Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

“Are you feeling better?”

Lucenna playfully rolled her eyes at her brother’s worried frown in the orb. He was keeping her company on her vanity table as she brushed the tangles out of her hair. “Yes, I’m fine now. You’re sure father didn’t sense me?”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Lucien’s frown deepened into disapproval. “As luck would have it, your cloaking spell hid the blast for the most part. How many times do I need to lecture you on the importance of not meddling with advanced magic?”

She gave him a big innocent smile. “Perhaps a few more.”

“Lu,” he said sternly. “You mixed your magic with elf magic. That could have killed you.”

“Yes, I know, I know. It was an accident.” Lucenna winced.

She had only wanted to help Rawn send his letter but she should have waited to cast such a spell when she hadn’t already been weakened. Opening a portal had drained her terribly. Then when she tried to close it, he tried to stop her so it wouldn’t drain her further. But then their magic collided and the spell … exploded.

“Well, fortunately the Enforcers are retiring to Magos for winter,” he said. “I suppose it’s in our favor that you’re trapped there for the time being.”

Lucenna made a face at her large bedroom windows coated in ice. A constant draft hovered in the air. “Easy for you to say when you’re not the one in danger of frostbite.”

A week in this dreary place and she still wasn’t used to the cold. At least her magic had recovered.

“Other than the weather, is it safe there?”

Beyond the frosted windows, she could make out the sleepy town in the early morning and the sixty-foot wall surrounding it. “For the most part. We’re enclosed from the rest of the Bridge and the trolls have gone into hibernation. The only downside is that their town is led by some absurd man.”

“The Captain of the Skulls?”

Lucenna looked around her shared chambers with Dyna, searching for where she left her boots. It was a spacious room with lush rugs over the floors, two canopy beds made of gray wood, a large window facing the town and a fireplace in the corner. “Yes, well, they call themselves the Skelling Mercenaries. He even named the town Skelling, whatever that is.”

Lucien chuckled. “A Skelling is a predatory bird that existed in the First Age.”

Now their emblem of a bird’s skull made some sense.

“What is this captain called?”

“Klyde.” Lucenna glowered, still not seeing her boots. “No family name.”

“Everyone has a family name.”

“He hasn’t given it.”

“Hmm.” Lucien stood from his desk and slid on his deep blue robes. “How is Lady Dynalya?”

“She’s doing well. Her magic is growing and she’s adapting to it naturally.” Lucenna glanced at her empty bed. “I think Dyna is already up. I will have her greet you next time.”

He nodded. “Sure. Well, I’m on my way to meet up with the Liberation to update them on the current situation regarding the search for the Moonstone.”

Lucenna sighed.

“It’s not your fault, Lu. There are many things we can’t control in life, and the seasons are one of them.” Her brother winked, and she felt his affection through their link. It reminded her of the old days when she was still in Castle Ophyr with him and Everest.

“How is he?” she asked hesitantly.

Lucien cleared his throat and gathered a stack of books as he stood. “I’m not sure. I’ve been preoccupied, as is he. We haven’t spoken in a while.” He smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “The duties of princes take most of his time.”

Lucenna nodded, searching his face for whatever he wasn’t telling her. Lucien and Everest used to be close friends, but that changed, and she couldn’t help worrying it had to do with her. “I see. Do you think now that the Enforcers are not searching for me, I could…speak with him?”

He shook his head. “You know he cannot risk it, Lu. Neither can you.”

It had been that way since she left. Well, what else could she expect when her purpose was to dismantle the Mage Code? She was a traitor to the empire and Everest couldn’t be associated with her anymore, at least not publicly. But after four years, Lucenna was beginning to wonder if he was the one who didn’t want to see her.

She never got the chance to explain herself.

“I understand,” Lucenna said when she noticed her brother looking at her worriedly. “Take care of yourself, Lucien.”

“Lu—”

Lucenna waved and the orb cleared to transparent glass. He would only give her more apologies she didn’t want to hear. The light caught on her ring, but it didn’t seem to shine anymore. It looked duller somehow.

Sighing, Lucenna sat on the bed and yelped. The floor was so cold it felt like ice beneath her feet. Who would want to live in this place? Frowning at what would be her bedroom for the next three months, it occurred to her to look under the bed. She got down on her hands and knees and grinned in triumph.

“There you are.” Lucenna reached for them when her gaze landed on a marking at the bottom of the bedpost. The shadows from the bedside table had hidden most of it. Her fingers traced the small letters carved into the wood. They were uneven and sloppy, smoothed by age. Lucenna squinted, trying to read the caved name. It looked like a child had done it—while hiding under the bed.

For some reason, that unsettled her. The name, it looked like…

At the sound of her growling stomach, she sighed and put on her shoes before heading for the door. Lucenna stepped into the dawn’s light streaming through the manors arching windows. She yawned, ambling along the hallway for the kitchens.

She glanced outside at the courtyard and stumbled over her feet, doing a double take. Klyde was outside in nothing but his trousers. He hung from a tree branch as he lifted himself up and down in firm, rhythmic motions. The muscles along his shoulders, arms, and back shifted under the taut skin in the most fascinating ways. Many pale scars marked his strong body, some disappearing further down out of view. Lucenna drew her lip between her teeth, staring at the muscles bulging in his arms. Good gods, what did he eat to look like that?

Klyde dropped from the tree and moved on to fighting an invisible opponent, throwing kicks and punches, sweat dripping off his chest. He pulled something out of his pocket and used it to tie his hair from his sweaty face. Lucenna’s eyes drifted over his jawline, following the shape of his torso and the defined lines of his abdomen. His trousers hung indecently low and it drew her gaze to the prominent V of his hips. The heat coming off his body and heavy breaths swirled in the morning chill.

“Even his scars are handsome,” Dyna said beside her, making her jump.

Lucenna scoffed and crossed her arms, heat rushing to her cheeks at being caught staring. “I find him ugly and off-putting.”

Dyna leaned in over her shoulder and whispered in her ear. “Liar.”

Laughing, she continued for the stairs. Lucenna’s face flamed further. She supposed she deserved the teasing.

She followed after her. “Does he have to stay here? I thought he had his own house.”

“Apparently not. He lived with his sister until, well…”

“Until I blew a hole in their house.” Lucenna felt awful about that. “I apologized to them, but I wish they would let me help.”

“Do you know your way around building?”

“No…”

Dyna smiled. “I think they have enough help since most of the mercenaries are there, but you should stop by. Perhaps Gale could use help with something else.”

“I suppose I will. When do you want to continue your magic lessons?”

“Tomorrow, if you’re feeling better.”

She conjured a dance of purple electricity in her palm. “Fully charged.”

Even with Azeran’s tea, it had taken some time to completely revitalize her Essence. Opening that portal had taken the last dregs of her power. Lucien had been angry about that. He said she was fortunate the cloaking spell she’d secretly placed on Skelling Rise had hidden the ripple of her power during the blast, but it had fallen when she was out of Essence.

“I will be stopping by the wall first to put up another cloaking spell,” Lucenna said. “Have you been careful?”

Dyna nodded. “I used small amounts of Essence and only during Gale’s treatments.”

“Good. You should join me. This will be another magic lesson.”

They went to the dining hall to eat breakfast with the others. Cassiel wasn’t happy when Lucenna announced she’d take Dyna away from him for the day.

“You need to learn how to share, Prince.”

“I don’t share,” Cassiel replied curtly, but he begrudgingly relented, saying Dyna was free to do what she wanted.

“He cannot leave you alone, can he?” Lucenna teased once they were outside.

Dyna looked back at the manor worriedly. “I think it upsets him when I’m out of his sight for too long.”

She had noticed that, and it was a little concerning. Cassiel had always been protective of Dyna, but ever since they got her back, he seemed more territorial—and anxious. Like he was afraid something would take her from him again. After everything they had gone through and all the near deaths, Lucenna understood why he felt that way. Then again, they were newlywed and clearly in love. It made sense to want her close.

But she couldn’t help wondering why Dyna had not moved to his room now that she was back on her feet.

They decided to take Fair with them, and they gingerly rode along the perimeter of the town’s wall. If Lucenna were to guess, Skelling Rise was perhaps fifteen miles wide.

She came to a stop, measuring by sight that they were in the east. “Here should do.”

“We’re individually cloaked, right?” Dyna asked. Her cheeks and nose were tipped pink. She huddled in Cassiel’s thick coat that he insisted she wear.

“Yes, to prevent us from being tracked by our Essence. But now we must cloak the area to prevent magic leaving behind a trace for others to sense. To cover an area of this scale, a more intricate cloaking spell is needed. The first one I placed had been tied to me, hence it fell when I did.”

“So, we need another power source.”

“Precisely.” Lucenna reached in her satchel and pulled out four crystals. Each uniquely shaped and about the size of an egg. They were a vibrant ultramarine. “Fortunately, magic is found in…?”

“In the sun, the moon, and the earth.”

Lucenna nodded. “Crystals are of the earth element and they are used to enhance spells. You’ve seen them in mage staffs.”

Dyna made a face.

“Most crystals are enhancers, but a rare few can be used as a power source. Like the Moonstone and the Sunstone, for example. Azeran had infused the Moonstone with his Essence, so it’s now perpetually charged by his magic. I will do the same with these. Their purpose will depend on the spell I infuse them with. In this case, a cloaking spell.”

“Why four?”

“Well, I will place them in each corner of the town, essentially creating a diagram of the area that will be spelled. Once all four are in place, I will connect them to activate the spell. As long as they are never disturbed, not even the Archmage could sense us here.”

“Azeran cast a similar spell over North Star,” Dyna said. “But it visibly hid us as well.”

That was a much more complicated spell.

They were interrupted by the neighing of horses before Lucenna could answer. A group of three mercenaries were cantering in their direction, faces half covered by black masks. Lucenna discreetly hid the crystals against her hip. As they got closer, she recognized the one leading them.

Klyde brought his black horse to a stop and lowered his mask. “Morning ladies. Everything all right?”

Having him in front of her made her body tense. They hadn’t exactly spoken since the incident, but she hadn’t forgotten the feel of his arms holding her close against him. The image of him that morning was clear in her mind.

She pushed the memory away with a scowl. “Did you follow us?”

He chuckled. “As much as I would enjoy following you around, lass, life is rather busy for me at the moment. To explain my presence, we inspect the wall every week during winter for any fissures that could cause a possible breach in the summer.”

Lucenna tried not to blush for jumping to conclusions. She failed.

“But I am curious about the reason why you’re here in this cold.” Klyde raised his eyebrows as his gaze slowly dragged over her outfit of all black leather. It was fitted to her form, trousers and long sleeves, leaving only a peek of skin above her bust. “Dressed like that.”

How she dressed was none of his business, even if it wasn’t a practical choice. She wasn’t prepared for this wretched weather. It was rare to ever see snow in the Magos Empire. Normally her magic was enough to keep her warm, but it was working hard against the constant tunnel of the freezing breeze.

“Perhaps we should ask his permission about the spell first,” Dyna whispered to her.

Right. It was his town, after all. But the thought of asking a man for anything made her stomach churn.

Lucenna shifted on her feet and stifled a groan. She held out the crystals to him. “With your…” She gritted her teeth in a tight smile. “…consent…may I place a cloaking spell over Skelling Rise? It won’t affect the wall or anything else other than hiding the presence of our magic. It’s merely for security.”

The Captain’s gaze dropped to the crystals a moment, before rising back to her face. He nodded for his men to continue on without him and dismounted from his horse. His boots sank in the snow as he approached. When Klyde reached her, his tall broad frame blocked the assault of the wind.

“Tanzanite.” Klyde took one of the crystals, lifting it against the light before returning it to her palm. “Interesting that you should happen to use these.”

“How so?”

One end of his mouth hitched in the same amused smile he tended to have, and she immediately glanced at the faint hint of a dimple on his cheek. “Aye, you can place the spell,” he said, disregarding the question. “Under the condition I observe its placement. As you say, security reasons.”

Lucenna frowned. “Fair enough. Then I need to bury one at each corner of the town. North, south, east, and west. Equally spaced.”

Klyde took out a scroll from his mercenary coat and unrolled it to reveal a map of Skelling. “That would be these areas.”

He pointed out four spots along the wall for her. She had been off by several yards. Well, perhaps it was a good thing he came along.

For the next few hours, Klyde did well to stay out of her way, quietly observing, as they watched her spell each crystal and magically plant it into the frozen ground. Occasionally, he asked a question here and there if he was curious about something she was doing. When they reached the third spot, Dyna’s gaze grew distant and she smiled to herself.

“Go on ahead,” Lucenna said. “I will finish here and head back.”

“Only if you don’t need me.” Dyna looked at her hopefully. Cassiel may not be the only one with an attachment.

“Yes, I’ll be all right. It’s beginning to snow. Take Fair.”

“But we’re on the other end of town. It would be a long walk back to the manor.”

“I will escort her back.” Klyde called from further ahead. He crouched to mark a spot on the ground.

Dyna looked at her, and Lucenna read the silent forewarning. She gave a small nod that she understood.

“Be a good horse and escort her straight to the manor.” Lucenna petted Fair’s velvety muzzle. “No detours, all right? It’s colder than the Everfrost out here.”

Nuzzling her cheek, Fair rode away, leaving her alone with Klyde.