Alabaster and Rose... Funny how things changed... yet somehow stayed the same. An’Thaya’s chambers in Nenlante were very similar to the ones she occupied in Corin. The sight of them always brought back a flood of memories. Most of them revolving around Galain. It seemed their lives had begun here... but he had another path to walk these days. The love was still there, burning, alive as it had ever been; their relationship had just taken on a new dynamic. But... at the moment, she missed him desperately, no matter how close he was geographically. It was as if he was in another dimension... as he soon would be... their little group was about to venture into hell.
The Amazon turned to look up into the clear blue eyes of the man that had claimed her soul as Galain had claimed her heart. A soft smile lit her face, for Adarin alone. Life was complicated now... where it had once been joyously simple. What had happened to those days?
Ah yes... time...
Time stole peace of mind, but replaced it with other things. “He has Mysti,” An’Thaya’s voice was a whisper, “I’m afraid for her.”
Adarin cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, then her nose and then her lips.
“Do you feel her at all?” He asked her gently. “I... I’m a little short on information here—why does he have her? Will he do anything to her especially or is she part of the others he’s captured?” Tay and he talked a lot, but some history and some information didn’t always filter through. He looked at her intently. “Does Jaiden know yet? Have her come here. All right?”
The Amazon leaned into her bondmate and drew a shuddering breath, letting him shelter her from her pain. “I do... in little flashes here or there. He hates her, but he wants her. Mystical was there when... when Tysane died.” The death of her second child still twisted like a dagger in An’Thaya’s soul. Centuries had passed, but the pain never seemed to ease. Biting it back she nodded slightly before resting her head on the Elen King’s chest.
Jaiden... Melda, could you come here please? We are in my chambers on the floor below you.
Adarin’s eyes shut when Tysane’s name was mentioned. Now that was definitely something he knew about and he felt his wife’s grief as if it were his own. He was still holding her when Jaiden arrived and his eyes registered surprise at the Windling’s appearance.
Jaid had kissed the children, told Eos to be a big girl and keep the quads occupied and that she would be back soon. She had drifted deeply within herself—so much so that it was minutes before she realized Cadan and Steren had taken to painting the wall various colors of blue, purple and orange. Where in the world had they found finger paints?! At least they were composed of natural pigments and would be easily cleaned.
She’d enveloped herself in the wrap and when she entered An’Thaya’s chambers she felt unaccountably old. She’d felt her wife’s anxieties, known something was desperately wrong with Mysti and was rather relieved when she saw An’Thaya in Adarin’s arms.
“I’d have brought the children, but seven at one time is a bit much and there is still too much uproar,” she said, giving both of them a slow smile. Then she simply hurried to An’Thaya and kissed her before she squeezed Adarin’s arm and tried to blank out the anxiety in her eyes.
“You’re both leaving to do something I don’t want to hear about—right?” It was almost more of a statement.
A nod confirmed Jaiden’s words and the Amazon smiled apologetically, “I am the only one left that can get them where they need to go love,” she explained. “Ro can’t go, and we would never ask B’Elya to return to Tenobrous.” An’Thaya suddenly stiffened in Adarin’s arms, her eyes going dark. The rose and dagger tattoo on her arm flared, the rose turning black for a brief moment. “Oh Gods,” she murmured, “She’s gone over.”
There was a part of Mystical that Tay had always been aware of, the potential for dark... for evil. It was part of who the Watchers were. Her lover had always kept it suppressed... but now... Tears streaked the redhead’s face, sudden and hot. Fear shook her and she clung to Adarin’s physical presence. The last time a bondmate had turned, he had tried to kill her... had very nearly succeeded. If Elyen had not made the fatal mistake of one final kiss goodbye, she would have been dead.
Jaiden tossed the wrap, deeply embedded in her wife’s sudden turn in emotion.
“Oh no!” She gasped out, clasping both Adarin and An’Thaya. She was panicked as she sensed via her wife what was happening to Mystical—what was happening to her.
“NO!” Came the wail as the Windling’s pagan, but pure nature railed against what was happening to An’Thaya’s other mate. She remembered Tallin. She remembered his evil.
“Oh no...” Her tears were so much that she was embarrassed and tried to turn away.
And Adarin felt it all. He was glad when Jaid arrived, fond of her; aware of her in the oddest way... relieved his wife had called for... her wife. He shook his head and clasped the Windling to them both and then flinched when they all became aware of Mysti’s Turn.
“There’s a reason why,” he gasped out in a hoarse voice.
An’Thaya closed her eyes and lost herself in their presence for a moment, then let her soul touch briefly on Galain’s. A short communication and she left him to comforting Ghet, then withdrew, physically withdrawing from Adarin and Jaid as well. Wiping away tears with the backs of her hands she drew a shuddering breath. “I need a bath ... I need fresh clothing ... I need to be armed to the teeth. Then we will go and get the boys back. I have something to accomplish, and Tallin isn’t going to stop me. Nor is Samara or anyone else that thinks to get in my way.”
A life of trauma and war had predisposed An’Thaya to standing on her own two feet. When disaster struck she was more apt to stand alone, to fight tooth and nail for those she loved and keep them as far out of harms way as she could. Too many people had died for her sake... had suffered needlessly. The Princess’ very birth had damned Corin as a result of Tallin’s want of her. Guilt was a mantle she had never been able to shrug off; it weighed on her shoulders and dragged down her heart.
Both Jaid and Adarin nodded, the king speaking first.
“I need to prepare too. Jaiden, you should return to the children. Keep them safe and comforted. Come now, woman. It’s all right.” He cupped the Windling’s face gently and received a nod. Then he smiled at Tay.
“We will prevail,” he stated firmly.