Prince of Stone (Imperia) Read online

Percen’s head snapped back, blood trickling from a split in his bottom lip.

  Excellent. Jorlan struck him again.

  This time, Percen was prepared. He ducked, then flew at Jorlan. They grappled to the muddy ground, fists and legs flying.

  Heather’s scream pierced the air.

  “I cursed Mon Graig,” Percen taunted, half in laughter, half in rage. “Even if your woman falls in love with you before the deadline, you cannot go home.”

  “You are wrong. So wrong. I can take myself.” Jorlan smacked his fist into his brother’s nose. Cartilage snapped. “And my woman has already fallen in love with me. Your spell is broken, brother. I will never return to stone.”

  Percen evinced nothing but satisfaction. “Adorable. You believed me when I said you could break the spell with a woman’s love.”

  * * *

  KATIE CAME TO her senses slowly. As soon as reality settled in, she froze, shocked. Jorlan and Percen fought with the savagery of two wild beasts.

  Pain-filled moans assaulted her ears. While Percen lacked Jorlan’s strength, he more than made up for it with his magic, teleporting away from blows, sometimes appearing behind Jorlan to deliver a punch or kick.

  If she lived to be two hundred years old, she would never forget the terror and desolation of this moment.

  Though she hated to leave her man even for a second, she raced inside the house. Trembling, she grabbed the phone. It took her three times to dial, but she managed to call Gray’s cell phone.

  The moment he answered, she rushed out, “I’m at the Victorian. They’re killing each other. Hurry! And bring lots of firepower.” She didn’t give him time to respond, just threw down the phone and rushed back outside.

  The fight had worsened, both men slashed and bloody.

  Jorlan landed a blow to Percen’s mouth. Blood and teeth flew from the man’s parted, swollen lips. He stumbled into the new statue, leaving a smear of crimson behind.

  A second later, the stone disappeared. A beautiful, dark-haired woman took its place. She noticed the dueling brothers and shook with horror.

  Katie paid her no heed. Jorlan was in danger. She had to help him, had to make the battle stop. She glanced around for some type of weapon. Found nothing.

  “You cursed me,” Jorlan growled. “Then you cursed our mother and tried to kill the woman I love.”

  “You cursed me the day you were born, for that is the day Mother ceased loving me. She preferred you. Always you.” Percen spit the words.

  In the distance, Katie thought she detected the blare of police sirens. Yes! Red-and-blue lights flashed in the horizon. Oh, thank goodness!

  The fight continued, even as the police cruiser parked and Gray and Steve rushed over.

  “Katie!” Gray shouted.

  “Hurry! We’re in the garden.”

  He and Steve Harris entered her line of sight. As soon as they spotted Jorlan and Percen, they knelt and drew their guns.

  “Get on the ground and put your hands up,” Gray ordered. “Now!”

  “We’ve already called for backup,” Steve told the combatants. “Unless you want twenty other guns pointed at your heads, do as you were told. On the ground, hands up.”

  Jorlan and Percen ignored them, circling each other.

  Percen unsheathed a long, lethal-looking dagger.

  “Put the weapon down,” Gray shouted now. “I mean it. Put the weapon down now.”

  Again, Jorlan and Percen ignored him, lunging for each other.

  “They don’t understand what your guns can do,” Katie hurried to explain. “Don’t shoot. Please don’t shoot! Jorlan, my brother’s weapon can kill you in less than a second. Please, listen to him.”

  “Less than a second?” The woman who had changed from stone to flesh spoke up for the first time, shouting, “Harm not my child.” She sprang toward Percen.

  With a scream, Heather rushed in front of Percen, as well. Katie leaped in front of Jorlan.

  Four shots rang out, the woman and Heather both collapsing at Percen’s feet.

  Katie remained standing and unharmed.

  Percen gazed down at the two bodies now motionless. His eyes widened, and he dropped his blade. “Nay. Nay, nay, nay!”

  “I—I’m fine.” Heather sat up gingerly and wiped tears and rain from her eyes. “Ex-except for my shoulder,” she said, her teeth chattering.

  The other woman remained immobile, blood seeping from her chest in three separate spots.

  “I love you, Katie James.”

  Jorlan’s voice reached her hears. Katie whipped around—and gasped. He stood frozen, his beautiful skin now silver stone. “Jorlan! No, no, no. I told you I love you,” she yelled over a clap of thunder. “I do. I love you so much.”

  Nothing happened.

  But, she knew she loved him. For real. “I told you in time, and I meant it. I wasn’t sure if I’d know if I meant it or not, but I did. I do. I love you. I told you in time,” she repeated, desperate. “You have to come back to me. Please!”

  Again, nothing happened.

  His stone eyes seemed to gaze down at her, his lips curled in a smile. She thought she heard his voice in her head. You have made me the happiest of men, katya. Never doubt that.

  What had she done?

  Katie’s knees buckled. On the ground, she sobbed into her hands. My fault. All my fault. She must have waited too long.

  She laughed, bitter. She’d refused to trust him, or herself, and she’d lost him. She’d also wanted proof of his love. Well, here it was. His only thought as his future had slipped away? Me.

  “I think I’ve loved you since the beginning,” she whispered, her tone ragged, broken. “I was just afraid to admit it, even to myself. I don’t think I ever really doubted your feelings for me.” The truth seemed so clear now. “I just couldn’t allow myself to believe. If I had, I would have had to go to Imperia with you or let you go without me. I didn’t want to let you go.”

  Behind her, Steve rushed at Percen. With a wave of his hand, Percen created some type of invisible shield around himself that no one could penetrate.

  The sorcerer sank to his knees. “You saved me,” he said to the unconscious Heather. “You saved me.”

  Sirens echoed in the background. The Dallas PD backup.

  At the moment, Katie didn’t care about anyone but her husband. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss upon his lips. “Please, Jorlan, come back to me. I love you. I swear I do. I’ll live with you anywhere. I’ll give up anything. Just come back.”

  He remained as he was.

  “Damn you!” She beat at his chest. “Why won’t you come back to me? I owe you a quarter now. Come back and collect.”

  Her brother moved to her side, attempting to pull her away from the statue.

  “No! I’m staying here, where I belong.” She clung to Jorlan with all her might. “I need you, Jorlan. I need you so much. I’m your little witch, and you’re my big bastard, and I command you to open your eyes.” Another round of thunder boomed overhead.

  Maybe Percen could help? “Percen?”

  His attention remained on the fallen woman.

  “Percen,” Katie bellowed. “You get over here and you cast a spell! Do something to save him, or I will end you myself.”

  “Mother,” he whispered, gathering the woman into his arms. A tear streamed down his cheek. “You are the one with healing magic, not me. Why did you do that? You could have saved Jorlan, even me, but not yourself. Why?” he asked again. He gave a violent shake of his head and raised his fists to the heavens, cursing. But then, suddenly, his shoulders slumped. He hung his head and sobbed. “I have done this to you. Me, and me alone.”

  He looked up, but only to gaze beseechingly at Heather. “Help me. I—I’m so sorry for the things I’ve done to you. You were right. This isn’t better. This is so much worse. Please, Heather. Give me a chance, and I will make everything up to you, I swear it. Just…do not leave me. I need you too desperately.”

&n
bsp; Wincing in pain, Heather lumbered to her knees. “I warned you what would happen.”

  He closed his eyes for the briefest moment, fresh tears falling. “Let me take you to our healers. You and your mother. Please. Then I will return you, if that is your wish. I just, I need to do something for you.”

  She gave a single, clipped nod.

  Relief poured from him as he waved a hand through the air. He, Heather and their mothers disappeared.

  All the while, images flashed through Katie’s mind. Images of billowing white grass, crystal castles and high-flying dragons. Imperia. The home Jorlan would never reach.

  Because of me.

  She folded into herself and sobbed.

  A week later

  DUSK SETTLED OVER the horizon, casting a gold and violet glow. Wind swirled around the two figures atop the cliff, lifting their robes in a primitive dance. The air was laced with silvery droplets of moisture that swept over the white sands of the Druinn territory, creating a cool, damp haven.

  Despair ruled Percen. Nay, not just despair. Shame, too. And guilt. So much guilt. He’d caused so much pain. And for what? To assuage his pride?

  His mother was dead, and she wasn’t coming back. Magic could do many things, but it couldn’t raise the dead.

  Had it not been for Heather, who’d decided to give him another chance, as hoped, he would have willingly joined his mother. Heather had given him a reason to go on.

  She reached out to take his hand, offering strength and encouragement without words. The little beauty had taken to his world well, blossoming more each day.

  In his free hand, he held his mother’s amulet. He stood on a cliff above Artillian Mer, the largest body of water on Imperia, to pay his mother proper homage and give a piece of her back to the world she had loved. Trembling, he raised the amulet to his lips and kissed the center.

  He drew in a deep breath and thought he detected her sweet scent. Tears began to slide down his cheeks; he’d cried more the past week than the rest of his life combined.

  “I love you,” he croaked. He removed the left stone, the smallest of the three, then tossed the necklace into the churning amber liquid.

  “Thank you for coming with me.”

  “For you—anything.”

  Something he still did not understand. “How could you forgive me for my actions? You warned me, yet I ridiculed you and hurt…everyone.”

  Heather tightened her grip on him. “You learned from your mistakes. A rare and wonderful quality. Plus, I love you. That kind of means I’m predisposed to forgive and help you.”

  He kissed her knuckles. “If you wish, I can take you back to your world.” His stomach churned with sickness. Please, don’t ask me to take you back. “I know you miss your mother.” Francis returned hours after waking; she’d wanted no part of another world.

  “I do. I really do. But I’d prefer to stay with you.”

  “I prefer you stay with me, as well. I just meant I could take us both to your world.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “You would give all this up for me?”

  “Aye.” He would give up anything. Everything.

  She beamed a smile at him. “I love it here. Just as I love you. I’d still prefer to stay. If that’s okay?”

  The churning ceased. He peered at her, brimming with wonder, awe and happiness. “Better than okay. I love you and want you happy, always.”

  “Just as I want you happy”

  He took her face in his hands, loving the feel of her silken skin, closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. “I have to return to your land for a bit. I could not save my mother, but I can do something for her. I can right the wrong I caused Katie and Jorlan.”

  Heather beamed another smile, this one brighter, wider, and tender. “I’ll be here, awaiting your return.”

  “Thank you, Heather. For everything.”

  She kissed the corner of his mouth. “I do have a favor to ask. I need to let Momma know I’m good. Will you deliver a letter to her?”

  “Of course.” He turned back to the ocean and tugged her in front of him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  Together, they watched as the three Imperian suns descended, and the two moons rise.

  * * *

  KATIE WHIPPED HER truck into her driveway a little too swiftly for comfort. Two weeks had passed since Jorlan’s return to stone. Two miserable, horrible, wretched weeks she’d torch if she could. She’d been racked with grief every day. Her grief only ever grew; it never lessened.

  Every morning, Gray called her. The first week, he’d been in shock over what he’d seen. But he and Steve had agreed not to speak of it with anyone. Who would believe them, anyway? Now Gray and the rest of her family simply wanted to know how she was doing.

  How was she doing? In a word—horribly.

  She wanted Jorlan back, alive and well. She wanted him in her arms and in her bed. He was her husband, after all. How could she have ever been so stupid as to believe she didn’t love him? How could she have been even stupider, thinking he didn’t love her?

  Hoping to save him, she’d invaded every library and internet resource she knew, searching for a way to break a stone spell. She’d gone back to Mon Graig’s shop, but the receptionist hadn’t seen him,

  Tears rained down her cheeks as she rested her head against the steering wheel. The future looked so bleak and pale without her husband. What was she going to do?

  What if she never found a way— Nope. Not going there. She would save Jorlan. She would!

  Determined, she wiped her tears away and emerged from the truck. Fighting doubts, she marched into the house and tossed her jacket on the floor and went into the kitchen.

  Without Jorlan at her side, everything struck her as wrong. Her soul just wasn’t complete without him. She sniffled, dangerously close to tears again.

  Pressing her lips tightly shut, she went into the living room and flipped on the television in an effort to clear her mind. She hadn’t slept more than a few hours, and soon felt herself drift into a fitful oblivion.

  However long later, something prodded her mind, calling, Wake up. Wake up right now!

  She blinked open her eyes—and screamed. A scarred man stood next to the couch, watching her.

  Fury pounded through her, and she jolted upright. “You!” Percen. With murder on her mind, she lunged at him.

  He didn’t fight back, didn’t even try, just let her beat at him, as if he accepted the fact that he deserved every punch, scratch and kick.

  When her strength deserted her, she collapsed on the couch.

  Percen remained nearby, though he watched her cautiously. “I’ve come to aid you.”

  Oh, really? “I don’t want your help! I don’t trust you,” she snapped. But hope was a silly thing. It began to unfurl inside her.

  “You shouldn’t trust me,” he replied. “But what do you have to lose?”

  He wasn’t wrong. “Can you free him?”

  “Nay. I cannot. I created the spell so that no one could undo it.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “What good are you to me, then? Get out of my house, Percen. I don’t want you here.”

  He remained in place. “What I can do is teach you a stone spell.”

  Why would she care about—Katie sat up straighter. Yes. Yes! Why hadn’t she thought of that before? If she turned herself to stone, she could be beside Jorlan forever. She didn’t have to think about her answer. “Yes. Teach me the spell.”

  “You are sure you wish this?”

  “Yes, okay? Yes!”

  “Then you will need this.” He placed a small blue stone in the center of her palm.

  Warmth tingled down her arm, power pooling in her fingertips.

  “Come,” Percen said. “I would like to see him.” Together they walked to Jorlan’s statue.

  Each time she saw him, love overflowed in Katie’s heart. Her own, and Jorlan’s. They were linked now, and she felt his deep, abiding love for her. His hap
piness when she neared.

  She still dreamed about his life. About the precocious little boy he’d been, and the courageous warrior he’d grown to be.

  Percen gazed up at his brother, his features contorting with grief. “Why did I not release my anger sooner?” His deep baritone dripped with longing and pain. “Why?”

  What a pair they made. Jorlan’s brother could not let go of the past. She couldn’t grasp on to the future. “We have our reasons for doing the things that we do. We can only learn from them, and go on.”

  “Heather says the same.” Percen sighed, the sound an echo of his inner torment.

  “Heather is well?”

  “Aye. I’ve made her my life mate, much to the distress of the Druinn. But as I am high priest, they can do nothing to usurp my authority.” His gaze skidded away. “I—I am sorry for all the pain I caused you, Katie. So very sorry.”

  She thought about all the things she could say to this man, just to make him suffer. I hate you. I hope you feel as much pain as I do. But she had no desire to say those things. One look into Percen’s eyes—blue eyes so much like Jorlan’s—and she knew he already suffered.

  “You are…forgiven. I mean, I have to forgive you,” she rushed on. “This is my fault as much as yours. Had I not been so stubborn, so selfish, Jorlan would never have returned to stone.”

  Percen exhibited astonishment. And dread. “Your confession of love would not save him. I lied about that.”

  Well.

  “Am I still forgiven?” he asked.

  “You are. Honestly, I think even Jorlan has forgiven you,” she added. “I’m kind of linked to him now, and I can feel his emotions. He isn’t upset with you. He’s glad you’re here, and that you are happy again.”

  Percen curled into himself and silently sobbed. The only sound to be heard was the chirp of birds.

  After a while, he straightened and moved his gaze to the fading sunset. “I have freed Mon Craig from his own stone casing. The spell I used on him was temporary.”

  Oh, man. “You got him, too?”

  Nod. “If you decide not to utter the spell, and wish to visit Imperia, go to him and he will take you. That is the price I exacted for his freedom.”

  Her lips trembled as she offered a nod of her own.