles glowed white in the torchlight. “You’re going to be the death of me, Trouble.”

Her laughter sounded hollow to her ears, but she needed to bolster her courage if she was going to go through with this. “Nonsense.”He Once they crowded into the dark, narrow tunnel, her smile faded.
“I hope we know what we’re doing, Loku.”
Something that felt like a hand pressed against the small of her back in a possessive gesture.
“Trust me. Now that I’m no longer restrained, I won’t let anyone hurt us.”
Chapter 36

The smell of death overwhelmed her other senses and made her want to retch. She pinched her nose as they neared the outer wall, thinking it would block the stench, but it still filled her mouth. Even if she ignored it, she still couldn’t escape the coldness that crawled along her skin and tried to smother her soul. She fought off the despair and doubts that plagued her mind and put one foot in front of the other.

“Any ideas yet, Loku?”

“A few. I need to see the layout of the land first.”

“I thought you were an all-seeing god.”

“And you’re a cheeky little barmaid.”

Her giggle caused both her companions to turn and stare at her as if she was losing her mind. Kell shook his head and continued down the tunnel, but Dev lingered next to her, studying her like a scholar would a book. “Are you sure you want to do this?” She nodded, and pushed past him.

He grabbed her arm and tugged her back. His breath tickled her ear as he said, “Is this your decision or someone else’s?” His eyes flickered to Kell.

“You heard him earlier. He wanted me to leave.” She shook her arm free. “This is my choice, Dev. Not his. Not Loku’s. Mine.”

Her words bolstered her courage for a moment, and she strode down the tunnel like she was going to a reception in her honor instead of her possible execution. A few feet later, she ended up chewing her bottom lip and playing with her pendant.
“Loku, are you sure we can do
this?”

His laughter vibrated through her body and chased the chill away.
“If you can believe
Dev’s story, I almost destroyed the world once. Even if Sulaino’s a necromancer, a mere
mortal doesn’t stand a chance against me.”

“But you had your own body then.”

“Yes, but if you’re a willing conduit for my power, then it’s almost the same thing.”

“Almost?”

“Well, I didn’t have tits then.”

A slight breeze blew across her breasts, and her nipples hardened. She crossed her arms over them.
“You’re such a pervert.”

“I don’t think you mind.”

The tunnel ended abruptly in a narrow alley that was barely big enough for one person to fit in. “This is it,” Kell whispered.

“Is there a way for me to see what’s on the other side?”

“Here.” He slid a metal slat to the side, and the rotting corpse smell rushed into the small space. Even Kell looked slightly green in the torchlight. He squeezed past her to other end of the alley. “Have a look.”

She stood on her toes to peer out the small opening. Dozens of red eyes illuminated the landscape. Only two of the moons shone overhead, but they gave her enough light to survey the land.
“What do you think now, Loku?”

“I think it’s time we test your elemental power with earth.”

“What?”

“We need to get outside to where you can touch the ground.”

“And then?”

“Then we give those living corpses a proper burial.”

“What about Sulaino?”

Loku took longer than expected to answer that question.
“We may need help with him.”
She turned back to the other two. They’d retreated from the wall and sought the cleaner air back in the tunnel. “If Loku and I get rid of the army and distract Sulaino, do you think you can finish him off?”

Dev stared at Kell’s sword. “Is that the same one you had the night we first met?” He nodded. “Why?”

“Because it can pierce magical shields. Nine to one, Sulaino will have one in place, making my spells and weapons useless until he lowers it. You would have to make the first strike before I could do anything.”

“So we have a plan then?”

The men exchanged glances, and each nodded.

She took a deep breath and wondered where all her spit had gone. “Good. I’ll go out and do my part. When you see a chance to go after Sulaino, take it.” Dev held her shoulders and pushed her against the wall of the tunnel. “You’re not going out there alone, Trouble. I won’t allow it.”

Her heart pounded from the intensity of his expression. It felt like he wanted to bend her to his will with only his eyes. “You have to. I don’t want him to know about you and Kell until you’re right on top of him. Please, it’s the only way this plan will work.” A muscle rippled along his jaw before he looked away and released her. “Fine, but I’ll be right behind you.”

She drew another breath. This one shook her to her very core. It was time to see what she could do with the god inside her. “How do I get to the other side?” Kell held up a large key. Rust roughed its surface, and when she took it, flakes crumbled into her hand. He covered her hand with his own. “I meant what I said about not wanting to lose you, Arden,” he whispered low enough so only she heard him.

Her heart did a little flip-flop. “Stick to the plan, and we won’t fail.”

“You could have been an actress, my little Soulbearer. You have them convinced that you
know what you’re doing, and this whole time, you’re so terrified, you’re about to wet
yourself.”

“Shut up, Loku.”
She entered the alley alone. After some pressure, the key fit into the lock and groaned to a click. She closed her eyes and counted to ten before pushing the hidden door in the city wall open.

“Shields up.”

She followed Loku’s instructions and took a step out.

The undead that milled around the wall parted and let her pass. Their expressionless, half-rotted faces bore little resemblance to what they must have looked like alive. Her heart ached for them. Where they as tortured as Dev said they were?

“Are you ready, my Soulbearer?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Then let’s begin.”
Magic gathered deep inside, pushing against the confines of her body and threatening to explode.

She gritted her teeth, tried to contain it until the right moment.

“Don’t fight me. Give yourself to me, and we can defeat him.”
She nodded and surrendered to the chaos god inside her. The magic pulsed stronger and stronger with each beat of her heart, coming in like waves crashing against a dam. Now was the moment. “Sulaino,” she shouted into the crowd, “if you want us, come and get us.” Her voice deepened with each word until it was no longer her own. Loku now controlled her. Her vision blurred, and the last thing she remembered was slamming her palm against the ground and the rush of magic that poured from her fingertips.

***

The first roll of the land caught Kell off balance. The second one knocked him off his feet.

“Sweet Lady Moon, what’s she doing?”

Dev snatched him by the collar and dragged him out of the way from the showers of rock that crumbled from the walls. “Earth magic.”

The next wave collapsed the tunnel behind them. The bitter taste of fear filled his mouth.

His heart jumped into his throat. “Let’s get out of here.”

“For once, I agree with you, Your Highness.” Dev shoved his shoulder against the door, opening it just wide enough for them to pass through one at a time. “After you.” He fell through the opening and landed face-first in the mud. Disgust oozed from him like the muck between his fingers. Some way to treat a prince. If they survived tonight, he needed to have a talk with the arrogant elf.

When he lifted his eyes, his jaw dropped. Arden crouched less than ten feet ahead of him.

Waves of bright green magic pulsated from her hand into the ground, each one turning into a rumble of the earth that radiated out like ripples in pond. As the first waves struck the undead, they knocked them to the ground. Then the subsequent waves formed large clay hands that sucked them deep into the earth. The land outside the city instantly turned into a mass grave.

“Look out!” Dev jumped in front of him and rolled him to the side. A warm blanket of magic wrapped around him, deflecting the boulder-sized chunks of the outer wall that fell around them.

Magic crept along his skin, but it no longer unnerved him like before. “You’re using one of those shield things, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but I sometimes wonder why I bother. You seem to be in a hurry to have your head cracked open.”

“Remind me to thank you later.” His stomach heaved as if he were on a boat in rough seas.

He closed his eyes until the waves became less violent.

The earth storm waned after several agonizing minutes, and when he opened his eyes, only two figures stood in front of him: Arden and Sulaino.

“Ready?” Dev released him and reached for his sword.

The film of magic that surrounded him retreated, exposing him once again to the icy chill that sucked all the happiness from him. He pushed himself up from the ground and noticed that the mud hardened and cracked as though it had been frozen. His fingers wrapped the hilt of his sword as he focused on the necromancer in the distance. “Ready.”

“Remember, you have to strike first.”

He nodded, casting a glance at Arden. She’d risen to her feet now with her arms outstretched in front of her, aiming the tendrils of green magic at Sulaino. Her grimace revealed her efforts to keep fighting, but the slump of her shoulders showed that she had almost reached her limit.