28. Tairyn

twenty-eight

Tairyn

The deep maroon of her magic swirls around her, lighting her with an ominous glow as she sits across from me. Brow furrowed with determination, I watch her work. Despite the obstacles in her way, despite the setbacks and natural disadvantages. Humans always seem to find a way.

"Feel the threads weaving through your magic. There're parts that are missing, no? It feels incomplete, like pieces have been taken out of it. Those are the other hues of different gods. Let your mind drift back further, see the bigger picture."

My words are meant to be soothing, almost like a chant. Instead, she glares at me, still angry with my lack of transparency, no doubt. Our gazes clash and spark with unspoken tension. A flicker of annoyance crosses her face before she refocuses on her task, the vibrant energy pulsing and expanding like a wild heartbeat.

I lean back, choosing to close my mouth for a bit. I can't say that I blame her. Conversations shrouded in cryptic misdirection and double meanings have become commonplace for me ever since I started working for Yurghen. My last conversation with Malicryn was the most direct bit of information I've ever received.

That's exactly why I trust it. She was too scared to even pretend to play power games with me. And she admitted her own secret in the process. She also has a bonded bargain with Yurghen that she's unwilling to break.

Breaking my own bargain, moving against him, defying him, would cost me everything. My Chroma would be ripped away from me, yet again. And I'd live this one life, maybe another forty years, and die forever.

Ripping open the Great River is ludicrous though. And does that include closing it also? If the River is open, I'll need to learn more from Yurghen, how to tether my soul to the living realm. My eyes dart to Mira, the light casting strange shadows across her soft features.

I'd also need to learn how to tether other souls as well.

There'd be no point in living forever with Yurghen as my only companion.

What am I doing? Am I actually considering this? No, I just need to prepare Mira to fight him. Let her do my dirty work. If she truly kills him, then he'd be breaking his bargain. It's perfect.

I'll remain his loyal dog until she kills him.

Mira grunts with effort. Her power is weaker than I anticipated, having defeated Yurghen. Perhaps she's holding back.

I sense Callum approaching before I hear him. I released his shield the same time as Mira's, so I'm not surprised he came to find us. The door to my private study bursts open with a ferocity I don't recognize in him. Annoyance flickers through me at the rude interruption.

"Callum?" she asks, letting her magic wisp away in the confusion. His eyes are an inferno of rage, trained on me as he stalks over.

Standing, I put on a bored mask. "Yes?"

"I should kill you where you stand!" Callum snarls, his usually calm demeanor shredded to nothing but raw, anger-infused determination.

I splay my hands in front of me, the definition of nonchalance, a ghost of a smirk on my lips. "That would be quite the mess to clean up in my study for poor Silvia. The girl really needs an extra set of hands. I've been considering hiring another, with the additional guests to take care of and what not, but I'm just not sure who can be trusted."

Callum rolls his eyes at my tangent, and I don't try to suppress my amusement, but Mira is on her feet, glancing between us. "What's going on?"

"Yes, Cal. Enlighten us."

His jaw twitches at the nickname, but his gaze softens as it lands on Mira. "I can feel you. Feel your anger. I didn't know what he was doing in here, but I've had enough of his games," he says, finally turning back to me. "We're leaving."

"I can't let you do that," I reply, summoning a trace of deep violet Chroma to cast a sinister light across my face.

"You brought me to this place and held me captive for months. I could handle that. But now you've brought her into the mix, constantly taunting her. She's not at your beck and call. Her anxiety is so high I'm chewing on my fingers. You won't treat her like this again."

Mira looks as surprised as I feel. The way he speaks of knowing her mind, her feelings, it does something to me. I restrain myself, as I'm tempted to throw him to the floor and punish his outburst. However, I believe Mira will need him if she's going to be successful.

Before I can respond, he cocks his fist back. My eyes widen slightly in surprise as I duck the blow. "Not man enough to use Chroma against me?" I ask, despite knowing it will only infuriate him further. I can't help it. He's so fun to piss off. The way the veins in his neck pop out and his face turns the color of beetroot.

Another fist flies to my gut, but as I'm moving from it, something distant demands all of my attention. The blow lands as I double over, gasping for breath, but I don't even care. The wards around my home are ringing in my mind. An outsider is here.

Knuckles meet my jaw with a grunt, and I watch a trickle of my blood splatter across the white marble floor. Sending all of my Chroma out in one burst, I knock back Callum and Mira, but more importantly, I send the creeping sensor throughout the many levels searching for the intruder.

Climbing to my knees, I don't pay attention as Callum raises a foot to kick me back again.

There.

Two bodies on the floor of the main level. My two guards. The intruders are ascending the stairs at a breakneck speed. Racing to us. Someone is in my home, here for my prisoners for certain…

Malicryn. I'm too late. Panic seeps into my bones with the realization. She's here to take Mira.

"Mira, run," I tell her, but they can't hear me. They're arguing as his foot continues to pound into me. My vision darkens.

"Callum! Stop!" Mira's voice permeates the blackness. Another kick to my ribs. Blood is pooling on the white marble floor beneath me.

Malicryn's here to take her to Yurghen. In an instant, my decision is made. The one I've been wrestling with since her arrival. I push Callum back once more with a blast of my magic, just enough to get his attention. I don't want to hurt him. He'll need to fight for her. To protect her.

"Run!" I scream at them. This time, they hear me. The blows stop.

Chroma swirls around me, ready to pull the stone down on top of Mal and her companions. Instead, my access to the source is severed as Mira casts a shield around me.

My focus is yanked back into the study to find Mira kneeling in front of me. Her soft hands touching my face. Somehow, the gentle heat of her skin on mine hurts so much more than everything else right now. "Someone's here for you. You must run."

My words are mumbled, but a broken jaw is the least of my worries right now. She gasps, looking to Callum. I try to climb to my feet, but the sharp pain is too much.

"It's a trick." His gruff voice is thick with disdain as he spits on the floor beside me.

I summon all my strength to roar at them. "Leave now! Get as far from here as you can."

I close my eyes, resting my head against the cool floor, waiting for them to comply. Instead, a small trickle of white Chroma flows between Mira and I. She's- she's healing me. With white Chroma no less.

A sense of relief floods inside me. She has a chance.

"Go now. Before it's too late."

It's comes out like a desperate whisper hoarse from pain. It hurts to breathe. Broken ribs.

"Back up, Callum. You've done enough."

The ferocity in her voice takes me by surprise. Almost as much as her channeling white Chroma. Incredible. I blink at her as the pain in my body subsides just enough for me to climb to my knees.

"It's okay," she whispers to me as the magic seeps into my body, slowly re-knitting my jaw. I try to push her off, urge her to run, but my efforts are futile.

And now it's too late.

The door to my room bursts open again, two figures shadow the doorframe. How did they ascend so fast? I throw myself to my feet, despite the burning pain. Then Mira shrieks with delight, running to them.

"Bobble! Sunder!"

I blink as Sunder scans the room for threats while Bobble lifts her into his arms.

My insides are a deflating balloon. I pull myself fully upright. I won't let them see me like this, but Callum's foot finds my back, knocking me back to the floor. Raising my hands in mock surrender, another shield, Sunder's, falls over me.

They're going to kill me.

The two new Shards move into the room. The ginger moving with feline grace as he spins her around, happy tears falling down her cheeks. My eyes rip away, repelled by their little reunion.

I don't listen as they excitedly babble about how they found us or their tight embraces. Or the kisses. Interestingly, I don't seem to be alone in this sentiment. I glance up at Cal's bitter face, twisted in disgust at the display of affection.

"And this must be the Fourth?"

The tone catches my attention. It's the First Shard, of course. His tone is less than friendly.

"Callum."

The introduction is gruff and distant. Standoffish even. Cal removes his foot from my back, walking over with all the bravado a gaunt scholar can have. I take the opportunity to peel myself from the floor. Moving slowly, I brush the dirt from my suit, not to disguise the aches in my body. Mira's healing helped significantly, but I'm still cut and bruised like a tenderized steak.

The blood on the floor remains as I finally get to my feet and spare a glance for the group gathered. I take a step back, arms folding over my chest as I lean against the wall. Not for support. Because it's comfortable.

"I see you handled him well enough," the shifter says with a smile, nodding at me, as he takes Callum's hand. "Name's Bobble. Nice to finally meet you."

Mira practically swoons in his arms, the purring from his chest radiating around the room. I can't keep the sneer from my face. I test the shield around me, hoping to find a weak spot where my Chroma can leak out. Despite Mira trying to save me moments ago, these guys are going to tear me apart the second she turns her back.

"I've heard a lot about you."

I blink at that, trying to hide my surprise. Sunder stands back, letting the other two chat. His eyes are only for me. Smoldering hatred burns there, and I return it with disinterest. He's nothing to me.

"What's going on here?" He eyes the pool of blood on the floor.

"Everything's fine," Mira says, her eyes brushing over me with hesitance. "We aren't going to hurt Tairyn."

"Like hell we aren't."

She steps up to him, squaring her shoulders. "He's my mate, and despite all he's done wrong, he's not all bad. Besides, he's your… brother?"

"Not brothers!" The cat pipes in a little too quickly.

Something flickers on Sunder's face as he glances at the hulking ginger. Was that guilt?

"Look, it doesn't matter. There's something we have to talk about. All of us. Tairyn has news of Yurghen."

All four bodies turn to me in unison, with looks of equal horror and disbelief. I'd laugh if I wasn't thoroughly enjoying the aloof mask. It digs under the First's skin. Too easy to rile that one up. I curl my finger and bring my nails closer for inspection.

"Well?" The First Shard demands. His voice grates on my nerves.

"If you'd kindly remove the shield? I'd like to monitor my wards for any further intrusions."

I don't trust those two dingbats to be discreet about anything, much less breaking and entering into a hidden lair. They probably blabbed about their destination every night at different pubs.

"Abso-fucking-lutely not." Sunder practically spits back at me. Mira takes a step towards him, but I hold up a hand. I don't need her to defend me or protect me. She glances at me, something like a question in her eyes. I hold her gaze as she nods and releases her shield over me.

Sunder's, however, stays in place.

"The wards are there for a reason. Threats you don't yet understand. Release. The. Shield."

I form the words as a blade, holding it to his throat. Callum steps forward, likely to threaten me, but Bobble steps between us. I snarl at him, and he gives me an unabashed grimace.

"Listen, we're a team. Probably. Soon maybe. Let's calm down. Callum, you did a great job subduing him earlier-"

I scoff at that. I did not lose a fight with that soft dough boy. "Only because I was distracted by my wards being broken. Something likely to happen again, and next time it won't be anyone with good intentions towards her."

"And then you warned us and told us both to run. See? He's… okay."

Okay. Not good. Not on our side. Just okay. My stomach twists at her words, but what else would I possibly expect?

"This sick fuck hunts us down, takes you from us, and you think he's okay?"

I step forward, Sunder's tone with Mira not sitting well with me. "If you buffoons knew how to hide your tracks or anything at all about discretion-"

He meets my step, closing in on each other.

"So it's my fault you're a self-interested, morally bankrupt-"

Another step.

"At least I can keep her safe," I spit out, surprised at my own words. I don't dare look at her, to see the expression twisting on her face. Instead, I watch as my words hit their mark, like an arrow through the heart. Sunder's face contorts with a mixture of hurt, rage, guilt, shame. He roars, cocking back his fist.

But Bobble grabs him, holding him back.

I stand with arms folded, an arrogant grin plastered on my face as they tussle. Finally, Bobble pulls Sunder's forehead to his, hands clasped tightly around his head, until he can only look into his eyes.

"Sunder, please. Stop. He's not worth it. He's just goading you." The Third's voice is a bit too soft. Too intimate. Mira throws her hands up in exasperation while Callum steps up to me, acting like a shield between me and Sunder. Pathetic.

"This is so stupid. Seriously, there are more important things to discuss. Yurghen is back!" Mira pleads. "We don't even have to work together. Let's just talk."

After a moment, Sunder is calm again. The meathead is just too easy. Bobble pulls himself away, one arm around Sunder. The other around Mira. "It's okay. We're here now. We're going to listen. Right Sunder?"

The idiot grunts in response, and I can't help myself. "Is that ape for yes?"

He lunges for me, and I can't stop the laugh bouncing around the room as Callum and Bobble both hold him back. Mira places a solemn hand on my chest, and all the humor fades.

"Tairyn. Please. Just be civil. For a few hours. Let's get through this."

I sigh, but agree. I can be civil for an hour.

Probably.