The next day Jasce, Amycus, and Reed met to discuss plans to stop Drexus. Reed had updated Lord Rollant on the battle in Hillford, which made Jasce uneasy. He didn’t fully trust Rollant, unsure where his loyalties lay.
Jasce had spent the night at the inn, pacing and listening to the revelry in the tavern below. He hadn’t wanted to return to the forge and chance talking with Amycus, which would just reopen wounds from the past. He wasn’t ready to discuss whether Amycus was to blame for the deaths of his mother and sister, or the reasons he’d kept that information hidden. In the end, it was Drexus who had slashed the knife across his mother’s throat. He didn’t want to think about what happened to Jaida, only remembering her screams, and then the silence.
He had tried to focus on the problem of Drexus and Hunters with Amplifier magic, but his mind kept returning to that kiss with Kenz and her brother’s reaction. The conversation with Kord had left him baffled.
“Care to explain what’s going on between you and my sister?” Kord had asked once they received their drinks.
“I don’t know. I’ve tried to stay away from her, but I can’t. I’m drawn to her in a way I can’t explain. Even our magic reacts differently.”
Kord raised a brow and nodded his head, both hands gripping his tankard of ale.
“That’s it?” Jasce asked after a few minutes. He had expected a lecture, or worse, another punch to the jaw, which still throbbed.
“She’s a grown woman. And you know she isn’t one to be controlled—she makes her own decisions.” Kord swirled the liquid in his mug, his face thoughtful. “I don’t know if she truly loved Ven. I think she wanted a normal life, wanted what Tillie and I have, and Ven was the first to ask. And then she failed in protecting him and his family. It’s been guilt more than love these past two years.” Kord sighed and took a sip of his drink. “She’s different with you. Anyone can see that.”
“But?”
“I know you won’t stop, not where Drexus is concerned. You rush into danger, thinking of revenge over anything else. I understand why, but I don’t know if she can protect you.”
“I don’t need protection.”
Kord smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, you do. You need protection from yourself. And I don’t know how she will react if something happens to you. I don’t want to see her suffer as she did before.”
Jasce ran his finger along a gash in the stained bar top. “I assume you’ve already had this conversation with her?”
“I have.”
Jasce had grown to care for both of them, and he didn’t want to cause them pain or suffering. Kenz deserved better than a bloodstained assassin driven by revenge. But maybe after he killed Drexus, assuming he survived, he could attempt a life worthy of her, a life where she didn’t have to protect him, where her light chased away his darkness.
Sunlight now filtered through the window, illuminating a dried speck of blood on Jasce’s boots. He rubbed his temples and groaned, the lack of sleep catching up to him as Reed and Amycus discussed the Watch Guard.
Jasce lifted his head. “We’ve been over this a hundred times. We don’t know how many received the Amplifier serum, but let’s assume all of them. There are still nine Hunters and Drexus to deal with. We need Rollant’s soldiers and every Spectral who can fight.” He filled his mug with coffee and fell into the chair, staring at the fire.
“We were successful yesterday against Drexus and his Guard,” Reed said, jutting out his chin.
“Drexus was simply gathering information, learning what kind of magic we had. He didn’t unleash the Hunters or his full power on us. If he had, we wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Reed chewed on his thumbnail. “What’s bothering me is how he knew you and your Spectrals would come.”
Amycus stared at Reed, his fingers steepled under his chin. “Are you thinking the raid was a setup?”
“It’s possible.”
Jasce swore and stood, staring out the window. “That would make sense and fit with Drexus’s schemes. Who told Rollant about the raid?”
“I don’t know,” Reed said. Jasce glared and Reed got to his feet. “But I’m going to find out.”
Jasce watched him walk down the street. Something wasn’t adding up, and the lack of sleep made it difficult to think clearly. “Drexus has vials of different magic. The Tracker said he had a Psyche too—he must have them hidden, but why? He wants me because I have two types of magic. But why does he want Kord? Why a Healer?”
Amycus jumped to his feet, knocking over his mug and shattering it to pieces. “He’s combining magic—or trying to. He doesn’t want the Watch Guard to just have the Amplifier magic, but other powers as well. You’re proof it’s possible.”
Jasce rubbed his face, focusing on the wood beams in the ceiling. “He won’t stop with the Guard. He’ll want more magic for himself too. But I still don’t understand why he wants Kord.”
“Think about it,” Amycus said. “We know two types of magic in one Spectral could kill the person. But what if you had a powerful Healer to counteract the effects?”
Jasce let loose a string of profanity and paced around the room. Amycus knelt to pick up the broken pieces of his mug.
“I have to stop him,” Jasce finally said.
Amycus shook his head. “He can’t get his hands on you or Kord. Can’t you see that? You’re the last person who should go. Right now, he’s guessing. But if he has either of you?”
“Are you seriously asking me to stay out of this?” The muscle in Jasce’s jaw pulsed and the headache hiding behind his eyes threatened to return with a vengeance.
“Yes. Kord, Tillie, and Maleous need to go into hiding, and so do you.”
“I don’t hide.”
“If you care about any of us, or ultimately the survival of Spectrals and Pandaren, then you will put your selfish agenda aside and let someone else handle this.”
“Someone else?” How dare Amycus ask this of him and then call him selfish. “I have searched for years for the man who killed my mother and sister, and you want me to let someone else handle this?” Jasce clenched his fists, keeping himself from reaching for his dagger. Kenz’s words had cut him; he didn’t like that his first instinct was to kill. That was Azrael, the Angel of Death, Drexus’s pawn. It was not Jasce.
Amycus stared into the fire. The wood crackled sharply. “Do you see the irony? Your quest for revenge makes you dependent upon Drexus. Do you think your pain will end when Drexus is dead? That your wounds will suddenly heal? You’ve given your enemy power over you.”
Jasce’s mouth fell open. He had never thought of it that way. His need for vengeance had consumed him, and he supposed that did give Drexus power over him. But could he trust others to do what needed to be done?
Jasce relaxed his hands and made himself sit. “What’s your plan?”
Amycus returned to his desk. “I will go.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. You are going to stop Drexus? Can you kill him, if faced with the choice?”
Amycus arched a brow. “Why do you doubt me?”
Jasce opened his mouth and shut it. He didn’t know. All he knew was that he couldn’t see Amycus defeating Drexus. Amycus wasn’t a killer.
Kord and Kenz walked into the cottage. They both froze, their eyes darting between Jasce and Amycus.
“What did we miss?” Kord asked.
“Yeah, we just saw Reed storming down the street.” Kenz sat in the chair next to Jasce. He curled his fingers. Her hair flowed down her back in soft waves, and he wanted to run his hands through it. He couldn’t stop the rush of feelings cascading through him nor block the way their magic swirled. He sprang out of the chair to refill his coffee, blaming his shaking hands on the caffeine running through his system.
Kord sat in the vacant chair. “So, what’s going on?”
Jasce focused on the flames in the fire, letting Amycus talk.
“You, Tillie, and Maleous, along with Jasce, need to go into hiding.”
“What?” the siblings said at the same time.
“Drexus needs your abilities, Kord—and Jasce’s. We can’t allow him to get his hands on either of you. We figured out what the extra vials mean and what experiments Drexus is doing. He’s trying to combine more than one type of magic. Jasce is proof it can be done, but he needs a Healer to help with the process.”
Kenz paled, her eyes darting between Kord and Jasce.
Kord crossed his arms, frowning at Jasce. “Did you agree to this?”
Jasce slowly turned and nodded. No, he didn’t agree, but for now he’d play along.
“Where do you expect them to go?” Kenz asked.
“Opax,” Jasce said, a plan forming in his mind.
“Why Opax?” Amycus asked.
“It’s the last thing Drexus would expect. He knows we’re close to Hillford, and it’s just a matter of time before his Hunters come here.”
Amycus leaned back in his chair, a crease forming between his eyes. “The idea has merit.”
“We need to get word out we’ve left, to protect the people. Reed can help with that.” Jasce walked toward the door without glancing back. “We leave tomorrow.”
Jasce sat on his bed, lost in thought. Water droplets slid down his back. He had spent the day and early evening working in the forge, finalizing the plan that had formed as he’d stared into the flames—a plan that could not include Kenz or Kord or anyone he cared about. If everything went smoothly, Drexus wouldn’t be able to harm them again. He had left the forge, memorizing every detail. His own forge would look exactly the same, if he survived.
Jasce rose to a soft knock on the door, immediately feeling her magic. He leaned against the doorframe, suddenly very aware that all he wore were linen pants.
Kenz swallowed when she saw him, a flush brightening her cheeks. “Do you have a minute?”
Jasce nodded, holding the door open for her. She walked to the center of the room, keeping her back to him.
“What’s really going on?” she asked.
“What part of Amycus’s plan didn’t you get?” He winced at the harshness in his voice. He would leave tomorrow, possibly forever, and he didn’t want to hurt her again.
Kenz turned, hugging herself. “There’s no way you’d agree to sit this one out. So, I want to know what’s going through that thick head of yours.”
Jasce forced a smile. “Thick head, huh?”
“Extremely thick.”
Jasce leaned against the door. “It’s a solid plan and will catch Drexus off guard when he realizes I’m not with Amycus and the rest of the Spectrals during the attack.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Jasce sighed, staring at his bare feet. She was correct—he wouldn’t sit by and allow someone else to enact the justice that was due him. He also wasn’t sure he would survive. The only way to protect her was to put an end to whatever was happening between them. He kept telling himself this was better for her.
“Kenz, this needs to stop.” The words tasted like ash in his mouth.
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re better off without me. Trust me on this one.”
“Are you trying to protect me again?”
He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent, feeling her magic call to him. “I’m trying to protect both of us.”
She walked toward him and traced the tattoos on his arm, her fingers moving to his chest. He sucked in a breath. Desire burned in her eyes as her hands scraped along muscle.
Jasce grabbed her wrists. “Kenz.”
“Shhh.” She stepped closer, placing her mouth gently against his, sucking on his bottom lip.
“Kenz, I can’t,” he said against her mouth. “I won’t be able to stop.”
She ran kisses across his jaw and neck, her hands free to explore his chest. “Then don’t,” she whispered.
Logical thought dissolved from his mind. All he could think about was her, the way she kissed him, how her hands made his body tremble. With a moan of surrender, he picked her up, shuddering as her legs wrapped around him. He placed her gently on the bed, deepening the kiss, their tongues and teeth scraping. He needed skin, needed to feel the softness of her flesh. She lifted her arms as he slid her shirt over her head.
He froze, his eyes devouring her body. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled and moved to take off her pants, but he grabbed her hand, tearing his gaze from her body to focus on her mesmerizing eyes. “Not yet.” He ran his hands along every curve, his desire and magic pulsating as her body responded to his touch. She moaned and ran her fingers through his hair, making his breath hitch, igniting a flame that threatened to burn out of control. He savored every inch of her as his mouth trailed kisses along her silky skin.
Jasce lifted his head and smiled, black lace making his mouth water. “Absolutely beautiful.”
“Jasce, please,” she breathed under his teasing touch.
He ached, consumed by desire as he explored every part of her, her soft cries making his heart stutter. The flame inside him sparked brighter and burned hotter with each caress. He forced himself to take his time, to savor every moment, every kiss.
Kenz cried out as a shudder coursed up her body, her hands fisting into the sheets.
His muscles quivered as she ran her nails along his back, her gentle touch finally removing the barriers between them. The heat from his body clashed with the cold air whispering against his bare skin.
“Kenz,” he whispered, shuddering under her intimate caress. Her flushed cheeks and swollen lips ignited his need. He hungered to be closer, to feel her body claim his. He kissed up her neck and along her jaw, finally capturing her mouth, and groaned as their magic converged and exploded. He lost himself as they moved together seamlessly. The light emitting from her flooded his soul, chasing away the darkness, and he surrendered to her—heart, body, and soul.
Jasce woke the next morning, his arms wrapped around Kenz, her body fitting perfectly against his. They had made love through the night and he’d cherished every moment, knowing it might be their last. He rose from the bed and slid on his traveling gear, then stared at her, committing to memory every freckle, the sensual curve of her lips, the delicate arch of her collarbone. He had to leave now, while she slept, otherwise he didn’t know if he would have the strength. If his plan worked, she would most likely hate him, but at least she would be safe.
He gathered his bag and weapons and quietly left the room without looking back.
Jasce walked to the stables, the sun still hidden behind the horizon. Tillie and Maleous waited on their horses while Amycus and Flynt talked to Kord and helped load the last satchel of supplies.
“Reed has sent some guards to the neighboring villages under the guise of searching for you,” Amycus said as Jasce approached. “Drexus should hear about it and hopefully leave Carhurst alone.”
“You should spread a rumor that you aren’t here either,” Jasce suggested. “I’m pretty sure Drexus hates you too.”
Amycus chuckled. “Already done. A few Spectrals and I are currently meeting in the Linden Forest.”
Jasce went through the timing of their attack one more time. “Figure at least one week to locate Drexus’s hidden compound, devise a plan, and destroy it. Send word to the cave when it’s finished. Remember, no mercy.”
Amycus rested his hand on Jasce’s shoulder. “I know. Trust me, I will handle this.”
Jasce swallowed, looking away from the man’s penetrating blue eyes. Aura and Vale entered the stables to wish them luck.
“Vale, how are you feeling?” Jasce looked him over. The wound on his neck had healed completely and his color was back to normal, but there was a hardness to his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Vale glanced at Jasce and looked away.
Jasce gave last-minute instructions to Aura and Flynt. Kord peered down the street.
“Everything all right?” Jasce asked.
“Just wondering where Kenz is. She said her goodbyes last night before she met up with Aura and Flynt, but I just figured . . .” His voice trailed off.
Jasce swallowed the guilt churning in his gut. Kord would kill him, and have every right to, when he found out about last night. “You know how she hates early mornings.”
“Yeah,” Kord said, sending one last glance down the street.
They led their horses out of the stable, where Tillie and Maleous waited for them. Tillie’s eyes filled with tears as she looked toward their home while Maleous fiddled with the reins.
“Reed should return soon with the soldiers from neighboring towns,” Jasce said, trying not to sound worried.
Amycus stared up at Jasce. “It’ll be fine. We won’t do anything without his men.”
Jasce gripped his forearm. “Protect them, stay safe.” Amycus squeezed Jasce’s arm and smiled. Jasce nodded a farewell to Aura, who blew a kiss on a cool breeze.
“See ya, kid,” Jasce said to Vale, who smiled sadly. Jasce led the Haring family out of Carhurst, looking back once at Amycus’s cottage, picturing Kenz asleep in his bed. A different pain shuddered through him as they rode toward the Desert of Souls.
As the day wore on, a sense of urgency filled him, the oppressive hand of the Hunters bearing down on them. He tried to keep from continually looking over his shoulder.
They camped the first night on the edge of the Desert of Souls, Jasce choosing the southern route, which was narrow enough they could cross it in one day. They would soon enter enemy territory and Jasce couldn’t afford to let his guard down. Two more days of traveling and they would arrive at the hideout Amycus had used when he was on the run from the Watch Guard.
They finally arrived at the cave near the town of Dunstead. Jasce stood on a hill overlooking the village while Tillie set up camp and Kord and Maleous collected firewood. Jasce’s breath misted in the air and he pulled his cloak tighter, the Camden Mountains in the distance covered in snow. A shiver ran down his spine. The sleeping village below is where his life had drastically changed. He wondered if the two children he let go were all right. He hadn’t forgotten the Earth Spectral’s name—Emile—and hoped she had stayed hidden, that her brother had kept her safe.
Cinnamon and vanilla wafted through the air, and dried pine needles crunched under soft steps.
“What aren’t you telling us?” Tillie asked, standing next to Jasce.
Jasce focused on the village. Plumes of smoke drifted from chimneys and candlelight glowed through the windows.
“This village is where everything changed for me,” Jasce said. Tillie looked from him to the town.
“What happened?”
“The serum was wreaking havoc on me—so many emotions I hadn’t allowed myself to feel. It was overwhelming. I found a young girl and her brother hiding behind some crates in an alley. The girl, Emile, stood up to me, jutted out her chin.” He chuckled, remembering her defiance. “She reminded me so much of Jaida. Her brother protected her, something I didn’t do for my sister.” Jasce scraped the toe of his boot through the dirt. Tillie rested her hand on his arm. “Anyway, Drexus discovered I’d let them go—Emile was a Spectral. He punished and then betrayed me.”
“If you had known how it all would’ve turned out, would you do it the same?” Tillie asked.
Jasce lifted his head, shoving his hands in pockets. “Yes.”
She nodded. “Are you going to answer my first question?”
Jasce turned. Tillie’s red hair was tied back, her cheeks red with the cold. She was so beautiful and kind, and too perceptive for her own good. “No.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking again at the sleeping village. “Kord loves you, you know. You’re the brother he’s always wanted. I believe Kenz does, too, she’s just not as quick to show it.”
Jasce swallowed, thinking of last night, the way their bodies and magic molded together. “I don’t deserve their affections.”
“Jasce, I know you have a past you aren’t proud of. But you can’t let that define you. You deserve a life full of love and happiness too.” Maleous’s laugh carried through the trees as father and son returned with the firewood. Tillie squeezed his arm. “Don’t give up hope.”
Jasce watched her hug Maleous and disappear into the cave, Kord looking over his shoulder before following his wife and son.
The next morning, Jasce trudged up the hill from Dunstead, finding Kord waiting for him on the edge of their campsite.
“You were up early,” Kord said.
“I’ve secured lodging on the outskirts of town. It’s a barn, near a vacant home.”
Kord frowned. “What’s wrong with our lovely cave?”
“This is safer. You will need to stay hidden since Drexus got a good look at you. Your size alone gives you away. But no one knows Tillie or Mal. They can move through the village undetected.”
“What about you?”
Tillie emerged from the cave, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.
“Let’s get you settled and then I’ll tell you my plan.”
Kord tilted his head and glanced at Tillie. Jasce knew Kord’s first instinct would be to protect his family—he had counted on it.
Jasce led them to the barn, keeping to the forest line. Tension ached through his shoulders as time grew short.
The barn wasn’t the most comfortable, but it was clean and larger than the cave, including a loft and a small room with a fireplace and cooking utensils. Tillie immediately set to work preparing breakfast while Maleous explored the loft, claiming it for himself.
Jasce looked at Tillie and Maleous one last time, then turned to Kord. “I need to make sure no one followed us.” Tillie looked up, tears welling in her eyes.
Kord frowned. “Who would follow us? No one knows we’re here. Right?”
Jasce stared into Kord’s bright green eyes, so much like his sister’s, and sadness seized his chest like a vise, knowing this might be the last time he saw his friend. “Just being cautious. Stay hidden and stay safe.” Jasce grabbed Kord’s forearm and left, riding swiftly back to the cave.
And waited.
Jasce jerked his head to the side as a twig snapped in the distance, glad he had never taught his team how to move with stealth. He stoked the fire and remained sitting, waiting for the traitor he knew would come.