Unforgettable Lover (11 page)

Nicholai returned his gaze to his brother. “I think you did that all on your own.”

Tiernan’s face reddened. A low growl built in his chest. 

Leonna gasped and took a step back.

Tiernan tensed and launched himself at Nicholai.

Grabbing the handle of his own dagger, Nicholai yanked the weapon from his belt. 

The tip of Tiernan’s blade swiped dangerously close to Nicholai’s face. 

He parried, blocking a blow from Tiernan’s fist. 

Leonna pushed against Nicholai, eager to get around him, her own anger evident in the tight lines in her face. She kicked Tiernan, landing a blow to his shin.

No.
What was she doing? Nicholai’s senses became hyper-sensitive to the world around him as his fear for her spiked. Caught up in his worry over his female, he lost focus for the briefest moment. That was all the time Tiernan needed.

Swoosh.
Pain exploded in his shoulder.

 His brother grunted and twisted the dagger.

The intensity of the pain radiated into Nicholai’s head, threatening to fog his mind. He gripped the handle and pulled the dagger free. The tainted present clattered to the floor.

“Watch out!” Leonna’s voice broke through the fog in his mind just in time. 

Nicholai flipped his own dagger to his uninjured hand and thrust out, toward his assailant. The tip connected with his brother’s face. A thin, red line of blood formed along his cheek. 

“Help me, you fools.” Tiernan’s voice, full of malice echoed down the corridor.

“
Craya
. No way.” Alden ran.

Nicholai caught a glimpse of Macion. The male held back, watching. His furrowed brows and taut face belayed his confusion.

Leonna edged closer to the ledge, away from the males. 

Nicholai stilled, fear gripping his heart like a vise. 

Smack.
His head whipped to the side, and his vision blurred. He faltered from the agony.

Using the shift in momentum, Tiernan rushed at Nicholai, sending him into Leonna.

Leonna’s scream echoed off the walls as she fell into the crevasse. 

Noooooooooo.
He glanced over the edge. 

She was gone.

Adrenaline fueled by hatred raced through Nicholai’s body. In a rage, he picked up his brother, and body-slammed him to the ground. He held the knife to Tiernan’s neck.
He’s my brother.
The familial bond was the only reason the insolent male wasn’t dead. 

The urge to push the blade into Tiernan’s throat made Nicholai’s fingers twitch, nicking the skin. A drop of blood pooled at the blade’s tip before tracing a line along his brother’s throat and dripping to the ground.

Tiernan’s chest heaved from his quick breaths. He parted his lips and hissed, spittle flying from his mouth. “I hate you.” 

Nicholai blinked. Rage clouded his mind. His hand gripped the dagger so hard his hand shook.

“You were always father’s favorite.” Tiernan pulled his arm from under his back, the dropped dagger in his palm. 

He slashed Nicholai’s forearm, the deep cut sending a sharp pain into his hand. His favorite weapon fell from his grasp, slid over Tiernan’s shoulder, and clattered on the stone floor. 

Nicholai grabbed his brother’s wrist, and the two fought for the fated dagger. Wrestling like dogs, they came close to the edge of the crevasse.

Tiernan rolled one too many times, coming to a stop with his legs dangling over the edge. He stilled then his body relaxed against Nicholai.

With heavy breaths, Nicholai looked at his brother. The tip of the dagger protruded from Tiernan’s chest. 

What have I done?

His brother’s body began decomposing, his fingers and arms turning to sand. The gilded dagger lay nearby, and Nicholai kicked the offending weapon over the side.

The edge of the crevasse brought back the memory of his love. A fear so great squeezed his chest, making it difficult to breath.

“Leonna.” Nicholai kneeled and peered over the cliff. Where was she? Blackness enveloped the space like the vastness of the universe without any stars.

The sound of quick footsteps approaching made him turn.

Macion raised his hands. “I want to help. I’m not here to fight you—Prince.”

Nicholai turned to face the blackness. His greatest fear manifested itself in his gut. He’d lost Leonna, his love. He was responsible for her death. A wave of dizziness engulfed him. He couldn’t move. Memories of Rand and his demise at the hands of the Gossum flooded his mind.

Nicholai’s heavy breaths were the only sound in the still air.

Macion placed his hand on Nicholai’s shoulder. “Step away from the edge. It’s not safe.”

Nicholai’s body was as immovable as stone. A heavy weight descended on his shoulders, pinning him there like nothing else could. His marking for courage faded. The thin line burned as the circle disappeared under his skin. He truly was a failure.

Chapter Eighteen

Nicholai couldn’t breathe. His mind fogged. Kneeling at the edge of the crevasse, he stared into the empty space.
Leonna—she’s gone.

“Nick, move back, away from the edge.” Macion placed his hand under Nicholai’s arm and pulled. “Let me help you.” 

Riveted to the floor as if he were made of stone, Nicholai remained frozen.
Leonna—she’s gone.

“I’m going to get help. Be right back.” Macion’s footsteps receded.

The quiet enveloped Nicholai. He didn’t know how long he knelt there on the edge, his only focus on the loss of his love.
I never told her how much she meant to me.
Regret dug a hole in his heart, picking at the organ until anguish was all he felt. He closed his eyes and accepted the pain.
Leonna—she’s gone.

The Keep rumbled. Tiny bits of rock and dirt rained down on Nicholai’s head.

A soft whimper pierced through the fog in his brain. He tensed and opened his eyes.

The low moan grew louder.

Adrenaline surged through his veins. He jumped to his feet and peered over the edge. Blackness greeted him, along with the slight scent of honey. “Leonna!”

A small avalanche fell from inside the crevasse. Rocks pinged against the walls, but there was no indication they ever hit bottom.

“Ow. Ow.”
 

“Leonna. Don’t move.”

“Ni…Nicholai? Where am—” 

Her panicked cry echoed from the chasm. “Nicholai, the ledge, it’s giving way.”

Fear clawed at his soul. A coldness he’d never experienced before chilled him. His feet wouldn’t move. She’d die unless he helped her.

The few sunstones lining the walls brightened to a radiant glow. Her eyes reflected the light, and the outline of her form became visible. She lay on a small ledge about ten feet down.

She looked up at him. “Nicholai…help me. I believe in you.” 

His heart expanded. The ice in his veins melted, just a tad. His breath caught in his throat as a tendril of hope weaseled its way into his soul. 

“Leonna.” His word was but a whisper, and a step in the right direction.

She leaned against the chasm wall and raised herself to her feet. A portion of the ledge she’d been laying on a few seconds ago broke off and fell into the void below. Her eyes tinged with fear, but as her gaze locked with his, her features softened. Confidence and faith replaced her fright. “Nicholai, you’re not that young newb anymore, you’re different. Remember, you saved me from that male on Betram night. Help me now, I know you can.”

Her trust and certainty in his ability to save her rocked him to the core. Belief in himself grew, like a tiny sprout. His love for her nurtured the little shoot, and confidence blossomed in his soul. His marking for courage pulsed to life. 

Breaking free from his immobility, his body flexed, blood flowing through his veins. He lay flat on the ground, his arms and shoulders leaning over the edge. As he reached for her, a drop of blood traced down his arm and dripped from his fingertip. Fear threatened to take over his mind, but he focused on the faith in her eyes.

She stood on her tip-toes. Both of them stretched their fingers, but they were a foot too short.

Another shower of rocks plunged from the narrow ledge, forcing her to hug the rocks protruding from the side.

She still believed, he could see it in the depths of her eyes.

With a conviction born of his love for her, he made a dangerous decision. “Hang on. I’m going to change.”

To loosen the beast inside the Keep was forbidden. Hard to control even on the battlefield, Stiyaha were known to wreak havoc if not tightly restrained. For him to even consider breaking the rules indicated just how much he’d changed. He’d take this chance for her and suffer the consequences if he failed.  

She nodded once and hugged the wall.

He stepped away from the ledge and opened his mind. The synapses fired, connecting man to beast. His bones and muscles crackled and popped. He grew to his full nine feet, his clothing disappearing beneath the fur. 

Fueled by the freedom, the beast roared at the top of his lungs. His beast understood the threat to his female, and the frustration and fear were just more fuel, more energy to use in the fight. The problem—this wasn’t the kind of fight the beast could handle. Nicholai calmed himself, soothing the beast, impressing the need to protect Leonna.

Together as one with his beast, he lay on the surface of the cold stone floor. As he leaned over the edge, his upper body and arms stretched farther than before. 

She reached up to meet him. Love, respect, and trust all radiated from her expression. Their fingers entwined, and he gripped her wrists. He scooted back, inch by inch, pulling her upward.

The ledge gave way, the final rocks falling into the chasm. They pinged off the edge until they could no longer be heard.

Running feet echoed down the hallway, registering in the back of his mind. He couldn’t worry about that threat right now. The need to save his female burned under his skin.

She hung from his grip. The slick blood on his fingers made her slip.

His heart caught in his throat.
Nooooo. 

With the strength born into his beast, he pulled her over the edge and enfolded her in his arms. She wrapped herself around him, sitting in his lap. His beast huffed, breathing in her unique scent, the one he’d memorized during Betram. All was right in the world, at least in that moment.

“You…You saved her.” Macion whispered. 

“He’s in beast form. Stay back.” A male’s voice permeated Nicholai’s mind.

 A third male chimed in. “He doesn’t appear to be a threat. He’s holding her in his lap.”

“Nicholai, I’m okay. Let me go.” Leonna’s words broke through the beast’s control.

As much as he didn’t want to release her, he’d do as she requested. She stood, and the loss of her warmth made his chest constrict.

The males in the room tensed and they reached for their swords.

“No, don’t.” She held out her hands.

Nicholai rose to his feet and glared at the males. His muscles quivered as anger rippled over his skin. His beast wanted a good fight and these males seemed up for the challenge. 

Leonna placed her hand on his arm. “Nicholai.” Like a bird’s wings, his name on her lips fluttered over his psyche, calming him. 

These males weren’t a threat. In the back of his mind, his rational brain knew this. He pulled on the strings connecting to his beast, encouraging his alter ego to go back to sleep. The beast retreated, and he changed back into his human physique. Pants, shirt, and boots all reformed as if he’d never taken them off.

“You saved me.” Leonna’s gaze locked onto his.

“No, you saved me. You believed in me and helped me overcome my fear.” He clasped her hand, the one with only the index finger, and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

“What of Tiernan?” Macion crept toward the edge, but wouldn’t get too close. A small mound of sand was all that remained of Nicholai’s brother.

Nicholai shook his head. “Gone.” A pang of regret hit him in the gut. 

“It’s not your fault.” Leonna placed her hand on his chest.

“He attacked. You defended yourself.” Macion pointed to the other two males. “Be my witness, I confess this to be the truth. Prince Nicholai is innocent in the death of his brother.” 

Both males bowed, acknowledging Macion’s declaration.

Blood dripped onto the stone floor. Aware of the gash in his arm, Nicholai’s pain reared to life once again. He gritted his teeth, unwilling to show his weakness in front of the males.

“You should get that checked out.” Macion pointed to his wound. “We’ll tell the council and your father what happened.”

“No. I’ll tell my father.” His circle for duty pulsed. An easy conversation? No, but this was something he must do.

“As you wish.” Macion nodded. He and the other two males exited the room, leaving Nicholai alone with Leonna.

A smile crossed Leonna’s face, but then she stilled. The smile faltered. 

Dread raced along his nerves. “What is it?”

“I have to get back. I’ll meet up with you later. I promise.” She leaned against him and pecked him on the lips. 

He pulled her to him, deepening the kiss, telling her without words just what she meant to him. When they finally parted, their combined breaths were loud in the empty corridor.

“I’m going to hold you to that promise.” He kissed her once more then they raced down the hallway.

Chapter Nineteen

Leonna stood outside Blaine’s door. The muscles in her back and shoulders tightened. She pursed her lips, and raised her fist. A muffled moan from the other side made her halt, her knuckles mere inches from the old wooden door. 

She glanced down the corridor. An elderly couple stopped at the entrance to one of the other rooms in the passageway. The female swayed on her feet. The male cradled her elbow in his hand, steadying her. Their white hair and wrinkled skin revealed their advanced age. Two black bonding bands surrounded his neck. His tender care made Leonna’s chest constrict. 

She couldn’t imagine Blaine, her qithan, ever treating her with such affection. That’s why she was here—to put an end to this sham. All her life she’d bent to others’ demands, like a blade of grass in the wind. She’d never made a decision for herself. Her life had been prescribed, dictated to her from the day she was born. The knuckles in her fist cracked from her fury.