Dalir's Salvation (20 page)

Nausea rose as Kell’s grin widened. A demented, evil king. So different from Dalir. How had he and Dalir come from the same parents?

Henshaw pushed her forward. “She said she has a message from your brother.”

“Oh really?” Kell mocked. He stood and sauntered to Ari. His cloying sweet cologne mixed sickeningly with the damp, earthy, moldy smell of the cave. “What did he say?”

Ari’s mouth dried out. She’d focused so hard on getting there, she hadn’t figured out that part. By what Taliana had said, she’d assumed a sign, a vision or something more would come as soon as she saw him.

“Speak up.” Kell backhanded her.

As Ari fell to her hands and knees, she saw stars. A metallic taste pooled in her mouth. She blinked back tears. No matter what he did to her, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Kell ambled back to the front of the chamber and dropped into his seat. He spoke to Henshaw. “Get more guards up here. I want this mountain secure.”

“Already done.” Henshaw’s gaze cut to Ari. “I’ll take care of her.”

A tremble rocked Ari’s arms. He’d make good on his earlier promise to cause her pain. She was here to stop Kell from hurting Dalir. She wouldn’t if Henshaw got his way.

He reached for her.

“Leave our little visitor.” Kell twirled the tip of a dagger on the arm of the chair. “I could use an amusing distraction.”

Henshaw sneered. “I’ll be back to take out the trash.” His footfalls echoed as he stalked through the tunnel.

The sound reminded her of Lauren hammering nails in the sunroom at The Drift. Warmth. Light. The recollection replaced the haze and shadows in the cave. To think, she’d viewed all that happened before then with Dalir as complicated. She couldn’t have imagined this moment, facing his brother.

“So.” Kell leaned forward. “Has your memory returned about what you’re supposed to tell me?”

Ari wiped blood from her lip with the back of her hand. She stood. “Give up.”

“That’s the important message? Okay.” He lifted his hands in mock surrender as he strolled toward her. “Dalir is coming. Oh my, it’s all over. I’m so scared. I give up.” He cupped her chin. His gaze hardened. “That will never happen. Not in a million years. Dalir was foolish to send you, and you were stupid to come. You have no idea what you’re up against.”

Coldness slithered through her mind. Kell pawed through her thoughts.

She couldn’t stop him.

“Oh, that’s interesting.” A silvery light glowed in his eyes. “Dalir didn’t send you. Taliana did. She came back from the grave for revenge, did she?”

A dull pain spread through Ari’s skull. She clawed at his wrist. “Let go.”

He tightened his grip. “Wait a minute. There’s more. You’re special. You can sense emotions. See thoughts. No wonder Dalir’s so attached. You probably remind him of Taliana. But you’re a weak, wannabe oracle. What could you possibly accomplish?”

Uncomfortable tingles swarmed from where he touched her. Taliana said her gift was her strength, but she was no match against Kell. “I may be weak, but you’re worried.” The words shot out before she could stop them. Her intuition sparked to life. “If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have ordered more guards for security.” A flicker in his gaze backed up the inkling. “And you wouldn’t be a coward, hiding from Dalir in a cave.”

“Shut up.” He shoved her against the wall.

Jagged edges of rock jabbed into Ari’s back. Air whooshed out of her lungs.

“You think you’re good at head games.” His gaze flicked over her. “Fine. Let’s play.”

The lights clicked off.

Wind whistled through the cave.

Water dripped.

“So.” Kell’s voice echoed from across the chamber. “You hate enclosed spaces. Don’t you?” His unhurried steps crunched on the dirt floor. “And nothing can be more claustrophobic than a cave.”

Ari forced air into her lungs. This wasn’t like any of the other times. She wasn’t trapped in a tiny space. She was in a huge cave with plenty of room. And Kell. Ari crept along the wall.

His hot breath scorched her cheek.

She scooted back.

Kell grabbed the front of her shirt. “I bet this is exactly like it was for you in the shed that day as a little girl. No light. Stale air. Confusion and fear gnawing at you because you’re trapped inside and can’t get out. What did the kids call you? Weirdo? Or was it freak?” He spun her in circles and then let her go.

Her head swam. As she struggled to regain her equilibrium, she twisted her ankle. Ari sunk her teeth into her bottom lip, stifling a yelp.

“Are you having fun yet? I am.” He hummed the song from that awful day a long time ago.

When he stopped, the song remained implanted in her thoughts, growing louder and louder. She wouldn’t go there with him. Couldn’t let herself get caught in the past. Dalir had mentioned she’d kept him out of her head, but how? She had to kick Kell out. “I control my memories. Not you.” Her mind grew silent.

“Bravo.” Kell clapped. “Did Dalir teach you how to shield your mind? Good move, but not good enough. There’s so much more you need to remember.” A flash of light briefly illuminated the chamber.

Darkness engulfed her again like a cold heavy blanket. Goosebumps spread over her.

Kell dragged her by one arm. “Those kids hurt you before they made you pay. You cried like a baby.” He yanked her viciously in the opposite direction.

Pain searing through her shoulder ripped out a scream. Tears threatened to fall.

He chuckled. “Looks like I win the game. Time for me to claim the prize.”

Something metal, most likely the dagger scraped along the wall. Ari hobbled, gripping her injured arm. He was going to kill her. Where was Taliana? This couldn’t have been what she intended.

The scar on Ari’s palm tingled. The hilt of a knife formed in her hand. It was Dalir’s.

“When the time comes, what you don’t have will be revealed to you.”

She’d never intentionally hurt anyone physically in her life. Never even considered it because of the mean things that others had done to her in the past. Bile rose in her throat. Her hand slickened with sweat. The memory of Dalir, lying dead on a pile of stones emerged. Tears wet her cheeks. He’d give up everything to protect her. And she’d do the same for him. Ari surrendered. She immersed herself in memories of Dalir. Laughing with him. Teasing him. Telling him her secrets and fears. She relived how their arguments had melted in the heat of passion. Ari opened herself to all of it and the love that bound them together.

Kell’s snarl reverberated. “He’ll never have you. You’re mine.”

A spiral of light coiled tighter and tighter around Ari.

“Trust that you’ll know what to do.”

Taliana’s words brought calm. Erased pain. Ari gripped the dagger and raised it above her head. She closed her eyes and held onto the image of Dalir, lying with her on the ridge by the lake, smiling down at her. An internal alert sounded. She struck downward.

The dagger cleaved through clothes and flesh without resistance. Cartilage and bone popped.

Wetness sprayed Ari’s cheek.

The lights flickered on.

Kell stared at the dagger burrowed in his chest. Skin stretched tautly over his cheekbones as he bared his teeth. “You bitch.” He snaked an arm around her waist, crushing her against him. Dalir’s dagger sunk in to the hilt.

Kell jabbed at Ari’s side.

Fiery agony radiated through her.

He smiled. “I told you he’d never have you.”

Danger. Resoluteness. Shock. So much pain. They all smacked into Dalir. The swift impact clouded his mind and made him stagger. It came from Ari. Pure power rose out of him. He shot into a phase stream.

Thane kept up with him. The team leader’s terse commands to the others came through Dalir’s headset. “Weapons hot! Target area!”

Dalir landed midway down the mountain.

Automatic gunfire raked over the incline. Dust and rock pinged upward, followed by silence.

Ari crawled to an opening in the rock.

He phased, catching her as she sank face down on the ground. Dalir turned her over.

She stared up at him eyes wide, breathing hard. Dirt and blood streaked her face and spattered her clothing. A crimson stain spread wider on her side.

“I’ve got you. You’ll be okay.” He called upon his powers to phase her to The Drift where he could heal her. The pulse of energy rebounded back rooting him in place. Something stopped him. Horror engulfed Dalir. He tried again. His powers still failed him with her in his arms, but he could phase without her. He fought against the block, gathering up all of his phase energy. All he felt was life draining from Ari.

She closed her eyes.

“No.” He gripped her shoulders. “I won't lose you like this. You have to fight. Please, I need you.”

West dropped down beside him. Sweat covered his shaved head. “Why haven’t you phased her out of here?”

“I can’t.”

West’s dark gaze snared Dalir’s. “Let me try.” He lifted Ari in his arms. Nothing. West ripped open Ari’s shirt revealing the wound. He slipped off his pack, snatched the medic’s kit out of it, and started working on Ari.

Her arm flopped to the side. Dalir’s dagger fell from her hand and rattled on the stone ground. The memory of Kell taking Taliana’s life rolled in along with him plunging that very dagger into his brother’s chest. Instinctually, he knew whose blood covered the blade now. Not Ari’s but Kell’s.

Despair sunk deep in Dalir. He wanted so badly for West to save her. If Kell inflicted Ari’s injuries with one of his blades, filled with ancient energy, her healing went beyond this dimension.

As West packed the wound, her eyelids opened as if it took all the energy she had left. Her lips moved.

A spark of hope flared inside of Dalir. He gripped her hand and leaned down to hear her.

“Dalir…”

“Yes,
Adorada
, I’m right here.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Her gaze focused on him, and her lips tipped up in a tremulous smile. “You’re okay. You’re alive.” Coughs shook her and a tinge of bright blood colored her lips.

Anguish constricted in Dalir’s chest. Why? Why did she have to have that vision?

Footsteps thundered up the mountain. As Mace slipped past them to enter the tunnel, he looked down at Ari. Sorrow reflected in his eyes as his expression turned grim.

Thane’s orders to set up a perimeter came through the headset. Then, he stood over them. “You need to phase her out of here. Now. We picked up a radio transmission. More RPA’s are humping through the woods. We’re in for a fight.” Thane glanced at West who shook his head. Thane’s expression sobered.

Ari clutched Dalir’s arm, panic in her eyes. “You have to stay safe.” She struggled to catch a breath. “Promise me. Please, Dalir, promise.”

Thane motioned for West to leave. Then he stepped away and issued more orders to the team.

Dalir’s throat closed up as he gathered her close. He’d say anything to keep her calm. Give even more if he could save her. “Yes, I’ll stay safe.”

“What does
Adorada
mean?”

His heart pounded with a heaviness that threatened to break him apart. His tears spilled onto her face. “Beloved.”

She smiled as she closed her eyes. “I like that.” Her soft exhale warmed his cheek, dried his tears. She grew still.

He kissed her forehead.
No. Please, my beloved. Take another breath.

Thane stood over him. “Kell’s dead in the back of the cave. RPA is almost here. What do you want to do?”

“Go. Leave me here.”

Thane squeezed his shoulder, then quick phased out of the cave.

With Ari in his arms, Dalir stumbled through the tunnel. It widened into a chamber.

Kell lie on the floor. His gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. The dagger with the sun in its hilt still lie in his hand. Even in death, his brother seemed to mock him, as if pleased in his triumph of making good on his word. Once again, Kell had succeeded in taking away all that was meaningful.

A wash of grief drove Dalir to the ground. Ari so beautiful, happy and loving. She was really gone.

Ancient energy swarmed around him.

Uncaring of who appeared or the outcome, he didn’t call up his swords.

“As much as your heart aches, you cannot rest.” Jalan materialized. Her dark hair and pale tunic fluttered around her as she drifted toward him.

Anger dawned with realization. Power rose inside of him. “You caused this. You sent Taliana to torment Ari with those visions. You knew she couldn’t defeat Kell. Why did you stop me from phasing her out of here? Why would you lead her here to die?”

“It was her destiny.”

“Torment wasn’t her destiny.” Rage swelled. Dust fell as the wooden beams in the cave shook. “She was an innocent. She had nothing to do with it. This was between me and Kell. You had no right.”

“I serve what is right.” Jalan’s violet gaze bore into him. Energy flowed through the cave, muting his. “As I warned you before, warrior. What destiny has set into motion can’t be changed. It is fate.”

“She wasn’t fated to die. There were other choices.” And Ari would have made them if he’d stayed away from her.

“And you believe you’re the one who decides what those choices are?” Irritation sparked in her gaze. “Your pride is the reason why you must go home to Alandia and answer for all that has occurred.”

Home? He’d never call anyplace by that name again. It didn’t exist without Ari. “Why waste the council’s time. It’s over. I don’t deny that I am responsible. Let me serve out my exile in peace.”

Jalan swept her hand over Kell. His brother’s body disappeared. “I am sick of arguments and have no time for yours.” A blue orb formed in her hand. She flung it out and it formed a time portal.

A squad of Alandian warriors marched out of it. They surrounded them, then stood at attention.

Dalir stood cradling Ari. She weighed almost nothing, but she’d been stronger than him in so many ways beyond the physical. She’d found the strength to endure her childhood, forgiven those who’d hurt her and still had a heart big enough to love him. “I won’t leave her.”

“Give Ari to me. I will watch over her. Know that she was prepared for her journey. She will find peace.”