Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

There was a whisper on the wind. Come back. Kai felt Rayna’s plea. Empathic to her plight, he edged closer. Moonlight bathed her tree embodied tower of strength. A statue of life in a barky tomb. He wanted to run to her, but he lacked to muscle control to do so.

Down in the valley below, Keegan and his men wormed through the canyon. It was too late. Trapped, Rayna would stand alone. From this distance, all Kai could do was watch in fear. What would Keegan do against one lone Kodama?

Unable to stand on his own, Kai crawled on his hands and knees back in her direction. Ryker grabbed his shoulder. “Stop, Kai. There is nothing we can do.”

There was something he could do—go back. He watched Keegan study Rayna’s tree, but he could not hear the man’s words. The men with him searched the bushes and rocks. A tightness clamped around Kai’s chest. He pulled free and scrambled around the ledge. He had to get closer. He had to save her.

Then Kai heard him.

“Oh, my dear Kodama sister.” Keegan’s words echoed through the canyon. “How foolish of you. A lone oak in the middle of a palm tree jungle. Where is my son?”

Kai wanted to vomit when Keegan ran his hands up her trunk. He tried to stand, but Ryker’s hand pushed him to the ground and held him fast.

“Where is the trickster Ryker? Does he lay in wait?” Keegan stepped back and whispered to his men.

Kai edged closer, pulling Ryker with him. “Come out, dear girl, there is no need to hide in your tree. I will find Kai. Then you will all explain to me what you were doing on that sandbar.”

The hair on the back of Kai’s neck stood on end. Magic filled the air. Black clouds blocked out the moon and stars. Wind stirred the air and Kai tensed. Thunder rumbled in the sky. White lightning streaked across the darkness. “What are they doing?” Kai whispered.

“I don’t know,” Ryker answered, crawling along the edge to get a closer look himself.

“If you will not come out willingly,” Keegan seethed, “I will drive you out.” He motioned to his men—Weathervanes wielding their power to create the brooding storm.

One man flicked his wrist and bolt of lightning zapped the top branches of Rayna’s tree. Sparks popped and she caught fire. The oil within her leaves bloomed into a pale-pink glow, before turning ash-white, and blowing away in the wind. Her upper branches burned. Rayna’s tree swayed. The strike flashed in Kai’s eyes and his heart wrenched with pain. His soul heard her screams. He had to help her. “NO!” he shouted, but his voice was lost in the storm.

Kai crawled closer. Tears ran down his cheeks as he watched a second bolt of lightning strike Rayna’s trunk and lower branches. The tree burst into flames. Keegan laughed. “Stubborn girl. Hit her again and again.”

The sight of her burning made Kai wretch. Her screams intensified within Kai’s soul. A third and fourth bolt struck Rayna and the tree split, collapsing to the ground. Flames ate her bark. Smoke curled high into the air. The smell burned his throat. Agony shot through his heart. She was dying, and he could not save her.

Adrenaline coursed through Kai’s veins. He curled his fingers in the moss and pulled at the lifeforce around him. The vegetation beneath his hands withered and turned black. Some of his strength return to him, and he hobbled around the edge. One hand traced the rock face wall, and with it, he took more power. His might returned with each step.

Her screams subsided, and silence engulfed Kai’s mind. Loss and rage battled within him, and he dove headfirst off the cliff, barreling into three of the Weathervanes, breaking his fall. They did not get up.

Ryker landed as a shuk, taking out five Caroco soldiers. One man tried to get up, and Ryker’s beastly paw punched him back to the ground. His silver eyes zeroed in on Keegan before he transformed back into his natural body.

Surveying the new players on the field, Keegan spun on his heels. “There you are, my son. And you brought your dog with you. Ryker—still chasing what is not yours, I see.”

Hatred bubbled inside Kai as he listened to the pop and crackle of the fire consume Rayna’s tree. The faint smell of burning flesh caught his attention. He could not believe it was true, the love of his life was gone. But, he could not feel her presence. Her screams were gone—their connect was gone. His heart felt hollow and empty and his insides screamed in pain. Rayna was dead.

Kai had no idea confronting Keegan, would cost him Rayna’s life. His father was a man more determined than ever to get what he wanted regardless of the outcome. Keegan murdered Rayna to get at him and now all he wanted was revenge. Spiteful angry thoughts consumed his heart.

There was no time for tears. Kai clenched his fist and scowled at Keegan. “You will pay for her loss, Keegan.”

“My dear boy. You cared for her.” Keegan smirked. “What a mistake. I must harden your heart. We are gods. There is no room for emotion or love in this life.”

Tempted by his father’s words, Kai lunged, but Ryker stepped in his path and grabbed Keegan. Before he could punch the man, Keegan grabbed Ryker’s neck. “You and I have been at odds for far too long. Shall I strip you of your youth, suck the life from your bones?”

Kai watched in horror as gray hair streaked Ryker’s temples. Lines formed on his face. His bone structure became more pronounced as his muscles withered. Yet he did not fight back. He dangled like a fish on a hook.

“No. I would hate for you to miss my rise to power,” Keegan proclaimed, pushing life back into Ryker. “You will see this world bend to my will.”

Finished, Keegan dropped Ryker to the ground and turned his eyes on