Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

The next evening, Dyna curiously studied the runes burned into Tarn’s tent, the charms on the roof, and all the artifacts strewn about. Each one was different, created or left behind by different hands.

“You have been all over the world,” she said, picking up a small polished statue of a water dragon made out of jade.

“You cannot understand the world unless you see it,” Tarn replied absentmindedly from his spot at the head of the table. A crease formed in between his pale brows as he read a document. “Put that down.”

“Because it’s valuable?”

“Because it’s cursed.”

Dyna quickly returned it to his desk and continued perusing his clutter. Among the artifacts was a small chest stamped with the sigil of Xián Jīng. It was gilded with decorative corners and sealed shut with a golden clasp. “What is the purpose of carrying all these things? Do they have some use or are you secretly a hoarder?”

“Don’t touch that,” he said without looking up.

Dyna’s fingers halted an inch away from it and she folded her arms behind her back. “Why? What’s inside of your fancy box?”

“The past and the future.”

She rolled her eyes at his sarcastic response. Did he have to be evasive about everything? Tarn reached out for the goblet that was usually at his side and grabbed only air.

Dyna hid a smile and went for the decanter on the sideboard. “I’ll get you some wine.”

She’d successfully nursed him free of the foul drug, but he could still have a drink. “How do you feel now that your mind is free of Witch’s Brew? If you have trouble with insomnia, I have something for that and it smells much more pleasant than bitter herbs.”

Tarn was too absorbed in what he was reading to answer. Coming on his right side, she poured while trying to catch a peek at what had his rapt attention.

Tarn covered up the document. “Do you mind?”

“Still not the trusting sort,” Dyna teased. Instead of sitting at the end as she usually did, she sat beside him. Now that they were cordial, she may convince him to let her go. She had saved his life. He owed her that much.

“And you trust too easily.” There was a nuance in Tarn’s tone that made her smile waver. He glanced away and sorted through the missives on the table. “Have you thought of my offer?”

Dyna bit into a roll of bread. “Is that what you call it?”

“Once I have the Unending, slaying a demon will be nothing,” Tarn said, his pale gaze meeting hers. “By my side you will achieve everything you desire. All you have to do is pledge your loyalty to me. This is me, asking. In case it escapes your attention, I never do. By all means, think it over but I won’t ask twice.”

She frowned. “Is that the scope of your proposal? Asking me to join you? Therefore, I should be grateful and serve you loyally as you pursue your wicked cause?” She had changed out of her black leathers into a blue dress to display that she wouldn’t become another spy. “I thought after last night, you would give up this vendetta.”

His face hardened. “Then you’re naïve. I will destroy Azure and render the entire Jökull and Morken line to nothing until I’m the only one left standing.”

A scatter of chills sank in her chest. Of course, she should have realized that would be part of his plan. By ending those family lines, there would be no other Ice Phoenix. No one left to steal that inheritance from him as he had stolen it from the king.

“Then you will have a kingdom of bone and ice.”

“So be it,” he said tightly. “I’m offering you what you’ve never dreamed of, Dyna. An abundance of wealth and power. Protection. Nothing would ever threaten you again.” As he spoke, something unexpected entered his gaze.

She slowly shook her head. “I don’t need that. Gold and power don’t sway me. And I think we both know I can protect myself.”

His brief annoyance melted into a smirk and he steepled his fingers. “Do you refuse me because of your Celestial? Bring him too, if you want. He could be useful.”

She stood in angry incredulity, and her hands flickered green at the ravaging protectiveness she felt for her mate. The wards hummed. “I refuse you because I won’t support the destruction of an entire kingdom. Regardless of what you offer me.”

Tarn studied her face and whatever her expression showed. “Then it will be to your peril.”

“Is that it, then? If I’m not with you, then I’m against you?”

A pause as he considered her words. “Whether you go to the island or stay on this land, without me I don’t see you surviving.” Then to her horror, Tarn brought his goblet closer as he drew out the foul vial of Witch’s Brew from his coat pocket.

“You don’t need that anymore!” Dyna slapped it from his hand, accidently knocking over the cup. He snatched up the papers before they were soaked.

Tarn turned to her, his eye lids lowering over his cooling eyes. It sent a faint quiver down her spine, and it shocked her to realize she hadn’t felt it in days. When had she become so comfortable with him?

He set the documents on his chair and took a step forward. She forced herself not to move, refusing to give him anymore gain. But Tarn hadn’t done it to frighten her, though his next movement did.

“I will play no more games with you.” He held out his hand. “Join me. Together, we would leave a mark on history.”

There was no doubt what kind of history he would bring.

She stared at Tarn’s open palm, at the long elegant fingers that swiftly ended lives. Ones that were once wrapped around her throat. They were pointing at her now. Not in threat, but in invitation. It was a small action, but carried a great significance, nonetheless. It was something she had never thought to receive from him.

Not in this way, with this offer.

Her mouth trembled to realize what he was truly asking. This was him removing a small piece of his armor. Taking his hand meant he was giving her a chance to gain his trust, and with it, she would gain a powerful ally instead of an enemy. She could see how far she could go with that type of power, but the cost was climbing another mountain of bones and the loss of herself.

As much as she had hated Tarn and feared him still, some part of her liked that he reached out to her. Relieved that he was capable of it. But more lingered under his ask, something that had surfaced unbeknownst to either of them until that instant. Suddenly there or perhaps slowly growing in the shadows of their encounters, but neither dared to admit it…because they both knew the truth before she ever opened her mouth to respond.

It had never been a question.

Her heart. Her soul. Her body.

They would always—always—choose Cassiel.

Dyna met his gaze and hardened hers. “No.”

There was a pause in that moment as her definitive reply fluttered in the quiet tent. Tarn’s fingers curled into a loose fist, and he dropped his hand. Something flickered in his expression. It was fleeting, almost too quick for her to know if she truly saw it. Then his gaze fixed on a spot behind her head.

“Thank you,” he said. “For reminding me why we’re here. Somewhere amongst our days together, we have both briefly forgotten it. This has gone on long enough. We will arrive at the port come dawn. It’s time you open the journal and give me the map.”

She sighed, tired of this old discussion. “I won’t.”

“You won’t or you can’t?”

Dyna held quiet, her pulse speeding. The truth rune was at her back.

His eyes dropped to her, a knowing in them. “Answer.”

“I said I’d come with you willingly. I never said I’d give you my map.”

“It was never in the journal to begin with, was it?” At her silence, Tarn’s chest rose with a low breath passing audibly through his teeth. But he didn’t look angry, which put her on edge. He scoffed a dry laugh and rubbed his jaw as if he was impressed. “Ah. You’re capable of being clever, after all. Therein lies your predicament.”

“Mine?” She crossed her arms, feeling a little smug for outsmarting him. “I’m hardly concerned.”

“You should be. I agreed to spare your pathetic Guardians provided you give me what I want.”

Dyna’s smirk dropped at the threat. “That’s not what I said—”

The mood rune behind him burned red. Anger wasn’t the right word. He was furious. Her breath caught at the icy grip of his large palm wrapped around her bare skin. Yet he didn’t squeeze hard enough to hurt, and his calm expression never changed.

“Regardless of what you said, the exchange was implied. I’m not in the business of kindness, but I will give you one last chance.”

I won’t ask twice. Yet he had for her.

Perhaps she should have given him something, but Dyna had found her bravery and was holding to it. “Whether it’s today or tomorrow, the fact remains. I will not yield.”

“You will.” Tarn grabbed the back of her neck and yanked her to him, close enough to see the deep darkness beneath the frost in his gaze. “Even if it’s not by choice.”

Then his mouth was on hers, cold and hard. Dyna squirmed and pushed against his vice hold, squealing in horror against his lips. It was a kiss like winter’s breath, burying her in snow. In it, she felt his dismissal. Of her. And any influence she may have had over him. Of any human decency that may have been cultivating in his conscience. The person Tarn could have been was gone and buried beneath the snow a long time ago.

Left to die a lonely death.

Dyna broke his hold and shoved him back with an angry gasp. “What are you doing?” she shrieked.

He exhaled a husky scoff and laughed. “I was merely testing the parameters of this prophecy. Clearly, you didn’t enjoy that, and neither did I. You leave much to be desired.”

Dyna drew her hand back and slapped him sharply across the face.

It snapped his head to the side. He stood there a moment, stunned.

She wiped her cold mouth but it couldn’t remove her shame. “That is the last time you will ever do that.”

Tarn worked his jaw, her handprint pink and stark against his pale skin. “Yes, it will be.”

Whatever reservations he might have briefly had for her faded beneath the frigidity of his gaze. The first version of him that she’d met outside of Willows Grove returned. No…he’d always been there. She simply allowed herself to forget it.

“Truth be told, I never needed the map,” he said. “I only needed you. The map, or the key rather, is right here.” He tapped her temple. “I merely have to retrieve it.”

Dyna recoiled. “You wouldn’t.”

Above their heads, the Forewarning Crystal danced a moment before brisk wind blew in from outside. Von, Novo, and Len entered and stood at attention. There was a resignation on their faces, and no one looked at her.

He’d known.

When Tarn had made his offer, it had been a test. Not for her—but for himself. To see if he could truly not be swayed by her. Even with that rare sliver of hope she had caught in his gaze, he knew she would refuse him.

And he had planned for it.

Panic bubbled up her throat. “Please, don’t do this. I know you don’t want to do this.”

“You have wasted your energy in trying to change me, Maiden. I’m not someone to share your emotional scars with. I’m not your friend.”

Maiden.

The disparity was a line in the sand.

Dyna clenched her shaking fists, wanting to ram them in Tarn’s face. Disbelief warred within her chest. She saw him for who he was in the past, while forgetting who he had become now.

“Oh.” His mouth curled in mock sympathy at the bitter tears welling in her eyes. “I told you who I was, and you chose not to believe me. I can hardly be blamed for your disappointment.”

There was no kindness on Tarn’s face. He was choosing to be her enemy. He chose it when she didn’t take his hand, or when he’d almost died for her sake, very nearly meeting his undoing.

They were always going to end up here.

Dyna filled her hands with magic, and the wards immediately knocked her down. She screamed into the rug as magic speared into her like a thousand bolts of lightning. The pain rendered her immobile, leaving her gasping for air.

“I am the rightful King of Azure,” he said above her. “And I will have what’s mine.”

New slave bangles clamped around her ankles, stealing away her Essence again. Novo and Len hauled her up and dragged her for the entrance.

“Tarn!” she shouted at his back. “It doesn’t have to be this way!”

He ignored her, pouring more wine in his stupid goblet.

“If you do this, I will fight you,” she swore. “I will do everything I need to stop you.”

“You have neither the will nor the means to fight me,” he said with a sigh. As if he was tired of her childishness, for she didn’t understand anything at all. “You have overplayed your hand. I’ve always had the power here. You were foolish enough to think otherwise—little colt.”

Dyna froze.

“Tell me, how do you tame a wild horse?”

It all began with building trust. Instead of crushing her spirit, he altered between placid and the perfect amount of pressure. Everything he had said and done had a purpose. He desensitized her to his presence. Trained her with his ways.

This whole time, Tarn had been taming her.

He told her he would, yet she had been completely blind to every step he took in their interactions, making her think she was gaining leverage against him when she earned his confidence. Until she was fitted with the bit and bridle.

The truth of how seamlessly he had manipulated her was a blow. It landed somewhere in her chest, leaving her winded. Dyna could only stare at his back blankly as they led her away.

Tarn so easily defeated her.

But it wasn’t a victory he enjoyed. Not when he couldn’t even look at her now.

Tarn only kissed her to see if he cared. And he was doing this now—because he did.

“I know the truth,” she said faintly when they reached the threshold. “I’m a weakness. And you hate that you have one.”

Tarn stiffened.

There was a shift in his shoulders, a turn to his head, but they pulled her outside, and the tent flaps settled in place, concealing him from view.