Winter’s Caress(Brac Village 19)(22)

He cried out when his father ground his foot against Dasani’s wounds. “You sound just like Rakeym.” The accusation wasn’t a compliment. “That freak wants us to die out. We need a leader who sees our race as the gift that it is. We need someone who believes that we must preserve who we are and our ways. Blending our precious heritage with mongrels is defilement to those who believe that outsiders should stay outside.”

Dasani could see that he wouldn’t be able to talk any sense into his father. He was also getting light-headed. He had lost a lot of blood, and lying here while he bled even more wasn’t helping. The bottom of his father’s foot ground back and forth, ensuring his wounds wouldn’t close.

Dasani screamed when they began to shimmer. He knew where his father was taking him. If he ended up back in his home, Dasani had a sinking feeling that he’d never see the light of day again.

His father shimmered them into the kitchen before he reached down and pulled Dasani to his feet by his hair. Dasani had no choice but to get up or risk having his hair yanked from his scalp. His eyes widened when his father reached into one of the drawers and pulled out a pair of shears.

“No,” Dasani begged as his knees grew weak. “Please, father. Please.”

The sentinels’ hair was significant. The long hair represented years of training and dedication. If the hair was cut, that Shadow elf would be shunned and their rank stripped. For the commoner like Dasani, it represented nothing, but his mother had always brushed his hair out at night before bed and then braided it. The strands now reached his waist. For Dasani, his long hair was a connection to his mother.

If Egbar severed those cherished memories, if he sliced away the precious connection, Dasani would find a way to kill his very own father.

“You must learn to follow the old ways,” Egbar said as he wrapped his hand around Dasani’s hair. “One way or another, you’ll see that I’m right.”



* * * *



Winter materialized in a forest. He crouched down beside Ahm as he scanned the village a few hundred yards away. He wasn’t sure why he was expecting thatched roofs and some kind of throwback village. It appeared pretty modern. There were homes instead of huts. The only thing missing were roads and cars.

“Huh,” Ahm said.

“What?” Winter asked as he looked around for signs of trouble.

“Things haven’t changed since I’ve last been here. I would have expected…I’m not sure. Rakeym is trying to take the tribe in a different direction, yet it seems as if nothing has changed.”

“Hasn’t Rakeym kept you in the loop about what’s going on with your people?”

“He said the resistance for the new way was a struggle, but I have a feeling he’s downplaying the seriousness.” Ahm scratched his chin. “I’m afraid my friend can be prideful. He probably didn’t want me to think he was losing ground.”

“It would have been nice to know,” Winter argued. “One look at me and they’ll attack.”

“Or not.”

Winter spun, his claws extending when he heard the deep voice behind him. The Shadow elf stood tall and proud, one eye amber, the other green. His black nails ended at sharp points, and he was the scariest being Winter had ever laid eyes on.

“Rakeym,” Ahm said as he stood and embraced the other man. “It’s good to see you again, old friend.”

“Where’s Dasani?” Winter asked as he turned back toward the village and scanned the area for his mate. He expected to see Dasani among the people walking to and fro, but the little elf was nowhere in sight.

“I went to his home,” Rakeym said, “but no one was there.”

Winter cursed. He had hoped to make this rescue as quick and painless as possible. He should have known better. Nothing worth having came easily. But he was ready to fight Egbar and any other Shadow elf to get back what was his.

“Can you take me to his home?” Winter asked.

Rakeym shook his head. “Entering someone’s home and kidnapping their child would be an act of war. Granted, Dasani is grown, but still, I must find Dasani and bring him to you,” the elf said. “But you can wait in my home, out of the woods and away from prying eyes.”

Winter braced himself as Rakeym shimmered him and Ahm to a house that impressed Winter. They were standing in a study before Rakeym waved at a couch.

“Have a seat. I shouldn’t be long.”

Winter began pacing as Ahm perched himself on the back of the couch. Winter didn’t like being relegated to the Shadow leader’s office while Rakeym rescued Dasani. That was his job. Call it pride. Call it male ego. Whatever. Winter wanted to be the one who took Dasani away from his troubled life. He wanted to be Dasani’s hero.