Dalton glared at Sindri.
“That’s right, Agent Moore. We know all about Andi and I, for one, am very much looking forward to getting to know your young wife.”
“Stay the hell away from her,” Dalton growled, but he was just as helpless as everyone else to defend the woman he loved.
“Perhaps it’s time I took a bride of my own,” Sindri continued. “Perhaps once my apprentice is done with you and Andi is a widow, she’ll see fit to consider me as a viable replacement.”
Although free from Sindri’s hold over me, I was still unable to make a move against him while Isla and the others were inside the binding circle. I had to figure out a way to break the spell and reach my sword.
“Now that I have you under my thumb, Kaspar is next,” Erik said.
“He’ll fight you with everything he has,” Kade rasped, his brothers getting him back to his feet.
“Without the captain of his royal guard or assistance from my brother, he’ll fall too easily,” Erik said. “Then there will be no one to stop us from building an army of Kalt Einn. With Sindri as head of a council of oracles and the power of Ketill Feilan at my disposal, nothing will stand in our way. Soon the Kalt Einn will no longer be forced to live in the shadows. The Vakningin Mikla is upon us!” he shouted. “It is time for the Great Awakening!”
“Bring Kade Gunnach to me,” Sindri ordered. “The time has come for him to abdicate the throne.”
I nodded and began to walk toward Kade.
Arric
UNABLE TO CONTACT Isla, I reached out to the only one I knew for certain could slip his bonds and come to my aid. The only one with the bravery and determination needed to break the circle as well as cause a big enough diversion to distract Erik. I focused my thoughts, making contact immediately. Then I waited.
I walked toward Kade as slowly as possible without arousing suspicion from Sindri. Keeping him out of my head was easy, but he wasn’t stupid. If he suspected for one instant that I wasn’t under his complete subjection, he could kill the women within seconds.
“Arric, don’t do this. Please, son,” Connall, begged as I approached.
“Arric Mann is dead,” Sindri called out. “Twice over, in fact. The Arric Mann you knew was nothing but a carbon copy of a dead man’s mind walking around in Ketill Feilan’s body. My apprentice has been re-born and fully himself once again.”
“You’ve turned him into a robot,” Connall shouted.
“Ketill is my obedient apprentice and will serve at the pleasure of the true king and queen,” Sindri replied.
“I know who he truly is, and I’m certain he would never harm us,” Kade said as I stood before him.
“We’ll see if you still feel the same while you’re burning alive at the stake,” Sindri replied.
I reached for Kade, and both Alasdair and Connall moved in to protect him. I swatted both away with a powerful backhand that sent them sailing high into the air, and landing on the ground several yards away. I grabbed Kade around the elbows, completely incapacitating his movements as I effortlessly lifted him off the ground. I ignored the pleas of the other men as I brought Erik’s prize to him, Kade groaning and struggling within my grip.
“Look at you now, my son,” Erik said. “How pathetic you are. If you were truly fated to be king, this day could not have come to pass. But Sindri’s visions have led us here just as he foretold. Now you will die, and your clan will become my slaves.”
“Even if I die by your hand,” Kade said with a groan. “The Cauld Ane will live on. We are bound to one another by love and by blood. A bond that will last throughout the ages. A bond that you, my father, will never be strong enough to break.”
“We’ll see who breaks,” Erik said, looking up at me. “Kill him.”
As Erik spoke these words, my four-legged reinforcement arrived, rounding the corner at top speed, making a bee line for the binding circle.
Hershey barreled across the line, stamping his hooves, snorting and breathing out heavily through his nose, causing the luminescent sand to disperse in a puff of brilliant smoke, freeing the women from their prison.
I locked eyes with Isla, for only a second, but that was all we needed.
Are you okay?Isla demanded.
Yeah, baby, I’m good.I decided not to expel the energy to create a world of wildflowers for us, but it didn’t make our reunion any less sweet.You ready to kick ass and take names?
Hell, yes.
I kissed her quickly, guiding us back to the present where Isla turned to the enemy with a hiss.
