Page 36 of Bound By Darkness

Raflamir observes her for a moment before his eyes land warily on Baron. “If they cause trouble—”

“We take full responsibility for our actions,” Dragan snaps. He is quite cranky considering we’ve just found a safe haven.

I shove in front of him and gesture for Raflamir to open the door and allow us entrance. He hesitates, but only briefly. “When you arrive inside the city, stick to the walls,” he advises. “Move east and speak to no one. You’ll come upon a lean-to with a blue door, warded with runes. There, you’ll find a hot meal and a warm bed when you arrive. Tell Saevel I sent you.”

He opens the door and the wooden monstrosity groans as it grants us entrance. We walk through, me leading the way, and I quickly approach my old comrade. My hand lifts to his shoulder and though Raflamir flinches, he doesn’t shrug off my hold. “Thank you, my friend.”

I hope he hears the sincerity in my voice. By allowing us entrance, he risks his own life, and those of the people he cares for. The Steward’s eyes glow for a moment as he nods in turn.

I thank him once more and lead my campions into the town, being careful to avoid any onlookers. The demon moves closer and I feel her arm brush my knuckles, sending a shock of lust through my body. I grit my teeth, and force the feelings away, for they are unwelcome. She notices the way my shoulders tense, and she offers me a confused expression.

I wish I did not have the notoriety I do, otherwise I would find a blond woman with a shapely body and have my way with her all evening.

CHAPTER TEN

BARON

Earlann

It’s quite obvious that Dragan would prefer I return to my independent ways and quit his and the others’ company. While this was my initial intention, the situation has changed quite substantially—enough to have altered the course of my original plans.

The second time I held theTransmutation Stonewas quite dissimilar to the first. When first I fell victim to the stone’s embrace, I was overcome by feelings, memories and images, all of which were quite foreign to me. The second time, I was visited by Morrigan, the Midnight Queen.

To say this was quite the shock would be an understatement as I have not heard Morrigan’s dulcet tone since the moment I found myself awakened in my own grave and had to claw my way through splintered wood and moist earth. When, at last, I pulled myself from my forever sleep, I started a new life as Revenant, and never heard the Midnight Queen’s voice again.

Until now.

Prior to my interaction with theTransmutation Stone, I did not understand the reason I’d been unceremoniously yanked from the balmy comfort of death. Yes, Morrigan had told me to awaken, had called upon me to do her bidding. But, that was merely the extent of her instruction. After being reborn into a cold and formidable world, I was left to my own defenses, not understanding who I was nor why I’d been brought back.

Life is not easily lived when you have no direction, no understanding of what it is you’re supposed to do. And for the last one hundred years, I have lived thus—aimlessly traveling, trying to understand my place, trying to find somewhere I fit in.

Master Ash assisted me, yes, but it was always with the knowledge that he didn’t understand why I’d been brought back just as much as I didn’t understand it. And for that reason, he kept his distance and I kept mine.

Until the moment I held theTransmutation Stonefor the second time, I had no direction, no goal, no idea what fate expected of me.

But, I do now…

“You roused me from the grave, then left me to my own defenses all this time,” I accuse the Morrigan when we are both trapped within the magic of the Transmutation Stone.

“You must understand the time wasn’t right, my Revenant,” she responds, her voice ringing through my ears and bringing me back one hundred years. As though I were experiencing my rebirth all over again, I’m overcome with feelings of anxiety and despair. But, confusion reigns supreme.

“Then the time is right now?” I ask.

“Yes,” she nods and though we are in this visionary world together, it’s only Morrigan’s voice I hear. I can’t see her face. The more I try to focus on it, the darker the shadows around her become.

“Then what is my purpose? What was the reason you brought me back from death?” I ask.

“You must protect the angel,” she responds.

I swallow hard. “Eilish?”

“Yes.”

“I was brought back to protect her?” I ask, feeling anger begin to boil inside me. All this time, I imagined my fate would be tied to something so much larger, so much more noble.

“She is not what you think she is,” Morrigan says and by the tone of her voice, it’s apparent she can detect my irritation.

“She’s an angel demon hybrid,” I respond.

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