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Chapter Twenty-three

" S asha?" Liana called out hopefully again. The soldier blinked then ran at her with vampiric speed.

"Liana, is that you?" she asked, her blue eyes filled with guarded hope as she scoured every inch of Liana.

"It's me. What are you doing here?"

"I came looking for you. My friends said they saw Ranville leave a few days ago with a woman in chains. The woman didn't look like you, but that could have been a spell. Even now, you don't look like yourself."

Liana looked down at herself as if she could tell. "I do not understand. I look like me."

"It must be the cuffs," Sasha surmised, grabbing one of her wrists. "A cloaking spell of some kind. Your voice is the same. Your scent is different though, and I can't feel your power." She eyed the glowing dagger. "That dagger looks like it would belong to Liana though."

Liana shook her head. "It is me, Sasha. I'm not sure how many spells these cuffs hold but they have blocked me from my magic, from my bond with Damien, and from being tracked." She pulled Sasha into a hug. "I can't explain how thrilled I am to see you."

The normally stoic guard hugged her back. "You don't know how thrilled I am that you're alive."

Liana pulled back, keeping one hand on her shoulder. "Is Damien alive? Last I saw he was about to be stabbed in the chest again."

Sasha's face went blank, Liana's heart skipping a beat. "He is alive, My Queen."

Her brows furrowed. "Then why do you not sound so reassured?"

Sasha tried to step away. Liana gripped her shoulder harder. "Well, the King may have gone feral once he woke from his healing and discovered your bond missing."

Dropping her head, Liana blew out a heavy breath. "Then I must get these cuffs off as quickly as possible and get back to him."

"Probably for the best. Come with us. We've got friends that can help." Sasha nodded to the woman Liana had been following.

"I'm Olivia, Your Majesty. You probably don't remember me," the woman started, and it finally clicked.

"The group of mixed couples I helped at Felix's home," Liana explained.

Olivia smiled and nodded. "Yes. Now, let us help you, Your Majesty."

Liana gestured for them to lead the way. Olivia led while Sasha fell into step beside Liana. "What happened to you?" Sasha whispered.

"It is a very long story. The short of it is that Ranville found a way to beat my magic and brought me here to search for this weapon." She held up the glowing dagger. "I got away and now we're here."

"I have so many questions," Sasha murmured.

Liana snorted. "Tell me about it."

They arrived at a cluster of homes at the end of the path. Everyone came out to see who the newcomer was. Liana recognized all of them, pleased to see that they'd made a home for themselves here.

A beast of a man that she sensed as a shifter and a lithe vampire woman approached with their hands linked. The male stopped short of Liana by a few feet and bowed at the waist. The woman curtsied.

"Your Majesty," the shifter greeted. "We welcome you to our home. Whatever aid you need is yours."

Liana eyed the couple. She'd met them, their names evading her. "Stand, please. And forgive me, I've forgotten your names."

"Tavian, Your Majesty. And my mate, Serena." They dipped their heads in reverence again. "I must thank you for your aid all those months ago."

Liana waved a hand. "Please, no more thanks needed. I am happy to help. Now, I am in need of aid as well. I need these cuffs off and someone to hold a blocking spell around me until I can form my own."

Three mage stepped forward, including the woman she followed. Olivia spoke first. "I have a fully functioning workspace. We can do what you require there, Your Majesty." She gestured to a house on the left.

"The rest of you need to stand guard," Sasha declared. "You two are on patrol. The rest stay with me around the house. We are looking for Master Ranville and any of his associates."

Liana followed the mage inside the quaint home. The workspace was in the back, through a narrow hallway and stone kitchen. It was set up like a greenhouse and in this climate, they would need it to keep their plants and herbs alive.

Olivia pulled a stool for Liana to sit in which she gratefully took. "I'm sorry to be a bother but I haven't eaten in four or five days. Do you…"

Olivia jumped into action before she could finish. "I'll whip something up quickly, Your Majesty."

The other two mage remained. "I'm August, and this is Marcus, Your Majesty," the younger mage introduced, his deep brown eyes vibrant against his midnight skin. Marcus merely nodded his slowly graying head of brown hair.

"A pleasure to meet you again. So, what can you do about these cuffs?" she asked, resting her wrists on the stone table.

The males bent closer, their hands hovering over the cuffs sensing for what they held. Once they had a feel for them, they began to discuss.

"I can sense at least four spells in the cuffs," August stated, then looked to Marcus for confirmation.

"Six spells. Check again," Marcus instructed, calm as a sunny spring day.

August's brows furrowed in concentration, holding his hands over the cuffs once more. "A spell to conceal identity. To prevent anyone from tracking her. To hide scent. To block magic use."

"The last two are layered beneath two others. Peel back the weavings of the spells and you'll find them," Marcus coached as though he had all the patience and time in the world. Liana didn't mind too much because she valued learning as much as anyone and could already imagine devouring the food she now smelled.

"Oh, I see," August said. "They spelled them to conceal her mage identity but also her physical appearance. Then they blocked magic use and some magical bond as well."

"My mate bond, to my husband," Liana explained. "We can sense each other through the bond and as a result, could track without the use of tracking spells. They blocked all of that and I'm almost certain he believes me dead. So, the sooner I get these off, the better."

Olivia returned with a plate of food. "Thank you," Liana gasped then shoved some sliced ham into her mouth.

"Your Majesty, do you mind if Olivia takes a moment to inspect the cuffs? She is learning more magic as well," Marcus explained.

"Please, do. I fully support mage females learning to use their own magic as well as any male." Liana chowed down on her food for a few moments while Olivia went through the same lesson August did.

"Excellent," Marcus said, his voice monotone and at odds with the exclamation. "I will begin to unweave these spells. The locking spell is hidden beneath the rest. While I do that, you two hold up a shield to prevent anyone from tracking the Queen."

Olivia and August linked hands and murmured the spell. Marcus took agonizing minutes to break through the cuffs, Liana's heart in her throat with anticipation. Her appetite fled and she focused solely on getting her magic back.

The moment the cuffs clinked open Liana's magic surged back into every crevice of her body. Joy and determination filled her while she greeted her magic with an open heart. Just as the magic settled, she felt for the connection to Damien. As strong as ever, she tugged on it.

"Damien?" she called out in her mind. There was no answer. Pulling harder on the bond she sent a shock of power down it in case he was feral and couldn't recognize her yet. "Damien?" she shouted, her eyes squeezed shut, hope pouring from every pore.

Something flickered along the bond.

"Liana?" his voice came through like a whisper.

Liana cried out and covered her face in her hands. "Damien. I'm so happy you're alive. I thought they killed you. I saw them stab you."

"No, my love. You saved me yet again." Love pulsed down their bond in overwhelming waves. "I thought you were dead. I couldn't feel you," he said, and she swore she could hear him sobbing.

"I'm alive, Damien. They put cuffs on me that blocked me from you, from my magic, everything." She wiped her own tears. "I escaped though. I'm with Sasha now and a few friends. I'm safe."

"Tell me where you are. I won't stop until I have you in my arms again."

"Hold one moment, please." Liana looked up and found herself alone in the greenhouse. Wiping her face, she went into the kitchen where the three mage waited. "You can drop your shields now, I've got my own in place. Sasha, join us please," she called, knowing the vampire would hear her. The blonde beauty appeared in a blink. "Is Ranville still here?"

"He left this morning with your sister."

Liana paced the length of the small kitchen. "How many travel with them?"

"Four mage, three shifters."

"Okay. She is under his control, mind control to be specific. We have to get her away from him."

Olivia's eyes widened. "That's not only illegal but completely immoral."

Liana nodded. "Yes, and he is going to pay for that. I'm in contact with Damien. He knows I'm alive. How long would it take for him to run here?"

"One day at full speed with two breaks. I made the journey myself. He will need to feed during those breaks."

"Excellent. And how fast was Ranville traveling?"

"He didn't have any vampires with him, so he moves at a normal pace in carriages. It will take him about two weeks to get back unless they switch horses and don't rest during the night. In that case, one week."

Liana nodded, a plan forming in her head.

"Liana, say something," Damien pleaded.

"I was forming a plan. Hold on." She looked to Sasha and the others one by one. "Will you all fight with me to get my sister back?"

They nodded as one. Marcus stood. "It is my honor to fight with you, Queen Ashwood."

A bit embarrassed by the formality, Liana just nodded. "Excellent. Damien will meet us on the road in one day. I need food, a bath, and sleep in that order. Tomorrow, we will go after Ranville and my sister. How many vampires are here? Would they be willing to carry those of us that wish to fight?"

"There are six vampires. Serena is pregnant and will not be going. The others will likely be willing," Marcus informed her.

Liana's jaw dropped. She knew it was possible, knew a whole nation conceived half-breeds, but to hear it confirmed in modern day was incredible. "Pregnant with the shifter?" she asked just to confirm.

"Yes. And Adriana, a shifter, had her baby last week. The father is a vampire," Olivia supplied joyously.

"That's wonderful," Liana said, still a bit shocked. "I… I um," she tried to refocus on the plan. "We shouldn't need many to help. With my power back, I can handle most of them, only if we catch them by surprise. They have weapons now that can disable me. If we're quick and stay at a distance, they won't know what hit them."

They nodded.

"I'll coordinate with Damien. He will bring more vampires." She went back to grab her plate of food, her appetite back with a vengeance. "I don't want to be rude, but can I get a bath and borrow a bed?"

"You're not being rude at all, Your Majesty," Olivia jumped to argue. "Please, follow me."

"Liana, I am waiting rather patiently. Speak to me," Damien demanded.

"One more moment, then you will have my undivided attention. Oh, and before I forget, Kent is a traitor. If he is near, I suggest you throw him in the dungeons." She sensed his attention shift and Liana refocused on the young woman in front of her.

"Here is the tub. I can conjure hot water…"

"I will do it, thank you, Olivia."

"Of course, Your Majesty. And there is a bed right through that door there. I'll bring you some of my clean clothes."

"No need. I will get my own. Thank you again, Olivia. I truly appreciate everything you're doing."

The young woman blushed and nodded before scurrying out the door.

Liana filled the tub with hot water. When she went to set down the dagger, she paused, Juno's words echoing in her mind. Do not let that dagger go. Knowing the dagger couldn't end up in anyone else's hands, she pulled off her boots and pants then placed it against the skin of her thigh. Her forearm would be too short, but her thigh offered just enough length from her outer hip down to her knee. She sent the dagger into her skin like she did with the other in her forearm then fully disrobed to get into the water.

With a heavy sigh, she connected to Damien. She told him where she was and what her plan was. He agreed without argument. He grabbed six of his best warriors and started running.

After she soaked in the tub and washed her hair, she summoned a sleeping gown from her own wardrobe and some of her new clothes which included trousers.

Sinking into the offered bed, she connected to Damien once more. He would be focused on running right now but knew he wouldn't mind the brief interlude. "I am going to sleep, hopefully for the next half a day. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you, Liana," he said back, and she fell asleep with a smile on her lips despite all that loomed ahead of her.

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