Bound by Darkness (Bound By Series)

38. Battle Moves

Chapter 38

Battle Moves

THALIA

The wind whipped my face violently as the bitter cold bit at my cheeks. My feet stumbled and bucked over the rocky terrain as I descended faster and faster, my muscles familiar with the stretch and pull. They had grown much stronger.

I had grown much stronger in the months since my departure from the prison.

I ignored the calls of those around me, their attempts falling on deaf ears as I rounded the corners of tents and caravans, my fingers pushing off solid wood to gain momentum.

My legs and lungs were on fire as I pushed past the bleeding in my ears and the roaring in my heart as I inched closer to the riders.

“Thalia!” Ivan yelled behind me. “Hold on!”

I refused to stop… to glance back at the man trailing my path.

He caught up with the wind’s help, his powerful legs keeping a steady jog beside me. “They still have to?—”

I pushed further, the tents breaking away like a solid wall. The exertion hurt my lungs, and my legs threatened to collapse as I stood in greeting.

The camp sat behind me, the wind blowing my hair in wild directions as my hand raised to cover my wavering lips. The rider spotted me, the horse picking up speed with its final gallops.

I stepped forward, but Ivan gently held his hand against my shoulder. “It’s a tradition riders meet us here on the outskirts of the camp, where the rocks outline,” he said, pointing to the various rocks lined on either side of the gravel road. “The gods have blessed them this far. Let them finish their quest.”

And so I did the hardest thing I had to complete since leaving her behind months ago.

I waited.

I waited until the horses stamped the ground, their voices carrying like a trumpet across the land. I waited, even as sobs wrecked my body in anticipation. I waited until the rider jumped from the horse, her slim figure bolting across the distance until her hands wrapped around me in a tight hug. My lips loosened as I wept upon her shoulder for the friend I had dearly missed and risked my life for.

She was okay. She was more than okay as tears cascaded down my cheeks, smearing kohl and water across her shirt.

Moria clapped my back once more before tentatively stepping away, her hands resting on my shoulders. She squeezed each as tears glistened in her eyes, her smile full of relief. “You’re here.”

I furiously wiped the tears from my face, my hair sticking to the wetness. “You’re here.”

Moria smiled, her shoulders seeming to lift in response. “You’re…not hurt or anything?” she asked, her eyes assessing for damage.

“No, no. I’m fine,” I said as I waved a hand. “I should be asking you.”

Moria smiled as her fingers let go of my shoulders

The other rider, a blonde-haired woman, strode beside Moria, her hand cradling her arm to her chest. “I appreciate this touching moment, but we have essential matters to take care of first.”

“You look like shit,” Ivan mused, his arms crossing over his chest.

The woman scoffed. “Same to you. Were you busy at a brothel?”

Ivan slid an arm over my shoulders, the weight light. “Something like that.”

The woman lifted a brow, her eyes flicking to his tousled hair… and to me as Ivan gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. It sent heat spiraling down my spine.

The cocky bastard.

Moria’s gaze flicked over to me, a thousand questions shining behind her pallid mask.

I averted her gaze as my fingers interlocked in front of me. That would be a question for another time.

Ivan cleared his throat, his arm slinging from my shoulders in greeting.

Moria clasped his hand in a tight handshake.

“Ivan. A pleasure to meet the famous Moria.”

She looked puzzled, but it vanished quickly as her hand fell at her side. “Likewise. I’m sure there will be much to discuss.”

The woman beside her scoffed. “Ivan, Moria, Naexi. Can we save the introductions for later?” She huffed. “My arm is dangling out of its socket.”

Ivan jerked his head toward camp. “You know where the medic tent is.”

“Asshole,” she muttered before walking down the hillside.

“I have to go, too. Iyanna is waiting,” Moria said softly. “I’ll come find you after. I have to?—”

“I know. Iyanna is… Iyanna,” I answered as she squeezed my hand.

Moria chuckled. “Then you have met her.” She lingered next to me as her eyes assessed me once more. “I’ve never thanked the gods, but to see you here?—”

Her eyes closed for a second as an old prayer lamented from her lips. “I am grateful we get more time together.” Tears pricked her eyes as the golden flecks inside sparkled. “I… I have to go, but I will find you right after.”

Tears pricked mine as I nodded. “I’ll wait.”

Moria glanced back once more before heading to Iyanna’s tent.

Ivan shook his hand, a deep groan leaving his lips once she disappeared. “Holy hells, she’s strong.”

I laughed. “She is from Raha.”

“Which means?—”

“Born and raised,” I said. “Which is why you shouldn’t piss her off.”

“So I can piss you off instead?”

My face heated. “Not what I meant.”

He tugged me close, my body pressed against every crevice of his. A wall of trained muscle rested against mine as he brushed a few strands of wind-whipped hair from my face. “I would have to disagree, as I’m sure you’ll turn a lovely shade of red when I whisper depraved words to you.”

I opened my mouth, but my head spun with impure fantasies. My body heated where it stood—burned in places that had me shifting back and forth, the friction creating more heat against his skin and mine.

He grinned at the expression across my face, his words having achieved the desired.

“I—we should head back,” I stuttered as my feet slid back to create a singular stone of space. It wasn’t enough. Being in the same camp wasn’t enough to quell the fire stirring below my waist.

“Right.” His hands stuffed into his back pockets as we started walking back. “Are you going to wait by Iyanna’s tent?”

I nodded, my feet picking up to a light walk. “Yes.”

“I’m sure Moria will be excited to talk to you after how much time has passed.”

“Yeah,” I replied. Clearing my throat, I glanced back at him. “Thank you.”

Ivan stopped.

“Thank you,” I repeated. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I know Moria being here is not your doing, but without your deal… without you rescuing me, she wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be safe.”

A hand ruffled my hair. “Anytime, half-breed .” A grin formed across his lips. “Let’s call it even by you owing me a favor.”

“I’m not owing you a favor.”

“Oh? Not even if I make you?—”

A man rushed beside us, his breathing labored and deep as he spoke over Ivan’s words. “There… you are,” he said between pauses.

My eyes narrowed at Ivan before they flickered to the man.

He held up a hand toward the middle of the camp, his eyes wide. “Iyanna needs you both in her tent.”

“She can wait,” Ivan scoffed. “I have plans tonight.”

“Please, you have to go. It’s urgent.”

“What’s so urgent it can’t wait?” Ivan snapped.

“The plans. Moria and Naexi succeeded in obtaining the Rebel’s next plan of attack, and it’s dreadful.” The man rattled his reply through shallow gulps of air.

“Let’s go,” I said after a pause. “If we aren’t there in the next five seconds, something tells me Iyanna will tug on the bond.”

As if she heard my statement, a slight wisp curled around the bond, making my skin shiver and pepper.

Ivan ran a hand through his hair. “Fine, but I don’t appreciate being interrupted.”

The man laughed nervously as he wound his fingers together. “Thank you. Thank you,” he said. “She’ll be waiting at her tent.”

The man hurried off into the night before we said a proper goodbye.

We walked through the camp, daylight lighting our backs with its final kiss.

“Is it serious?”

“We’ve been trying to obtain their plans for months until Moria and Naexi successfully brought them back. If Iyanna called for both of us personally, I don’t imagine it could be anything less.”

A puff of air left my lips. I was a coward living in the skin of divine blessing, but it didn’t matter now.

The plans were here and it was time to attack.

My head jerked to the side as a hand pressed against my lower back.

“Let’s go.”

“Right,” I said as we shifted forward to an inevitable fate.

“Nice of you both to finally join us,” Iyanna barked, her lips thinning into a straight line.

“It’s a pleasure keeping you waiting,” Ivan said, his arms crossing his chest. “Let’s cut the bullshit. What did you uncover about the battle plans?”

Iyanna flicked her gaze to Moria, who raised her head from the parchment paper as she said, “It’s… it’s horrible.”

“I can handle bad.”

Moria shook her head. “No, you can’t. Not this time.” Moria looked at me, her voice wavering. “They found you.”

“What do you mean they found me?”

“They know where you have been hiding.”

Ivan’s face paled as he stumbled back. “But there’s no way they could have located us.”

“The rebels discovered the location of this camp in their efforts to search for you,” Iyanna blankly stated. “Meaning there is a traitor among the camp feeding the rebels information. Information that will cost the lives of everyone at the Hideaway.”

Everything spun and shifted. No .

I took a step back. “Because of me, the rebels are going to attack?”

“They would have attacked anyway,” Ivan cut in.

“Stop it with the lies,” Iyanna pressed. “Of course they are attacking because of you. A woman of prophecy such as yourself should handle the blame that title comes with.”

Ivan growled. “Iyanna?—”

“Bite your tongue, dog.” Iyanna tapped the parchment. “This is because of you, Thalia. Do you see what your presence does? Why I am deliberate in you using your casting? Because the rebels, Armas, hells, all of Cethales will continue to come after you until this war ends,” she snapped.

“Then give me time to learn! The lessons at night aren’t helping. I should be training with Ivan instead of filling my head with writing and reading,” I bit back. “At least he teaches me how to fight. How to wield a sword to defend myself. ”

Iyanna’s nail pointed at me. “You think we have time for you to spar? What we need you learning is your casting. War does not allow time, especially now with Euris Feyron and King Hywell on our backs.”

“What do you mean they are on our backs?” Ivan asked, his face growing paler by the minute.

Iyanna waved a hand. “Moria and Naexi ran into Euris Feyron and fell for the trap he had placed. He used the rebel plans as bait, and now King Hywell is after us on top of the rebels barking at our door.” Iyanna flicked her thick braids over her shoulder.

“You ran into your father?” Moria only mentioned terrible things about her father in prison. For her to have met him?

Moria’s eyes softened. “Yes. He’s cruel, but he never lies. He never intended to fight. The goal was for us to take the rebel plans so he could tell King Hywell we stole them. He planned it so it would look like we instigated war against the King.”

“With the rebels and King Hywell closing in on us, we have no choice but to fight back,” Iyanna added. “You will fight to protect this camp.”

“I have no issues with fighting to protect these people,” I spat. “What I do not appreciate is you telling me I have to use my casting when I’ve yet to master it. It could lead to ruination instead if I don’t learn to control it.”

“Then learn to control it,” Iyanna snapped. “For the time being, your training with Ivan will cease. You will train with me every day until we get an idea of when the rebels will attack.”

The command sliced through my body, hot and thick.

“If I so much as see you lounging about, I will add a weeks worth of work before you are able to search for the Book of Spells.”

“You promised?—”

“Quiet!” A hand raised in the air. “It is settled. Go and fetch Naexi for me.”

“Why?” I snapped.

“If we are about to discuss battle plans, I want her in here. Go fetch her,” she growled, the command slicing through the room.

Irritation flowed through me as my body acted on her words, my feet propelling me to the cascading jewels.

“I will fight for this camp, but I won’t fight for you,” I said before exiting the room, my blood boiling with rage.