Knowledge Protects E-Book

D.S. Williams

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Kidnapped and brainwashed by a terrifying vampire enemy, Charlotte faces insurmountable odds as she struggles to deal with her new reality.

Abducted by her nemesis Archangelo and the Drâghici Consiliului, Charlotte Duncan wrestles with a new reality after being brainwashed and detained for months. Beset with challenges seemingly impossible to overcome, Charlotte must believe in her abilities more than ever before.

The riveting finale in D.S. Williams’ paranormal romance series, Knowledge Protects unfolds a new ordeal as Fae Queen Aethelwine joins forces with Charlotte’s enemies, changing the tide of war. Wrestling with issues of trust at a time when she most needs those closest to her, will Charlotte succeed in her final fight to save those who depend on her?

Leseprobe

Knowledge Protects

The Nememiah Chronicles Book V

D.S. Williams

Copyright (C) 2017 D.S. Williams

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2019 by Next Chapter

Published 2019 by Next Chapter

Cover art by Cover Mint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Dedication:

Huge thanks to the patient, loyal readers, who have waited so long for the final book in the Nememiah Chronicles series. I hope it lives up to your expectations.

Acknowledgements:

Love and thanks to my loyal, loving sister-in-law, Tracie Williams, for editing the manuscript and providing feedback. You're amazing.

Big thanks to my daughter, Bonnie Williams, for reading the manuscript and loving the characters, and your endless enthusiasm for my stories.

And lastly, thanks to my good friend Mary Styles, for beta reading, providing feedback and the gentle encouragement to bring the story to an end.

Prologue:

For the longest time, there was only darkness in my existence. I can't distinguish between reality and illusion.

Strangers – human and beast – people I don't know; have appeared like specters in my nightmares, unbelievably terrifying. Voices have taunted my mind, pretending to know me. They've filled my consciousness with fabrications, played tricks on my fragile psyche.

I thought I was losing my mind. The doctor tells me I had, in fact, lost control of my mind for many months. It was a reaction to trauma, he explained – for I'd been kidnapped by our enemies.

I don't remember the circumstances surrounding my capture; nor can I recall the enforced imprisonment I was subjected to in their stronghold – a walled city known as Zaen. I'm thankful that I can't remember the torture they inflicted, although the scars remain on my body. Numerous strange, pale markings cover my arms and upper chest, creating ornate patterns against my skin, virtually indistinguishable unless they are viewed in sunlight – when they shine silver. The doctor believes they are the mark of some extremely dark magic, deliberately burnt into my skin to drive me to insanity.

I've discovered abundant mutilations on other parts of my body – fine lines mark the skin above my left breast; thin jagged scars mar the skin on my wrists and across my forearms. The worst wound is a long cut across my abdomen, which remains more visible than the other scars – I had been viciously slashed with a knife before I could be rescued. Doctor Bran assures me it will fade with time, just like the nightmares I endured.

For months, the torment has continued; even after my rescue, those strange voices haunted my nightmares. It has taken great effort on Doctor Bran's behalf to get the medication dosage finely tuned enough to cease these endless horrors.

Physically, I'm incredibly healthy – my body is strong and finely muscled; a curvaceous body which has defied the ravages of the illness.

The state of my mental health continues to be an issue and I've been informed by the good doctor that I will require medication for the rest of my life, to ensure the madness does not have the opportunity to descend again. He administers the medication at strictly regulated intervals. Despite my protests at being treated like a child – arguing that I could manage the medication myself – both Bran and my husband insist the medication is extremely potent and must be carefully monitored and administered to avoid a relapse.

The enemy continues to battle against our forces, though I'm repeatedly assured they will be defeated. I have little to do with these affairs, my only obligation being to regain good health. Due to the nature of my breakdown, people avoid alarming me with details regarding the war. Discussions are held away from my earshot, spoken about in hushed voices, to ensure I won't be destabilized by hearing unpleasant news.

Sometimes, I do catch snippets of what's said. The enemy group are renegades, who refuse to conform to our world's rules. Werewolves, shape shifters, some radicalized Fae – even vampires have united to attack those who wish for a peaceful life in the Fae Realm.

I was kidnapped purely because I am Archangelo's wife. Considered a primary target by the renegades, their leader captured me – a werewolf named Conal Tremaine. He had apparently hoped to force Archangelo into surrender, by abducting me.

The renegades' plans were thwarted, however, when Archangelo rescued me during a ferocious battle between our forces and theirs. Archangelo brought me home to the Realm, to our heavily-fortified villa in the city of Tamekeel. We are under the direct protection of the Queen's Guard and I'm constantly watched, to ensure the enemy won't succeed in capturing me a second time.

Chapter 1: Preparations

Nissa stood before me, holding up two gowns for inspection. She smiled, revealing the deep dimples in her cheeks and small, sharp teeth. Her eyes –vivid orange, the color of mandarin garnets – were startling against her silky black hair and long, thick eyelashes. “You have dinner with Queen Aethelwine this evening. Which gown would you prefer to wear?”

I glanced up from the sketchpad resting on my knee and sighed inwardly. Despite my gratitude for Aethelwine's protection, I disliked the woman intensely and found her company deeply unsettling. She was incredibly arrogant and had a streak of cruelty which left me uneasy in her company. I certainly wasn't looking forward to attending a formal banquet with the woman. “I don't mind. You choose.”

The tall Elvin woman twirled the gowns to face her, examining the violet silk with the long sleeves, and then the maroon velvet with its tulle underskirt. “I like the maroon one,” she announced.

“Then I shall wear the maroon one.” I turned my attention to the sketchpad, but my gaze kept drifting towards the glorious view outside. With a population of four thousand, Tamekeel was a beautiful city of black granite buildings. Culverts of water rushed along the edges of many of the streets, plummeting down the cliffs the city was perched upon. Picturesque gardens encircled ornately carved buildings, which boasted towering spires and complex lacework patterns carved on every surface. The buildings gleamed in the late afternoon sun, throwing prisms of brilliant light throughout the streets.

It would be pleasant to stroll through the city, enjoying the beauty of my surroundings and sketching various landmarks, but Archangelo refused to consider it. He insisted it was far too dangerous to wander through the streets. He'd been outrageously protective since the abduction; it had terrified him when I'd been stolen away, and although I could understand his need to shelter me, I found his protectiveness stifling.

A ghost of a smile curved my lips. I hadn't recognized Archangelo when I'd first woken after the breakdown. Nor had I recognized Doctor Bran – and he'd apparently been my physician for years. Every memory had been expunged during the illness. Everything I know now is what I've been told since I started to recover. I didn't remember my parents, nor how I'd come to be in the Fae Realm – a human child in a foreign world. Archangelo says I was found on the edges of the Sorgone River – a human baby, taken in and raised by a childless Elven couple. I'd grown up in Tamekeel and lived in the city all my life.

I wanted to meet with the couple who had been responsible for my welfare as a child, but Archangelo refused my request, insisting I must stay inside the villa. The only time I have permission to explore is if Archangelo accompanies me and as he's away so often, the opportunity never presents itself.

Queen Aethelwine traditionally rules from Sarbon, the royal city of the Fae, but relocated to Tamekeel as a security precaution. High in the Blackdawn mountains, Tamekeel is easier to defend than Sarbon. Aethelwine's guards patrol the streets constantly, protecting us from attack.

I don't even recall my binding vows to Archangelo. We met when the Drâghici united with the Fae, to fight the renegades. Archangelo traveled to Tamekeel with his two uncles and an aunt, to ratify the agreement with the Fae. His relatives are extremely ancient vampires, who only want peace in the supernatural world, and are intent on doing all in their power to protect the creatures under their rule.

Archangelo is an enigma within the supernatural world, being part vampire and part angel – the only one of his kind in existence. It is said that the Angel Nememiah has bestowed him with special powers. Because of his exceptional abilities, he's been charged with leading the war against the renegades.

Within weeks of meeting, I'm told, Archangelo and I had fallen in love and partaken in the Fae binding vows, becoming man and wife. It was a simple ceremony, with only a few witnesses and of course, Queen Aethelwine, whose presence was considered a great honor and a blessing to our union. I had hoped there might be some tangible evidence of the wedding, eager to trigger some memories of my own. Unfortunately, there is nothing, only the rings on my finger and the recollections of those present. Archangelo assures me I was a stunning bride, and regularly regales me with stories of our first romantic days together as man and wife.

I'm constantly frustrated because I don't remember a single fragment of it.

My gaze drifted across the river, towards the endless plains far below the city itself. I longed to go out for a walk, to visit the streets of Tamekeel and see if the sights and sounds would trigger memories of my past.

Everything I know of myself, and those around me, has been discovered in the past four weeks after I awoke from the long illness.

“I'll run a bath for you,” Nissa announced, hanging the violet gown back in the robe and carefully laying the maroon one across the bed.

I barely glanced away from the window. “Thank you, Nissa.”

She turned and walked gracefully towards the bathing room, her movements lithe and languorous. As with all Fae, Nissa was the epitome of grace, every motion one of understated elegance. The opposite of me. As a human, I can never hope to attain the same natural grace; in fact, Nissa had teasingly compared me more than once to a whirling dervish, barely in control of my limbs.

Nissa performs duties as both bodyguard and lady's maid. She is proud and beautiful, with a heart-shaped face accentuated by high cheekbones and perfect skin the color of the finest ivory. Jet black hair is braided and hangs to her waist, and a multitude of gold earrings hang from her earlobes. Still young, she will be celebrating her one hundred and twentieth birthday next month and I intend to ask Archangelo's permission to arrange a small gift for her, the next time he comes home to the villa.

When not caring for me, Nissa is a member of the Queen's Guard, who had been assigned specifically to my protection. Calm and self-assured, she carries an ever-present silver dagger at her waist. I've been informed that she is an outstanding warrior, who will defend me to the death. Since she'd been assigned four weeks ago, I'd grown to like and respect her and considered her my closest, and only, friend.

Gazing out of the window again, I considered what I would do without Nissa in my life. She was my constant companion and I knew her better than anyone else in the Realm.

My attention was drawn to the elaborate binding rings on my right hand, glittering in the late afternoon sunlight. I knew Nissa better than I knew my own husband – and that knowledge frightened me.

For the most part, Archangelo was charming, generous to a fault, and very attentive when he was here. But I didn't know him. There was no doubt he had shown a great deal of patience in helping me learn about our relationship; waxing lyrical about our first meeting, our life together – weaving it together into a very romantic tale; our own happily ever after. There was little doubt he adored me, but I was desperate for a memory – any memory – to reveal itself, something which would trigger recollections of the love I held for him.

There were times when I felt some regard for him, and times when I experience some mild affection, but I couldn't seem to rediscover the love which had presumably filled my heart when I agreed to bind with him. He spent as much time with me as he could, but the war drew him away from Tamekeel frequently. My heart fluttered uncomfortably when I considered how relieved I felt in his absence. Despite his obvious adoration, I found him overbearing and… I was a little scared of him.

Inhaling sharply, I admitted the truth to myself. I was frightened of Archangelo. Occasionally I caught a flash of anger in his green eyes. Analyzing this train of thought, it seemed he always became incensed when I spoke of the past, questioned events trying to remember them.

Staring at my hand, I recalled the first time I'd suffered a frisson of fear in his presence. The rings which bound me to Archangelo were elaborate; large and intricate gold bands with ostentatious emerald and diamond settings. Although I had no memory of my previous life, I was certain these rings were not tokens I'd have chosen. I'd questioned Archangelo on this matter one evening as we lay in bed, assuming he'd selected them.

I was bewildered when he'd informed me they were my choice. It seemed uncharacteristic, from what little I knew about myself, to choose those rings, although I had no idea why I felt that way. Archangelo had been adamant, his eyes icy cold when I'd innocently suggested they didn't seem to be of a style I would have chosen. While there had been nothing in his behavior that was untoward, I'd gotten the impression he was lying.

And that frightened me. Why would the man I loved – the man who shared my bed – lie to me about something like that?

Movement outside captured my attention and I stepped onto the balcony, watching a platoon of Royal Guards marching down the street. They had a group of eight people in their midst, and I wondered if they were captured renegades. On closer scrutiny, they didn't look like anything other than normal people. Humans. Three men and five women, stumbling along the street, being corralled between members of the Royal Guard. When they got closer, I could see their features more clearly and I realized they were terrified. One young woman clung to a man's hand, her eyes roaming anxiously across the street scene as she hurried to keep up with the others.

“Come, Angel.” Nissa appeared, urging me to return inside.

“Who are they?” I questioned faintly. “Are they renegades, do you think?”

Nissa shook her head firmly. “I don't know, Angel. I think it's better for both of us if you don't ask questions like that.” She caught hold of my arm and drew me inside. “You need to hurry, Archangelo will be here within the hour and he will expect you to be ready to attend the Queen's banquet.”

She led me towards the bathing room, but my gaze remained firmly focused on the window. “They were human,” I remarked softly. “Human like me.”

Nissa stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, her startling orange eyes grim. “Angel, don't mention them again. Please. Forget that you saw them and don't mention this to Archangelo.”

“But—”

She squeezed my arm tightly, her expression determined. “Please, Angel! Please don't mention it.”

Narrowing my eyes thoughtfully, I watched her for a moment. “All right, I won't.”

Relief poured off her in a tangible wave. “Thank you, Angel.”

“But you need to tell me why.”

Alarm triggered in her eyes again, before she swiftly clamped down on her emotions. “I can't tell you, Angel. I wouldn't dare suggest that anything untoward was happening in Tamekeel.” She urged me to hurry before leaving me alone in the bathing room.

I rested my head against the edge of the marble bathtub and closed my eyes, pondering Nissa's warning as I soaked in the warm, scented water. I'd never heard her speak like that and wondered why she didn't want me to mention what I'd seen to Archangelo. What reason was there, to keep secrets from my husband?

I rubbed the loofah across the scar on my stomach pensively. Why was Nissa so alarmed? Why were humans in Tamekeel? Why were they under guard? And why had they looked so terrified?

I slid further beneath the warm water until it lapped against my neck. Relaxing in the bath was one of my favorite parts of the day, a time when I allowed my mind to drift to wherever it wished. What had Archangelo been doing today? He was always under immense pressure, fighting to defeat the enemy and I usually didn't see him until late in the evening – if he returned at all.

Being vampire meant long days and late evenings didn't bother him, as he had no need for sleep. But with his long absences, I was rapidly becoming bored, cooped up in the villa with only Nissa and the serving staff for company.

Turning in the water, I crossed my arms on the ledge and rested my head against them. What had I done, before my illness? Did I work? What had been my role in life? Perhaps I should ask Archangelo. I enjoyed sketching, so perhaps that was something I'd participated in before? My 'doodling', as Archangelo affectionately referred to it. He was supportive of my efforts, providing me with the tools and supplies I requested. But was it something I'd done before my illness? Or something new? I had no idea.

There were so many things I didn't know. So much detail missing from my life. What had my real parents been like? What type of people were the couple who had cared for me here in Tamekeel? Did I have any friends? Had I done well at school? Why had I been brought to the Realm in the first place? I was starving for information, thirsting for knowledge, and frustrated that nothing remained of my past. I ached to recall something – anything, of my existence.

Whenever I mentioned this desire to Archangelo, he was adamant that I dismiss the past and concentrate on my future with him. I was beginning to suspect he didn't want me to recall my former life and it was a disturbing prospect.

Sighing deeply, I stood and let the water drip from my body before reaching for a towel. In front of the elaborate mirror, I studied my reflection critically. My body was trim and taut – narrow waist, hips smoothly curved, breasts high and full. I cringed when I studied the still-red scar on my abdomen. I didn't recall the events which caused my injuries, but I knew the man named Conal Tremaine had attempted to kill me. How could he hate me so much? And why?

Running my fingers through my damp hair, I toyed with the dark locks. They settled on my shoulders, a mass of curls which Nissa would shortly pull up into one of the elaborate hairstyles Archangelo loved so much. I loathed them. I preferred having my hair loose around my face.

Every time I faced the mirror, I visualized pulling my hair into a long ponytail, high on my head. Somehow, I envisioned my hair being much longer, in fact, I was positive it had been longer. Where did that idea come from?

“It was.”

I inhaled sharply, swallowing in a great gulp of air as I heard a man's voice and I scanned the bathing room with dread, confirming I was completely alone.

“I would never hurt you.”

When I heard the voice for the second time, I dropped into a crouch on the floor, holding my hands against my temples. “Please! Please go away!” I hissed into the silent room.

“I beg you, listen to me. It's been difficult to make this connection with you—”

I smacked my palms against my forehead, trying to control the panic. The voice was smooth and deep, and emanating from inside my mind. “Go away, go away!” I whispered feverishly.

“I'm not your enemy – listen to me for just a moment. You know my voice; if you think about it, you'll recall who I am.”

Shaking my head, I searched for the owner of the disembodied voice. It would be a relief if someone had entered the bathing room, whether they be friend or foe. Perspiration broke out across my brow. There was no-one here.

Was the medication failing? Would I descend back into the madness?

“You aren't crazy, my love. You're perfectly sane. You were used to hearing my voice before they forced the medication on you. You used to love hearing my voice.”

“Angel? Are you nearly finished?” Nissa called through the closed door.

Drawing a steadying breath, I pulled myself up onto my feet. “Leave me alone!” I hissed. “Don't talk to me again.” If Archangelo discovered I'd heard the voices, he'd insist on increasing the dosage of medication I was taking, and I wanted no more. “Don't do this to me!”

Holding my breath, I stood motionless for long seconds, relieved when the voice remained blessedly silent. Glancing again at the mirror, I saw that my eyes were wide and my skin deathly white. I took a steadying breath, and opened the door.

Sitting on the padded stool in front of the vanity, I regained my composure and allowed Nissa to prepare me for the evening – all the while praying that voice would never reach me again.

Chapter 2: Confusion & Anxiety

Sitting at the elaborate oak table in Aethelwine's sumptuous villa, I stared at the plate before me, toying with the food. None of it was appealing. I picked a little at the roasted root gourds, ignored the roasted fenwolf completely.

As much as I'd tried, the voice I'd heard couldn't be dismissed as a figment of my imagination. Was I suffering a relapse? What did it mean? Where did the voice come from? Surely it hadn't really been inside my head? I worried that the voices would overtake me again, weakening my grip on sanity.

The disembodied voice had insisted I knew him. Try as I might, I couldn't fathom who he might be. I didn't believe it was true. Who would contact me in this manner, unless it was someone intent on doing something malicious? He'd suggested the medication was affecting me – but I knew without it, the voices would only worsen. And I didn't want to hear those voices ever again; the prospect was terrifying. My hands trembled violently and I dropped my knife to the table.

“Angel, you're not eating.”

I glanced at Archangelo, saw the concern in his expression and managed to force a smile to my lips. “Of course I am.”

His green eyes slid to my plate for a moment, and when he looked up again, his expression was still concerned. He rubbed his fingers across my leg, squeezing my thigh tenderly beneath the table. “Would you prefer something else? I'll order—”

“No… thank you,” I interrupted hastily. Archangelo would insist the demi-fey serving us return to the kitchens and bring another dish if I so desired, but they'd no doubt been preparing this extravagant, six-course meal for hours, and would be tired and ready to retire for the night. I didn't want to cause a fuss, and besides, what would he say if I told him what I truly desired?

Chicken Enchiladas.

I couldn't even begin to imagine what that might be – what was a chicken? Or an enchilada, for that matter? Both words seemed foreign, and yet, terribly familiar. Was it a real thing? Or was this a further sign of my sanity swiftly ebbing away?

“Do you feel well, my wife?” Archangelo was still studying me, his eyes troubled.

I smiled broadly, forcing an enthusiasm I didn't feel. The last thing I needed was for Archangelo to think I was ill. “I'm perfectly fine.” Picking up the eating knife, I stabbed a piece of pumpkin gourd, cutting off a corner and lifting it to my lips. I attacked the meal with feigned gusto for another excruciating minute, before Archangelo relaxed and turned his attention back to our dinner companions.

As with every formal dinner at Aethelwine's table, it was a strained affair. Archangelo and his relatives were dining with us –bizarre in itself – because vampire don't eat. Not normal food, anyway.

I found it repulsive to watch them drinking blood. Poured into fine crystal stemware, they sipped at their sustenance as if it were an exquisite red wine. Was it only me who noticed the way the blood clung to the edge of the crystal, taking longer to slip back down than wine would when they returned the glass to the table? A discreet glance around the crowded table confirmed that many of the Fae were deliberately avoiding watching the vampire 'eat', clearly as sickened by their display as I was.

The knowledge of what was in those beautiful crystal flutes turned my stomach. I continually reminded myself this was a normal state of affairs, and I'd surely accepted this situation before my illness? My husband was vampire – it was completely natural that he drank blood. But what was happening here at the table – what happened at every mealtime I shared with my husband and his family – it was not fit for an audience.

Squaring my shoulders, I placed a small piece of the roast fenwolf on my knife and brought it to my lips. I should be grateful they only drank the blood of animals; plentiful in the great forests around Tamekeel. Archangelo insisted he would never consider drinking from 'the fount' as he called it. He and his family had made a conscious decision to abstain from drinking the blood of humans and their sustenance was prepared fresh each day, from creatures caught by the Queen's hunting parties.

Despite this concession, I found Archangelo's relatives deeply unsettling. Whilst they had sworn off the consumption of human blood, they regularly cast furtive glances in my direction, suggesting that despite their abstinence, the intense desire remained. Odin, Hyperion, and Bellona were all extremely old vampire, and I'd wondered – though never questioned – how long they'd drunk from 'the fount' before they chose to start drinking animal blood. Judging by the look in their eyes sometimes, they still regularly struggled with the choice.

This evening we'd been joined by several representatives from within the Realm, bringing the total at the table to twenty. Aethelwine enjoyed hosting these lavish dinner parties, no doubt because they placed her at the center of attention, and her guests commonly included some of her closest confidantes and advisors.

The dinner parties were always boring. Boring, boring, boring. I loathed them and attended only at Archangelo's insistence. I far preferred our villa, away from the pomp and pageantry of Aethelwine's court. I longed for simpler circumstances, a pleasant meal in quiet surroundings.

Aethelwine sat at the head of the table, orchestrating the conversation. Straight-backed and arrogant, she wore her fine blonde hair in an elaborately plaited roll, decorated with strands of Emyssinean Ocean pearls and exotic blooms. She was wearing a fussy gown of sky-blue silk, and I secretly suspected she should consider a larger gown size. Everything the woman put on her back was at least one size too small. Vanity, no doubt, was at the basis of these poor clothing choices. But of course, no-one dared mention such a thing to the Queen, because her temper was legendary in the Realm.

Perhaps I was being too unkind, but I didn't really think so. I picked up my own goblet and sipped at the sweet dandelion wine. Aethelwine was an enigma to me; cold, calculating and utterly ruthless in her quest to hold the Fae Realm under a tight rule. Tonight, she delighted in regaling us with tales of her power, constantly boasting of her totalitarian rule over the Realm, and her hopes for controlling the human world, now that the Fae had aligned themselves with the Drâghici. It was common to listen to her prattling off details of those in the Realm who had raised her ire, and the horrible fates which befell them for their folly. Aethelwine was a pompous, egotistical, and tyrannical beast of a woman, rarely wasting her breath on speaking to me, and for the most part, ignoring my existence.

Despite the alliance forged between the Realm and the Drâghici, she didn't like vampires and her abhorrence was not a secret at these dinners. Whenever the Drâghici were in attendance – which was often – there was an underlying tension between the groups. Archangelo insisted I was imagining it and maintained the Fae and the Drâghici enjoyed a mutual respect. It was another subject I'd dropped abruptly when Archangelo grew angry with my questions.

“Your Majesty; I heard rumor last week that Conal Tremaine has been sighted within the Realm.”

The man who'd asked the question was a portly, round-faced fairy from one of the distant cities. He watched the Queen for her reaction, his features ruddy under Aethelwine's haughty gaze. Around him, the others in the room lapsed into a horrified silence; clearly, this fairy was unaware of the embargo against speaking of the war.

Just when I suspected the fairy would collapse onto the floor in a fit of terror, Aethelwine spoke. “Crangel, I assure you, if Tremaine had been sighted, he would have been captured instantly. His poster is displayed all over the Realm. Someone would have captured him,” the Queen announced decisively, eyeing the frightened male. The suggestion that renegades could enter the Realm without capture was clearly intolerable. Crangel swallowed nervously, clearly realizing the depths of Aethelwine's displeasure.

“And I would take great delight in slaughtering him,” Archangelo added lazily, sipping from his goblet.

“When the renegades surrender, every one of them will be slaughtered,” Aethelwine announced.

Before I could consider the consequences of such an action, I spoke up. “Your Majesty, surely not?”

A second, equally intense silence followed my outburst and I hastened to explain, the heat of a blush suffusing my cheeks. “Your Majesty,” I began carefully, aware of the excruciating grip Archangelo had on my thigh, “I apologize, most sincerely, for my rudeness. I was concerned for the women and children of the renegade group.”

Aethelwine continued to glare at me, her expression a mask of icy displeasure. Lowering my gaze to the table, my hands shook as I continued. “I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was concerned that perhaps you meant you would kill the women and children, when surely it's the men who fight this war.”

Aethelwine remained silent for nearly a minute and the attendees waited uneasily for her reaction. “You would do well, girl, to keep your mouth shut when you know nothing of importance regarding this war and those who fight against us.” She shifted her focus back to Crangel, dismissing me with a haughty sniff. “Crangel, you can be certain that every man, woman, and child who has aligned themselves with the renegades will be slaughtered upon their surrender. The Realm will not tolerate disobedience and disorder.”

Risking a glance at Archangelo, I cringed under his cold gaze. The muscle in his jaw had tensed and the thin slash of his lips confirmed that he was utterly furious with me. I shuddered, mentally chastising myself for opening my mouth.

“Angel, have you suffered any further nightmares?” Doctor Bran sat opposite my position at the table, resplendent in his customary silvery-gray cloak. I'd expected an abrupt change of subject after my outburst but wasn't certain this was the direction I wanted the conversation to take. Hard brown eyes studied me vigilantly and I forced my attention away from the long, ragged scar on his cheek, frightened to meet his gaze lest he saw the lie in mine. While I hadn't had a nightmare, I still had no explanation for the voice I'd heard earlier.

“No doctor, no nightmares. I've been sleeping soundly these past four weeks.”

Archangelo met Bran's gaze from across the table and there was another uncomfortable moment of silence before the doctor spoke again. “Excellent news. Perhaps we have settled on the correct dosage now.”

I smiled nervously and nodded. “I believe so.”

“But you must tell us if you suffer any strange recollections, Angel,” Archangelo demanded. “Any sign of relapse will require an increase in the medication you take.”

“Oh, I'm certain I don't need more,” I responded instantly, alarmed at the thought of being drugged more heavily than I was now. I already took the potion Doctor Bran had prescribed four times a day and I loathed the thought of taking more, despite hearing that voice.

“You will take it if Bran says it's necessary,” Archangelo growled. He caught my chin between his finger and thumb, his grip painful. “You will mind me, Angel.”

“Yes, Archangelo,” I responded meekly, ashamed of the dressing down I'd received in front of the other guests. I lowered my gaze to my plate once again, toying with the now-cold meal.

Archangelo inhaled deeply, deliberately schooling his handsome features into serenity. “You know how much I love you, Angel. I only insist on this for your own good.” He leaned across, dropping his mouth to mine and kissing me lightly. “I would hate to lose you to the madness again.”

Much later that evening, I lay in bed with Archangelo's arms wrapped tightly around my body. I was feigning sleep – after berating me angrily for my outburst at dinner, his lovemaking had been demanding and rough and I wanted him to think I slept soundly to avoid further advances.

Finding it impossible to sleep, I worried endlessly regarding the conversation at dinner. Archangelo had told me I must tell him and Doctor Bran if I had any strange recollections.

How could the nightmares I'd endured be recollections? Surely that meant they had a basis in truth?

Chapter 3: Cracks Begin to Form

For the next two days, Archangelo remained at the villa and after his initial anger over my faux pas at Aethelwine's dinner, he'd reverted to being my loving, attentive husband.

Nissa had been dismissed while he remained at the villa and for the most part, we remained in the bedroom, with Archangelo demanding intimacy regularly and often.

This was an area of our life which I found increasingly difficult to tolerate. When I'd first regained consciousness after my illness, it had been difficult enough to comprehend who I was, let alone what Archangelo's role was in my life. Although he'd explained he was my husband, I had experienced no sense of a physical or emotional connection to him. To all intents and purposes, he was a stranger, a man I'd only just met.

The first terrible shock had come that first night, when Archangelo had entered my bedroom in the early evening. Completely naked, he'd confidently drawn me into his arms and forced himself on me, despite my protests. Confused and frightened, I'd had no choice but to endure his lovemaking, and afterward, he'd reassured me he was only exercising his rights as my husband, and that he couldn't bear to wait a moment longer.

When he'd left the following morning, I'd rolled onto my stomach and cried endlessly.

As the days passed and my health improved, Archangelo had spent hours with me, doing his best to help me recall him. He regaled me with many stories of our life together, reminding me repeatedly of how much we loved one another; but each night when he approached our bed, I couldn't stop a shudder of apprehension rippling across my skin.

He was a physically attractive man, tall and leanly muscled with an attractive halo of dark brown curls framing his features. With a strong square jaw, a cleft in the center of his chin and thick dark eyelashes, he was possessed of a full, lush mouth which could break into an appealing smile when he was in a good mood.

But there was something about his eyes which bothered me. Bright green, with flashing streaks of bronze in them when he experienced any extreme emotion, they should have been beautiful. Looking into them, I only ever endured a terrible chill. The eyes are the windows to the soul; the way to read someone's thoughts, hopes, and dreams. In Archangelo's eyes, I could only see desolation, the sparkle of malicious intent. His eyes were those of a cold-blooded killer and I couldn't understand why I loathed looking at them now, when I must have done so without any qualms before the illness.

I'd repeatedly analyzed my emotions in these past four weeks. Despite Archangelo's physical attributes, I didn't find him attractive. I experienced no swell of desire for him, had no sense of connection to him. Nothing suggested to my heart and soul that this was the man I loved, the man to whom I'd bonded with the intention of spending our lives together.

The terrible truth was that I found no satisfaction in his lovemaking. He was a virile man, seemed to be an experienced lover and gave the impression he'd been with many women – in stark contrast, he informed me, to my own virginal state prior to our marriage. I was convinced something was missing from our relationship. Archangelo took little interest in ascertaining my needs and desires, concentrating purely on his own pleasure

Increasingly, his demands were growing more intense, his lovemaking more violent. With the immense strength inherent to a vampire, he could easily harm me, a fact he'd taken great pains to be aware of when he'd first reentered our bed. But as the weeks passed, he seemed to forget his precautions. His touch was less gentle, and bruises increasingly appeared on my fair skin. I was grateful when he was away because it gave me a chance not only to recover, but to regain a sense of peace for a day or two.

Worse still, his desires in the bedroom were changing, morphing into needs I was increasingly uncomfortable with.

Last night had frightened me. At the height of his passion, Archangelo had reached for a blade he kept sheathed on the stand beside our bed. Before I could protest, he'd used the tip of the blade to slice a small wound above my right breast.

Shocked by the sudden pain, and ignoring my shrieks of objection, Archangelo had lowered his mouth to my breast, suckling against the wound. “Just a taste, my angel. I need to taste you,” he muttered, sucking strongly at the beads of blood weeping from my skin.

Escaping from him was impossible – lying over me, he'd kept me immobile by holding my hands above my head as he finished licking the wound and reached a climax deep inside my body. When he withdrew, I'd rolled over onto my side and cried silently, wondering how I'd found myself bonded to this terrible man.

Archangelo had lain wordlessly for a few minutes and then drawn me forcefully into his arms, apologizing repeatedly for his behavior. Confused and afraid, I'd finally fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Only to have him repeat the same actions, twice over, this morning.

Shuddering, I rolled onto my side, squeezing my eyes shut in the vain hope of expunging the memory. Archangelo had informed me last night that he was leaving at dawn, to deal with matters pertaining to the war. I was troubled to recognize the emotion I experienced as relief. Knowing he would be leaving, knowing it meant a few days of salvation from his demands, found me wishing it was morning already.

Until morning came, and with it, his brutal behavior. Not only had he forced himself upon me, but he'd nicked my skin twice more, sucking blood from the wounds.

When he'd finished satisfying himself, Archangelo had risen from the bed and kissed me, as if what he'd done was the most normal thing in the world. He'd left, promising to return as soon as he could.

Unwilling to even look at him, I'd lain mutely in bed as he bathed and dressed, slipping from the villa with a quiet click of the door latch.

By the time Nissa arrived, I'd soaked some of the pain away in a bath, easing the stinging between my legs and the ache in my limbs from the many bruises Archangelo had inflicted. The three cuts he'd made were vivid reminders of the assaults he'd perpetrated and I pulled a simple cotton gown over my body, pleased to see it covered the bruises and cuts. The last thing I wanted was Nissa to see them; to see pity in her eyes was more than I could bear. Worse still would be if she confronted Archangelo and was dismissed from protecting me. She was the only person I could cling to in this strange world, the one person who seemed to genuinely care and treated me with respect and fondness. To lose her now would be untenable.

I could hear Nissa busying herself in the sitting room, setting the small table in preparation for breakfast arriving from the kitchens downstairs. She was humming softly and I wished I could be so happy.

Dropping the hairbrush onto the counter, I was startled to discover a gold ring sitting beside it. Had it been there when I picked up the brush? I was almost positive it hadn't.

I touched the ring hesitantly, before picking it up to examine it closely. Exquisitely designed, and yet deceptively simple, it was made of strands of shimmering gold, twisted together, and drawn into a tiny, perfectly formed heart.

Mesmerized by its beauty, I placed it in the palm of my hand, wondering where it could possibly have come from. I dismissed the thought that perhaps Archangelo had left it for me instantly. It wasn't in a box, nor was it extravagantly gift-wrapped – both marks of Archangelo's largesse. Plus, he always gave me his gifts personally, I'm sure to delight in the proof of how generous he was.

Could someone have left it in the bathing room by mistake? The villa servants were often in and out, to clean, or to replace the bathing towels – but I didn't think anyone who owned a ring as stunningly delicate as this was likely to leave it here by mistake.

Without conscious thought, I lifted the ring, holding it between my thumb and forefinger, powerless to stop myself from slipping it onto my finger. It didn't seem surprising to find it fit perfectly and I admired the piece, watching it glimmer in the early morning sunlight. This was, I felt quite certain, the type of jewelry I preferred. Simple and uncluttered, so completely unlike the ornate rings Archangelo insisted I'd selected for our bonding.

“That's where it belongs.”

With a sharp intake of breath, I tore the ring from my finger and dropped it onto the bench, staring at the gold band as if the voice had emanated from inside it.

“Please, put it back on. It belongs to you.” The voice was insistent, gentle in tone and cadence.

“No,” I whispered, acutely aware of Nissa's presence in the other room.

“It does belong to you, love,” the voice insisted. “I gave it to you.”

Shaking my head, I backed away from the counter, the flutter of my heart indicating rapidly mounting anxiety. “Leave me alone, I'm begging you. Please, you must leave me alone.”

“I won't harm you, love. How could I possibly harm you? I'm merely one voice, one person alone, who speaks to you.”

“You're a fiend,” I hissed, repeating what I'd heard from both Archangelo and Bran. “You caused the deterioration in my mental health, you nearly drove me out of my mind!”

“That's what they want you to believe, love. Archangelo and Bran want you to think that.”

“Go away! Please, go away!” My instinct was to turn and wrench open the door, run away from what I was hearing. But Nissa was out there; I couldn't explain this to her and even if I tried, how would I explain hearing this voice in my head? She would have no option but to tell Archangelo of my setback and Bran would increase the dosage of medication.

“You are correct, my love. Archangelo and Bran will increase the medication if they discover you are hearing my voice. You must not tell Nissa, despite how much you trust in her. It's imperative you don't tell anyone.”

A glance at my reflection confirmed that my eyes had widened to the point where I looked curiously like an owl. “How do you know what I'm thinking!” I hissed.

He sighed, taking a few seconds before he spoke. “This will be difficult to explain, my love, and as I told you when we spoke last time, I cannot keep this connection to you open for long. The short answer is that I do exist within your mind.”

Panic welled in my chest and I shook my head vehemently.

The voice spoke swiftly, as if aware of my growing sense of disbelief. “I promise you love; you are not crazy. Hearing my voice is a completely natural occurrence for you; at least, it was before this began. My name is Lucas.”

“Angel, breakfast is prepared!” Nissa called from the bedroom. “Hurry up – you must be starving by now!”

The sound of her voice made me jump and I edged closer to the door, pressing my palms to my temples. “No! I don't know any Lucas! Go away, please, just go away! Don't you see? If I'm hearing you, it means I'm descending into the madness again, and I can't survive it; I won't survive it!”

I could hear the deep resignation in his voice when he spoke. “All right, love. I'll leave you. But please, I'm begging you to keep the ring. Will you grant me this one wish, and I swear to you I will not speak to you again.”

I wavered, transfixed by the pretty gold band on the countertop. Unable to stop myself, I walked across and picked up the ring, clasping it in my palm.

“Keep it somewhere safe, love. Don't wear it, because Archangelo threw it away when he placed his rings on your finger. He will become suspicious if he discovers you with it.”

Silence descended over my mind and I waited for the voice – Lucas – to speak again. When more than a minute had passed, and Nissa had called a second time, I tentatively whispered his name in the quiet room but received no response.

Unclenching my palm, I stared at the delicate ring again. Without analyzing why, I decided to keep it. A strong wave of conviction washed over me, instilling the suggestion in my mind that it really was my ring.

I wasn't going to give it up.

Chapter 4: The Question Remains…

My thoughts were far away as I toiled, the sketchpad resting against my bent knee and the charcoal moving steadily over the paper, despite my lack of attentiveness. The weather was glorious, azure blue skies and brilliant sunshine, yet I remained stuck inside, in a villa which was rapidly becoming a prison.

I'd cautiously requested permission from Archangelo to leave the villa five days ago, wanting only to venture as far as the grounds, to sit in the manicured gardens I could see beneath the windows. His response had been a resounding refusal. Feeling in good health, I'd disagreed, arguing that some fresh air and exercise would be good for me.

Archangelo's reaction had been explosive, his temper erupting into a furious tirade because I'd questioned him. His outburst was terrifying, and I'd been left quaking in fear, unable to meet his eyes before he'd slammed through the villa door, tearing it from the hinges.

He'd returned a few hours later, deeply repentant. He blamed his fury on the pressure he was under, caused by the preparations for the final assault on Zaen. Holding me close, he kissed me repeatedly, whispering his apologies and begging my understanding. To keep the peace, I had offered him forgiveness, but I remained deeply troubled by his temper. Had he always been this volatile? Not for the first time, I questioned why I'd allowed myself to be bonded to him. If I was honest, I had no answers, couldn't understand what I had found attractive in this man.

Sighing heavily, I turned my attention back to the sketchpad and gazed, wide-eyed at what I'd drawn.

I'd sketched a man – and I had no idea who he might be.

I traced over the face repeatedly with my eyes, trying to place him, where I might have met him. He was incredibly handsome, with intense black eyes and a well-defined jaw. I'd drawn a hint of dimples in his cheeks, and the muscle in his neck and jaw had been sharply defined with a few deft strokes of the charcoal. He seemed immensely powerful; potent and sensual and my eyes wandered across the lips I'd drawn. They were full lips, carnally seductive and I trembled when I imagined touching them with my own.

Startled by such an intense physical reaction, I dropped the sketchpad and stood up abruptly, stepping over to the window to gaze outside while I gathered my thoughts.

Was he someone I'd met? Did I know him in the past? He didn't look as if he were Fae. He seemed to be human, although there was something rugged and wild about him, an almost animal-like slant to his eyes.

“You do know him.”

“You promised to leave me alone!” I hissed. I glanced back at the sketch anxiously, wondering if there was a link between the darkly handsome man I'd drawn, and the deep voice emanating from inside my head.

“You love us both.”

“Angel, cook wants to know if you are ready for lunch—”

I shrieked when Nissa spoke unexpectedly and she eyed me in alarm. “You look like you've seen a ghost,” she remarked, hurrying to my side.

With a deep inhalation of breath, I tried to steady my nerves. “I'm fine.”

Nissa's attention turned to the window, surveying the scene below. “Did you see something untoward?”

“No, it's nothing.” I glanced anxiously towards the sketchpad and quickly refocused my attention on Nissa, but she'd seen where my gaze landed if only momentarily. She turned and picked up the sketchpad, studying the picture I'd drawn.

“Who is this?” she demanded quietly, her voice deceptively calm.

“I— I don't know,” I admitted. “I was daydreaming, and when I glanced down at the sketchpad, that's what I'd drawn.”

Nissa tore the page from the pad, hurrying across to the fireplace. She snatched up the matches and lit one, holding it to the page until it caught alight and then dropped it into the grate, watching as it burnt. “You must never draw him again,” Nissa warned resolutely, turning to face me. “Never.”

“Do you know who he is?” I questioned, watching the paper darken and curl.

Nissa shook her head.

I stared at her for long seconds, seeing the lie in her orange eyes. The Fae can't lie, but I suspected she was lying by omission. “You do know him, don't you?”

Nissa gripped my arms and shook me a little. “Angel, for the love of the Gods, you must never tell Archangelo about this,” she pleaded, her eyes filled with panic.

A trickle of alarm swam through my own veins. “Why?” I demanded. “Tell me who he is.”

Nissa released me abruptly, slumping onto the couch and dropping her head into her hands. “I can't tell you, Angel. It's more than my life's worth to reveal that information.” She lifted her head, her gaze serious. “All I can say is that you must never let Archangelo know you drew him. And never draw his likeness again. If Archangelo or Bran were to find out—” She stopped, biting her lip nervously.

“If they find out? What?” I dropped onto the couch beside her, taking her hands in mine. “Please, Nissa. What's going on? Please tell me what you know.”

Nissa scrambled to her feet, her usually smooth motion lost to panic. She paced the floor nervously. “I can't tell you anything.”

“I think you can.” I scrutinized her, watching her pace back and forth. “Who is he?”

Nissa shook her head. “No, Angel! I won't tell you, and we cannot discuss this! I can only tell you one thing – if Archangelo discovers you've drawn him, he and Bran will increase the dosage of that medication they are giving you.” She took a deep breath and turned towards the door. “I'll tell the cook to prepare your lunch. And then, I must go on an errand. I will be back before darkness falls.”

She slipped from the room before I had an opportunity to argue, and I stared after her, wondering why the usually brave Nissa was so frightened.

Chapter 5: The Monster Within

In the next few days, I tried everything to persuade Nissa to reveal the identity of the man. It was a hopeless venture, she refused to discuss it. I noticed she wasn't her usual self; she seemed distracted and she was constantly anxious.

Most of my time was spent in solitude – Nissa insisted on running several mysterious errands and I was left with the protection of a male guard. Unlike Nissa, he didn't interact, merely standing guard outside the door.

Archangelo had been away for more than a week, and I wondered again where he was, what he might be doing. He'd boasted about the final assault on the rebel's stronghold – was that where he was? Guilt assuaged me each night as I went to bed, knowing I was thankful Archangelo remained absent. I loathed the thought of his return and worried constantly about such a mindset regarding my bonded husband.

The man I'd sketched was on my mind constantly. It was an outlandish idea, but I felt as though I should know him.

I'd heard nothing further from the voice inside my head – and was torn between unease over hearing from him again, and distress over the possibility that I wouldn't. I held a fervent desire to know if he could help unravel the mystery. He'd told me I'd loved them both, both him and the man in the sketch. How could that be?

I was sorely tempted to draw the handsome stranger but refrained from doing so because I didn't want to anger Nissa. There was little need to sketch him – it seemed as if his handsome face was now burnt into my consciousness and when I shut my eyes, I could see him clearly – but I harbored a tangible desire to have something concrete, thought that perhaps if I could look at a sketch it might trigger some recollection of how I knew the man's face. I resisted the temptation, keeping my promise to Nissa.

As an alternative, to fill my time, I focused on drawing what I could see from the villa windows – the streets and people of Tamekeel. After a few days without company, I'd filled the sketchpad with images – children floating small paper boats down the culverts; the flower seller who erected her stall each day on the street beneath the villa; two Queens Guards who stopped to chat on the corner. Whilst it filled my time, my mind continued to sift through the confusion, endlessly seeking answers to the many questions I had.

The one person I continued to see regularly was Doctor Bran, who followed the usual routine and arrived at the villa door four times a day, at precisely the same times, to administer my medication. Each time the routine was the same; questions regarding my mental health, whether I was experiencing visions, hearing strange voices.

Although I couldn't understand the necessity of Nissa's warning, I heeded it. I never mentioned the sketch I'd drawn, nor the voice I'd heard. Bran seemed satisfied with my responses, filling a tumbler with the precise measurement of medication and watching vigilantly to ensure I swallowed down every drop.

Archangelo strode into the villa very late that afternoon. He was filthy, his clothing covered in blood and grime, but he looked immensely pleased with himself. “Elf, leave.” He issued the order curtly and Nissa nodded, leaving with a tight smile in my direction.

“Archangelo, is everything all right?” I inquired, pushing myself up from the couch where I'd been settled reading. I surveyed him with some alarm, wondering if any of the blood was his own. As a vampire and human hybrid, he bled as easily as I did. “Are you hurt?”

He grinned wildly, seeming almost manic in his excitement. “I'm fine. This is the blood of our enemies, my Angel.” He captured my wrist, pulling me into his arms before he dropped his mouth to mine, kissing me deeply. I could taste blood on his tongue, and struggled not to lose the contents of my stomach. When he released my lips, his eyes were intense, bordering on crazed as he gazed down at me. “Zaen has fallen. The renegades are on the run and we'll soon be savoring victory.” He caught my hand, dragging me towards the bedroom. “Come, my Angel. I feel like celebrating and what better way than to make love to my beautiful wife?”

I blushed furiously, tugging against his hand. “Archangelo, you're filthy… perhaps a bath—”

Archangelo's expression changed instantly, his eyes narrowing. “Do you not want to make love to your victorious husband, Angel?”

I shook my head minutely, my eyes downcast. “No, it's not that… just… you're covered in blood—”

Archangelo pulled me up against him, rubbing his groin against my stomach suggestively. “Don't try and deny me, Angel. This blood? It's the blood of my enemies and you should relish in it, want to bathe in it as I did when Zaen fell. I worked hard for this victory and I'm going to enjoy the spoils of that victory with you. You're going to do exactly as I tell you – when I tell you. Do you understand?”

He was frightening me and I pushed against his chest ineffectively, trying to escape. “But—”

“There is no but!” With superhuman speed, he lifted me into his arms and ran into the bedroom. Rage was visible in his face in the split-second before he threw me onto the bed. My skull connected with the elegantly carved headboard and a burst of intense light exploded painfully behind my eyes.