The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (135 page)

“We need to move, NOW,” Jameson said urgently. Callum didn’t waste time responding. He followed his brother who was now hot on the tail of Hawk. They moved through the line of enemies, death lying in their wake. Finally they reached the small area where the two still stood. Hawk was just in front of them now, his chest heaving.

“Rain,” he said again, and Callum could hear the ache in it. They simply stood looking at each other, a million things passing between them but not being said. Another body came barrelling through, past Hawk and into the girl. Callum watched as Hawk’s youngest son wrapped the girl in a tight embrace, lifting her easily off the ground. The eldest son stood back, his face a hard mask.

Callum turned back to the other two, watching the shock on the girl’s face intensify as her arms came up hesitantly to wrap around the neck of her brother. Tears spilled from her eyes as she gripped him back. Callum didn’t understand what had happened, but it didn’t take much for him to figure out who the girl was. He remembered hearing something of her, but never got the details from Jameson.

“Rain,” the youngest said, pulling back to look down at her as he placed her back on her feet. “You’re okay.” His eyes looked over her, noticing for the first time the winged man standing just behind her. “You,” he growled, reaching for the sword strapped to his back.

“Wolf, no!” Rain cried, placing herself between the two. Callum braced himself to intervene if need be. He glanced over to the Chief of the Riders, noticing he had yet to make another move. There was such anguish on his face it was hard for Callum to look at him.

“Rain, get behind me,” Wolf ordered. “Where is Lily?” he directed to the man.

“You cannot kill me, Rider,” the winged man sneered.

“The Gods I can’t!”

“Wolf!” Callum turned at the new voice, seeing Elisa step forward, her bow already in hand. “He’s right, you can’t kill him. If one dies, so does the other.”

Callum felt the truth hit him in the chest. Of course, he thought, turning back to the winged man. This was Aiden’s brother, the dark to his light. A smug smile appeared on the man’s face as he kept his gaze trained on Hawk’s boy.

“Your friend is inside,” he said, “as is Aziz. Go through that passage there, turn left at your first turn, and your next right then follow it until the end. You will find them both, as well as the forest girl. They’re all there.”

“Wolf,” Hawk’s voice came out hoarse. “Lower your weapon and step back.”

Wolf hesitated for a moment, battling the anger Callum could see coursing through him. He noticed the boy’s hands shook slightly as his sword finally dropped to his side. Wolf’s eyes went to his sister’s, pleading. “You would betray your family?”

“I don’t expect you to understand,” Callum heard her say.

“Good, because I don’t,” Wolf replied.

“He is telling you the truth. You will find Aziz and Aiden where he has instructed.” She opened her mouth to say something else, but shut it again, her face unsure. She looked past Wolf to her father, and then over at the older boy who looked away when she did. Callum saw hurt flash in her eyes, before she lifted her chin and straightened her spine. “Good luck,” was all she said before turning to the embrace of Aziz’s creature, Aiden’s brother.

The winged man pushed off and rose into the sky, Rain with him. They all watched as the two flew out of sight. When there was nothing more to see, Jameson broke the tense silence. “Wolf, you, Elisa and Moose stay out here and guard this entrance.
No one
enters behind us, do you understand?”

“Yes,” Wolf answered, his voice strong. Moose stepped forward as well, any remnants of what had just happened completely washed away from his demeanour.

“Hawk?” Jameson looked to the Chief questioningly. Callum ached for the man. He couldn’t imagine the pain of watching your own child turn her back on her family.

“I will stay out here with them,” Hawk answered, firmer than Callum had expected.

“Let’s go then,” Turk said. “I’ve been fighting off people the entire time you’ve all been having a bloody family reunion over here,” he complained. “Can we end this now?”

“He’s getting grumpier in his old age,” Hawk commented.

“I know,” Jameson sighed. “I don’t know what to do with him.” Callum smirked as Turk rolled his eyes. He moved forward, following his brother and the Captain into the dark passageway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Stop calling me that,” Aiden replied stonily. Every time Aziz called him son it made Aiden’s skin crawl. He didn’t want to acknowledge any connection to the man in front of him. He could see Lily lying in Melissa’s arm out of the corner of his eye. Her body was still now. Aiden wasn’t sure if he should be more worried or relieved the convulsions had stopped. All he wanted to do was go to her, but he had to take care of Aziz first.

“I am offering you a life no one else can offer you, Aiden,” he said. “This land can be ours.”

“We both know I’m not accepting what you’re offering,” Aiden replied. “I came here to do two things; get my friends, and kill you.”

Aziz’s mouth hardened, his eyes narrowed. “You would kill the man who gave you life?”

Aiden flinched. Every reminder was like a slap in his face. All this talk was only doing one thing, wasting time. He didn’t know what was happening with the rest of the army and it was killing him. They needed him out there, not in here having a verbal sparring match with an egomaniac.

“I’ll tell you who I would kill,” Aiden answered slowly. “I’d kill a man who kills the innocent; a man who brings war to a land for his own gain. I’d kill a man who sent his beasts to terrorize my friends, and who killed one right before me. I’d kill a man in vengeance for all those who have lost their life, lost a loved one, lost a home. I’ll kill anyone and anything who threatens those I care about, and I don’t give a
damn
who he is or what he’s done for me! This is not
your
land, and it
never
will be. Not while I’ll still have air to breathe and the ability to do something about it.”

The echoing sound of footfalls came from the other doorway across from Aiden. He looked to it just as Aziz turned to do the same. A second later Callum, Jameson and Turk entered, dirtied and bloodied, their weapons ready.

“Ah!” Aziz said happily, “more company! Pity, you missed the quite inspiring speech Aiden just bestowed upon us.”

“It’s over, Aziz,” Jameson said evenly.

Aziz laughed unaffectedly. “Elrond’s sons are always so dramatic, aren’t they?” he commented.

“Don’t you
dare
utter my father’s name!” Callum yelled. Aziz’s glance went to the younger prince, his eyes now void of amusement.

“Funny coming from someone so willing to betray his own for so long,” he said. “I should have never brought you into this. You’re weak, just like the rest of your family. And I have no use for you.” He raised a hand toward Callum and then a shot that looked like lightening flew through the air toward him. Aiden sucked in a breath, seeing the scene before him play out in slow motion. The shot was headed straight for Callum’s chest, so fast it was almost impossible to see. Aiden heard Jameson call out a warning, but Callum seemed rooted to floor. And then Jameson was there, pushing Callum out of the way with one swift shove.

“No,” Aiden whispered to himself as he saw Jameson’s body flung backward, slamming into the stone wall. A black, singed spot appeared over his heart. The smell of burnt flesh filled the large room. The King’s body slid to the ground, his eyes wide in shock. Callum crawled to him, calling out Jameson’s name over and over again. Aiden couldn’t look away from the two brothers as Callum placed Jameson’s head in his lap, his hands fitfully running over his brother’s face and chest.

“Turk!” Callum cried out. “What do we do? Help me!” Aiden looked at the Captain who hadn’t moved, his face paler than Aiden had ever seen it. His eyes were glued to his best friend and King. “Gods, Jameson,” Callum’s voice cracked. Tears openly streamed down his face as he looked at his brother.

The King’s hand came up weakly, covering Callum’s on his face. “Take care of her,” Aiden heard him say brokenly. “Be the King I know you are.”

“No!” Callum cried. “No!”

Aiden saw the King’s eyes close, and a moment later his chest no longer rose and fell with life. Everything in the room had just stopped; the only sounds those of Callum’s agony.

“No,” he said again, softer now. “Please, Jameson. Please.”

Aiden looked at Aziz who watched the scene indifferently. Rage burned through him. The air became thicker, smells and sounds stronger. Energy crackled around him. He could hear the fighting outside now, the wind through the trees, drops of water somewhere in the stone walls of the mountain. Everything became clearer, more defined. A pulse ran up his arms and legs, his palms tingling with it. Aziz sensed it, looking to Aiden. He took an involuntary step backward, fear flashing across his eyes briefly.

“That was the
last
person you will
ever
take from me,” Aiden said, his voice sounding hollow, as if someone else were speaking entirely. He lifted his hand letting the energy he could feel in his fingertips fly. It felt natural for him, as if he had done this a million times.

Aziz moved quickly, faster than Aiden expected. Gripping his axe, he ran forward with it raised to strike. Aziz shot out another bolt. Aiden rolled to the ground, out of the way. He popped back up just as Aziz swept him up in a gust of wind, crushing him into the rock face. Aiden struggled to move against the invisible hands holding him there. Aziz smiled.

“Do you honestly think you can beat me?” he tisked.

Aiden returned him smile. “Yes. I do.” He reached inward for the power that had been building there for weeks. It had scared him at first, but now he knew it was something that was simply a part of him, and he wasn’t afraid anymore. He would use whatever he had to put an end to this man. Pushing back he felt the hold on him evaporate a second before he fell to the ground, landing neatly on his feet. He saw the surprise on Aziz’s face, quickly hidden as a sudden ball of flame appeared in his hand.

Aiden darted to the side again as the flames hit the wall where he had been.
Fight fire with fire,
he thought inwardly. A warm feeling spread over his free hand. He didn’t need to look down to know he had conjured the same thing as Aziz had. He threw it, knowing Aziz would be able to dodge his attack. He didn’t wait to see. He moved forward, his body practically gliding on the floor he moved so fast. He briefly wondered if the others could even keep track of what was happening between them.

He slashed out with his axe, slicing through the fabric of Aziz’s clothes as he jumped back just in time. He pivoted, striking out again just as Aziz let loose another ball of flame. This one hit, sizzling against Aiden’s back. He could smell his clothes and flesh burning, but paid no attention to it. Pain erupted from the spot – it didn’t faze him.

Wind pushed against him as he went on the attack again. This time he was ready for it, pushing back with his own force as he tried to move his body as well. It was like trying to walk into a wall where their two forces collided.

“You won’t win this, Aiden,” Aziz said.

“The hell I won’t,” he gritted.

“Are they multiplying?” Logan gasped. “Seriously! Where do they keep coming from?”

Elisa notched another arrow, hitting one of the small beasts between the eyes. Wolf and Moose stood on either side of her, insuring no one got too close. They were all positioned in front of the entrance her father, the King, and Prince Callum had disappeared into. She had no idea what was happening in there and it terrified her. Another arrow flew through the air, embedding itself in a soldier’s ear.

“Gods I love you,” Wolf said, having watched her shot. She threw him a quick wink and grin before concentrating again. She was worried about how he was handling seeing his sister again, but there was no time to ask. Hawk had moved away from them some time ago, fighting with a new ferocity she hadn’t seen before. He was hurting – badly. It never ceased to amaze her how many twists and turns life threw at you. There was so much pain and heartache, she wondered if it would ever end.

“Wolf!” Logan called out in warning, “behind you!”

Elisa turned before Wolf and shot the beast, jaws wide in attack, right into the center of his mouth. The point of the arrow poked out the back of his neck. “No one bites him but me,” she said.

She heard Logan and Moose chuckle. Wolf looked down at her, eyes wide, with a new sort of amazement and appreciation that made her blush. She’d been trying to put what they did last night to the back of her mind all day, but it was a lot harder when he looked at her like that.

“I think I’m going to marry you,” he proclaimed.

“Glad you decided,” she replied dryly.

“Well unless you want beastly, the yellow eyed monster to be the one to wed you, I suggest you both start killing again first,” Logan suggested.

They gave each other a quick smile before turning their attention back to the fight. Elisa was running out of arrows, and she could see the fatigue in the men around her. The beasts were hard to kill, and part of her was starting to worry just how long they could keep this up.