Chapter 19 His Buried Memories

There was a grunt and a thud in front of him and the slave looked up to find Ryedir grappling with another man dressed in faded brown leathers. He caught the glint of a knife in the assailant’s hand and gasped. Ryedir grunted again and managed to grab the hand that held the knife, forcing it back away from his throat.

Kari’s heart thumped loudly in his chest as he still struggled to regain his breath. The unknown beta in the room was an assassin! He was trying to kill Lezzker!

He didn’t think and just threw out his hand, unconsciously trying to will his ice across the floor so he could help the alpha. Nothing happened and in a panic, he tried to force it.

All he got was a glimpse of his beloved serene pool that indicated his power- lush grass in soft rich soil surrounded the pool but the pool itself was empty, the rocks lining the bottom still bone dry.

Kari almost sobbed in relief. That was the first time since waking up in Niamrea that he had even felt anything or seen his mental image of his power.

The dry cracked earth and withered grass stems had healed, going back to their lush forms, but he still needed to heal more before his power was truly back.

In the meantime, that left him with only his physical body to fight with. Having always relied on his power, he had no idea how to actually fight.

The slave turned his focus back to Ryedir, who had managed to get a few punches and kicks into the assassin and seemed to be attempting to disarm the man but was having a bit of trouble.

With a start, he realized that the reason Ryedir was struggling was because he was keeping his back to Kari. Every time that the attacker tried to circle around towards him, the alpha would block his path.

It’s me! I’m the problem. He’s protecting me and it’s costing him.

The omega bit his lip, chewing on it worriedly. He had to help somehow. He had to or he would go insane.

Ryedir was forced back and the assassin struck out, slicing across Ryedir’s thigh, earning a grunt from the man. As soon as Kari saw the blood on the dagger, he leapt to his feet and stared wildly around the room. His hands shook and his blood rushed in his ears.

He scanned the room and his eyes landed on the weapon rack on the wall. He rushed over, nearly tripping on his feet in his haste. Pulling off the bottom sword, he turned back to the scuffle taking place near the balcony.

He scurried closer as he called out, “Lezzker!”

The man turned his head around slightly to catch sight of Kari and his eyes jumped down to the scabbard in his trembling hands. Ryedir caught the assassin and twisted his body around, somehow throwing him on the ground. He reached the omega in a few long strides, yanking the sword from his grip and pulling the blade from its sheath before discarding it. He turned back around and his whole countenance changed.

Gone was the desperate grapple against an armed opponent and in its place was the deadly calm of a warrior with his chosen weapon in hand.

Kari backed away and watched with wide eyes as the assassin approached far more cautiously. Ryedir stood in place and when he did finally move, it was with a fluid grace. The clash of metal rang out and Kari watched awestruck as the alpha moved as though dancing, countering every thrust perfectly.

When he had first seen Lezzker, Kari’s first thought was that the man looked to be a warrior through and through, something that was only confirmed upon seeing the rippling muscles in the light that night.

But this…this was something else. No warrior Kari had ever seen made the movements look almost beautiful.

Until his sword ripped right through the assassin’s throat and blood sprayed out across the room accompanied by a wet gurgle.

Kari’s eyes were riveted on the blood spatter across the floor. It seemed to fill his entire vision. He felt like he couldn’t breathe, like he was drowning and his hands scrabbled at his throat as he choked on nothing. It wasn’t just his hands trembling now, his entire body was shaking violently.

He curled up into a ball and desperately tried to force air into his lungs. He heard voices in the background but they were dim and morphed into remembered screams and wails of terror. All he could see was that splatter of blood arching out from the man’s ruined throat and it overlapped with memories forced to the recesses of his mind.

He had forgotten.

How could he have forgotten what he did?

He cried out in anguish.

He was supposed to die, his life for theirs.

Blood stained his vision. His beautiful crystalline ice layered in sickening amounts of dripping red.

Arms wrapped around him and he fought the hold. He needed to get out, needed to breathe, needed to stop this nightmare.

Except it wasn’t really a nightmare, was it?

That happened.

Memories that he just didn’t want to remember.

He was held tight, trapped in a steel embrace and he wailed in fear. A gentle rumble spread throughout the wall beside him. A low sound accompanied it, deep and rich and soothing to his very soul.

Slowly, very slowly, the omega relaxed.

Air rushed back into his burning lungs and the gory memories retreated from his vision.

He leaned into the comforting embrace and was wrapped up even tighter in response. Kari drifted into an exhausted sleep, dreamless and calming, lulled there by the deep rumble purring softly in his ear.