Shattered Destiny by Shay West Page A

had done bothered her more than Feeror or Voilor hacking at the enemy with knives.
    She caught Jon's eyes and tried not to flinch at their inky blackness. His face was filled with ecstasy, his mouth parted, eyes half-closed. She forced herself to look at the boy…no the man …she thought she loved. If I love him, I must love all of him.
    She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him slump, the typical reaction of Jon letting go of the dark power. He raised his eyes, now blue, and saw Gwen. He smiled wanly and looked about.
    “I think it's over,” he said, gasping for breath. He did not look at the dead men that lay in a circle at his feet.
    “You're not supposed to use the dark magic—”
    “I'm tired of the same old arguments. I did what I had to.”
    “The rest of us managed to keep fighting by using only our own power.”
    “Well, good for you. Must be nice to be so self-sufficient,” Jon snapped.
    “Maybe you'd be stronger if you used your own magic instead of relying on that filthy power,” Gwen shot back.
    Jon marched so close that he towered over her. Gwen refused to step back. “It's none of your business. Just keep out of it.”
    Gwen watched Jon stalk off, anger and disappointment leaving her thoughts in a jumble. Tears sprang to her eyes. She hated the dark power that was taking over the boy she had loved for so long. He wasn't the same. The old Jon had been kind, funny, and patient. The new Jon was hurtful and callous, even sneaky.
    Gwen followed in the direction Jon had taken. The Volgon Chosen were gathered around someone lying on the ground.
    Gwen drew in a sharp breath. It's Seelyr. The woman was drenched in blood.
    Saemus and Kaelin ran up and knelt next to the injured woman. They held hands and linked their power. Kaelin let Saemus guide the magic. He had an instinct for healing, as had been proven so long ago when they'd healed the little boy at Midsummer festival. Seelyr gasped as the magic entered her injured body. One by one, her smaller cuts began to seal shut. The larger gash across her abdomen took a little longer to close.
    When they were finished, the twins moaned and slumped to the ground, utterly spent.
    Gwen glanced up as Feeror came to stand by her side. “You fought well today. You accepted the fear.” Feeror did not look at her, and his neck and face were tense.
    “I wanted to fight well.” She would never say the words “to make you proud of me,” but she was afraid the big Volgon knew anyway. He met her eyes briefly without moving his head and nodded.
    Her heart raced at the intensity of his eyes. It pierced right through to the tips of her toes, like an electric shock. Her breath came faster and heat rushed to her cheeks.
    “Where is Master Brok?” Keera asked. She was the first to notice that the old man was not among their group.
    Gerok told them all to stay put, and he went in search of Brok, starting where he had last seen him. Gerok made his way through the trees, ignoring the dead bodies. He looked down, and his heart sank. He knelt and picked up Brok's pack, which contained his herbs and potions. He spotted tracks leading off to the east.
    Gerok ran back to the others. “I fear he's been taken.” He tossed the pack down on the ground.
    “Then we must go after him,” Jon stated.
    “He would not want us to go after him. His first duty is to keep you safe. We must return to the portals immediately before we are attacked again,” Gerok said.
    “We're not leaving him in the hands of these men! We have to help him.” Gwen stood facing the big man, arms crossed over her chest.
    “We cannot, little one. With Brok gone, I am the only Guardian. It falls to me to keep you all safe. We have already lost one of theChosen. If more of you die, it could be catastrophic.”
    “I don't care. I don't care about the Mekans. I don't care about your duty. I don't care about this stupid destiny! Our teacher is in trouble, and we need to help him,” Kaelin said, her anger