The Reckoning by Julie A. D'Arcy

Author:Julie A. D'Arcy [D'Arcy, Julie A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal; Fantasy; Romance; alternate worlds; Sword and Sorcery; Magic; action; adventure; alpha female; alpha male;
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Late afternoon found Tannith and Kaden inching their way along the narrow ledge behind the waterfall. All the time, they were conscious that one false step could put them over the edge to certain death on the dark volcanic rocks hundreds of feet below.

Phoenix remained passive as Tannith led him carefully along the slick rock.

Dannock-Shae’s gelding, whom Kaden was leading, became more skittish with every step of its massive hooves. Without warning, the horse reared. Its hooves skidded and its eyes bulged in terror as its back legs began to slide over the edge of the ledge.

Kaden double wrapped the reins around his fist and grasped the tightening leather with his free hand. Bunching his powerful muscles, he struggled to hold the entire weight of the destrier, but his strength soon ebbed and every muscle and sinew was strained to its ultimate point. He realized with a sinking heart he would have to let the stallion go to his doom. Inch by inch, he painfully unraveled the reins from his bound hand, and the great war horse slid over the edge.

Its screams hung in the moist air as it crashed into the pounding water below. Kaden, exhausted and spent, collapsed against the rock face, and sat trembling, knowing how close he had come to death.

Tannith left Phoenix inside the cave and hurried back along the ledge to gather Kaden in her arms, kissing his cheeks and forehead. “I thought I had lost you. Never frighten me like that again.”

He pulled away and searched her face. She was shaking as much as him, and tears glistened in her eyes.

They had barely talked since Dannock’s death, but the gravity of the situation brought home to him how frail life really was and how foolish he had been. He pushed his hair back from his face.

If matters had gone differently with the horse, he might never have seen Tannith again. He hugged her to his chest. “Neither man nor beast has the power to separate me from you,” he whispered against her ear, waiting for her trembling to subside and his own heart rate to steady. Then he drew back and slipped his dagger from his boot, making a small nick in his palm.

“What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done long ago.”

Waiting until the blood dripped freely onto the wet rocks at his side, Kaden lifted Tannith’s palm. He made a small cut, matched their hands together, and mingled their blood as one. “Do you swear to love me for all time?”

“You know I do.”

“You must swear it.”

“May my blood run the breadth of Tarlis should I ever be untrue to you. And may my shade follow you into Elysium.”

He brought her hand to his lips and gazed into her beautiful violet eyes glistening with tears. “I pledge my love, my soul, to you. I will walk the hills with you. I would lay my soul at the door of the Abyss to protect you.” He touched his lips to hers. “Now you are truly mine from here into eternity.

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