The Ice Queen - "Attacked" Ch. 18 (Patreon)

Neytiri

I thought this island would confine who I am. But it has helped me in not only rediscovering myself but embracing my power without fear. It comes as second nature now that the blocks in my mind have been removed, and Cassian no longer holds control over the blood oath. Now that I have grown in strength, we are equals.

“I see Cassian taught you to internalize.”

Caius gestures to the frost releasing from the top layer of my skin with a smile. Since Cassian’s departure, we’ve been training together daily. When I was brought to Cassian by Loris, Caius trained me at the time as well. It feels nostalgic to be able to do this with him once again.

I look down at my palm, clenching my fist as my veins fill with ice. I definitely have more control than I ever did in the past. I watch Caius with a grin, focusing on the air around me. The moisture in the air is tangible on this island because of the humidity. I release my power and the moisture in the air freezes, forming ice crystals.

Caius’s eyes widen in shock as he stares at the suspended crystals.

“That’s not all he taught me,” I smile.

I lower my hands, letting the crystal turn to fog as it disappears into the atmosphere. Caius shakes his head in disbelief, making his way toward me. He watches me with a pleased expression.

“You’ve really gotten powerful since being here.”

A smile forms on my lips from his words. I was once so frightened at everything, including losing control. But I finally feel like I have a grasp on my situation and how to move forward with it. I hope that once Cassian returns, he will allow me to see my people. Caius speaks highly of them and the society they’ve built over the centuries. I’m excited to see them not as a refugee running from someone, but as their queen who is ready to take her place among them.

* * * * *

I silently make my way down the steps of the villa. Night has fallen over the island. Caius and I spent most of the day training, retiring to go our separate ways when the afternoon settled in. I spent it returning to studies, only emerging hours later after taking a shower. I hear Caius rummaging around in the kitchen, rounding the corner to see him finishing up setting the table.

“What’s this?” I ask looking at the spread.

“I can make you dinner as well, Neytiri,” Caius says smiling.

I take a seat, watching him as he moves around the kitchen.

“The medical team is en route to the island for your checkup. If your levels are normal, it may mean visiting the village when Cassian returns.”

I perk up at his words, excitement flowing through me. Things seem almost too good to be true at the moment. But for the time being, I just have to enjoy it as it is, taking it one day at a time.

“Has Cassian ever visited the village?” I ask.

Caius makes a face, shaking his head.

“No. Cassian has never set foot in the village. Anything they need or he needs goes through me.”

“And no Ikniri go to the Dragonborn village?” I ask.

Once again, Caius shakes his head.

“Tension still exists between the two.”

Caius takes in my expression, offering me a smile.

“Both sides have a painful and broken past, Neytiri. Most Ikniri are frightened to even approach Cassian. But once they see you and him together, I’m sure things will work out among the tribes.”

I nod, focusing on my food. This is what Cassian’s father believed, and my father as well. Now that things seem to be heading in a good direction, thinking about the future of our people seems only logical.

“Do you really think that’s possible? Do you think Cassian could ever find peace with me? I am the woman of the people whose killed his. I am the sister of the men who led the battle.”

Caius shakes his head.

“Have you seen everything he’s done for you? This hidden world we live in exists because of his feelings for you. Your people are safe, our kind has a place they can be free. Cassian made all of this so that when you awakened, you would have a place to heal and become the queen we all know you can be.”

I look at my hands, my thoughts running wild at Caius’s words. He’s right. I keep blaming myself for the past, but that had nothing to do with me, nor was it Cassian’s intent. We both have to look past it to create a future for our people.

I tense when I sense something that doesn’t belong. It’s a rhythm. A strange rhythm that doesn’t match the usual vibrations of the island. My eyes shift to Caius, and I know he senses it as well. His brow is furrowed as he looks at me.

The sound is slow; deliberate.

Footsteps.

There’s more than one.

The lights suddenly blackout, plunging the villa into darkness. My eyes quickly adjust to the dark, looking at Caius. He places his palm atop the counter, a small sheen of ice forming as he writes a message with his fingers.

Seven hostiles. We’re surrounded.

“I’ll check the breaker,” he says aloud, standing. His gaze is intense as he studies me.

“Will you be okay?”

I immediately sense the double meaning, nodding.

“Of course.”

I flinch, throwing up a wall of ice just as the glass beyond us shatters.

“Get down!”

Caius’s hand is around my waist as he jumps into me, dragging me behind the counter. Smoke fills the room, covering every corner as our attackers enter. My lungs feel like they’re on fire as I inhale the smoke and I feel Caius dragging me with him to the hall.

“Run!”

I open my eyes just in time to see an attacker inches from Caius’s face. I hold out my hand, blasting my power full force. Not only does it hit the body in front of us, but whoever is surrounding us as well, sending them flying. The sound of them crashing into objects fills the air.

I flinch, dodging as something comes near me at full speed. It glints in the moonlight, striking the wood column inches from where I stood only seconds ago. I turn, taking it in.

It’s a dart.

My body is forced to the side just as Caius lunges past me to collide with the body coming near me. My eyes widen as I watch them fight. A blade comes inches from my face and I dodge, grabbing hold of the arm holding the blade. I know immediately it’s a human. I squeeze their arm until I feel the bone crush beneath my strength, throwing the screaming assailant into the wall.

The rest of the attackers have all spread out, and Caius is being attacked by two at a time. I move to help him when two step in my way, blocking my path and another stands behind me. I can sense the others distancing themselves, looking for an opening, just as one in front pulls out a blade. The attacker next to him pulls out a thin wire, both crouched and ready to attack.

“Orders are to get her back to base!”

The attacker with a blade lunges for me but I easily dodge. I use his momentum, grabbing his arm and bringing my knee up. A sickening snap echoes over the room as his arm breaks under the strength. His cry is cut short as use my palm to strike his throat, throwing him into the nearest wall.

The glint of another dart coming toward me appears in my peripheral and I step to the side as it narrowly misses me. So that’s what the others are doing. They’re trying to knock me out. I whip around just in time to dodge my attacker with the wire. He misses my neck, but catches my arm, wrapping the thin wire around. I can feel it threatening to bite into my skin, but my skin is tougher than humans. It would take the strength of another Ikniri to come close. I release my power on the top layer of skin, freezing the wire. It crackles against my skin, the ice creeping up the wire to capture my attacker's fingers. He screams as his body immediately succumbs to the deadly power, and I step back.

“Fuck!”

I use my power to freeze the wire and it crackles against my skin, the ice creeping up the wire to freeze the hands of my assailant. I can hear the screams as their fingers instantly freeze.

“Fuck!” someone hisses behind me. I turn just in time to see a gun aimed at my face. A loud shot rings through the house as they fire, but I’m too close to dodge. Pain ripples across my forehead as the metal collides with my skin. The speed causes the bullet to crunch against my flesh, the force propelling my head back. I blink in confusion, lifting my head just as what’s left of the flattened bullet falls between us.

My gaze shifts to my attacker. He’s wearing a heavy black suit with a black mask and goggles. I can only see his eyes, wide with terror. But I can also smell his fear. It calls to me, like a wicked force.

“Lethal force! Use lethal force!”

I flinch as intense pain ripples up my side. It weakens me slightly, making me stumble. I rip the object from my side, taking it in. It’s a dart. I cry out in pain just as a deeper pain ripples through me, exploding from my shoulder. It isn’t a dart, though. It’s a bullet.

Panic settles in just as I slowly begin to lose consciousness and control. I recognize this feeling. The world is being pulled from me, and I have no power as a deep chill settles in my body, my eyes wide.

“Caius! Run!”

My hair whips around me just as the tattoos on my skin glow as the power Cassian kept at bay for everyone on the island courses through me. A loud screech leaves my lips, and the sound of debris fills the air just as my world goes black.

Cassian

“With the projections from this month, we should be able to push into the new deal. We already have a couple of people wanting to get on board-”

I find myself unable to concentrate on meetings as of late. Especially when I know the dangers lurking in the future. I don’t like the idea of leaving Neytiri on that island alone. I check my watch again, hoping that time will move faster.

A chill ripples up my spine just as a pounding headache explodes in my head. I press my fingers against my temple, trying to control it. Something is wrong. I don’t have to be near her to feel her through our blood oath. Her power has awakened, and not the controlled side. And definitely not voluntarily.

The door to the conference room opens and Ulric sprints toward me with an urgent look on his face. He leans down, murmuring the news to me.

“It’s Neytiri. She and Caius were attacked.”