“No, it’s not.”
“Let her help,” said Logan. “This may be Grace’s only chance.”
Joseph’s mouth twisted with frustration, but in the end, he nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
“Good. You may be of use,” said Brenya.
“Logan, you and Hope come with us. The rest of you stay here. Make sure nothing else comes through behind her.”
“I’ll see to it,” said Nicholas.
The four of them hurried to the room where Grace lay, barely alive. Torr was on the far side of the bed, but as they came in, he rose to his feet, his hand going to his sword. “Who’s this?”
“My mother,” said Hope. “She’s here to see Grace.”
“Not your mother, child. Serrien alone holds that honor. I merely took what she willingly sacrificed.”
“I don’t understand. Serrien is my last name.”
“Your mother’s name. She gave you to me so she could return to her world before the Solarc learned of her disobedience. But that is a story for when there is more time.”
The Solarc ruled Athanasia with absolute authority. He was a megalomaniacal bastard by all accounts, and solely responsible for the starvation Logan’s kind suffered. The Solarc was the one who ordered the gate shut, cutting off the source of blood the Sanguinar needed to survive—a curse handed down as punishment on the children of those who dared to defy him. If this woman worked against the Solarc, then she was likely more friend than enemy.
Brenya stepped up to the bed, watching Torr as she would a venomous snake. “Do you claim this dying woman?”
“I do. Hurt her and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Brenya gave him a satisfied nod and rested her long-fingered hand on Grace’s pale brow. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, there was more than a hint of surprise in her gaze. “She did this for you?”
Torr swallowed and nodded, shame burning bright in his cheeks.
“Can you help her?” asked Hope.
“Perhaps. If she lives long enough. The time left to her can be measured in heartbeats.”
Torr’s voice was filled with demand. “Then do something. Now. Before it’s too late.”
“I can’t. At least not here. It will take longer than one night to do what must be done, and the Solarc will know I’m here once the sun rises.”
“Who cares what that fucking asshole knows?” Torr nearly shouted.
“You will when he sends his Wardens here to cut me down.”
“Yeah,” said Hope. “You definitely don’t want to mess with those guys.”
“She’s right,” said Logan. “One of them almost killed us.”
“So what do we do?” asked Torr. “You can’t walk away.”
“I can and I will,” said Brenya. “Whether I walk away with Grace is up to you.”
“Me?” asked Torr.
“What you ask of me is dangerous. It could kill me.”
“So could I,” warned Torr.
Joseph took hold of Torr’s arm and in a low voice said, “Threats are not exactly helpful here. How about you try a little respect for a woman who is likely more powerful than all of us put together.”
Torr’s jaw bulged, and he bit out, “What do you want me to do?”
“What are you willing to do?”
“Anything,” said Torr too quickly. There was something about the way he said it that bothered Logan, making him wonder if his lifemark was still healthy as it had been a few weeks ago.
Brenya smiled, but there was no warmth there, only satisfaction. “Good. Remove your shirt and kneel.”
Torr did as she asked, dropping to his knees in front of the woman.
“I’m going to mark you, and when I do, I will be able to summon you at any time from any place. You will pledge to me your sword arm and your fealty, vowing to defend me and my people in battle even at the cost of your own life. Do you so swear?”
“I do,” said Torr with no hesitation.
Brenya laid her hand on his shoulder. Torr hissed in pain. She didn’t let him flinch away, but held on tight, forcing the contact to go on for several seconds. When she pulled her hand away, there was an angry red mark in the shape of a crescent moon.
“You are mine now.”
“Whatever,” said Torr. “Just save Grace. Please.”
“I will try. Bring her.”
Logan said, “We can’t disconnect her from the machines. She can’t breathe on her own.”
Brenya looked at Torr. “He will breathe for her.”
“Before you go,” said Logan, “there’s something I need to know. Are there more women like Hope?”
Brenya’s leaden eyes darkened with sorrow. “There are. Precious, hidden souls lost in a strange world.”
“How do I find them?”
She shook her head, making her long, silver hair sway about her hips. “I do not know. I stripped them of their past and tucked them in among the humans to protect them. You will find them or not on your own.”
“Did you give them each an amulet like mine?” asked Hope.
“The daughters of Celentia and Lahrien came through before you,” said Brenya, a heavy sadness tugging at her mouth. “I gave them nothing, not even their names. That haunted me, so when I sent you away, I did so with your name, hoping it would give you some comfort to know that you were loved enough to be given the most basic of possessions.”