The Archer: Lost Omegas Book 1

Farewell

CYRENE

Feeling Hibi beneath her thighs as they crossed the great plains with should have filled her with joy, but dread consumed her. The procession of Lobo warriors and Raposo soldiers at her back was loud, the chatter of the men, clopping of hooves, and rattle of wagons merging to form a loud chorus of noise. Cyrene rode next to Deimos, who had said little since they left this morning. The reins to his horse were tied to Hibi's, since he was unable to guide the animal.

Cyrene could feel a depression forming in the Bond. It was just a small, fluttering cold place deep within the pulsing threads of their connection, but it was starting to grow. As she watched her mate stare off into the horizon, knowing he saw only darkness, she felt the cold brush of depression again. Blindness was debilitating to any man, especially a warrior.

She had no comforting words to offer, she could not heal his spirit. No one could. She steered Hibi closer and reached out to squeeze his hand. "Deimos, you can talk to me about it."

"There is nothing to say." He turned towards her, "I would have given much more than my eyes to save you. It is done. I have no regrets, except that I must trust the Berserker to defend you now. He is dangerous, unpredictable. I do not trust him with those around you. He cares nothing for the lives of men. Only yours, Cyrene. He knows I am weakened without my sight. He challenges me for control constantly."

"I will prevent him from harming other, Deimos. Even if you lose control." She readjusted her position to face him. "I have stopped him before."

Deimos shook his head, "only because you offered him something he wanted more than deaths of those men. The war spirit will always want blood, no matter what you offer him instead. It is his curse, and now mine."

"I have little blood to offer him. I am working to make peace with the Serpe and the Lobo, not war. Enough blood has been spilt." Cyrene watched as Deimos' body jerked abruptly. She knew the Berserker was fighting him, she felt the war spirit's heat in the Bond. "Fight him, Deimos. We are not alone. Control him."

Her face fell as she watched her mate lose that battle, his eyes filling with red and meeting her own smugly. An unpleasant grin split her mate's mouth and the Berserker's rough voice responded, "that's the beauty of men, my little mate. War never leaves them for long. And it will return very soon. The taste of battle is heavy in the air. It follows you even now. Delicious." Several of the Raposo soldiers that had been riding close to them suddenly pulled away. The Berserker chuckled at their obvious fear.

Cyrene narrowed her eyes at the beast, trying to keep the challenge from her voice. "There will be peace, Berserker. Not war. I am doing everything in my power to avoid death."

"Your power has limits, omega. Do what you can, but Death will find your people just the same. The wolf, the fox, the serpent, the bear. He is coming for them all." The war spirit reached out and snatched her hand, nearly pulling her from her saddle. He brought her hand to his face, nuzzling his beard into her palm. "But he will not take you, mate. You are mine. I knew the moment I saw you release your arrows in battle that you would be ours. You are truly unique. Irresistible to one such as me."

Cyrene itched to pull her hand away. The war spirit spoke of death and war in a way that disgusted her; he took such pleasure from such horrible things. "Why? Why me? You have no love for mortals, yet you say I am irresistible."

"Mortals used to worship my kind, long ago, desperate for our power. They thought they would be able to control us, use us," he chuckled ominously. "But they knew so little of what we are, and what happens when we enter their mortal forms. Beasts. Death's warriors. Demons. Berserkers. Evil spirits. I've heard all the names. We feed from battle and blood, always searching for enough to fill us, but it never is. After the battle is over, there is always a void. Every warrior seeks to fill it." The Berserker turned his head and placed a kiss in her palm before releasing her hand.