Straying Sadie

1

Why Did I Have to Be the Key?

A iden, I whispered. My thumb caressed his prickly three-day beard. I love you.

Leaning his forehead into mine, he grinned. I knew it.

Within seconds the world spun and we were ripped from one another’s arms. I called for him, but the sound was drowned out by the ferocious wind.

Bram was right. Revealing and accepting my deepest secret was the key to unlocking Clorva. Loving Aiden was something I’d done for so long, but only now did I accept that it was true. I loved Aiden Rivers. And my love for him was what tore us apart.

The movement stopped, and I landed hard on my bottom. As I rose, I looked down at my clothing, a deep red ball gown and my leather jacket. At least I wasn’t naked.

What the hell? I murmured. Thanking the stars my boots were intact, I reached in and grasped my dagger. I sliced the dress at my knees, then ripped it the rest of the way and threw the fabric to the side.

Much better.

Around me, I saw trees. Lots and lots of trees. Mountains upon mountains of them graced the sky. In front of me, a large maze appeared, like something from a Harry Potter book. Aiden was nowhere in sight, thankfully, but I couldn’t help but feel panicked wondering what happened to him.

As if the place read my thoughts, a large glass tower appeared in the center of the maze. Aiden lay asleep on a bed inside. No, no, NO! He wasn’t supposed to come here! How could I protect him in Clorva?

What is this, sleeping beauty? If someone tells me I have to kiss him to wake him up, I’m blowing this place up! I screamed to anyone who would listen.

Aiden then rose, much to my relief, and pounded on the glass. His muffled voice was low and distant, but I could make out what he said. Sade, don’t do it! Don’t! The tower stood in the center of the maze, far from my actual being. Why did Bram allow us to speak to one another? What could his plan be?

Don’t do what? I mouthed.

Bram’s voice rung out overhead. Sadie Tabors, you have unlocked Clorva and the Sorcerer Wars. Congratulations.

I don’t really think this calls for congrats, Brammy.

He growled and I smirked.

Aiden will die within three days’ time. You must enter the maze in order to save him and prove you’re worthy for the wars.

Aiden couldn’t die. I don’t want to go to any war. I flipped my hair and planted my hands on my hips. What’s Aiden got to do with this anyway?

Then he dies.

Bram knew he was my weakness and that was why he brought him here. But why three days? How was I going to get to him? I knew this damned maze would have more obstacles than I cared to think of.

I looked to the side, pretending to be engrossed by the tree with the gnarled, barely visible purple roots at my side, but really I weighed my options. I’d lost Aiden once—I wouldn’t do it again. If I stepped inside, Bram held the power. He was in charge. If I didn’t, I couldn’t reach Aiden.

Fine, I called. What do I do?

You must enter the maze and complete it, reaching Aiden before time runs out. Your magic will be bound the moment you step inside and all you can use are the weapons on your person.

As he spoke, a whip appeared in my left hand. What in the crap was I supposed to do with a whip?

When you’re ready, Sadie Tabors.

Why can’t I have powers? I thought this was the Sorcerer Wars! I screamed the words to the sky.

Bram didn’t reply, but I heard him chuckle overhead. Where in the hell was he, anyway? I needed to kill the bastard as soon as possible, and was kind of pissed at myself I didn’t do it before.

I hated how he always called me by my first and last name. I hated him, period, actually. Securing the dagger back in my boot, I slung the whip over my shoulder and sent a prayer for assistance.

I stepped inside, and part of me was gone as soon as my foot hit the grass. My soul cried and my heart clenched the moment my magic was taken. Weakness overtook my body. My power was bound. Aiden screamed from his cell, but I ignored him. I would do this for him. For us.

Bram’s voice spoke again. Let the Sorcerer Wars begin.

Silence surrounded me like the various odd trees and plants in this foreign land. I gingerly took a step, allowing my eyes to survey all I could see. The maze held large, multicolored foliage walls with three colors taking precedence. Orange, blue, and magenta blended together, along the maze while the purple-rooted trees, with large green leaves, were planted randomly within the walls. The grass was crunchy underneath my boot.

Dropping to the ground, I sat cross-legged with the useless whip at my side. With my eyes closed, I reached deep within for my magic. My powers were there; I could feel the slightest brush against them, but they were untouchable.

Damn that Bram!

Forcing my anger down, I allowed calmness to wash over me and tried again. Emptiness ensued, the pit of my stomach sinking with each passing second. I’d never not known about my powers, so they’d always been a part of me. Always. The smallest of sparks when I’d been a child excited me until the day I’d started the magical change. They’d all come that wonderful winter morning, the power flooding through me until it consumed every inch of my body. Most sorcerers went through the change during puberty, but I’d been a rare exception who gained my powers at the age of six. My parents were baffled, my grandmother proud, and my brothers jealous. Me? Well, I couldn’t wait to show off to my older siblings.

The past fifteen years passed with me growing and strengthening my abilities, my skills. And for what? For them to be stripped away by some asshole who’d been brought back from the dead.

Damn that Bram!

Thinking back to the day my powers came, I searched deep within. All I needed was a spark, a surge, something for me to grab onto. My senses pleaded and cried, my body physically ill without my magic. Nausea rolled through me in strong waves, and the back of my neck prickled with the start of a dull ache. No matter how deep I hunted, how much I concentrated, nothing came.

My powers were inaccessible.

No tears. I stood and brushed myself off. Aiden still watched carefully and I wondered how close he really was. It appeared like he was mere feet from me, but I knew it was an illusion. Bram wouldn’t make it so easy for me. Walking to a tree, I grabbed the nearest branch and held tightly. My boot braced on the trunk, I hoisted myself upward and latched my free hand to another branch. When my body reached the level of the branch, I threw my leg over and held on to the tree for dear life as I adjusted my body and straddled the limb. The skin on my legs burned from the scrapes and I once again mentally cursed Bram, this time for putting me in a damned dress.

Once I was secure, I peered around but the maze walls were still too tall. Dammit. I thanked my lucky stars I wasn’t afraid of heights and pushed my body upward to a standing position. Still holding on for dear life, I hugged the trunk though my dress caught on the bark and I felt it tug and rip in places. Balancing on the branch, I lifted one leg and tested the next one up. It was strong enough, so I began my climb up, nails and boots digging into the poor tree.

Glad to be safe and alive, I looked out at the land before me. Miles and miles of maze lay ahead. A rainbow of colors mixed and blinded me. Snow covered every inch of the ground within the maze as far as the eye could see. Aiden’s tower stood tall in the middle, showing me just how far he was. I surveyed the maze, studying it to see if I could find my way from here. The colors appeared to mark paths, each entrance more of one color than the others, but all led to the middle. Knowing Bram and his followers, I figured each led to what I wanted, but they would have obstacles and nuances no matter which I chose.

Eenie, meenie, miney, moe it was. Thinking the verse, I went between the three colors I saw the most of and landed on magenta.

Looks like I’d be following the dark pink path. Shimmying down the tree, I turned my attention to Aiden. He sat on the bed—or bench; I couldn’t tell—and watched me intently. His gaze was sad, concerned, and a bit pissed.

Can you hear me? I asked.

Barely, he said. His voice was just above a whisper, floating through the air and swirling around me.

Bram wanted to torture me. And as much as I hated to admit it, he was succeeding.

Are you ok?

No! he yelled. His face scrunched, and his clenched fists pounded on the walls of his prison. Why did you come in here?

I had no choice, I said.

You did, he said. He shook his head, then turned his back on me.

Guess that conversation was over. I stared at the pink path, dreading it as much as anticipating what I’d find. I knew nothing about this place. What I’d be facing, who I’d be facing. How was I going to eat? Were there plants? Would I have to…hunt my food? I shuddered at the thought. Unless it rained, I assumed showers were out of the question.

Disgusting.

Damn that Bram!

Flicking my eyes to the maze once more, I decided to look around for something to eat. Nourishment was important, especially since I was apparently participating in the Sorcerer Wars. Were there other participants?

There had to be.

But where were they? Would they try to kill me? Did they also get bound? Fighting and destroying evil beings was one thing, but I knew nothing about the potential kills. What if I refused? What if we all refused?

Don’t refuse. You must play the game, Bram’s voice called out. I know your thoughts, Sadie Tabors. You can’t get out of this. There is only one way and the clock is ticking.

Damn you, Bram, I said out loud. I flipped him my middle finger for good measure.

Sure, he was ancient and probably didn’t know what it meant, but it made me feel better, if only for a second. The bastard was going down as soon as I got the chance. I’d destroy him, his followers, and the other four of his likeminded sorcerer pals.

They’d all go down.

Stomping past the tree, I explored the immediate area for edible plants and found a variety of things growing. In the middle of the shrubs, I searched for fruits, veggies, anything. The berries were poisonous. I recognized them from some of the potions I’d made under Grandma’s watchful eye, so I bypassed them. Half walking, half crawling, I dug through the weeds.

Curiously, I found what appeared to be an apple growing from the ground. That couldn’t be right, though; apples grow on trees. Or did they? This was Clorva and so far, nothing was the same as home.

Nothing except Aiden.

I picked it. The red, round fruit was hard in my fingers as I checked for bruises or bad spots, but found none. I stood, rubbed it on the skirt of my dress, and brought it to my mouth to take a bite.

The arrow came from nowhere, missing my finger by centimeters and pinning the apple to the trunk of the tree. Gasping, I jumped back as it splattered, and the deep crimson juice oozing from it burned the bark off the tree.

A glance behind me revealed no shooter. Grabbing my dagger from my boot, I moved forward on high alert.

Who knew if this person was a danger or not? Only one way to find out.

2

Miles with Myles

The crunch of grass to my left had me whipping my head around with dagger poised. The leaves of the tree swayed as the guy came through, moving the branches as he ducked out.

Heat filled me.

The invisible force slammed into me, constricting my breath and knocking me to my knees. Doubled over, I gasped for air as fire flowed through my veins.

My heart clenched in my chest and I felt awareness wash over me.

Oh, shit.

Slowly, I glanced up to meet the brilliant green eyes of the man mere feet from me. His chiseled looks were so different from Aiden’s, but he was no less attractive. He was tall and fit, his clothes tight on his muscles. Blond curls grew wild atop his head, his lashes dark against his emerald green eyes. His mouth grew into a smirk as he saw me studying him. He too was on his knees, one arm tightly gripping his middle while the other held his bow.

Getting to my feet, I clutched the dagger tighter. Why was he here?

Who are you? I demanded. I forced myself to not look in Aiden’s direction. I didn’t know if he could hear or not, but I couldn’t think of that now.

Standing, he moved closer, slinging the bow over his shoulder and smiling. Deep dimples showed in his cheeks and my stomach jumped in response.

Well, hello, love. I guess you’re my heart mate. It’s bloody brilliant, isn’t it? Get sent to the bloody Sorcerer Wars and meet my blooming heart mate. What are the chances? he said, his voice thick with a British accent. Were we supposed to fall down like that? I don’t remember my mum or dad telling me about any of this when they chatted up.

What was he even talking about? Tall, British, and he had dimples. Lord help me, I didn’t even care.

I asked who you are.

Oh, you are a saucy one, he chuckled. Well, then. I’m Myles Bailey. Nice to meet you, love, he said, jutting his hand out for me to shake.

I took it cautiously. The instant our skin touched, my whole being came to life. The air swirled around me, caressing my skin. The heat of the sun bore down, sinking into my body and warming me all over. The earth beneath me seemed to come to life, power flowing from my feet to my head. The moisture in the air collected around me, dancing across my skin until my body absorbed every last drop.

Myles watched me curiously. Huh, he said.

Before I could consider what happened, he took my head in his hands and laid his lips upon mine. My world spun and the earth seemed to move under my feet. He assaulted my mouth in the best possible