Seven Wardens: Books 1-4

Chapter 3-1

CHAPTER 3

"Do you really think prodding her is a good idea?" a male voice asked.

Macey wondered what that was even about until a sharp prod came at her shoulder. She groaned. No, prodding her was not a good idea. And if she could just summon the strength, the person on the other end of that finger would regret it.

"Do you have any better ideas?" the prodder responded.

"No. But go tend to your own girlfriend."

The people around her, and she was sure there were a few, lapsed into silence.

"She's not my girlfriend," the prodder protested.

"Besides, I'm fine," a weak Amber replied.

Wait...if Amber was the girlfriend, then that must have meant the prodder was Izban. And if Izban was here...

Macey's head began to clear, and she shakily pushed her arms underneath her. She turned as she rose and was greeted by three worried sets of eyes. And Izban's, but he just looked more exasperated than anything else.

"You're okay!" Flint fell to his knees and pulled her into his arms, peppering her face with kisses. "We were so worried."

"Alright, let the rest of us in," Jared grumbled, but it was impossible to miss the relief in his tone.

Flint let her go, and Macey slowly got herself to her feet. She could sense all three of them fretting already, but appreciated that they were leaving her to it. At least they knew her well enough to realise interfering wasn't in their best interests.

The moment she was steady again, she found herself pulled into a bear hug from Jared, and on the receiving end of the doting smile from Cam.

"I knew you could do it," he said softly. She smiled at him. While she was glad they were here, she was also more than a little smug that she was the one who'd saved herself. And Amber for that matter.

"Thanks," she said, twisting out of Jared's arms, and going up on her toes to kiss him. He responded in kind, keeping the pressure light, and the attention on her in a far more loving way than her men usually showed. Normally they were in the more taking-her frame of mind. They must have been really scared for her safety...

Warmth flowed through Macey at the thought, and her heart swelled to three times its normal size. Though maybe that was just the lack of oxygen. That could do funny things to kelpies.

"Here," Amber said, handing her a bottle of water. "You must be running low."

"Thanks." Macey unscrewed the cap after taking it, and chugged down the water, surprised by just how much she actually needed it. She was a water being, she shouldn't have let herself get so low. "How did you find us?" she asked her men after the bottle was empty.

"We didn't," Flint replied, shuffling his feet slightly, as if uncomfortable.

"You can't tell me you're here just by chance," she said.

"Of course not," Cam butted in. "But it was actually Izban casting a searching spell for Amber that led us here.”

Macey exchanged glances with the red-headed girl, who shrugged.

"Must be possible."

"You don't know what he's capable of?" Macey replied, raising an eyebrow.

"We only met a little before I was kidnapped," Amber said, a blush staining her cheeks as she tried not to look at the Ice Warden. Interesting.

Macey counted herself lucky that she already had the Lightning mark on her back. Hopefully, she'd be able to add the Ice mark in a similar fashion. That way she wouldn't have to get between what was clearly a blossoming relationship.

It was also a small relief. Three men was proving difficult enough at the moment, particularly with their protective streaks. She didn't want to add another man and woman into the equation. She wouldn't even have known where to start if she'd needed to have a relationship with Amber.

"Alright then. Next steps," Macey announced, ignoring the fact she was naked from bursting through her clothes while shifted.

Cam shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her, and she took it gratefully, wrapping it around herself and enjoying his scent as it wafted to her nose.

"We need to get out of here and make a plan," Jared said.

"No," three voices responded all at once. Macey frowned. She knew why she was saying no to him. But why were Amber and Izban?

"Who wants to go first?" Flint asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I think my brothers are in there," Macey said.

"I'm not having Amber in danger again," Izban spoke over the top of her, glaring at her men.

"Now hang on a minute," Amber said, putting her hands on her hips. "You're not the boss of me, Izban. I'm not sitting back and letting the Voice get away with this."

Despite having been in captivity for who knows how long, the other woman looked surprisingly strong, and Macey wouldn't mess with her if she didn't have to.

"You've been in there for weeks, Amber, no one can expect you to go back there," Izban countered, his voice softening with unspent emotions.

"That hardly matters. Do you think the bastard is going to wait for me to recover his strength? Besides, you let me fly during that storm. You can't complain that this is any more or less dangerous." She crossed her arms and fixed him with a look.

But all Macey wanted to know about was her use of the word fly. What was the red-head? Up until that moment, Macey had just assumed she was some kind of storm mage, but it sounded like that wasn't the case.

"That was before you were kidnapped. You look half-starved, Amber..."

The other woman couldn't have looked angrier if she'd tried, and Macey took a moment to fix her men with a knowing look. They knew if they ever tried to do this to her, then they might as well wish they were dead.

"So why did you two want to go back into the castle?" Flint interceded, earning himself an angry look from both Izban and Amber.

"I didn't want to go there," Izban protested. "I just meant that we didn't want to come with you four. This is where Amber and I go our own way."

Amber put her hands on her hips, frowning at the blue-haired man. "It is? I think I'll have something to say about that."

Izban sighed. "You don't know them. We don't owe them anything; it was me who tracked you here. Let's go back to the school and forget this all happened."

"Forget?!" Amber shrieked angrily. "I've been tortured. I've been hurt. A part of me still wants to attack Macey because of what the Voice showed me. I won't be able to forget this. Ever. So, if you want to go, fine, but rest assured you'll never see me again."

Izban stared at her, speechless. Inside, Macey applauded her. Despite her youthful looks and her current weak condition, she'd told him off in the most magnificent way. She was making notes for future uses.

"Now, I'm going to go back in there," Amber continued. "I'm no longer alone and I'm no longer bound. We can fight him together. There's no point in leaving now while we're already here."

SO CONFIDENT. IT'S GOING TO BE HEARTBREAKING ONCE YOU REALISE THAT YOU'VE NEVER LEFT.

Suddenly, the world evaporated. It was like the people around Macey suddenly dissolved into mist and drifted away, leaving her alone. Well, not quite alone.

Amber was by her side. There was nothing else. Not even colour. They were standing on a white floor, but there were no walls, no nothing. Just endless whiteness.

"Amber?" Macey asked carefully, "Are you seeing the same?"

"If you mean a lot of white, then yes. And no Izban." Her voice was quivering slightly.

THE NEXT TIME YOU'LL SEE HIM WILL BE ON THE DAY OF YOUR DEATH.

"Stop being so dramatic!" Macey shouted, trying to convince both herself and Amber that they needn't be afraid.

The Voice ignored her.

LET'S CONTINUE WHERE WE LEFT OFF EARLIER.

Mist drifted into the air around them, forming shapes and colours, until they were suddenly back in the courtyard where Macey had first laid eyes upon Amber. She still didn't know what that girl was, except that she was strong. Incredibly strong.

"I will get out of here, I will get out of here," Amber began to whisper, a desperate mantra. "I will get out of here. I will..."

YOU WON'T. NEITHER WILL YOU, LITTLE KELPIE.

Without warning, they were ripped apart, flying through the air until they landed roughly on opposite ends of the courtyard. Ignoring the pain in her limbs, Macey jumped to her feet. She could guess what the Voice was planning next.

BEITHIR. KILL HER.

A beithir! Finally, Macey knew what Amber was. And it scared her a little. She didn't know a lot about beithirs except that they could kill in a variety of ways. Their fangs were poisonous, they could control the weather, they could fly and attack you from above. When they shifted, of course. So far, Amber had stayed human, which is why Macey hadn't figured out her species before. It was hard not to recognise a shifted beithir... there weren't any other supernaturals that looked like a giant snake.

Amber was still on the ground, weakly trying to get to her feet. She'd expended too much energy; she wasn't going to be much of a threat.

But... when had reality been taken over by the Voice? Had it been after Amber attacked Macey with lightning? Or before? If it was before... then Amber would still have enough power to do another such attack. And Macey wasn't sure if she could escape her fate a second time. Had the Voice let them play out their battle in their minds so he could see what was going to happen? Did he want to see how they would escape so he could prevent it from ever happening?

Macey shivered. How was she supposed to fight someone who could play with her perception of what was real and what wasn't? She was still having trouble believing that she hadn't just spoken to her men. Were they really coming for her? Was Izban actually able to do a tracking spell, or had that bit been Amber's wishful thinking?

KILL HER, the Voice repeated and this time, Amber was magically dragged onto her feet by an unseen force. She wavered, but somehow managed to stand. Tiny sparks of lightning began to flicker around the girl's fingers and Macey prepared for the inevitable.

But wait... she was no longer wearing the copper cuffs. That had to mean that the battle had taken place and their combined power had opened them.

Was the Voice aware of that? Did he want an execution or a cat fight?

Amber opened her mouth, but Macey couldn't hear what she was saying. They were too far apart. Well, that could be rectified.

Macey carefully walked towards Amber, aware that there might be a dangerous surprise waiting at every step. Earlier, there'd been guards lying dead or unconscious all over the courtyard. This time, they were alone.

She shook her head in confusion. There was no way of telling what was real and what wasn't. Maybe she was still in her cell. Maybe she'd never even met Amber and this was all one giant illusion.

Suddenly, the air in front of her flickered and someone appeared. Someone very familiar with very blue hair.

Izban.

KILL HER OR I WILL KILL HIM.

Amber's eyes widened as she saw her friend. He didn't move; he seemed more statue than living being. Macey walked around him and took a closer look.

His eyes were moving but the rest of him wasn't. His face was an expressionless mask, but his eyes told her of his fear.

She could almost believe that he was real. That he was in danger.

A lightning bolt hit the ground next to her and she jumped back in surprise. Amber seemed to be convinced that Izban was real.

Another bolt of lightning crashed down at Macey's side, and she almost jumped back. If she was going to have Amber around, then she'd probably better get used to having this happen.

"Amber," she tried to whisper, but her voice was hoarse, as if from a lack of water. That was odd. Unless there were other side effects of the visions the Voice had given them.