Starwalker (Starborn 1) (Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance) (10 page)

“Gilleth will likely be with her as well, sir. He was quite protective of the maiden tonight,” Breckken added.

“Odd as that is, I am inclined to thank him for his service.” He turned back to Harmon. “I see no problem with that. Allow him to remain with her as he pleases.”

The commander had known Gilleth as long as he’d known Breckken, and had long been plagued with Gill’s blatant desire to be a Nova guardsmen.

“Sir, I would like the opportunity to interrogate the captives.”

The commander’s brow creased over his dark eyes. “Regretfully, they didn’t come out of the hex. They are of no use to us.”

Breckken was shocked silent. He’d never heard of someone not waking from a hex. “They are dead?”

“Yes.”

“How…”

Commander nodded to Sir Harmon, who flipped a few pages back in his recorder and began to read.

“On the twenty seventh hour, Sir Trellan and Sir Kelston arrived with three hexed wrens. Helix A: shaved head, eyes blue, height six two, helix symbol on right forearm. Helix B: red hair, eyes brown, height six five, helix symbol under left ear. Helix C: Black hair, eyes green, height six nine, helix symbol on chest. The three were taken to a holding cell to recover. After an hour passed, they were not revived and were found to be dead. At twenty eight and a half hours, attempts to revive Helix A, B, and C failed and they were pronounced officially deceased.”

Breckken’s head spun with the information. “Poison? Could they have somehow…”

“An autopsy will be performed,” the commander said. “Until we figure out the cause, we must focus on what we do know. Which is, the Helix want Emmalyn and they are already sending their people into the city. Tomorrow, I want to interview the maiden. Perhaps she can shed some light on things.”

Breckken nodded but something was off. He couldn’t place his finger on it but… something.

“You are dismissed, Sir Breckken.”

He rose to leave and then remembered…

“There’s one more thing, sir.”

The commander looked at him expectantly.

“Cannalise’s heart began beating tonight.”

Sir Harmon gasped. And the commander smiled—actually
smiled
.

“That is terrific news, Breckken. And what a relief. She shall be safe now that she will dwell with you.”

Yeah, how to put this…

“She wishes to have nothing to do with me at this time, sir.” Saying the words out loud brought a new measure of despair.

The smile faded from the commander’s face. “I see.”

“But I will protect her as I always have. And truly, she can protect herself. As was witnessed tonight. You know of her skills, sir.” Breckken knew he was close to babbling so he forced his mouth shut.

“I do.” The commander was quiet for a moment. “I am more concerned about one of my best soldiers being lost to heartsickness.”

Heartsickness. It wouldn’t come to that. Would it? She’d see how things should be. All she needed was a little time. He recalled the kiss, how she’d let him learn her mouth, and held on to the memory. There would be more like that with her. More learning and sharing. He had to believe it.

He swallowed hard. “I am told that it goes away with time. I will still be of value to the Nova Guard, if it comes to that.”

Commander’s hand drifted up to his chest and rubbed in a tight circle. The action was thoughtless, as if he wasn’t aware he was doing it. Then his eyes leveled on Breckken and he spoke quietly but firmly. “It does not go away. It lasts forever, my friend.”

Breckken stared at his leader, astonished by the revelation.

“You are dismissed.”

He turned and went from the office.

Dismissed. Would the Guard be done with him if he fell sick? Was that the commanders concern? Perhaps he’d have to learn Gilleth’s skillset before this was all over.

But as he walked down the dismal gray hall, something was still tugging at the back of his mind. Something he should remember…

Mid-step he froze, fear lighting every nerve in his body. Not for himself, but for the ones he loved.

He sifted through the information he’d just relayed, and Sir Harmon’s rundown of the dead Helix.

Oh… fates.

Oh,
fuck
.

He raced back to the commander’s office and didn’t bother knocking, barreling through the door to the surprised faces of his leaders.

“There were four,” he rushed out, urgency making him forget protocol. Fuck protocol. “There were four hexed Helix members. Three wrens and a maiden. Where is Helix D?”

Chapter Nine

The air of An`gel was cold. So unbelievably cold. An unceasing shiver.

Helix D passed lithely from one shadow to the next without being seen. Not that there was a single person traversing the streets this night. Still, she would be a shadow. Gone from their vision before they could ever see her.

She wanted to leave this place, the frigid ice, the damp air that seemed to suck the breath right out of her. But she couldn’t. Not yet. She had to complete the mission.

She continued on to where she’d been directed. The maiden’s home was only a little farther. As she came upon it, she wanted to curse.

The maiden was not alone.

A sturdy wren could be seen through the window.

Her mind was working for a way to get to the target. She didn’t want to kill anyone. The mere thought made her stomach clench with sickness. She really couldn’t afford to stay in the city much longer, but the wren posed a threat.

And returning without the girl was not an option. Lives were at stake.

Hers to be exact. And
his
.

Davian was a cruel, cruel wren. But his death was unacceptable.

She wasn’t ready to give up yet. Wasn’t ready to accept the reality that loomed over her head like a gaseous cloud.

The target’s wren turned to stare out the window, and her heart started pumping wildly. Not for the first time though.

When he turned back around, she let herself slump against the side of the building.

The pounding behind her sternum was always a reminder. She recalled a time when things weren’t as they were now. When Davian was good. When he was brave and strong and loved.

But things had changed.

And now the thumping served as another reminder: he dies, she dies.

She sighed, and the warm puff of air formed a temporary cloud.

She’d have to take the wren out before she could obtain the target. It was unfortunate, but she’d do whatever was necessary to keep Davian safe.

His mating instincts might have suffered at his delusions of grandeur, but hers were still fully intact. She’d save him. And someday… perhaps someday, he’d love her enough to remember what was truly important in life.

***

The explosion took Gill and Emma to the floor, but it wasn’t enough to damage the castle. Shaken, but not fallen.

He landed with her beneath him, as tiny shards of ice fell all around. He was aware they were under attack. Aware there wasn’t another around to assist him. There was just the enemy trying to steal away his Emmalyn. And he’d fight tooth and nail to prevent it.

Gilleth glanced around. On the floor he spotted a spent canister of nitron. A tiny one, but still potent. Fucking nitron. Only the Guard should have access to the explosive.

This had to be Helix.

A growl ripped from his throat and Emma flinched beneath him. He dragged his gaze to her and found her eyes were squeezed shut against the blast.

The kitchen door swung open and in stepped the perpetrator, dressed to disappear into the dark of the night. Dark robes, meant to keep her mobile. Black hair pinned tightly to her scalp. Expression beautiful and cruel.

He’d destroy her. The fact she was female mattered not to him. If she meant to take what was his, he’d annihilate her.

Gilleth jumped to his feet, his head spinning with the sudden movement. The Helix traitor trained her eyes on him, gauging the level of threat he posed. He ran forward, ready to meet her in hand-to-hand. But then another blast knocked him flat on his haunch.

THUG. KA-THUG.

He shook his head, trying to clear it. He hadn’t noticed her readying more nitron. How did she manage to blast him again?

When he gathered his wits enough, he found the female staring at him curiously, head cocked.

“Gilleth!” Emmalyn cried, crawling toward him on the slick stone floor.

The female Helix snapped her gaze to Emma as more explosions rocked Ula’s small castle.

The air thundered and crackled as if a storm had erupted. But there was no damage. Not even the Helix seemed affected. Just… Gill and Emma.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and he reached for her. But the Helix got to her first, wrapping a gloved hand over her mouth to prevent her from crying out. The female yanked Emma backward, kicking and struggling, but she wasn’t strong enough to escape the soldier.

Gilleth crawled forward, desperate to stop them. If he could keep them within the castle, he could overpower the Helix.

THUG, THUG, THUG.

More thundering had him ducking for cover. The castle was growing hot. How much more could the dwelling take?

He stared at Emma as she resisted, her eyes wide. The muffled noises she made were urgent. Like she was trying to tell him something. He struggled to his feet again, lunging forward. Emma fisted her hand, using it to beat the helix.

Gill blinked. No. Not the Helix. Emma pounded at her own breast.

Thug, ka-thug, thug.

Gilleth went still. The thumping was from within. Originating from his own chest.

His hand went to his heart, his eyes widening. It beat within him.

He found Emma just as the Helix was about to pull her through the door. She nodded, still pounding her chest.

Fates…

She was his Heartbeat.

Those fucking evil Fates had kept them apart this long, only to reveal the truth in this midnight hour.

He hated them.

Lunging forward, he pushed through the door, eyes scanning every direction. There was no sign of Emma and the Helix.

“Help!” he shouted, running past the gate and into the street. “Help! Call the guards!”

But it wasn’t necessary. They were near. Five of them running toward him, weapons drawn.

“She’s been taken,” he barked. “Emmalyn. My maiden. By a Helix.
Find her, damn it
.”

Gilleth turned in circles, looking for any trace of them. Any hint at which direction they’d gone. But there was none. It was as if the entire incident had been a figment of his imagination.

“Seal the borders!” one of the guards called. “We have a code red.”

Chapter Ten

Breckken pounded on the front door of Canna’s castle. The hour was late but it mattered not. He must speak to her, make her see truth. There was no more time for giving her space. Not when her safety was in jeopardy.

After several more knocks, the door creaked open and Rowene appeared, wrapped in a night robe, her dark hair falling over her shoulders.

“How may I help you?” she asked warily as she peeked through the slivered crack in the door.

“I apologize for approaching at such a late hour, madam. I am Sir Breckken of the Nova Guard and I need to speak with Cannalise immediately.”

Rowene’s brow furrowed, surprised to see a guardsman at her doorstep. “I believe Canna is asleep. Perhaps you could speak with her in the morning.”

Breck shook his head. “You must wake her. I need to see her tonight.”

She stared at him for a long minute. A minute wasted, but he let her have it anyways. Finally, she nudged the door open and waved him in. Stopping just inside the door, he noticed several attendants waiting near the stairs. He nodded to them and strangely, they averted their eyes.

“Please, go wake Canna and have her come down,” Rowene instructed one of them.

It took only a few minutes but to him, it was a lifetime. When she finally descended the stairs and he was able to lay eyes on her again, he went dizzy with relief. And when she looked at him, he hated the way his breath caught in his chest and refused to release.

It was the same reaction he’d had at the fountain. He wanted to run to her, scoop her up into his arms and carry her to a secret place where it was just the two of them, and there was no harm to come to her.

Breckken swallowed the stone in his throat.

She was furious. He could see it in her eyes. Barely. But it was there.

“What do you want?” she snapped, approaching him.

Rowene flinched at her blatant disrespect. Breckken didn’t.

“Maybe we could talk in private.”

“
What
do you want?”

Well, if she wouldn’t be reasonable, he would just have to say it before all these people.

“I must take you to the outpost.”

“No.” The way she crossed her arms over her chest was a challenging move. A dare. She dared him to force her hand.

“There has been a development. You will be safer there.”

“No.”

Stubborn. She was so damn stubborn.

“Canna—”

“I’m not going anywhere. Now, take your leave.”

Breckken glanced at the others. He really didn’t want to say this in front of them.
Really
.

He stepped close—as close as she would let him. “One of the Helix is loose in the city,” he whispered.

Rowene heard. Her stifled gasp gave it away. Canna’s eyebrow twitched which was the only indication that she was affected at all by the statement.

“Until we apprehend her, you will be safer at the outpost.”

“Where is Emma?”

“She is well guarded.”

Canna nodded sharply. “Then all is well. I will remain here.”

“You cannot remain here, Canna. I will take you to the outpost.” Panic rose within him. Would she not see reason? Could she not sense the danger? Or didn’t she care?

She narrowed her eyes until they were mere slits. “You
will
leave, Breckken,” she said, her tone laced with venom. “And this time, for good.”

He stared hard at her, searching for any trace of the woman he knew was under all that armor. Yes, he knew her. But she didn’t know him. She didn’t know that he had a will of iron that likely only she could ever match in intensity. She didn’t know that he could never be bullied. Even by a true professional such as herself.

“No. I will not.” He stepped even closer until he towered over her. “It is my responsibility to see to your safety…” He smirked, leveling his gaze on her full lips. “Among other things. And I will not let you ignore the danger you are in.” He noticed her petulant expression and couldn’t help smiling. “You are far, far too precious to risk, my Cannalise.”

Her eyes darted to the others in the room.

“I am not, nor will I ever be, your responsibility,” she snarled.

He considered their audience, but then he didn’t care. “Your heart, and mine, says otherwise, sweet Canna.”

There were more sounds of surprise. Row frowned, coming to stand beside them.

“Canna? What is this? Does your heart beat for this wren?”

She ignored the question but kept up with the glaring. “You wish to make declarations, wren? Fine, then let me make one as well. I declare, before all who are listening, that you are nothing to me. Nothing to my heart. Nothing at all. And nothing is who you will forever be. Especially in my eyes.”

Ouch. Literally. Her words burned like fire, past his ears, through his mind and into the depths of his longing soul. And it shouldn’t have mattered, but the fact that she’d made the statement in the hearing of others filled him with shame. For the instincts within a mated wren demanded that he make his maiden happy—and that everyone knew of her joy was the ultimate accomplishment.

He had to look away for a moment and he hated himself for it.

“If you meant to wound, you hit your mark,” he said quietly. “Even still, I won’t leave you unprotected.”

“I can protect myself.”

And that’s where he was stuck. Because she could. And he knew it. But that didn’t make it any easier when every instinct demanded he safeguard her.

“If you refuse to go unto the outpost, then I will stay here and keep watch myself.”

“Absolutely not!” Her voice tweaked up, anger smashing her mask to pieces.

He hated to beg. Oh, how he hated it. But if it would sway her…

“Canna, please. Please, let me see to you. I must know you are safe.”

She stared hard at him, her glare unwavering. “You don’t fool me. This act of yours, it doesn’t move me. What I don’t understand is why you keep it up. It is exceedingly pathetic.”

She could cut him so easily. He marveled at how his pain had zero affect on her when the mere thought of hers felt like a knife in his chest.

“It is no act.”

“You will leave my home now.”

“Then I will guard the gates through the night.”

“And you will freeze.”

He shrugged because really, he didn’t care as long as she was well.

“Very well. Then I will finally be rid of you.”

Another gasp from Row. “Cannalise!”

She ignored her guardian, turned and marched back up the stairs.

Breckken didn’t wait for anyone to request his absence. He left as fast as he could. He didn’t want to see the looks on their faces, didn’t need any hint of what they were thinking.

He would guard the perimeter of her home just as he’d said. And hopefully the frozen air outside would numb the ache in his chest.

***

Canna rushed up the stairs and slammed the door when she was safe in her quarters. She wouldn’t sleep tonight. Couldn’t. And it had nothing to do with the discomfort behind her sternum. A member of the Helix was out there, running loose in the city. And after seeing what they would have done to Emmalyn, she couldn’t ignore that bit of information. If the maiden wasn’t already so heavily guarded, Canna likely would be doing the same thing Breckken was. Except she wouldn’t feel the brutal cold.

There was a knock on her door and Row stepped in. Her curious expression was enough to disarm Canna. She didn’t want to have this conversation now. But because the idiotic wren couldn’t keep his mouth shut, her whole household knew of her beating heart. By tomorrow, it would be the talk of the city.

“Cannalise, will you explain to me why we are not celebrating your great fortune? Why you have sent your mate—who is obviously from the Lands—into the frozen night?”

Canna ignored the question and marched to the window to secure the curtains.

“Child—”

“I am no longer a child.”

“To me you will always be a child.
My
child. Whether I bore you or not,” she said sharply. “And perhaps if you wish to be respected, you should stop acting like one.”

Canna managed to feel chastised. Row was so very much like a mother to her. The female had done her best, Canna knew.

“The wren shows interest in you, dear. Why do you resist him? And why have you kept this a secret from me?”

Canna’s chest burned. It was painful. She would probably be heartsick soon. And somehow, she would have to hide it from everybody. At least until she could recover from it.

“I have not kept it a secret. My heart only began beating this night.”

Row’s eyes grew wide. “When?”

“At nightfall.”

“Why does your wren speak of the Helix?”

Canna bristled. “He is not
my
wren.”

Row gave her a look. “Explain this to me, Canna.”

Canna sighed. She supposed she would have to tell Rowene what had happened. If only for her own safety.

“Members of the Helix came to the city to abduct Emma. I… attacked them before they were apprehended by the Nova Guard.”

Rowene went pale. Paler than normal, her skin seeming translucent. “Oh, Canna! You could have been hurt! How is Emma? Is she alright?”

“She is fine. And you know I can fend for myself.”

Row’s brows creased and her gaze flitted to the window. “The wren is risking his life to protect you, as a Heartbeat should. I don’t understand why you reject him.”

Canna crossed her arms, slumping down on the bed. “How many times must I say it? I do not need a wren’s protection.”

Row was quiet for a long time but Canna didn’t look at her. When she spoke, her voice was soft and sad. “Maybe not his protection, but how about his love?”

Her words stole Canna’s breath. Tears pricked her eyes once again, and she wished for one moment she could make sense of what she wanted. Of what she needed. But mostly, she wished she could trust Breckken with her heart.

“He does not offer love.”

Row walked over to the bed and sat beside her. “How do you know? You haven’t yet given him a chance. Your heart only just began to beat.”

Canna laughed wryly. “Oh, but ask me how long his has beat. Go on, ask me.”

Row seemed confused. “I am sure his began tonight just as yours did.”

Canna shook her head. Couldn’t look at Rowene. She wished she didn’t have to admit this painful reality.

“Canna, don’t be ridiculous. You know how it works—”

“A thousand years,” she blurted. “Actually, a thousand and four years.”

“No, you must be mistaken—”

“I am not!” Canna stood, pacing the room to expel the awful feelings inside.

Walk it off, walk it off
.

“He told me himself. I was eight lightyears when his heart started beating. I believe he is only making himself known now because he is heartsick.”

Row said nothing. Nothing at all. So Canna filled the empty space.

“He didn’t want me—doesn’t want me now, I’m sure—and I don’t want him. I would kill him for his betrayal except…”

“Except what?”

Canna glanced at the female who’d raised her, and then at the window. Only then did she realize she’d been rubbing her sternum. She dropped her hand.

“Except now the cold will do it for me.”

Canna turned away so she wouldn’t have to see Rowene’s expression. She knew she’d disappointed her. How could she not.

She heard the door click shut as Row left, and she let out a frustrated breath.

Twisting her dreadlocks into a coil on top of her head, she undressed and went to her wash room to bathe. The ket warmed the water even though she didn’t require it, and she lowered herself into the basin that remained full and flowing at all times. But the bath wasn’t comforting. It served its purpose to clean her of the remnants of this trying day, but it didn’t help her relax. It didn’t clear her mind to ready it for sleep. It didn’t keep her thoughts off the wren outside.

Or the vicious way she’d treated him before her household.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

He deserved it, coming to her home like that and making declarations she wasn’t ready for yet. He’d humiliated her. Required her to confess the truth to Row. Forced her to choose, either accept him or deny him.

She’d done the right thing. It was important to maintain her tough exterior. Not only to guard her feelings but to protect the ones she cared about. Rowene, Emmalyn… even Breckken. If people found out she was soft for him, they’d both face ridicule.

She refused to ruin her reputation—or his—for a bit of heartsickness relief.

Stepping from the basin, she dried her body with woolen towels. She was truly weary after the strange events of the day. Perhaps she’d be able to sleep after all.