Embrace the Power: A Paranormal Romance (The Blood Rose Series Book 9) (12 page)

Once her hair was dry, she pulled the upper half back and secured it with a woven Guardsman clasp. All the Guardsmen had long hair, usually very thick, so the clasps were made for them. Given the mass of her hair, the clasp fit perfectly.

Dressed at last in a fresh set of battle leathers, including another sleeveless green vest, she left the bathroom. Stone wasn’t near the bed, thank goodness.

She hadn’t exactly figured out what to do about his suggestion. They weren’t all that different in basic philosophies. Each believed in self-sacrifice and doing what they could to end Margetta’s assault on the Nine Realms.

But did that mean they had to bond? And if they did form what she knew to be a powerful blood rose bond, would it really make a difference? Or would coming together in that way only complicate her situation even more?

Before she could give Stone an answer, however, he had to know the truth. The moment had come and part of her was relieved that she would finally be telling him that the queen and Aralynn were one in the same. Even so, her heart sank about two feet into the earth.

Of course, she strongly suspected this would end any interest he had in the bond.

But so be it.

“Stone?” She could feel a draught of cool air coming from the direction of the front door.

“I’m over here.” He had the front door open and was standing in the doorway. “I was just looking at the moon through the beech trees. I like your cottage.”

“I do, too.”

She drew up behind him and rose up on tip-toes to peer over his shoulder. The front doorway was a few inches over seven feet, though fairly narrow so he pretty much filled the space. He leaned his shoulder against the side frame and lifted his bottle of beer to his lips.

He took a deep swig, then said, “I checked in with Harris. The Invictus dead at Charborne have been taken care of and the villagers are returning to their homes and farms. I’ve put the mayor in for a commendation. Even Elias’s friend has been found. He’d been hiding out with one of the local farmers.”

“That’s amazing, on every front. And the Com Center? Is Tannisford quiet?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, you don’t sound pleased.”

He turned toward her and the moment his gaze touched hers, desire flowed like a fast-moving river. She had it bad for the Mastyr of Tannisford.

The left side of his lips curved. “You like me, don’t you?”

“More than I should, given that we have a war on.”

He caught her arm suddenly with his free hand, his eyes glittering. “Bond with me. I know it’s the right thing to do.”

The moment, however, that his fingers wrapped around her bare arm, the earth began to rumble beneath her feet once more.

She glanced down. “Do you feel that?”

He nodded. “Kaden says this is elf-lord power.”

She blinked, lifting her gaze to stare at him. “You talked to him, then?”

“He admitted he was a reformed elf-lord. Did you know that’s what he was?”

“I did.”

The rumbling grew stronger. “He said you use the same power to sustain the mist.”

“That’s true and it also provides the visions, the ones we’ve used on our missions. And a vision is definitely coming right now, but you’ve never been with me before when I channel the elf-lord power. Stone, it always hurts, so be prepared. In fact, maybe you should let go of me.”

He released her arm, but he didn’t move away from her. His eyes were wide as she braced herself for the power to hit.

When it struck, her back arched and the muscles of her legs seized as though there was just too much power for her to handle. She clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. She levitated a couple of inches off the floor to keep from falling.

“Aralynn, this is too much. I can feel your agony.”

She bit the words out, her eyes still closed. “It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

“No, I don’t see.” Suddenly, his hand was on her arm once more and at the exact moment he made contact, skin-to-skin, the elf-lord power left her body and flowed straight into Stone.

And just like that, there was no more pain. She levitated in a descent until her booted feet touched the floor.

She gasped as she opened her eyes. “What did you do?”

But Stone merely stared at her, an expression on his face she couldn’t read. Was he in shock? Was the elf-lord power hurting him?

She didn’t know.

When the earth quieted down, he released her arm. “I sense a vision coming, about the three mastyrs.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Earlier this evening, Harris mentioned no one could raise Gerrod, Ethan or Quinlan on their coms, but I know now that each was taken by Margetta against his will. That’s what the vision will be about when it comes. Aralynn, how do I know this? I’m not fae.”

“I don’t know.” She was thoroughly confused about what was happening. “It must be the elf-lord power.”

“When I spoke to Harris just a few minutes ago while waiting for you, he said he was going to try to track the mastyrs down. Now he won’t have to.”

He turned and set his half-empty bottle of beer on the nearby kitchen counter then met her gaze once more. His whole body was vibrating with the power that flowed through him. “I don’t know how this is happening. Vampires don’t have visions. And this power. Sweet Goddess, it’s as though I’ve been born to it.”

“Did it hurt you?” she asked. “I mean when you first channeled it?”

He shook his head. “Not even a little.”

Rosamunde didn’t understand what was going on.

His lips parted. “The vision is almost on me. Sweet Goddess!”

Chapter Five

Stone felt the elf-lord power vibrating through every part of his body. It was different than any frequency he’d ever experienced, as though it enhanced each ability he possessed while at the same time elevating his power levels.

The vision played at the edges of his mind. He felt the need to do something, but he didn’t know what. This was fae territory, not vampire.

He focused inward and worked at opening his thoughts and inviting the vision forward. He already had a sense of it, that he’d soon learn where to find the three, now missing mastyrs.

His heart pounded, sending a sluicing noise through his ears. He was as devoted to the other eight ruling mastyrs as he was to all of Tannisford. They were a brotherhood now, fully united through the Federation against Margetta.

He closed his eyes and embraced the elf-lord power. He could feel its seductiveness like a warm call to every ambition he’d ever had. He could rescue the three mastyrs and be a hero. He wanted that more than anything.

When the elf-lord frequency had engulfed him completely, the vision began to flow. He knew that what he was seeing would take place within the next few minutes.

Gerrod, Ethan and Quinlan were chained to the damp wall of a dark cave. Nearby, a portable fire pit, glowing with bright red coals, held several branding irons. The skin of each warrior was pitted with deep burns.

For hours now, they’d been tortured, with several bulked up male vampires ready to deliver another round of red-hot pain. Their bonded female wraiths flew around the cave shrieking.

On instinct, Stone began panning back so that he could see the entire cave. As soon as he did, he recognized the system. He’d spent years early on in his Tannisford life exploring the hundreds of miles of caves in the mountainous region behind Dracut Falls near the Sterling River.

He had a small window to get to the men. But he had the elf-lord power in him. He’d be able to fly faster than ever and to fight better.

He shifted his gaze to Aralynn. “I have to go.”

“Stone, what did you see?”

“The three mastyrs. Margetta somehow took them. She’s holding them in a cave.”

She put her hand on his shoulder. “Stone, this doesn’t feel right to me. Something’s off.”

He shook his head. “The vision was perfectly clear and I know exactly where to go and what to do.”

When he turned to leave, she caught his arm. “I should go with you.”

At that, Stone smiled. “Why? When I have this?” He lifted his arm and a silvery glow of elf-lord power shone from his hands.

He didn’t wait to explain anything to her. He had elf-lord power now and he knew he could take on a dozen lesser vampires, all at the same time, if necessary.

He left the doorway and flung himself high into the air. Just as he’d thought, he could fly faster than ever.

With that, he headed southwest toward Dracut Falls. Within a minute, he’d reached his destination, having covered an immense distance of three hundred miles.

He was at least five hundred feet in the air and had an excellent view of the land, the river, and the waterfall. His vampire vision warmed up the landscape so that it was as though a late afternoon sun shone on the green pines and frothy white water.

The river ran at full-bore most of the year, having its source high in the northern, snow-laden Dauphaire Mountains of Tannisford. Several springs and a hundred creeks made their way into the single artery that ran through the western part of his realm.

He was a lot like Quinlan, one of the mastyrs chained in the cave. They’d both spent a lot of time combing every square foot of their respective realms.

In this particular cavern system, that had an entrance behind the fall of water, the caves were cold and wet. Water seeped through the stone walls constantly. He knew what the three captive ruling mastyrs were enduring. Even if Margetta wasn’t torturing them, just being tied up in the caves would be hard to bear.

Slowly, he levitated toward the falls. He knew there was an entrance to the caves directly behind the water, which had the easiest access and the men weren’t far from the falls. But he was also aware of a couple more entrances within the forest itself on the upper plain. Each was at least two miles past the falls, but his instincts told him Margetta might not know about them.

He passed over the loud rush of water and was surprised by the sudden quiet as he began to fly above the pine forest directly west. The terrain was full of rocks and hillocks along with the pine trees, but it was as though every contour of the land had been burned into his mind.

Love was what he felt for Tannisford and he wasn’t alone in that passion. All the ruling mastyrs had developed powerful attachments to their realms. The rise and fall of the land itself was part of that love.

But as he drew close to the land, he suddenly became aware that the elf-lord power he’d been experiencing had dwindled significantly. He slowed his levitation and took a moment to explore the phenomenon. But there was no denying, he was back to his usual self. Whatever it was he’d experienced at Aralynn’s cottage had been temporary, perhaps even connected to Ferrenden Peace or to Aralynn or both.

Fine.

Great.

Whatever.

It seemed typical of his experiences tonight that he wouldn’t be able to count on what he’d hoped was a war game-changer. Though he had to concede that Aralynn’s blood continued to strengthen him and he still had no pain whatsoever.

His thoughts turned immediately to his battle-partner, Aralynn. If he’d been able to sustain the elf-lord power, he wouldn’t have hesitated heading straight in. As it was, he had only one goal: To get his men out safely.

That meant, he needed support. He opened up his telepathy.
Aralynn, you there?

He could feel the wolf’s pathing frequency respond immediately. He could also sense her relief.
Where are you? Can I help?

His heart swelled up like a damn balloon. She’d said exactly what he’d hoped to hear.
I’m at Dracut Falls and yes, you can definitely help. The elf-lord power I’d been channeling … is gone.

On my way.

He felt the vibrations in the air then Aralynn was right there, her wild red hair flying around her shoulders. She met his gaze then glanced at the terrain below. They levitated about forty feet above the land.

He gripped her shoulder.
I don’t know if this will work.

What?

He didn’t try to explain, but he brought the vision forward then sent it along what he hoped was her pathing lane.

“Oh.” Her large brown eyes widened and she blinked several times in quick succession.

When the vision played out, she met his gaze and nodded once.
Let’s do it.

Follow me.

He dropped closer to the earth, approaching the westernmost entrance to the cavern system then eased behind a hillock composed mostly of rock and a lot of grasses and forest weeds. The pine trees had encroached through the area but hadn’t successfully planted a single sapling on the hill.

He extended his hearing to see if he could detect sounds of the enemy. But nothing returned except the wind in the pines, a very lonely sound in this part of his sparsely populated realm.

Keep levitating. We don’t want the noise of our boots to alert the enemy.

I agree. Besides, isn’t this system really wet?

It is.
He was constantly amazed at how well Aralynn knew his realm. She’d said she’d made a thorough study of all the realms, but this was one of those times she’d proven her knowledge yet again.

He had to duck down in order to move inside, but as with the space behind the falls, the initial cavern was tall and quite deep. He knew each of the pathways by heart and skirted any avenue leading directly to the falls.

Circumventing the easy paths, he made his way slowly toward the cave rooms near the falls.

When he drew within fifty feet of the torture area, he heard voices first, and painful shouts that made him cringe and grit his teeth. The rough, agonized moan let him know he was hearing Quinlan at the vile end of a burning hot branding iron.

Rage flooded him and pumped up his arm and leg muscles, while tightening his abdomen. He fired up his battle energy. He had a couple more turns to make, then one short cavern tunnel and he’d be in the middle of it.

But just as he was about to surge forward, Aralynn’s voice entered his head.
Slow down, dammit! I know you want to charge in, but the moment you do, Margetta will use one of her deadly fae nets to control you. Stone, she’s seen you coming.