Beloved LifeMate: Song of the Sídhí #1 (3 page)

In front of me and to the left, Fritz laid spread eagle on the ground several feet from the gateway. Gashes covered his chest and gut. Blood was splattered everywhere, on bushes, the ground, and the surrounding trees. Serious fights between Sídhí were always fast and furious and normally ended with someone getting their head chopped off, the one sure way to kill a Sídhí.

Fritz looked at me and I silently thanked God he wasn't dead.

“You didn't kill him,” I muttered in a low voice. Honestly, I couldn't believe Fritz wasn't dead.

On each wrist and ankle, Fritz was cuffed with solid crystal. Each shackle was connected to a stake of crystal driven into the ground. Even though he was unable to move, his severe wounds, including a deep gash across his stomach healed before my eyes. Thankfully, he was several hundred years old and healed rather quickly.

“Call Chi’Kehra,” Fritz ordered me, struggling against his restraints. His voice was heavy with unspoken words, trying to make me understand the urgency in warning our people without tipping off the elf holding me prisoner.

The man beside me snorted, humor laced his words as he said, “Understanding your modern language is difficult, but yes, I am Chi’Kehra.”

Fritz's frantic eyes met mine and I wanted to tell him that I kept trying to call for help, but the stupid gate blocked my attempts.

Never say elves were dumb. The Chi’Kehra certainly was not.

“You didn't mean me. Did you?” Chi’Kehra asked, glaring at Fritz, who snarled back.

Stubbornly Fritz refused to answer his question.

Chi’Kehra turned his attention to me. With a bone-jarring movement, he held me off the ground and shook me. “Well, halfling, does a khatt have your tongue? Is there a Chi’Kehra of Earth?”

My head flopped around on my shoulders. I felt like one of those bobble-head dolls.

I must have looked silly, but that didn't stop my intense anger. Fury still bubbled near the surface; it glared at him, but without the impact I wanted. I wanted him to fear me, but it was nighttime. He didn't receive the full impact of how much I hated him. If we'd been in the direct sunlight my eyes would've turned a solid blood red that smoldered with heated anger.

I remained silent. Refusing to answer was my only weapon. Anyway, there was no way I'd willingly betray my own sister. She might be a powerhouse, but the powerhouse standing in front of me had a lot more experience.

“Perhaps a journey to Sídhí will loosen your tongue.”

At his solemn words, fear ripped through me and I struggled against his iron-grasp, but he walked toward the gateway, not paying me the slightest bit of attention. He flicked his hand toward Fritz and a chain of synth crystal appeared. The chain lengthened, absorbing the stakes that pinned Fritz to the ground. Chi’Kehra dragged me and a struggling Fritz toward the gateway.

I frantically tried stopping my forward momentum; I shoved my feet outward, but my shoes scraped uselessly across the leaf littered ground. “No!” My urgent protest made my voice shriller than normal.

“Sarah!”
I mentally screamed just as we passed across the threshold of the gateway and into a large bedroom. Belatedly, I realized I also screamed Sarah’s name out loud.

“Who is Sarah?” he asked calmly, casually flicking his fingers toward Fritz.

Crystal wrapped around Fritz's mouth, muting his loud shouts. Another flick of fingers and a separate gateway opened behind Fritz and he tumbled through it. The gateway closed without a sound.

My frantic eyes latched on the remaining gateway, the one connecting Earth to Sídhí.

Suddenly, Sarah appeared in the clearing. Sword raised, she rushed toward me, roaring louder than I've ever heard her. Fury glowed from her eyes.

“Sarah!” I shrieked, knowing she'd never make it through in time. The view to Earth snapped shut, silencing Sarah's agonized shout of denial.

My shoulders sagged and I choked on a sob. “My sister, Sarah's my sister,” I answered his question without thinking. I was too stunned to think. I was an elf's prisoner, permanently trapped on Sídhí with no hope of ever returning home. I shuddered, sucking in a ragged breath I searched for some glimmer of hope.

Only a single person might save me and that was Sarah. My sister would come for me. She'd never stop trying. She terrified others, but she loved me. Somehow, she'd figure out a way to get me home.

His snort of ridicule pulled me from my mournful thoughts. “Sídhí is your new home. Only another Chi’Kehra has the power necessary to open a gateway. So unless your sister, whom I assume is half vampire like you, is friends with Chi’Kehra...” he stopped and the skin between his eyes tightened in a frown. “The Earth-born Chi’Kehra is your sister? That woman who attacked was Chi’Kehra?”

I hastily shook my head, denying his accusation. “No, of course not. We're both a quarter vampire.”

“You lie, Chi’Kehra is your sister!” He shoved his face in mine, glaring at me.

My heart raced in rekindled fear and my mind shrieked at me: He knows!

The world of Sídhí had to be millions of light years away from Earth, but I had to warn Sarah; she was the only person who had a chance at protecting Earth. Honestly, I didn't know how she would hear me, but I tried anyway.

“Sarah!”
I mentally screamed, hoping beyond hope that - combined with the sibling blood we shared and as Chi’Kehra - she would hear me.

From my look of concentration, he must've guessed I was using telepathy. I had no warning, before he violently threw me across the room.

I slammed headfirst into a stone wall.

~ ~ ~

Chi’Kehra gritted his teeth, looking at the crumpled form of the beautiful young woman.

Doing the right thing sucked, but his duty was protecting his people, not giving the Earth-born Chi’Kehra a chance to destroy his world. Who would have dreamed more than one Chi’Kehra could exist? Even if she didn't want to conquer Sídhí, another Chi’Kehra would throw his world into chaos.

Already he felt the energy surrounding his world changing as the white-blonde Chi’Kehra sent tendrils of energy outward, hunting for her sister. If the unconscious young woman mentally cried-out for her sister, it would all be over.

He only had a very brief window of opportunity; he didn't dare give the young woman the slightest chance to call for help. Depending on how old and well trained her sister, the Earth-born Chi’Kehra was, it would only take moments for her to zero in on a relative by blood.

A silver collar might have helped, but he didn't have time to fetch one.

He sighed, frustration fueling his anger. He didn't want to kill an innocent. Perhaps if he tried talking to her it would help. Surely, a few minutes would not be enough time for the other Chi’Kehra to lock onto her sister. He simply hoped he could convince the young beauty to remain silent.

He honestly couldn't understand his hesitation to silence her. True, she was an innocent bystander caught in a bad situation, but that shouldn't have mattered. He had always done whatever was necessary when protecting his people. This was different, she was different.

She touched something deep in his soul. He didn't believe in love at first sight, but the thought of hurting her made his chest ache.

~ ~ ~

I blacked-out for a moment.

When I awoke, sharp shooting pains streaked through my head. My jaw and shoulder felt on fire. I struggled to open my eyes, blinking against the pain. A large gray rock blocked my vision, sitting inches from my nose. I couldn't smell anything, except the blood trickling down my nose. Ugh, I hated nosebleeds and I really hated pain.

I lay crumpled at the base of the wall he threw me at. I didn't think I fainted for long, because I heard his firm strides coming up behind me. I rolled over and pain threatened to pull me back under. With a force of will, I finished rolling over. That didn't sound too hard, but it hurt like the blue-blazes.

I watched him walk slowly toward me, shaking his head. He actually looked sad. “It didn't need to come to this. If I must, I will kill you in order to protect my world. I'd much rather propose a truce.”

The significance of what he said pounded through my head. If he didn't kill me outright, he'd chain me with enough silver that I'd become deaf and dumb to my Sídhí abilities. I'd rather be dead than a slave.

I tried standing up, but my body screamed in pain. Streaks of stabbing pain ripped through my broken jaw, shoulder, and arm. I couldn't tell him I wouldn't cry for help even if I wanted to. The pain stopped the words, letting them die in my throat. My jaw hurt too badly; I couldn't form any kind of sound other than a whimper.

Speaking mind to mind with the Chi’Kehra was totally not an option. I doubted if my mental shields would keep him out.

When I remained silent, a sword made of pure synth crystal appeared in his hand. His jaw clenched. From the look in his eyes, he appeared determined.

The air froze in my chest, keeping me from uttering a cry of fear.

With having the Earth-born Chi’Kehra as my sister, I was more aware than the average Sídhí what creating an object from the synth crystal in his body meant. It literally shouted, 'I'm Chi’Kehra and you're a gnat I'm going to swat' as nothing else did. Truly, he could create anything from the energy stored in his body, from a sword to a fine lacy bra.

Ugh, a bra? That's so weird. I was about to die and I was thinking about funky underclothes.

“I hadn't planned on killing a youngling today.” With a look of regret on his face, he raised his sword arm.

“I'm seventeen today,” I forced the mumble of words through my broken jaw, miffed at his remark even as death stared me in the face. Trust me, I wasn't being arrogant, guys stopped what they were doing and whistled when I walked past.

My resolve to live reared up and shouted at me, refusing to die without a fight.

I curled my hands into fists and willed myself not to cry-out when I pushed them against the floor. I obstinately refused to meet my enemy on my knees. With that thought in my head, I pushed myself up to my feet, while hanging onto the wall with my good right hand. My left arm hung uselessly at my side.

I rapidly blinked my eyes, fighting as the world turned black and muffled. For an instant, I feared I might lose my battle and drop to the floor in another faint, but ever so slowly my sight and hearing came back to me. I glanced around the huge room and saw no easy escape.

I extended my fangs and claws, hissing at him as he walked closer. My claws wouldn't be much use against a sword, but I had to try.

“Ah.” The small sound he uttered sounded remorseful. “Give me your word of honor you won't try summoning the Earth-born Chi’Kehra and I'll let you live.”

I tried mimicking a look of extreme concentration, like I was considering his offer. The word of a Sídhí was stronger than a contract signed in blood. What he didn't know was the kind of person I was. I would never, not in a million years, betray my family.

Without warning, I ported, disappearing from my place against the wall. I reappeared immediately behind him and slashed my claws downward, aiming to sever his spine, but elves were really very fast.

In a single move, he jerked around and shoved his broad sword straight through my chest.

I screamed in agony.

My world shuddered to a halt, searing me clear through my chest. My ribs shattered and blood spurted everywhere. My heart thumped madly. I didn't see how he could've missed it, but it was still thumping. The blade must have skimmed past it by less than an inch.

Have I mentioned: I have horrid timing? Well, I did. Wretched, horrid timing.

Time literally ground to a halt. His sword held me off the ground like a limp rag doll and his serious eyes met mine, a look of complete disgust curled his nose.

Then it happened.

The most amazing thing for any Sídhí occurred. An inhumanly eerie sound burst through my body, vibrating from every synth laced cell in me.

The synth crystal sang, glorious and loud, pounding through my ears and body; the synth laced blood that flowed through my blood vibrated for joy, literally erupting in beautiful and tear-jerking music that poured through my dying body.

The Ancient Ones created synth crystal as the ultimate source of clean energy. It did so much more than that; it became our Fountain of Youth. It also pulled two 'perfect' people together. Each Sídhí had a single lifeMate; the synth crystal insured an unbreakable union between the two destined mates.

The lovely music singing through my veins had been called many things through the years, but as I looked into my lifeMate's horrified eyes, I could only think of one: Forever Yours in Life and Death.

The Song of the Sídhí had declared my killer as my lifeMate.

Chapter: Death

He watched her teleport away and he reacted without thought. Instinct to live overtook his desire not to harm the young woman. He had fought many vampires throughout his long life; he knew how they fought. Not discounting their fangs and claws, porting was their primary weapon.

He turned and thrust.

His pure synth crystal sword slammed through the right-side of her ribcage, shattering bones and thrusting through lung.

Her scream ripped through him and he cursed his wretched fast reactions. If he had jumped out of the way and not thrust... blast it to hell! For once in his life, why did he have to have great reflexes? Self-recrimination poured through him; disgusted with his own actions, he silently cursed.

He sucked in a harsh lungful of air. He wasn't without honor. As much as he'd love to turn and never look at her, he couldn't.

He heard her whimper; she still lived. He steeled himself and looked into her eyes.

Her incredible blue eyes stared into his, a light cerulean blue; they looked soul-deep into him. Even in death, she was more woman than any other he had ever known.

The moment his eyes met hers, he didn't have time to utter a sound of remorse, his body exploded in a symphony of music; the internal vibration of his synth crystal screamed through his veins, naming her as his lifeMate.