"...retake Calonia " Kiera was rocking, or at least the hard prickly surface beneath her was. Muffled voices above her left out fragments of their conversation. Something poked between the fibers of her dress, scratching and itching at her skin. Tentatively she tried to adjust her position, to uncurl from the small ball she had curled herself into during her sleep.
"I think she's waking up. Time for another dose?" Kiera hoped to the Darkness not, her head was still pounding from whatever they had done to her before. Her mind flicked back to her last memories; with Prince Ayers and her in a bedroom. The hardened expression on his face as her body started to go lax. Alarmed she jolted awake feeling for her jeweled power. She would feel different, wouldn't she? If her jewels were broken and that vital part of her was brutally ripped away. Relief swamped through her as deep within her mind and soul rested the comforting embrace of her Rose.
"No, I think we are far enough away." Suddenly the world was bright and she was temporarily blinded by the bright winter sun. A hiss escaped her as she covered her eyes attempting to escape the burning ache in her eyes. That voice sounded familiar; eerily so. Kiera blinked her eyes a few more times, doing her best to clear her tears away before finally focusing on the faces of her abductors. Lord Ayers was at the front of the wagon, driving the team. Next to him, her brother garbed in common clothing instead of aristo fashions.
"Kyros, what is this?" Kiera's voice was sharper, shriller than she would have before her abduction. "My court will kill you for this. We can still salvage things, please take me home. Certainly, we can explain it..." Kiera was frightened, of her brother, and of leaving her court's territory. Terrified of what would happen once they reached the destination that Kyros and his accomplice had in mind.
"A liberation, kidnapping; pick your poison" His tone remained uncaring about the danger he skirted around with. Kiera shivered, again curling into a ball with her back pressed against the side of the wagon, while she attempted to cover her toes with the thin cotton of her chemise. "Don't hope for a rescue. Your own Steward set up arrangements with Lord Ayers here and Prince Gerodi? He is out whoring his way through lower Hayll. No one is coming for you." The words were meant to crush her spirit, vanquish any resistance, and have her accept her fate. Kiera wasn't that girl anymore. She wasn't the soft little queen who had endured limited hardship and was happy to fade into the shadows to preserve her skin.
"They will come Kyros, even just because of pride." Kiera forced her voice to remain meek and pleading. Through downcast eyelashes, she tried to picture the landscape and place it. How far from Murtos, from her home, had they traveled while she was drugged? The cold bit at her toes, burning and threatening to numb them before she hastily wrapped herself in a warming spell. It wouldn't last long, she needed her strength for an escape attempt.
"I didn't sign up for pissing off a Sapphire Jeweled Warlord Prince." Prince Ayers interrupted their exchange. His glance from the road appraised the Queen's condition. Her lips were tinted slightly blue from cold, straw caught in the mess of her hair, and poking through the thin fabric of her dress that both concealed and left little to the imagination. Cold hardened nipples poked at the fabric and even with the loose fall the lines of her body were implied.
"And you won't. Do you think Prince Gerodi is going to chase after her?" The contempt in her brother's voice hurt and for a moment she wilted. Would Alessi come for her? Kyros's hard words hurt; the idea of Alessi touching and bedding all those other women, of finding succor with them cracked something within her. Some internal little angry hissing voice in her demanded that he was hers. Possessive in ways she had never been prior.
"Please, Prince Ayers. You are making a mistake. I belong back in Murtos. Please I am begging you to drop me off at the nearest village and I will figure it out from there." Her voice trembled with unshed tears as her fingers probed against the open sides of the wagon, hissing at the sting of the shield placed around the bed. Caged effectively by jewel power greater than hers, Kiera could only plead. How far were they from Draega? A week, maybe more if they needed to evade Alessi's forces. Could she drag their pace slower to give time for rescue?
The backhand blow to her face startled her as much as it stung. Her cheek burned and she could feel the edge of her eye swelling. Surprised she stared at her brother, anger and venom rested in her pale yellow eyes. Unshed tears glittered in them as her jaw clenched before her tongue darted out to wet her lips, tasting blood.
"Shut up. Just shut your fucking mouth and understand the situation you are in." His hand remained raised; ready to strike her again. Kiera didn't speak, her mouth pressed tight in anger. "You are still a virgin, that means you can be broken. You prove too problematic it can be arranged." His face, so eerily similar to Luca's, lowered closer to hers as he sneered "Even if I have to do it myself."
Bile threatened to come up, and the back of her throat tightened in horror and disgust at what he threatened. Her fingers clasped over her necklace, cradling her precious jewel in her palms. Damn them all for their complacency. Her virgin night should have been handled decades ago. This situation was too absurd, too lurid, she would have expected it in one of her novels. A piece of fluff propaganda that detailed why males needed to be leashed and needed to be controlled to protect innocent young witches.
"Good, I can see we have an understanding. Now be a good little girl Kiki and be silent." Satisfied with having cowed his sister Kyros turned forward to watch the passing scenery. Kiera could barely catch the edge of a piece of paper on his lap. A map maybe? Not that it mattered if she couldn't escape the shield blocking any escape from the wagon. Tentatively she probed a tendril of power to the wood and straw beneath her, feeling downwards for the earth and soil beneath.
Kiera hid any sense of jubilation beneath the fall of her hair as she curled tighter on herself. Of course, Kyros would have only extended the shield above her. He was always stingy with his craft hoarding away the strength of his Summer-sky like a miser with his coins. Logistically she knew what she needed to do, pass through the bottom of the wagon and run like hell sometime during the day when they were distracted. She would need to wait until they didn't suspect anything. A day at most of playing cowed and scared before making her escape.
Kiera closed her eyes, allowing the sway and jolt of the cart to help her count and pass the time. Her stomach growled and pinched as the sun's position changed. When had she last eaten? Lunch the day prior or breakfast? Kiera tried to recall the prior day. Mirella she remembered, remembered her protests about the whole virgin night business, but the rest was a murky blur of random scenes that didn't make much sense.
"Are we stopping to eat?" Kiera finally asked as her hunger pains had turned towards nausea. "Or are you going to starve me all the way to Draega?" Her voice was soft and almost pleading. Self-loathing filled her at how far she fell in such a short time; how easily she allowed them to scare her into submission. 'It's temporary' the whispered mantra was the old
"Here.." Carelessly he lobbed a canvas bag towards her. Kiera reached to catch it, biting back a soft whimper when she missed and a wizened little apple rolled out. She didn't give the apple time to escape as she shoved it back into the bag. Hunger overrode any sense of rationing as she opened the bag to find some stale bread, moldy cheese, and a thick tough-looking jerky.
Silence again reigned as she stared out of the wagon, looking at the passing clouds and wondering how her life had come to this, abducted then stolen. Her thoughts turned to how the others were reacting to her disappearance. Luca would be the first to lead the charge with Illario fast on his heels. Comforting thoughts to sustain her as she bided her time waiting for the perfect time.
Night came all too soon and not soon enough. The rank scent of urine saturated the thin layer of hay from where Kiera had lost control of her bladder after hours of pleading to stop so she could relieve herself. Her eye was tender and her cheek felt swollen and bruised. Overall she looked defeated; her head lolled against the wall of the wagon bed as she stared at nothing. The sudden stop in motion brought some life back to her expression as she waited for them to release her from the cart to at least find warmth.
Once they had pulled into the crude shelter/ stable both Kyros and Ayers hopped down from the raised front bench of the wagon. Neither glanced in her direction, and Kiera did her best to keep it that way. Assured that she was trapped and her spirit broken they headed inside the decaying cabin to start a fire and have their dinner.
Shivering, she pulled on the comforting well of power to make the pass. It wasn't graceful as she landed flat on her back under the wagon; knocking the breath from her lungs. She was free and that was all that mattered. Afraid to disturb anything else on the wagon she wriggled out from beneath the wagon, doing her best to avoid catching her hair or anything on the spokes and axles. Sweating, fighting the urge to vomit, and covered in a mixture of dirt and old manure. At least the bright white of her chemise had been darkened to a dirt-streaked beige.
Kiera knew she needed supplies, shoes, and outerwear; but she also knew her brother and didn't trust him not to dispose of her the moment things got dangerous. Her escape had to happen tonight or never despite just wanting to wait for her rescue. Her pragmatic self reminded her that she had no place of direction, while the realist understood that any direction would be a good one. Eventually, she would run across one of the Rebellion's peacekeeping patrols.
'No supplies, map, clothing, or shoes' Kiera took a mental catalog of what she was missing as she looked around the shelter. Nothing but moldering hay, discarded tack, and bits of broken wheels. Her toes curled against the somewhat soft surface of the floor. Kiera took a few moments to mentally prepare to tackle her trek towards home, or at the very least away from her would-be kidnappers.
A loud angry shout and bang from inside the cabin decided it for her as she plunged into the darkness of the night. Whimpers of pain were bit back as she forced herself further into the bracken and further away from the road. Her attention kept turning back, looking for any sign of pursuit as she moved forward, half running. As the moon reached its peak, Kiera had to pause. Her stomach with one final violent twist had her falling to her knees and emptying the vile contents of her meager meal. The forced break took up time, time she didn't have to put distance between herself and both Princes.
Her feet were already bruised and cut in places and she was temporarily thankful for the cold keeping them numb. Still, once her stomach allowed her to rise, Kiera continued her path favoring stealth over speed. Each cracked dry branch, and the rustle of dead leaves, had her wincing as she continued. Distracted by what sounded like raised voices Kiera didn't hear the soft sound of running water, and by the time the earth gave out under her feet, it was too late for her to do anything but muffle her scream as she slid down the steep bank, her nails clawing at anything to keep her from dropping into the icy river below. Bare feet kicked as she sought purchase to support herself.
'You can do this.. deep breaths Kiera' She coached herself as one hand released the thick root she clung to as she sought a lower handhold. Down was smart, down was easier than up. Her breath escaped her in frightened huffs as she inched down; grimacing as missed grabs sent small rocks and dirt showering down on her head. Finally, her toes brushed the rock and weed-strewn river bank. The small patch of grass was nestled under an overhang from the drop above. Tired and hungry; the best she could do was soothe her thirst and fill her stomach with the cold water.
She looked around before deciding the hidden area was the best place to rest and regain her bearings before picking up in the morning. Plans shored up in her mind Kiera dipped her feet into the frigid water to clean her wounds; the burn harsh enough against the lacerated skin she couldn't stop the tears of pain that rolled down her cheeks. Infection would hurt worse, the mantra was the only thing that kept her going as she washed the various thorns, blades of grass, and other forest debris from her feet. Before she could think better of it she ripped off the bottom half of her sleeves to use the fabric as a makeshift bandage.
Bandaged and her stomach full of water Kiera became aware of the exhaustion that caused her
"Where did that bitch go?" The male voices crashed discordant over the soft song of the birds, trickling of the river, and shhing noise of leaves stirred with the faint wind. Loud enough that Kiera woke with a start. Both hands clasped over her mouth as she pressed herself against the wall.
"She was barefoot and nearly naked, I doubt she got this far. We should be looking up the road. You said she was raised as an Aristo, and women like that tend to go with the easier route." Ayers voice was a calm counterpoint to her brother's raging shout. 'Please let them go; just let them turn..' The prayer went out to whoever listened in the dark. Silent and punctuated with every terrified beat of her heart. Fear froze her steadily in place; trembling and heart racing like a hare caught in a trap.
"Look the only thing is that ravine. If she fell in there she is long gone. That creek has a strong current and this time of year is prone to flooding. Let's loop around to the road. If she's out there she is going to pray we find her. It looks like snow tonight." The sound of their crunching footsteps retreated away. Kiera breathed a soft sigh as she crumpled back to the ground. The temptation to run pushed at her mind. Her every instinct was to flee and put more distance between them, but there was still the chance they could see her.
Kiera forced herself to count slowly to one hundred. Each second stretched into an eternity as she flinched with every creaking branch or rustling leaf. Finally, she allowed herself to rise and hobble towards the creek. To her, it might as well have been a river as she tried to route her crossing. A heavy sigh escaped her as she took her first step. The slick rock threatened her balance and Kiera squatted down for a second to catch her breath before creeping across using what rocks stood above the water; unwilling to trust the ice that formed in the shallow eddies.
Across she looked back at the way she had come. Her breath caught at the sight of the side of the ravine. Luck had been with her last night that she managed to descend safely and not break her neck. Ayers declaration of snow made it imperative that she find shelter and warmth. Her stomach growled as if reminding her the stabbing pains meant she was hungry. Food was on her list, but unless she suddenly gained foraging experience, or fried potatoes grew on bushes she would have to make do with what she could identify and water.
The cloth wrapped around her feet gave some protection, though the wounds kept opening and she could feel where warm blood and lymph had temporarily seeped into the bandages before freezing over once more. Kiera tried to push herself to maintain her pace, but the longer she walked the more her feet bled, and the more they bled the slower she walked with each tender limped step.
By the first flurry of tiny snowflakes, Kiera was moving at a near crawl. Her feet hurt beyond what the cold could numb and burned in places where the blood flow restored itself. Exhausted and shivering so loudly her teeth clicked together, Kiera looked for a promising form of shelter. Anything that would allow her to get out of the snow and cast a warming spell would be welcome. At last, she found a promising shelter where two fallen trees came together forming a windbreak.
The sun was mostly set, sending sullen streaks of orange through the thick gray clouds. All she wanted to do was lay down on the ground and sleep, but Kiera pushed herself forward. A few large branches from other fallen trees were laid over a section of her tree trunks, forming a small shelter that would keep the worst of the elements out. Once inside she wrapped herself in a warming spell before her attention turned to the filthy wrappings on her feet. Stiff and caked with dirt and bodily fluids Kiera longed to change them but she had little option left but to leave the bandages and hope for the best.
Warm and cozy in her tiny nest, with the nearly silent whisper of falling snow Kiera allowed herself to fall asleep praying this would be her last in the wilderness.
"What do you mean Lady Domani and Lord Ayers are missing?" Luca fought to keep his tone level. A gentleman didn't yell at the staff, and he was trying desperately to remain a gentleman. It wasn't the witch's fault that both were gone when she had knocked on the door to bring Kiera her breakfast.
"Gone, the bed still made... Just the lady's clothing and some wine glasses." The maid shifted uncomfortably. Luca had seemed the lesser evil of the lady's inner circle to approach. "Left it as it was." She mumbled as a final volley before running off to hide behind her duties. The maid knew what happened to messengers who carried unwelcome tidings and she wanted to be far away from the whole mess.
"Fuck.." Luca uttered before he turned to demand Illario, and Orion be found immediately; he knew exactly where to find the court Steward. His tone was stern and so nearly hostile that the young warlord didn't question the older Prince's demands. "Damn it, where could you have gotten off too Kiera?" He muttered mostly to himself as he fought the urge to run down the hall and alert everyone that something was wrong in Lady Domani's court. Her hold on the district was already tenuous enough that this could devastate her rule.
"Alessi needs found now. Rut or no rut; Kiera is missing." Luca ran his hand through his hair for the thousandth time since hearing the news. He knew she would never have left; had been happy here and had started to flourish. Lord Ayers was involved somehow and he would worry about motive later; after his cousin was found.
"What do you mean by missing?" If he hadn't been so agitated Luca would have found some amusement in the nearly identical reactions to the news. As it was, he didn't have time to go into details, or perhaps he was wrong and all they had was time for details. His cousin could be dead, or broken, left somewhere to die like a feral animal. His imagination ran wild with the worst scenarios tumbling through.
"Gone. The maid said the bed wasn't used and her clothing was left. Doesn't matter, we need to start searching for her. Damn it, she trusted us.." Luca felt the burn of tears that he didn't dare shed. If he wept he was admitting that Kiera was lost; that he had failed the one promise he had made over her cradle when it was clear the rest of the family was uninterested in the flawed queen. He would always be there for her and he had failed.
"Have you started the search of the house? She couldn't have gone far without clothing.." Matteo refused to turn his first thoughts towards abduction. Stealing a queen from her court? It wasn't done. It was a clear declaration of war. Killing the queen, maiming her, breaking her - yes those things were done but actively stealing her from her formed court? He had to believe that she was just hiding somewhere in the house to wait out her embarrassment.
"She isn't here. That darkness damned Ayers took her. Kiera, for all her flaws, would not miss breakfast or alarm us for no reason." Luca insisted, his words punctuating the air as Illario and Orion stepped into the office. All of them had failed; had lowered their guard at the perceived safety of the house. Had gone complacent by retreating from that side of the house to give the lady her privacy that night.
"What is wrong with Kiera?" Illario threw himself into the conversation reading the agitation on the Prince's face. In the short time, he had known Prince Domani, the male had appeared calm and collected through the worst of their tribulations.
"Ayers kidnapped her. Darkness knows what he is doing with her now." Tears choked Luca's throat as he imagined her mischievous smile, the brightness of her eyes dimmed forever by the callous hands of an uncaring male. He had to find her and with nothing to go on. No there was something. Fucking Kyros had been in town. He had been lurking and waiting and he would bet every last cent he owned that weasel was involved in this scheme.
"We will find her." Orion interjected uncomfortable as tears ran openly down the Prince's face. Overwrought; he could name the emotion. Luca wasn't angry, he was scared, and that was far more dangerous.
"The city, Illario, her brother was there when we went to market. Snuck in, but I just thought he was there to find a way to leach of Kiera's place here... I didn't think, didn't believe he would do this to his sister." Luca blamed himself for not saying something. Loyalty to their family, misguided as it was, had kept him from condemning Kyros to the mercy of the rebellion. Loyalty that was now rewarded with Kiera's abduction.
"Son, go find Alessi. Remember he is in rut and dangerous, but he must be told." Illario hoped he wasn't sending his son on a suicide mission. Alessi was volatile at the best of times and during rut; passionately violent did little to sum up Alessi's emotional state. Being so far from the queen who had just started to form a stabilizing bond with him made the situation even more dicey.
"I know where to find him. Don't worry, he has never struck out at us before." Orion internally had to admit that they had never reported about a missing queen either. As he ran for the landing pad to take to the webs Orion wondered if he would be addressing his cousin or the Warlord Prince. All he could do was pray to the darkness as he traveled as swiftly as possible to hopefully find a sane and semi-reasonable cousin and not a hormone-driven Warlord Prince.
Luca watched in silence as Orion ran to notify the strongest member of their court. Concern broke through the mixture of fear & self-loathing that currently battled for dominance as Luca remembered just what Orion was walking into and the potential fallout from that. Illario kept his focus on Matteo, their Steward, and the highest-ranking member of the rebellion army in residence.
"We need to put the word out with the men on what to look for." Illario finally spoke. His voice detached as he tried to compartmentalize the father part of him from the commanding officer. Things needed to be done even if Alessi was in a state to respond. Things that their General would expect of them.
"Give me the description of the brother, I will start circulating word about him as a person of interest. If we can pin down his whereabouts it might give us a lead." Illario couldn't blame Luca for trying to protect his family; wouldn't blame his queen for trying to preserve the last of her blood relatives. Anger didn't care about logic, and later when this was over he would have a long discussion with them both about keeping secrets from the guards.
"We can't put out an alert. It will destabilize our position among the citizens; blood and landen alike. This must be done quietly." Matteo tried to sound reasonable. This wasn't supposed to have happened. Some embarrassment and emerging the next morning with her jewels intact- that had been the plan. Not for the queen to be gone. This was a sack of pissed badgers that he had put himself into. Even though the statement echoed Luca's feelings from earlier the Prince had to fight his urge to scream out about his missing queen to the entire town; fall out be damned.
"And not finding her, or finding her broken wouldn't?" Luca seethed despite understanding where Matteo was coming from. From a glance the warlord prince seemed composed; but for the tremor in his hands. The tight posture that indicated the male was exerting his best control to keep from exploding with violence; control that came with age and experience.
"Of course it would, but getting her back only for the court to collapse will do your cousin no favors." Matteo prayed to the darkness that she had the resilience and survival instinct to last until they found her. A secondary prayer was added that they found her before Alessi did. "I should have just waited.." Matteo dropped his head into his hands. His shoulder slumped. They had the ideal queen, not perfect but ideal; young and kind; and he had rushed a major decision instead of waiting on Alessi's input and now they were ass deep in alligators.
"Damn it all to Hell!" Matteo's temper finally exploded in a physical display as he threw all the items off his desk. When he found the males who had taken their queen there wouldn't be enough left of them to cross over into the demon dead. The Warlord Prince's temper was finally in evidence as the Steward released a burst of frustration. He couldn't be stuck behind a desk waiting, but without a lead to go on that is where he would have to remain.
" The description Luca.." Illario reminded him as he calmly picked up a piece of blank paper from the ground. He flinched slightly at the uncomfortably hot air surrounding Matteo. Hot anger was at least good; it was directable and controllable. The hot anger passed quickly and turned to rational thinking. Cold rage- that was focused and deadly. That was the rage that destroyed courts with excruciating precision.
He looked around before finding the fountain pen that had been caught in the outburst before floating that over. Both items he offered to the Prince; watching the male to see just how deeply his loyalty went for the domain family versus Kiera on her own. Luca didn't hesitate as he wrote down the description in detail on the paper; both before and after the destruction of the Domani villa. Once satisfied, and wishing he had some artistic talent to sketch out an image, he handed the paper back to Illario.
"Prince Matteo, I will need copies of this. Word is going to get out, but that same word could potentially save her life. We can rebuild contracts and position." Illario read over the description, committing it to memory before handing it over to Matteo. This Kyros would be found and questioned heavily about the disappearance of their Queen. He had just better hope that Illario and Matteo's forces found him before Alessi.
"I will have copies made. Start circulating word only with our people. Darkness knows what the Restorationists would do with the knowledge of a missing queen." His voice tight and clipped, Matteo waived them out of his office. Both men filed out with Illario pausing to close the door; both the Prince and Warlord pretended not to notice the green lock and shield that surrounded the room within.
"I will get word out with the staff, no one gossips like they do and they might have heard something." Luca tried to find a task for himself outside of wait and worry. "They may have already heard something or seen something and just didn't know it." Mirella would know. The housekeeper was efficient and more importantly, she was fond of Kiera.
" Do that, I will get the rest of the first circle guardsmen filled in." Illario turned to head towards the portion of the estate that housed the guardsmen and then paused to look over his shoulder. "Prince, we will get her back." The words were meant to assure, but Luca wondered in what state they would retrieve her.
" I know." Swallowing past the thick lump in his throat he refused to give voice to any of the thoughts and fears that ran through his head. They had to find her before something awful happened.
Orion's thoughts jumped between worry and pushing himself as he jumped between the dark opal and purple dusk winds. His speed was hindered by the strength of his jewels and a journey that had once seemed reasonable became unfathomable. Kiera didn't have time for them to chase Alessi all over Hayll. His queen wasn't like his mother or the other women in the rebellion. She was resilient mentally, but physically she hadn't truly endured hardship.
As he dropped from the winds to the closest landing pad to Alessi's favored retreat for his ruts, Orion tried to taste the air for the signature temper and lust a warlord prince emitted during the height of the rut. His gaze raked over the abandoned town. Once full and thriving it was empty now; destroyed between the Witchstorm, landen uprising, and time. Alessi had grown up in this village; and had learned the sharp truths of this world here, the first time a witch tried to ring him.
Alessi's father had interceded; pleading to the Priestess that his son was too young. That he wasn't at an age to serve and when those pleas fell on deaf ears the male had put himself forth. A dark opal jeweled Warlord wasn't the same as a potentially dark jeweled warlord prince. His father had sacrificed himself there; throwing up a shield and commanding his son to run. Just barely out of his birthright ceremony, Alessi fled running to the forested hills as his father demanded.
The witches had returned a broken man. Shattered and disfigured; Uncle Faustus never blamed his son for that day. Even when the warlord took his own life he had left behind a note expressing only his love for his only surviving child. Alessi learned from watching his father try to navigate life after the court had taken their entertainment of him. The aristos snubbed his mother when she sought work but the common people always found a little extra for them, a little extra work, or coin, or food.
This village held so much of his cousin's pain. The loss of both parents, of his maternal Uncle, and his innocence were echoed in the abandoned streets. Yet every rut his cousin came back here to exact revenge on the building that housed the court and their sick entertainments; physically demolishing it one section at a time. Orion knew exactly where to find his cousin and knew he was at his most dangerous here; where he had already suffered so many losses and now was notified of yet another.
~Lessi ~ He tentatively reached out on the family thread shared between them. The mental call a ping to judge just where in the rut his cousin was. No response came as he walked and Orion prayed it was just he had finally passed out in exhaustion. The scent of smoke filled the air as he drew closer to the half-destroyed manor. Alarmed he started to run only to see the entire thing up in a blazing inferno.
His cousin was nowhere to be seen. Orion half hoped and half prayed that Alessi had finally left the town to find a warm and willing partner to ride out the rest of his rut. Passion versus violent rage was preferred. Still, Orion searched as he could feel the presence of his cousin somewhere near.
"Alessi! " The shout came from him and as if summoning a specter his cousin appeared. An outbuilding not too far from the inferno must have been where the male lurked. He froze as he took in the glazed look of the warlord prince's eyes. The barely contained instinct to attack another male in his space.
"What are you doing here cousin?" Orion bit back a curse at the silken tone of the other male's voice. Rational enough to speak, but still riding the tail end of the rut. This would not be the controlled General or Master of the Guard; he would be dealing with the Warlord Prince. "Decided to revisit memory lane?"
"Lessi" Orion started, refusing to move despite his legs feeling like water, he couldn't run. If he ran it would only entice the predator that wanted to play. "Before you decide to be a bigger asshole than normal, I need you to listen." Somehow Orion kept his voice steady and even. His cousin loved him, they were like brothers, and while he felt like a particularly plump mouse in front of a starving cat; he had to believe that Alessi could control himself enough to remember that.
"I'm listening." As if to prove the point Alessi cocked his head slightly. The snapping and popping of the fire raged on and a loud crash within the flames indicated something structural had given out. "Go on cousin" Orion closed his eyes with a mental curse. Later, if he survived this, he was demanding Mateo's best bottle of whisky as payment for putting them in his position.
"Kiera" Did his cousin just growl? Orion stopped to correct himself. "Lady Domani, she's missing." A sudden wash of dark power swept past him, destroying the dead or dying shrubs and other landscaping. He remained shielded; indicating that his cousin had that much presence of mind, or instinct, to protect him from the fallout of his temper. Orion took a breath and continued. "I know the timing isn't ideal, but you need to return to Murtos to start the search effort."
"How exactly does a Queen go missing? She isn't exactly a book you put down somewhere." Orion would give it to Alessi, he could be witty when he chose to be, even if his tone was nearly venomous. What made it worse, was he knew that Alessi was not going to like the answer to his question.
"The Prince contracted for her virgin night." The air was much warmer now, almost too warm as his cousin's emotions swung from one extreme to the next. "We believe he kidnapped her." Orion looked down at the sudden moisture along the hem of his pants; yep the frost was melting around them in a perfectly contained circle.
"A male, unapproved by me, was left alone with our queen long enough for him to smuggle her out of the house? Gone for two days..." Alessi's rage dropped to a cold calculation. The last lingering bits of his rut demanded he find the male hired to touch his queen and rip his spine out; a hot and senseless anger that wouldn't serve in finding Kiera.
"Don't debone the messenger, Lessi. Dad sent me to find you. You are closest to her so we hoped.." Orion lifted his hands in a warding gesture. His protest of innocence eased some of the territorial edge from Alessi's mind. He still wanted to kill, or maim, his cousin but now it was for an entirely different reason.
"That I hunt her down like a bloodhound?" Alessi snorted, wishing it were that easy. If it was as simple as smelling out her trail he would have her in no time. No, there was more to finding his queen and everyone involved better hope that she was whole and unharmed when he found her. Razing Hayll to the ground and rebuilding from nothing was sounding more and more appealing. He took a steadying breath before marching towards the landing pad.
"Coming?" He looked at Orion who appeared frozen to the spot. His cousin cast one more look at the now smoldering rubble of the once grand home of the twisted court that ruled his hometown before he turned and started following to the place where they could catch the winds. For once he was thankful this town had the landing web, otherwise, the journey back to Murtos would have taken days instead of a handful of hours.
Even then Alessi feared his queen didn't have the time it took him to return to the scene of her abduction. Without waiting for Orion's permission he grabbed his cousin and launched them onto the Sapphire wind. He had enough strength to shield them both over halfway there before needing to drop to his dark opal. He had to make it back in time to find her before whoever had her took her beyond his reach.
When they dropped at the landing web closest to the Court's residence Alessi had already started to formulate a plan. If Orion stumbled behind him in exhaustion it was a minor detail. The fact the sun had fully set was just a minor inconvenience; night or day it didn't matter until she was found and returned.
He didn't give any greetings as he strode into the house, ready to start demanding answers. His Uncle met him nearly in the foyer, having recognized his particular psychic signature. Relief at seeing Orion unharmed filled Illario's expression and while Alessi could understand the worry; he was offended that they thought he would kill his cousin. Educational injuries perhaps, but nothing that would be permanent.
"The room hasn't been disturbed. We have a lead on her brother and Prince Ayers; we are chasing it down further." Illario didn't bother with pointless greetings as he led his nephew toward the wing of the house where Kiera had spent her last night. There was no scent of sex or fear lingering in the room. A minor mercy, as Alessi wasn't certain he was in control enough to handle those particular odors.
The bed was tidy with the blankets unrumpled telling him Kiera had never slept there. She was a restless sleeper on the best of nights and often wrestled with her blankets. Her dress was draped over the back of a chair, indicating she had undressed herself and not in a hurried manner; or at least that is what he hoped it meant. It was the two wine glasses, one still full and the other resting on its side empty that drew his main attention.
He sniffed the wine and not smelling anything dipped a finger in to taste a small amount. "No safframate, we need a healer to identify what drug, but not that.." Alessi released a breath he hadn't been aware of holding. The idea of Kiera held in that drug's cruel grip with this unknown Prince had been tormenting him. It had been the favorite drug of the aristos to dump into their victims; using their body's reactions to the drug as a further tool to shame and degrade their target.
He walked around the room before pausing at the window. A scuff mark there on what appeared a freshly painted surface. He gently pressed against the glass only to have the pane fall out and shatter on the ground as whatever craft had held it in place shattered beneath his touch. At least he knew how she had been taken out of the house; if not the where and the why.
"Servants reported seeing a wagon on this side. They thought it was just a laborer leaving the site late since we have been repairing the guest side of the house." Luca broke the silent tableau as each of the males who had experienced that drug breathed a sigh of relief. "So we have something of a description."
"and the soldiers stationed at the gates reported seeing a wagon that fit the description being driven out just before pre-dawn. The drivers match the descriptions we have for Kyros Domani and Elias Ayers." Matteo's voice broke through the group. Something in the other warlord prince's tone triggered something in Alessi and he had the older man pinned by his throat against the wall.
"I told you to wait for my return. Now she is missing" His fingers flexed as he fought the urge to kill his second-in-command right then and there. He didn't care, in the moment, how many years they had served together in those twisted courts. All he could focus on was that Matteo had put his queen in this situation.
"Lessi.." Illario's hand touched his forearm gently. " No one meant for this to happen. Let Draco go, you can always kill him later alright?" Slowly Alessi's fingers relaxed until the other warlord prince could breathe again. The red impression of Alessi's hand remained along with anger.
"You better hope we find her alive." Alessi didn't care if she was broken, or injured, or the various other conditions he could find her in. He would put her back together, would find the best healers, best black widows, or whatever it took to help her; but he couldn't do that if she were dead. He just wanted to find her alive and the rest could fall into place later.
Alessi strode from the room, unable to remain in a place that had so little of his queen's presence remaining. His teeth ground together as he fought the urge to ride out immediately and chase whatever phantom trail he could based on the guard's reports. Let Matteo handle the logistics; but then he didn't know what he was looking for outside an older wagon possibly filled with hay, possibly with builder's tools, and two men he had never seen in his life.
"Luca, have two horses saddled you are coming with me." They had a full 24 hours on him, but a wagon traveled slower than a single horse. "and have them pack the saddlebags for rations for a few days." He extended his hand for the written report from the gate sentry. He could only hope that he caught up to them in time to save Keira from whatever fate they had planned. If they took her, they needed her alive; that reassurance kept chanting in his mind.
"Illario, get the word out to every patrol group we have to watch for and detain any wagons matching this description. Every single one. No exceptions." Passionately violent, and violently passionate; Alessi found a focus for the remaining driving energy of his rut. A singular focus on finding Kiera and punishing those who thought to take her away from him.
He continued across the manor from the guest wing to the queen's residence. For a moment he paused before entering; reminding himself she was not here to protest his intrusion. Without really looking he threw together a collection of her clothing; he didn't care if it matched as long as the material was thick and warm. She would be cold; he recalled how easily chilled she had been during their travels. Alessi doubted the bastards would have the peace of mind to wrap her in warming spells or take care to bundle her up against the elements.
"Father Darkness, just let her be alive.." He grabbed his rough bundle and stuffed it into the first bag large enough he could find before leaving the room. Later she could chide him for being rude to everyone; he would accept any recriminations as long as she was alive to voice them. He vanished the bag of her clothing; refusing to let it be exposed to the dirt and grime of the road.
Luca had followed his orders with two horses saddled, their bedrolls and camping saddle packs already filled and settled. Alessi didn't say anything before swinging up on his mount. Wordlessly the pair turned into the night, set to find their missing queen; aware that with them went unspoken prayers of those remaining behind.
They pushed their horses hard for the first stretch of the journey. Alessi was driven by the need to close the distance between them and her abductors as much as possible. Then they came to the first feeder path to the main road. They had to pause here, attempting to distinguish if the ruts on that path were fresh or old; a challenge to do by witchlight. Something must have clued Alessi that nothing had come that way as he turned them to continue along the main road.
Three more exchanges like this before the last that Alessi couldn't decide on. Luca was swaying in his saddle; grim-faced and determined even if his body had started to demand rest. It was the horses, their bodies hot and slick with sweat, steaming in the chill air that finally drove Luca to speak.
"Prince, we need to stop for the night. The horses will go lame or drop if we push them any further." Luca reigned in his mount as he searched for an acceptable patch of ground to hobble the animals and set them up with feed and a quick rubdown. Luca understood the need that drove Alessi to frenzy; it was different from the need driving him but just as urgent.
"What if.." Alessi started to share his fear before cutting himself off.
"We won't get there any sooner on foot; which is what will happen if the horses founder." Luca didn't bother to fully untack his mount. He just loosened the saddle girth and removed the packs. Quick enough to vanish if they needed to leave immediately. He called in one of the containers of grain he had stored; glad that his jewel strength was fully available. Silently he set the feed for the animals only breathing a sigh of relief as the warlord prince joined him in settling the animals for the night.
Once they had laid down, wrapping themselves in both the winter weight blankets and warming spells Alessi forced himself to fall into a light sleep. He needed rest even if he resented the time it took from his search. Just a few hours until there was light enough to see by. With that in mind, he fell asleep; his mind tormenting him with mixed images of nameless hollow-eyed witches morphing into Kiera. Empty dead eyes stared at him accusingly as her lips moved; pleading his name over and over.
"Alessi.." Luca called the warlord prince's name one more time. The grip of the rut must have released leaving him to feel the exhaustion of his past several days. Too bad they didn't have time for the warlord prince to recuperate; they needed to get moving again. "Alessi wake up." The final demand jerked the male from his sleep with a panicked look as he searched around the camp verifying his surroundings.
"Nightmares... just nightmares." He mumbled as he rose, looking at the sky for a sign of exactly what time it was. The faint light to the east told him it was pre-dawn. He had slept longer than he intended and not as long as his body needed; not that he intended to give into its demand for longer rest until Kiera was found. Their breakfast was shared between them; sweet thick journey cakes, and water from their canteens.
He didn't push the horses as hard that morning. Setting them to a steady walk as they followed what they hoped were the ruts of the wagon carrying their queen. Their lunch was more of the same as it allowed them to eat and ride. Several times the wagon had turned off the main road until it felt like they were wandering.
The sun had just started its downward decline when Alessi was ready to turn back around, certain they had followed the wrong set of ruts and horse prints. Before he could speak to give the command the sound of raised male voices reached them. Far enough away the words were indistinguishable but the tone implied the conversation was heated.
Alessi held a finger to his lips before dismounting and leading his horse into the thick surround of trees. Both Luca and Alessi hid in the sparse cover waiting for the two riders to come closer. Luca watched, trying to find anything that would indicate this was Ayers and Kyros while hoping it wasn't. Two voices and two horses meant something had happened to Kiera.
"I told you the bitch wouldn't have come this way. Probably fell into that ravine and broke her damn neck." Kyros's nasally voice was immediately identified. How many times had he heard that particular note of contempt and rage directed at himself and Kiera over the centuries?
"You were the idiot who didn't extend your shields around the bottom of the damn wagon. Now I am stuck trying to clean up your damn mess." Ayers didn't sound much happier about the situation but at least his tone was controlled rather than the fury that drove Kyros. One of them could be persuaded to talk, then Luca looked at Alessi and the expression on the warlord prince's face killed any thought of rational discussion. Violence, it seemed, was the answer today.
Luca didn't want to be involved in the violence against his cousin, but at the same time, they had a better idea of where Kiera was even if she had escaped them somehow. The small flakes of snow that started to fall made finding her even more imperative. He couldn't blame the entire cold on the weather as Alessi casually strode from their hiding place. His hands were stuffed in his pockets as he stepped in front of the duo of Princes.
" Fancy meeting you out here. Sounds like you lost someone important." His voice was too steady, too silken, and Luca knew the danger that lay beneath that thin veneer of calm. Almost on their own the reigns and bridles disintegrated on the horses falling to the ground in very fine ash.
"Someone that I want back." The girths on the horses released and both men fell to the ground. Alessi outranked them on caste and jewels. The cold calculating general was displayed as he kept a tight sapphire shield around himself, jabbing at their hastily thrown-up summer sky shields with his opal. whittling away their reserve strength. He paired each psychic blow with a step forward forcing the Princes to decide if they would stand their ground or flee.
"I have no argument with you Prince. I was under the impression it was a rescue mission." The more reasonable one spoke hastily. Fear tainted the air in its bitter stench and Alessi only stared at the man in contempt.
"Did my queen imply she needed rescuing?" Alessi stressed the possessiveness of Kiera. Watched as the Prince's expression went from pleading to horrified. It was one thing to separate a warlord prince from a queen- but one he openly claimed? Death awaited them and he wasn't going to stay around to find it.
Ayers turned and bolted down the road. Alessi didn't bother to look up as he let the Prince flee. Later the male would pay the price for what suffering Kiera endured and still endured. Her sniveling brother though? He would pay for all his family's sins. Alessi struck Kyros's shields again; waiting for him to replace the shattered shield. When another didn't follow he followed the psychic strike knocking the male down to the ground.
Both legs were shattered leaving the Prince sobbing in embarrassing gulps of pain. Later; once he had an area to start searching he would exact the full price of her pain and fear. For now, he needed the bastard alive and talking. Dispassionately, Alessi stared at the mess of a Prince.
"No, not so enjoyable being on this side of the entertainment Prince Domani? How many times did you watch and jeer at the men being punished as entertainment?" Alessi's focus was laser-sharp. He needed the male beyond terrified. He needed him to spill every secret stored in his skull in hopes of saving his worthless hide.
"Hmm, I would suspect not. I would be within rights to take your life for that alone, but you survived the Purge so your soul wasn't completely black then; just ambitious." Alessi used craft to lift the man from the ground; not trusting himself with physical contact. He wasn't certain he would be able to resist the urge to punch the male and if he started Alessi knew he wouldn't stop until nothing but pulp remained.
"However, if you would tell me where you left My Lady, I could be persuaded to let you live. If you can crawl back like the maggot you are to your supposed allies." It was better than the slow death he had planned for the Prince, but it depended on Kiera being alive. In reward for his lenience, the Prince spat at Alessi's boots. The thick glob of mucus missed and the warlord prince sighed as if disappointed.
"As if I would tell you anything you butcher. I would rather she die than help you and your filthy kind." Alessi looked at the male, wondering if his chalice had cracked during the purge. Rage that overrode the instinct to survive wasn't a typical response. "And you, you traitor to your family.." The venom turned to Luca who barely raised a brow at the accusation.
"Tried to warn you that first time you approached Kiera, but you didn't listen. That is your problem, more ambition than brains." Luca kept his focus on his cousin's face and not the lumpy mass that had once been a pair of legs. "Now you can save us some time and yourself a great deal of pain by pointing us in the right direction, or I am afraid Prince Gerodi won't be so generous at a second asking." Luca didn't move from where he stood proud that his words came out so cold and collected. Part of him that longed for family wanted to defend Kyros despite the decades of abuse and slander hurled his and Kiera's way.
The Prince didn't respond just started laughing as he lay broken in the falling snow. "She's probably dead by now. Exposure, accident, or been eaten." Dusk was coming and their chance of finding her that evening was dwindling with each bit of decreased bit of light.
"If she's dead, your death won't be easy or fast." With that Alessi floated Kyros to drape over the back of the horse he had been riding. Craft bound the worm of a prince better than rope and it was a matter of logistics finding a length of rope in their tack to loop around the horse to lead it down the road.
If Kyros was still ranting or screaming in pain the only evidence was the opening and closing of his mouth; Alessi seemed to have added a silencing shield on the male as well. Mounted again Alessi pushed their horses further, trying to find where the wagon ruts ended. It didn't take great tracking skill to see where the wagon had been pulled into the dilapidated coaching stop.
Rage filled him as he stepped close enough to the wagon to smell the sickly sweet scent of urine and lingering impressions of shame. Furious he turned to start pulling Kyros apart in tiny segments, only the furrows of dirt from where Kiera freed herself kept him from killing the male. Later; when he had time.
Dark was nearly on them and the temperature was dropping significantly. 'She has her jewels' He hoped she had enough reserve to keep herself warm. How long could an aristo witch last in the wilderness? Kiera had proven tenacious and resilient but strength of will only went so far when dealing with exposure.
"Alessi.." Luca's voice held an urgency. "Her clothing wasn't that thick. If they lost her yesterday... Her Rose won't last much longer against this cold." He gave voice to the unspoken fear between them. Kiera wasn't dark jeweled; she didn't have a large reservoir of power to pull from.
"We will find her before morning." Alessi didn't care how hard he had to push. " Tend to the animals and get a fire started in there. She will need warmth and fed." He didn't want Luca stumbling after him. The aristo male could manage making a fire and heating water. With those orders, Alessi followed the trail Kiera left behind.
Broken branches and turned soil marked her path well enough. Smart, foolish woman, she had fled further away from the road. Small dark spots stained the earthy smell with the metallic tang of blood. It didn't take him long to reach the ravine; his path easier for the globe of witchlight he kept floating above his head. Looking at the near sheer cliff had his heart dropping. The chances of her surviving that fall and the cold?
His breath clouded in the air as the temperature and snow continued to fall. Alessi refused to give up, he wouldn't until he found her body or clear evidence she hadn't made it. Silently he started his climb down, catching his breath the several times he slid before reaching the bottom. The creek was running high and the edges slicked over with thin sheets of ice.
Kiera wouldn't have stayed here, she couldn't and would have had found a way across. The dark didn't make it easy but he was able to find a spot that looked likely for the spacing and size of rocks that stood just outside of the water level. He made quick work of crossing; having experience hiking in the wilderness. Again he found signs of her footsteps and tiny white strings torn from her dress nearly glowed in the night.
"Hold on, Gattina.." The cold bit at him despite the thick clothing he wore. How was she weathering the cold in just one of those ridiculously thin chemises that ladies preferred? The trail had changed from just broken twigs and bits of string to long scuff marks. Injured, she couldn't have gone much further. Would she know to make a shelter or start a fire?
~Kiera..~ He tried to reach her on the more broad psychic thread. His reach was long enough that if she were aware and able to respond he should feel at least her attempt to reply. ~ Kiera, I need you to help me find you.~
She stirred at the soft pressure and voice calling out breaking the silence of the night. The cold had returned with a vengeance and her yellow jewel was nearly depleted with just trying to keep it warm enough she didn't freeze to death. There, again the pressure and her name.
~Prince Gerodi?~ She reached back. Her jaw ached from clenching it to keep her teeth from rattling out of her head. The snow wasn't thick enough to insulate her little hiding spot but was cold enough to amplify the chill of the air. She held her breath counting beats until there was a response.
~Were you expecting anyone else?~ The relief in his voice carried across and despite the circumstances, she felt a little smile tug at her lips as he tried to sound confident and collected
~ I need you to shout. As loud as you can. ~ The mental voice turned somber, and serious as the voice grew a bit stronger. Less of a whisper but she still had to strain to respond.
~I'm scared. What if they hear me? ~ Her reply dripped with shame at her cowardice. She wanted him to find her, but if Kyros and Ayers were in the area they would hear her cries as well. Kiera didn't have the strength to try and run again. It was taking everything she had just to keep warm.
~ Trust me.~ Her eyes squeezed closed. She wanted to trust him but it was just too much. Only the flickering of her warming spell gave her the courage to vocalize.
"Here, I am here!" Her first cry ended with a sharp squeak and cough as her dry throat and mouth protested the usage. She tried again, summoning up her best shriek. She kept repeating the phrase, her eyes closed and body curled as tightly as she could to preserve what heat was possible. The squeak of booted feet over snow had her pause her cries. Terror sent her heart to hammering as she fought to get a sound past her throat.
"Here... I am" The side of her shelter was ripped away blinding her with a globe of witchlight that dimmed very promptly. Her watering eyes blinked as she processed the familiar comfort mingled with lust that made up Alessi's presence.
"There you are." Alessi's throat tightened as he took in her appearance. Her dress was missing a sleeve and the exposed arm was marked with long thin scratches. The right side of her face was bruised along her cheekbone and her eye was swollen shut and her feet were obscured by filthy bandages making him wonder what injuries he could find. Still, a more beautiful sight he had yet to behold. Alessi couldn't wait for permission, that control was beyond him as he pulled her shaking body against his. Her warming spell winked out as she burrowed as close to his body as possible through clothing. Soft little whimpers escaped her as he felt the warm wetness of tears against his chest where her face was burrowed.
"Shh, let it out Gattina. I have you. It will be alright now" With a grunt he rose to his feet, refusing to loosen his hold on her even for a second. An opal warming spell circled her, helping start the process of thawing her. That she had gotten so far from the wagon where she was held amazed him. He started the trek back the way he came debating if it was wise to continue to travel that night or if he should make camp and wait for daylight. It was the growl of her stomach that decided it for him. He found a spot where a large rock jutted from the ground It wasn't ideal but the tree coverage was enough that the ground was only slightly dappled with snow. Silently he called in his emergency supplies, carefully spreading the coarse wool blanket over the ground with craft before lowering Kiera onto it.
"No, no please.." Kiera didn't know what she was afraid of, why Alessi putting her down sent a wave of pure panic through her but she couldn't command her hands to release their grip on his clothing. Her teeth started chattering again the moment his body no longer touched hers; the opal spell was not enough to chase away the residuals of shock.
"I am not going anywhere. I need to get a fire going and shelter made so you don't freeze though. You need to let go sweetling.." His hand stroked through her hair, trying to calm her down enough to pry her death grip off. Alessi hated letting her go as much as she seemed to. Later she could go back to tolerating him, right now his queen needed and wanted him.
Somehow Kiera convinced herself to release her hold. She pulled her knees up to her chest as she curled up on herself, trying to hide her near nudity along with the obvious signs of how cold she was. Kiera didn't want him to see her like this; battered and unsightly, reeking of her own urine and old blood. Her gaze remained focused on Alessi; shamelessly staring as he used a thick branch to prop up part of the canvas while other rocks were used to pin down the edges forming a far more effective windblock than her sad little branches. It took him less than half an hour to have a little shelter together and a fire crackling merrily. Once he was satisfied they wouldn't freeze to death Alessi gathered Kiera up, blanket and all to sit closer to the fire before sitting behind her and pulling her backward into his lap.
He tried to ignore the sharp pangs of lust that came with her squirming around on his lap to partially straddle him as she attempted to again curl every inch of her body against his from warmth. Alessi gritted his teeth; reminding himself that now was not an appropriate time to react to her touch. He tried pulling up every unappealing mental image he could before finally he had to shift her and settle her again before the baser part of his nature won.
"Here, you need to eat.." Alessi attempted to distract her by filling another need. Food, warmth, and rest would be the best remedy for her at the moment. Carefully he broke off a piece of the journey cake before pressing the bite-sized morsel to her lips waiting for her to accept the bit of food. She didn't protest as he fed her by hand and coaxed lukewarm water into her. Exhaustion set in as her stomach was full for the first time in days and the rest of her body was thawing out. The unfortunate side effect of thawing would come soon as blood tried to once more fill extremities bringing pain along with the throbbing agony of her feet.
"It hurts.." Kiera's voice wobbled as she tried to keep from whimpering or making any noise indicating her further distress. Her nails curled into fists against his chest as tears escaped her despite her determination to get through this without complaint.
"I know, if I had something to help I would." Holding her close against his chest he rocked her slightly, trying to keep her mind off the burning tingle. Alessi talked about everything and nothing. The sound of his voice seemed to help, to keep her mind from her injuries as she even gave a couple half half-hearted laughs. When her ragged breathing smoothed out into slow and steady, Alessi shifted carefully for the both of them to be lying down near the banked fire. The radiating heat combined with the warming spell and his body heat eased the tremors shaking her even in her sleep.
Alessi fell asleep with his arm draped over her and hand pressed against her lower back, the soft warmth of her breath caressed along his neck as she snuggled against him, sleeping peacefully.