Embrace the Power: A Paranormal Romance (The Blood Rose Series Book 9) (13 page)

Stone froze in his tracks and began to levitate backward, melting deeper into the caves. He turned to Aralynn.
You’ve had a vision?
Why was he surprised?

Yes. Use me. I think you’re high on elf-lord power and you’re not yourself yet.

He planted a hand against his forehead.
I think you’re right. The power might be gone, but not a kind of driving ambition I’m having a hard time turning off.

He planted his hands on his hips and while levitating stared at the pools of water on the stone floor. He was being more impulsive than usual.

She drew close and sniffed him like a wolf would, wrinkling her nose as she met his gaze.
You’re right. I’m not smelling elf-lord power. So, what happened?

It dissipated once I left Ferrenden Peace.

She didn’t seem to question this statement but looked around. Another moan sounded.
I’m hearing Mastyr Quinlan, aren’t I?

You are. You know him?

She looked confused for a moment.
Well, not personally, of course. But I know what he looks like. I have a computer and access to the realm-web.

Right. Okay. So, the vision you had?

Here it is. Margetta’s told one of her henchmen you’d be barreling into the main cave. One of them is holding the net and I recognized it at once. It’s treated with a fae potion and you’d never be able to escape it.

Sweet Goddess.

Yeah.
She wrinkled her nose again but this time for a different reason.
The thing is, she abducted these mastyrs for one purpose: To draw you here and capture you. She’s after you, Stone. I’m not sure why, but I have a strong feeling it has to do with your ability to channel the elf-lord power.

Margetta’s presence changed everything. And he agreed with Aralynn. Earlier, at Charborne, Margetta had aimed for Aralynn, not for him. The Ancient fae had wanted his battle partner dead.

I think you’re right.

She nodded.
And after the way you so easily channeled the elf-lord power, it all makes sense. If she’d killed me at Charborne, she would have had you.

His turn to nod.
She just hadn’t counted on a wolf from Ferrenden Peace possessing the kind of power you have.

Her solemn expression blossomed into a smile and his heart once more felt swollen with affection. This was one of the reasons he hadn’t hesitated suggesting they bond. He’d run missions beside her for seven weeks and he loved everything about her.

What?
She asked, no doubt surprised by his expression.

He took both of her arms in hand and leaned in. He planted a quick, firm kiss on her lips and let her feel what he felt.
Just that.

~ ~ ~

Rosamunde froze in her levitated state. She was in the middle of a rescue with Stone and he could make her feel so much with just a brief pressure of his lips on hers.

When he drew back, she couldn’t quite close her mouth.
Oh, my.
She wanted to speak aloud, but she was afraid their voices would carry and alert the enemy.

Images flowed through her head of taking Stone back to Aralynn’s cottage and keeping him in her bed for the entire day.

She drew close to him, and settled her hand on his face.
How about we go get your men then maybe we can do more of that. What do you say?

It’s a perfect plan.

She chuckled softly.
Except for one small thing. How are we going to rescue the mastyrs from a madwoman and a cave full of her minions?

He narrowed his gaze at her.
You know that wind you created, the one that got me safely to Joseph’s house? The one that evaded Margetta?

Yup.

Can you use it in another context? I’ve felt your power level and I think it might be possible for you to create something similar that would hide our presence from the Ancient Fae?

You think so?

He tilted his head slightly.
You really don’t know what you have, do you?

I’ve never thought about it much. But I trust you, so let me investigate and see what can be done.

Stone’s belief in her abilities, gave Rosamunde confidence. She pulled away from him just a little to give herself enough space to draw inward without the distraction of being so close to him.

She closed her eyes and thought about the veil of mist she created through the elf-lord power. Could she do something similar, a kind of mist that would allow her and Stone to enter the cave unseen?

She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. She thought it best to warn him.
I’m going to try to access the elf-lord power from here. I don’t know if I can, but it would be the means by which I could create a kind of shield for us.

He frowned.
But the pain. I don’t want you to hurt like that again. Should I try to channel the power?

I honestly don’t know. But I want to make the attempt and we can figure it out as we go along.

Sounds good.

She nodded once then closed her eyes again. She drew inside herself and focused solely on the elf-lord power. Only a couple of seconds passed before the earth began to rumble. She knew Margetta would sense the shift, so whatever she was going to do, she had to act quickly.

When the pain started, she knew she couldn’t afford to wait for it to ease up. Stone would have to be involved.

She grabbed his arm and held on, then let the power flow into him. Only this time, she focused on bringing it back to herself.

When she felt it return, yet without the smallest discomfort, she began constructing something she’d never made before: A shield that would block their presence to outsiders.

I can feel what you’re doing and there’s no pain for you, is there?
Stone’s telepathic voice sounded excited within her mind.

She felt the same way.
No pain at all. But I’m sensing movement.
She opened her eyes and glanced up the tunnel. Stone followed her gaze.

In the distance, was a golden glow.

Margetta.
Stone drew close, sliding his arm around her waist.
She must have felt the earth rumble when you accessed the elf-lord power.

Rosamunde’s heart slammed around in her chest until she felt sure it would burst.
What do we do now?

Stone drew her tight against the miserably wet cave wall.
We wait to see if your shield holds.

~ ~ ~

Stone watched Margetta’s gold light grow increasingly intense until suddenly the Ancient Fae appeared around the corner. She was a striking woman whom he’d only ever seen in her long velvet gowns. She wore a dark blue one now as she levitated slowly in their direction. Her violet eyes were wide and searching. Her long blond hair, sculpted into large ringlets, floated around her shoulders all the way to her waist. Except for the hard line of her lips, she was a beautiful woman.

“I can feel your presence, Mastyr Stone, but I can’t see you. What has your clever wolf done for you this time?”

Stone tightened his arm around Aralynn. She trembled beside him, but the elf-lord power kept her shield tight and he knew it would hold.

He held his breath as she breezed past them, flying even more swiftly back down the tunnel. She carried an evil stench, like rotting garbage.

He didn’t move, however. Aralynn didn’t either. Margetta wouldn’t leave her captives for very long. Barely ten seconds later, the gold light returned and flew past them. He couldn’t even see Margetta this time, just the brilliant light surrounding her as she raced back in the direction she’d come.

When she disappeared, Stone released a strained breath. Aralynn turned into him and slung her free arm around his waist.

He surrounded her with his arms and held her close. Her voice hit his telepathy.
That smell. I hate it more than anything.

You’ve smelled it often?

Not really. Just once, when I was a little girl. Margetta killed my mother.

Stone grew very still. The revelation was not something Aralynn had told him before.
No wonder you’re shaking.

Slowly, she drew back and lifted her face to his. Her brown eyes were wet with tears. She offered a faltering smile.
But the shield held, so we’re good.

We’re good.

She took a deep breath and her lips curved
. Let’s go get your men.

He loved her courage more than anything and without thinking, he kissed her again, another quick press of his lips to hers. She caressed his face and nodded.

Releasing her, he levitated away from the wall, yet he could feel the shield like a clinging drag of mist all around him. He was grateful for the physical sensation since he’d be able to detect any change if something went wrong.

I know these caves inside and out and I’ve seen exactly where Margetta has the mastyrs chained up. Stick close.
The words sounded like a bark, even telepathically.

Her lips quirked.
Yes, Mastyr.

He smiled. Aralynn, like Delia, never let his head get too big. He liked that about her as well.

He shifted his gaze to the tunnel and charted his course. Levitating slowly and once more extending his hearing, he could hear laughter, both male and female, coupled with jeers.

The Invictus bonds were permanent and eradicated a sense of morality from both the wraith and the victim. The worst characteristics of each individual came to the fore.

Wraith-pairs quickly became thieves and murderers. They developed an instant addiction to blood and killed their victims often by draining them to death. Those they attacked were all ages. Murdering rampages quickly became the preferred way of life.

The enemy was vicious and without conscience.

We’re only a few yards away.

He felt Aralynn’s battle vibration begin to beat at him. She also carried a dagger in her sheath that she knew how to use extremely well.
I’m ready.

Her confident response urged him forward.
We’ll be entering at the back of the cave well behind the Invictus and across from where the men are chained.

Got it.

The back entrance area was to the west of what he knew to be a large cavern. He could hear Dracut Falls easily now, though the cave was set back about thirty yards from the waterfall.

As he levitated into the back of the cavern, he could smell the burning coals. A few feet more and the portable fire pit came into view. Branding irons stuck of the middle of the blazing coals, heated up and ready for use.

He stopped for a moment, needing to take it all in. Aralynn drew up beside him. The shield she’d created held tight. The men he’d served beside for centuries were manacled to the opposite wall: Gerrod, Ethan and Quinlan.

Though he had a strong impulse to charge in, he needed to be wise.
I want to get the layout,
he pathed to Aralynn.

Though there were natural stone pillars separating their side of the massive cavern from the rest of the space, he could see the ruling mastyrs easily. Each had been stripped down to their leathers, whipped and beaten.

Blood ran from several chest and abdominal wounds, and he could now smell burning flesh, inflicted by the branding irons. At the same time, self-healing energy boiled from the men. They weren’t powerful vampires for nothing and each had bonded with a blood rose, adding to their abilities. That Margetta had overpowered them in some way was a testament to her essential power.

The wraiths flew slowly around the space, yet in an agitated, predatory manner. Their shrieks had died down for the moment.

Aralynn grabbed his wrist. She was trembling again.

He glanced at her, holding her gaze. He knew she’d seen a lot in the seven weeks they’d been battling together, but nothing as heinous and personal as this.
I know this is hard to take. Do you want to sit this one out?

She shook her head.
I’m overcome with rage, not fear. I hate what’s happening here with a passion.

He could feel it now, the strength of her anger which matched his own.

The cavern curved toward the southeast, so that he couldn’t actually see Margetta from where he and Aralynn hovered. But her golden glow spilled from the space nearest the east exiting tunnel.

Margetta called out. “Be ready, my servants. Mastyr Stone is here.”

At the mention of his name, two of the wraiths shrieked and took to flying rapidly back and forth through the air near the two-story cavern ceiling.

The third and tallest wraith floated in the air and turned slowly in a circle, hunting for them. Invictus wraiths were fierce-looking, and this one was no different. Her skin was white to the point of opaque and she had yellow fangs, dark lips, and small eyes. She wore the traditional wraith gown made up of gauzy red strips of fabric sewn loosely together to float around her thin legs.

She smiled, showing red gums. “We’ll find him, Mistress Margetta.”

Stone took Aralynn’s hand.
Let’s get higher in the air.
He rose as he spoke, Aralynn with him.

With no pillars to obstruct his view, Stone caught sight of the Ancient Fae.
I see Margetta now.

She squeezed his wrist.
Me, too.

“Take Gerrod again this time.” Margetta’s voice had a special ring of authority, something he knew to be manufactured. She used her voice to control her subjects.

“Yes, Mistress.” All three vampires responded in unison.

One of the powerful male vampires, just shy of mastyr status, headed in Gerrod’s direction. He moved slowly and bore bruises up and down his legs and across his abdomen.

Stone smiled. The ruling mastyrs had fought back and apparently Margetta didn’t do anything to protect her minions. Typical.

Gerrod’s head hung down and it seemed to Stone that though he appeared unconscious, his thigh muscles flexed.

Stone needed more information about the shield.
Aralynn, Can I cross the space and still be invisible?

Let me explore this new creation of mine.
He knew she’d focused her thoughts inward. After a moment, she released his wrist.
Yes. Absolutely. It won’t dissipate until I want it to. The distances within the cavern are not an issue. Though I have the sense any farther and the lack of close proximity would become a problem. So what’s the plan? I’d like to have a sense of where you might need me.