She said nothing in response.
She waited.
A female voice intruded. “Now is the time, Ry. Take your prize and Bergisson will be yours.”
Ry pushed her hair away from her throat. I’m going to make you mine, Samantha, right here on the ridge, in front of Ethan, the Goddess, and everyone else.
Unwilling to give him the satisfaction of her fear or to alert the fae entity to her clear mind, she remained very still, but every ounce of her spirit became focused solely on Ethan.
No more holding back with him.
Whatever he needed from her right now, was his for the taking. She met and held his gaze, hoping he could somehow intuit her intentions, her love, her willingness to do anything that was needed in this situation.
She mouthed the words, ‘For Bergisson’.
His brows lifted slightly, then a slight curve touched his lips.
Chapter Ten
Ethan’s heart swelled, a physical movement that the webbing couldn’t touch.
He loved Samantha, with all his heart. He knew that now, deep in his spirit, in the combined frequencies that made up his vampire nature. If he’d had any doubt before about her worth, or whether he should give himself to her fully, she had just washed them away as she mouthed ‘for Bergisson’.
She got him, she got his world, and she got her purpose in his realm and what he felt was joy, pure and simple.
He felt her calmness as well, a mirror of his own, that their current circumstances, each bound so heavily and unable to move, had quieted their respective thoughts and movements, given each time to think and to reassess.
Mostly, he knew she was with him, all the way.
Hope began a powerful journey back through his veins, rebuilding his determination to somehow find a way out of this deadly situation, but with new insights, primarily that he wasn’t alone in his command.
He shifted his gaze back to Ry, now holding Samantha closer.
Ry pathed Ethan again. This is for you, Ethan, for taking what belonged to me. So now I’m taking what you desire and returning Bergisson to her rightful owner at the same time.
But Ethan didn’t respond. He remained very still, turning his attention solely to Samantha.
Ry drew his lips back, letting his fangs emerge fully, two wet, powerful points.
Ethan watched the fangs strike. His body reacted on instinct, a sharp jerk which much to his surprise caused the web, just for a split-second, to give way.
Startled, he looked around. Why hadn’t the web tightened instead? Cut him up?
What had changed?
Only one thing: Ry had pierced Samantha’s neck, which must have meant that once he shifted his attention to her, it broke a connection elsewhere.
His first instinct was to break free, right now, and do battle with Ry. But his impulses had put him here in the web in the first place, so he remained still.
Again, what had changed?
Then, exactly how much had changed?
He ignored his rage at watching Ry drink from Samantha though even at that distance, he felt Ry’s personal frequency pounding against her faeness, demanding entrance and submission. If Ry wore her down and bound her to him, she’d be lost forever.
So would Bergisson because Ry would have the power he’d been seeking, in tandem with the ancient fae force, to do whatever he liked.
Except something wasn’t right, wasn’t working, and the shift had occurred the moment Ry began to feed. He suspected it meant that the ancient fae force had to work with a minion in order to hold her power over so many realm at once. And Ry was her minion, in servitude to her, and the vessel she used to carry out her expansive enthrallment.
But if he could move in the web, then what else could he do right now, while Ry’s attention was focused on Samantha?
He glanced at the Invictus and another question rose: With his entire Guard enthralled, why hadn’t the Invictus attacked them, unless they couldn’t. And that was the other part of the answer, that the enthrallment was universal and had encompassed the Invictus as much as his Guard.
There were limits, therefore, to the ancient fae’s power and apparently, in order to function at top levels, she needed her minion’s full attention.
She didn’t have that now, not with Ry lost in the sublime taste of Samantha’s blood, which meant he had a handful of minutes to organize a counter offensive. The fae’s enthrallment still operated, just not at full force.
He shifted his attention to Finn and attempted telepathy. Finn?
His second-in-command lifted his chin slowly and met his gaze. You feel it, as well, the release of the thrall, at least to a degree?
Enough for us to talk and to strategize. I know I could leave this web right now, for instance, but that would alert Ry and he’s the key. The fae force that has control of Sweet Gorge right now, must have his focus to do what she does.
I alerted the Guard to remain still until further ordered.
Good move. Smart.
I also got through to Quinlan. He arrives in three minutes. Where do you want him when he comes in? He’s got part of his Grochaire Guard with him.
Let me contact Samantha. Hold steady and keep pretending that you’re enthralled. Tell everyone.
Ethan shifted his focus back to his blood rose, ignoring his ever-present need to tear Ry apart. He remained calm and approached her mind. Samantha, can you receive this?
Yes. Thank God. Ethan, ever since he started drinking a lot of my confusion has lessened, but I wasn’t sure what to do, whether contacting you would alert him, but everything has changed, hasn’t it?
Yes, for the moment, so long as he feeds from you.
Which means we have a shot. Ethan, just tell me what to do.
Can you access your fae vision again? Can you see the future?
Absolutely.
He took a moment to test the binding tendrils and when he moved his left hand the webbing gave way. He could still free himself if he wanted.
He closed his eyes forcing himself to hold back. How many times had he screwed up in the past because he was in such a hurry to take charge, not to let others lead?
So, he calmed himself once more and waited for Samantha, focusing on her.
He felt her settle into herself more deeply and after a moment she pathed, On the other side of the gorge is a stretch of land that the ancient fae has kept hidden from view. I see barracks, maybe a training camp. But there are two hundred wraith-pairs ready to do battle, ready to slaughter your guard. Now I see Quinlan and his men attacking that group.
Ethan murmured, Good, that’s good. Now what about the gorge itself, me, my Guard?
She tells him the rest of what she’s seen in the vision and he’s dumbfounded but he’ll also have to trust her and he’ll have to leave most of the fighting to others.