by RJ Metcalf
Jade squawked and snatched the closest spring off the table and chucked it at his head. He dodged, laughing. Jade searched for another lightweight spring among the heavier gears and threw that too. “You’re the one who told me I needed to not make snap decisions!”
Zak grabbed a nearby schematic off his side of the table and shielded his face behind it while still chuckling. “It’s not a bad thing!” He lowered the papers just enough to peek over them at her. “I’m proud of you. That’s all.”
Warmth spread through her veins at the look in his eyes, and Jade hugged an arm around herself, silently cursing the open windows that kept her in plain sight of anyone walking the garden below. In a room like this, she couldn’t risk getting close enough to kiss him. Not while Weston was meeting Everett and spinning whatever story he’d concocted to buy them a bit more time.
Zak must’ve caught her line of thinking, and his smile reduced, yet remained bright. He stood and held out his hand. “May I escort you to your chambers for the night, my lady?”
“Your sister is in there, sleeping, you know.” Jade reminded with a touch of amusement as she let him pull her up to her feet. He tucked her hand on his arm and patted her fingers, leading her to the door.
“If you mean to imply that I had less than chivalrous intentions, my lady, I can assure you that this time, that was not the case,” Zak replied with a haughty court air so reminiscent of many of the young men at the balls that her father and aunt Garnet had forced her to attend.
She giggled and jabbed her fingers in his ribs. He squirmed aside without letting go of her. “This time, eh?”
Zak opened the door, and the two guards on either side came to attention. She ignored them as Zak walked down the middle of the slate-gray hall rug. Their quiet steps were overshadowed by the pair of Francene’s guards who followed them.
Zak stopped at her door and held it open for her, his breath whispering across the back of her neck as she passed him. “Sweet dreams, Jade.” He winked at her and turned to walk to his room.
She stood there, her hand braced against the door frame for a long moment, watching his broad back. A mustached guard bowed to her. “Can I help you with anything, Your Highness?”
“No, thank you.” She gave the two guards an awkward smile and closed the door behind her.
Chapter Six
Jade
Jade stared at the ceiling, listening to the quiet rasp of Zaborah’s whet stone against her dagger. Before Krista and Briar got married, the morning would have a peaceful rhythm of laughter and energy for the day. Now that it was just Jade and Zaborah, it was a different kind of start to the day. Especially with Zaborah still recovering from her injury.
Jade rolled to her side to face her blonde roommate. Zaborah was already dressed from the waist up, but she didn’t have her black leather bodice on over her dark blue blouse. Jade pushed herself upright and dangled her feet from her nightdress. “Need me to change the bandages this morning?”
Zaborah sheathed her dagger and dropped her whet stone into a pouch on her belt. “Yes, please.” She turned and fiddled with the strings of her blouse, dropping the sleeve partway off her left shoulder, revealing the thick swathe of wrapping around her cut.
Jade grabbed the tray of ointments and bandages off the nightstand and settled on the mattress behind Zaborah. She started to carefully unwrap the cloth, mindful to use the same gentle movements that she’d watched Zak use countless times when taking care of others’ injuries. Things between her and Zaborah had smoothed for the most part, now that she and Zak were avoiding any sort of affectionate display, but Jade still wanted to tread carefully. “Just so you know, some of our friends from the Phoenix are here now.”
Zaborah’s head turned slightly. “The ones who were going to protect the barrier?”
“The ones who gave all they could to our defense, yes.” Jade eased the thick bandage off Zaborah’s back and inspected the deep cut. No pink or red lines in the skin, no yellow pus, no notable swelling. “Oh, this is looking so much better already.” Jade grabbed the jar of raw honey and dribbled a streak of it along Zaborah’s injury, then Jade unstopped a little jar of ointment Francene had gifted them and started dabbing that on a clean bandage. “Some of them are already here, on our wing, and the rest are apparently beyond the gate, out with refugees.”
Jade lifted the bandage to Zaborah’s back and Zaborah grunted. Jade winced and continued. “Don’t suppose you’d be up for a walk outside the city, this morning?”
“A chance to get out of the house for a bit?” Wry humor tinged Zaborah’s voice. “How on Terrene could I pass that up?”
“That’s what I figured.” Jade started rolling gauze out, wrapping securely enough to keep the dressing in place while not being so tight as to give discomfort. “Specifically, I need Finn to come here. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.” She tugged on the gauze and tucked it in place. “Good to go.”
Zaborah eased into her leather bodice while Jade dressed quickly and braided her hair up. Jade’s stomach churned as she worked. Had Weston met with his father last night for dinner, or had Everett blown him off again? Last night was the end of the third night, and Everett hadn’t insisted on seeing them, as they’d both expected. What had changed? And what had happened if Everett and Weston had met?
And another thing. How was she going to behave around Ben? Act as if nothing had changed? Jade paused mid-reach for the last hair pin. Had anything changed between them? She found the piece of metal and pushed it into her hair. No. Aside from the fact that now they had a better idea of where he was from. Nothing changed, so there was no need for her to do anything different.
Breakfast was a quick affair in Francene’s dining room, but Francene’s butler, Renny, told her that the marchioness would be unable to join Jade for breakfast, as his mistress had a business engagement that had gone later than anticipated. Jade chose to pay no attention to the double meaning of his words and focused on eating quickly so she could return to what had inadvertently become her meeting room—where she and Weston would work on their treaty project, or she would work on Briar’s leg alongside Krista, or she would try to beat Zak or Zaborah at one of the different table strategy games that Francene had on hand.
She took the shortcut to her room, giving no second thought to the two guards that shadowed her every move. Zak was probably with Ben and Geist, by her best guess. It was rare to eat with neither Monomi present, but it made sense today. A flash of bright blue in the garden caught her attention, and she moved to the nearest open archway, peering out to see Ben walking in the garden with Zak and Geist. Ben paused by a rosebush fading to the call of winter, and the sun flashed blue off his shirt again. Jade glanced up the stairs, indecisive.
The gardens were casual, and not somewhere she’d necessarily want to hold any sort of meeting regarding the barrier or the Hollows, but she knew that these particular guards were trusted by both Francene and Weston. And maybe informal would be good for her, after so long of trying to step up to being the unwilling queen. Just thinking of having to hold to formal standards made her palms itch.
She strode out to the gardens and waved at Zak as she picked her way around the hedges. He gave her a quick grin but didn’t step any closer in her direction. She lifted her chin and smoothed her face to a bland smile, pushing her feelings behind a mask. It was unnerving, how she’d learned to hide her true heart. Not well enough for Francene’s satisfaction, but at least Everett hadn’t come calling again. Yet.
Geist had no qualms about personal distance, however. He threw an arm around her shoulder and dropped his voice. “If you ever want to just escape this fancy jail, you let me know. Got it, princess?” The scent of roses washed over Jade as Geist scratched at his hair, his nose wrinkled in distaste. “And what kind of place is it, when everything smells like flowers? Even the bath soap?”
Jade shot Zak a startled look, and he turned on his heel but not before she caught the suppressed smile. She ch
oked on her laugh. Trust Zak to prank Geist on the first available instance.
She tried to restrain her snicker. “I’ll find you something better smelling later. But, you know—” She took an exaggerated sniff in his direction. “You don’t smell half bad now.”
Geist gave her a wounded expression while Ben and Zak cackled. Whatever nerves she’d been feeling were successfully shattered, and she smiled at Ben, noting how the sun highlighted faint lines around his eyes that weren’t there before. A single silver strand—also new—nestled in his auburn hair. Her heart warmed as she chuckled with the group. Ben hadn’t changed. Yes, this was her friend. And she wouldn’t hold his heritage against him.
“There you are!” Zaborah’s voice rang out in the peaceful garden, and pleasure bubbled through Jade at the sight of Finn walking abreast with the Monomi, Kerlee tagging behind them. Zaborah shot Jade a scowl. “We went up to your typical room, but you weren’t there.”
“Sorry,” Jade gestured at Ben and Geist. “I found them out here, so I followed.”
Zaborah rolled her eyes. “It’s fine.”
“Hey-o, Captain Princess!” Kerlee greeted, offering her an over-the-top bow that made her giggle. He gave her a broad, familiar smile that held a gentle quality to it. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“I’ve missed you too, Kerlee.” A smirk pulled Jade’s lips. “But I can’t say I’ve missed your shirts.”
Ben and Geist snickered while a mock aggrieved scowl took over Kerlee’s tan face. He pointed to himself and his ridiculously flamboyant yellow-and-pink shirt. “Memorable, Jade. I’m memorable.”
“You’re certainly that,” Zaborah muttered under her breath, causing some more mild laughter.
Jade’s amusement dimed as she contemplated Finn and his stooped shoulders, the weary lines of grief that sank into his skin. She approached him cautiously and gave him a hug. He hesitated a heartbeat before wrapping his arms around her, and she rocked from foot to foot slightly in the soft grass. “I’m so sorry about Raine.” She drew back and her own vision blurred. “We’ll do all we can to get her out.”
“Thank you,” he replied, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat and nodded, eyes half closed, whether from the sunshine or from his own emotions, she didn’t know. “Yes, thank you.”
Jade turned to Ben. He nearly bounced in place, gratitude rolling off him. She raised a finger to caution him. “We already had a plan for getting into the Hollows for a different prisoner, and we’ll use that plan for getting in and to Raine. But I have conditions.”
“What about the prisoner you need to get to?” Finn asked.
Her throat closed for a moment, and Zak answered in her stead, his own voice gravelly. “He died.”
“My condolences.” Finn grimaced and raised his hand to her shoulder. “Please, go on.”
Jade took a deep breath and glanced around the garden, making sure they were the only ones among the greenery and plants. Zaborah stood by the alcove in which Jade and Zak had kissed only a few short weeks ago, and a smattering of guards ringed the perimeter, but none were close enough to overhear. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do a prisoner transfer, or how exactly we’ll get her out. But we can at least get one or two in with her, while I try to legally petition for her release.”
Kerlee let out a low whistle while Finn’s eyebrows shot up at the same time as Geist’s. Geist spoke first. “Has anyone ever been released from the Hollows?”
“There’s two occasions that I know of, yes.” Jade shrugged and tried to hide her concern. “It’s rare. It was a long shot, even for us, and it’ll be even harder if she is actually a—” She paused and shook off the superstitious fear that wanted to come with her words. “Void Born. At the very least, we can probably get someone in there with her—to keep her safe.”
Geist snorted. “Or to keep the prisoners safe from her.”
Finn’s tight smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You mentioned conditions?”
“Yes,” Jade said. “Ben and Geist shared last night that you’re working to figure out if the barrier can be fixed. Is that correct?”
“The barrier can’t be restored.” Finn shook his head, a measure of grief in his eyes. “I wish it were that easy, but we’d need to recharge each of the keystones, then reactivate them. And even if we had seven sages with enough power, the cost is too great. Trust me.”
“Oh.” Jade wilted at that pronouncement. What hope did they have then? “But what about Jaxton’s notes? Geist said—”
Finn was already shaking his head. “The only thing in Jaxton’s notes that involved the barrier was about how to bring it down. What I’ve been trying to figure out is what he was attempting with the blood-bond. He’d been studying it, experimenting with it. Brandon was his science dummy, and I’m still trying to piece it all together.”
Jade grimaced at the mental image of her birth father being a pricking cushion for Doctor Jaxton. While she didn’t have any love for Brandon, the idea of all he’d experienced during her lifetime turned her stomach.
Finn pressed his lips together as he continued, oblivious to her thoughts. “I think he was trying to find a way to usurp control over those already under the influence of the blood-bond.”
Jade’s eyebrows shot up, and she leaned forward, struggling to comprehend what it would look like, if one could essentially override a blood-bonded person. “That sounds like a step in the right direction, if in the right hands.” She glanced down at the grass, considering. “Do you think it’s possible to break a blood-bond?”
Finn drew himself up and something about the air around him nearly crackled. She took a half step back. “Yes,” he said quietly. “If magic was used to make something, it can be used to break it too. I just need to find the key.”
“Then I cannot allow you to go to the Hollows for the purpose of saving Raine.” Her words made logical sense in her head, but saying them out loud, to Raine’s grandfather, stuck painfully in her throat. How hard must his position be? “We need you to stay here, working on that solution. Ben can go to the Hollows for her.”
“He’s not going alone.” Geist jumped in, holding his hand out to Jade. He pointed to Ben, who’d dropped his crossed arms in surprise. “Have you seen him trying to blend in while stumbling across Terrene? Five minutes in the Hollows, and they’ll peg him as a Void Born. I’m going with him. I have to watch his back.”
“Agreed,” Kerlee chimed in. He plucked at his shirt and nodded at Ben. “If you think I lack subtlety, you haven’t watched this guy. I have to go too.”
Jade blinked owlishly at Geist. Seems like a lot had gone on with her crew while she’d been trapped in Aerugo. “Well, if you can prove yourself good enough with a steam rifle, we can probably make that work.”
Ben glanced at Finn askance. Finn’s glare at the ground could’ve melted a crater, but he twitched his head in a single nod. Ben blew out his breath and bounced on the balls of his feet. “It’s a deal. Where do we start?”
“First, we need to talk to Weston.” Confusion shone in Ben’s eyes and Jade grinned. “Trust me, he’ll help.”
Chapter Seven
Christopher
Wind whistled, and Christopher pressed his hand against his hair in an attempt to prevent it from whipping in his eyes as he peered over the railing of the Antian airship. This was how travel should happen. Not by foot or by horse, but up high, with the sensation and speed of flying like a bird. He wasn’t about to go soft like Lucio had, but the comforts of civilization while traveling was rather nice.
Who didn’t like waking up to breakfast being served? So what if he had to be on hand for any needs Kaius may have. Masquerading as the assistant of Antian’s advisor for the trip to the Leaders’ Summit was already proving to be the best undercover assignment yet.
And it would have been the best undercover assignment of his life, if not for the Emperor and his daughter onboard.
Half-Elph offspring weren’t unheard of back in Golar. O
ftentimes liaisons between the blood-bonded Elph resulted in an undesired pregnancy for the human female, but those were taken care of quickly by the medical teams. Humans were servants. Elph were to remain pure-blooded. There was to be no mixing. Ever.
It was Kaius who’d pointed it out to Christopher. Ezran’s much lighter skin tone than Abigail’s honey brown. How they shared the same sandy-blond hair. But how Ezran still looked to be only in his thirties—as a full-blood Elph should—but Abigail seemed to lack the same youthful quality, though she was in her twenties. Abigail was a quarter Elph. After explaining the news, Kaius had left Christopher in their shared bunk room to sit in his own shock.
Here in Antius, not only had the Emperor fathered a half breed, but he’d married the mother. And their half-Elph child would someday rule their nation. And no one was bothered by this?
Just how different were these southern Eph? At least Corporal Adonis had been demoted after the group of prisoners had escaped. That lined up with familiar territory for Christopher. Even if the corporal hadn’t been executed, at least the southern Elph weren’t complete pansies.
But the talk onboard the airship stayed constant: there was concern over the barrier being down. What would they do when their northern brethren came to their border? How could they protect their people—human, Elph, and those with blood of both? Speculation flew back and forth. Did a child who had one blood-bonded parent but one parent without have any lingering effect? Would they be able to get the barrier back up?
Everything about these southern Elph was different than he’d expected. All but Kaius.
Kaius’s eyes glimmered every time someone mentioned the barrier being down. He would spend any moment without anyone around asking Christopher questions about the north, so he could ingratiate himself to the Coven. And he spoke quietly, once, about his desire to fling the half-breed off the airship, but he dare not with her manipulation abilities.