The Spellbinding Courtship: Calatini Tales Book 0.5
Page 19
Aragon grunted and crossed his arms as the master marshal turned to the communication mirror beside his desk then chanted a brief spell and waved his hand. Hopefully, Lady Juliet would be more helpful than Thurston.
The mirror's glass glowed white before the royal witch appeared. She arched a fashionable brow. "Yes, Thurston? Any luck with that black witch?"
Thurston shook his head. "Not as of yet, my lady."
Aragon clenched his hands. The master marshal was slower than a cold wyvern. He strode behind Thurston to interject, "And he kidnapped Selena over an hour ago and is blocking our attempts to trace her."
Lady Juliet blinked. "How bold." She glanced over Thurston's shoulder at Aragon. "Has Miss Midor continued wearing my protection charm? If so, we can't use an ordinary tracing spell to find her."
Aragon almost snorted. That explained Thurston's failed spell. "She never removes your protection charm." Even when she hadn't needed it. Because he'd given it to her? His heart twisted. "Not that it prevented her kidnapping. And now it's blocking our attempts to find her."
The royal witch's eyes narrowed. "My protection charm is for magical threats only, Lord Treyvan. That includes tracing spells. And my charm would do nothing against physical threats, as I mentioned when I gave it to you."
Aragon winced. "I remember." He must mollify the royal witch, so she'd help find Selena before 'twas too late. He leaned forward with an imploring smile. "I'm sorry for my outburst, but Goddess knows what the black witch is doing to Selena."
Lady Juliet's eyes softened. "I understand your concern, my lord, but perhaps Miss Midor's kidnapping is a boon."
As Thurston coughed, Aragon stiffened and echoed, "A boon?" Selena's kidnapping was no boon.
The royal witch chuckled. "Yes. The black witch could block an ordinary tracing spell, but regardless of his defenses, I'll be able to trace Miss Midor through my protection charm and find him." She cocked her head. "Unless he forced her to remove it and left it elsewhere."
Aragon's throat tightened. Selena knew that charm would be her only defense. "She'd ensure he didn't remove it." His brave lady would outwit the black witch like she had when she'd fled to the brothel. Please, Goddess.
Lady Juliet nodded. "Hold on while I perform a tracing spell." She slipped from her communication mirror, and the image shifted to show her workroom.
Aragon tensed and leaned over Thurston to peer at the royal witch in the mirror. How long would her tracing spell take? No matter how adroit, Selena had been kidnapped over an hour ago, and the longer the black witch had her, the more he could do. Aragon swallowed and fisted his hands behind his back.
Lady Juliet unfurled a map of Ormas on her desk then fetched a silver pendant. After a singsong chant, she dangled the pendant by its chain over the map. The pendant swung in a wide circle that gradually tightened to a point. The royal witch bent over the map. "My protection charm is inside Number Fourteen Sand Lane near the docks."
His heart leaping, Aragon began dashing from Thurston's office. At last! They could rescue Selena. Thank the Goddess. Please let the black witch not have harmed her.
"Wait, Lord Treyvan," Lady Juliet called. "I must scry the area first. No knowing what traps that sly black witch set."
He stalked back to the communication mirror. "Fine. But hurry, please." As the royal witch stared into her massive scrying bowl, he shifted his weight back and forth. Couldn't she hurry? Who knew what had already happened to Selena or what would happen before they reached her? They mustn't delay rescuing her.
Chapter 31
When Selena struggled free of the stygian blackness, her two kidnappers had propped her up with pillows and were tying her outstretched arms to a musty bed. Her pulse surged, but she shut her eyes and remained limp. Fighting now was senseless—her kidnappers could handily overpower her. She must wait until they left to slip free.
Soon the men clomped from the room, leaving her trussed to the headboard like a maiden sacrifice. Like? She was one.
Still feigning stupor, she choked back the hysterical giggle rising in her throat. She must gather her wits and concentrate on escaping. So she risked a glance about the room through her lashes. No one was there. She sighed and fully opened her eyes.
She pursed her lips as she scrutinized the room. Where was she? The shabby furnishings hinted at a poorer part of Ormas. But threadbare drapes covered the window, so she could be anywhere. And how long had she been unconscious? She wasn't hungry, so it must be before dinner. Had Aragon or his parents noticed she was missing yet?
Selena's chest tightened. She must escape before her uncle and the black witch auctioned off her virginity or whatever else they'd planned. She eyed the ropes tying her arms, and her breath hitched. Her kidnappers had used complex knots she'd no hope of unraveling, even if her hands had been free. They must have spent time as sailors.
She sagged and hissed a sigh. So much for slipping free. At least they hadn't tied her legs. She could kick anyone who got too close. But she'd best wait until in direst need to attempt that—'twould be easy for them to tie her legs too.
Selena set her jaw then wriggled her arms to loosen her bindings. Attempting escape was better than fretting and waiting for someone to appear. Her wrists had begun to chafe when the door creaked open. Her pulse stuttered as she stilled and closed her eyes to feign slumber. Goddess, would they notice her wrists?
A pair of gentleman's boots clapped across the floor. Uncle Adan, no doubt. Of course, the bounder was here. Air stirred when he leaned toward her. Could he tell she was awake?
Although her heart pounded in her ears, she forced herself to breathe evenly and remain relaxed.
Uncle Adan grunted. "Why hasn't she woken? Oh well." He slapped her cheek, the same one the darker kidnapper had earlier.
Her eyes flew open, and she gritted a smile as blood seeped in her mouth again. Her uncle was brave when it came to bound ladies.
Uncle Adan smirked down at her. "Afternoon, dear niece."
Forcing her jaw to relax, Selena blinked and glanced about the room to feign confusion. "Uncle Adan? What's going on?" The longer she could delay her auction, the better. Goddess knew when Aragon or the magic marshals would find her.
Her uncle snickered. "The black witch's men kidnapped you. So easily too. They were casing the Hawkes' townhouse when you entered the stables. So they decided to take you this afternoon rather than waiting until tonight."
She almost winced. Why had she been so reckless? She never should have risked visiting the stables. But no sense in crying for spilt unicorn water. She tensed and tilted her head. "But why did they kidnap me?"
Uncle Adan's teeth glinted in a cold smile. "Because the black witch has arranged an auction at midnight. He plans to sell your virginity to the highest bidder."
A chill skittered across her skin. An auction, just as she'd expected. But perhaps a lie would delay it. She laughed and lifted her chin. "My virginity? 'Tis too late for that."
Uncle Adan's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Selena forced another laugh. "I mean I'm no longer a virgin." Please let him believe her.
Her uncle snorted. "Impossible."
She slanted him an arch glance, struggling to appear nonchalant. She must play a brazen wanton to convince him. "You do recall I've been living with Aragon for over a month."
Uncle Adan arched a brow. "Along with his parents. The Duchess of Childes wouldn't present her son's lover to court."
Selena swallowed. Her uncle required more to convince him. Imitating Madam Lorelei, she purred a chuckle then shrugged despite her bound arms. "Probably not if she knew for certain, but Aragon and I have been discreet." So discreet they'd never made love.
Uncle Adan eyed her. "You're much too sanctimonious to have surrendered your virginity outside matrimony."
She shrugged again. She'd start her lie with the truth. "I abandoned my dreams of matrimony when I overheard your first meeting with the black witch. To escape being raped, I dec
ided to sell my virginity in a brothel. The one on Mermaid Street. You're a patron, I believe."
Her uncle gaped at her.
Selena purred another chuckle, even though her pulse throbbed in her throat. Time to weave in falsehood. "Aragon is too. After taking my pesky virginity, he vowed to handle the black witch and have his mother find me a husband. Although that didn't stop him from seeking my bed in the meantime."
Uncle Adan's mouth snapped shut. "I can't believe it. But the black witch shall be able to tell for certain." He whirled and strode from the room.
She shuddered then sagged against the bed. Hopefully, her lie would delay them long enough for Aragon and the magic marshals to find her. Meanwhile, she resumed wriggling her arms, but halted when Uncle Adan returned with the black witch moments later. Her heart pounding, she lifted her chin to study them. She must be bold to outwit them.
His lanky frame now cadaverous, the black witch arched a brow. "No longer a virgin, Miss Midor?"
Selena flashed a sardonic smile to disguise her tension. "Not for the past month and a half."
Uncle Adan snorted. "She claims Lord Treyvan took her, but I can't believe it."
"Why not?" Her stomach fluttered as she tilted her head with a wanton smirk. "Would you care for me to describe his birthmarks to prove it? Or would describing his lovemaking do?"
The black witch's eyes gleamed. "Once Treyvan mentioned Midor and I realized you were under his protection, I always planned to kidnap you as vengeance. But to learn you're his lover as well makes it even sweeter."
Nausea swamped Selena. Oh, Goddess. Her lie had accomplished nothing. Her chest seized. How else could she delay them?
Uncle Adan glared at the black witch. "But she'll fetch less at the auction if she's no longer a virgin. Besides, she must be lying. Lord Treyvan is too noble to despoil a lady under his protection."
Which was why her desperate seduction attempt had failed. She suppressed a wince, but her heart softened. Aragon's chivalry was one of the reasons she loved him. She must escape, so she could see him again.
The black witch scratched his scraggly beard. "Your niece's questionable virginity is easy enough to prove." He raised his hand, muttered a spell, then gestured toward her.
The gold gargoyle nestled between her breasts warmed. Selena relaxed with a sigh. Lady Juliet's charm would absorb the black witch's spell, so he'd see nothing. Thank the Goddess.
The black witch glowered, and he repeated his spell with a sharp gesture.
The gold gargoyle warmed again. She almost smiled when the black witch growled. Although he'd managed to kidnap her, he couldn't match the most illustrious witch in Calatini.
Uncle Adan frowned at the black witch. "What is it?"
The black witch stormed toward Selena. "Something is protecting her from my spells. 'Tis fortunate that powder I gave the brothers was merely enhanced by magic."
Drawing herself fully upright, she arched a brow. "I've powerful and wealthy benefactors now. Purchasing a protection charm was nothing for them." Thank you, Aragon.
The black witch leaned over her with a scowl.
Selena tensed and resisted the urge to recoil. She'd not cower, no matter what the black witch did.
"The gargoyle, no doubt." The black witch seized the gold charm but shrieked and dropped it.
Uncle Adan winced. "What happened?"
"The cursed thing burned me." The black witch pointed at her uncle. "You try."
Selena almost snorted. Her uncle was a coward and would never touch something powerful enough to burn the black witch. Although the charm probably wouldn't harm someone without magic, so he could remove it if he tried.
When Uncle Adan shook his head, the black witch sneered and rubbed his injured hand. "Then I must devise something to neutralize that charm before the auction."
Her neck prickled, but she drawled as the black witch began to leave, "The Hawkes shall destroy you if you harm me." Would Aragon's influential family delay the black witch?
He paused in the doorway with a smirk. "But they must capture me first. And the power from your rape, regardless of your questionable virginity, shall secure my escape." He chuckled then swept from the room.
As her uncle began to follow, Selena glared at him. "You should be careful of the company you keep, Uncle Adan. Magic marshals are hunting your black witch and shall gladly apprehend you too. Then the Hawkes shall ensure you spend the rest of your days in prison. Forget ever gaining influence at court."
Uncle Adan shrugged. "I surrendered that after our skirmish at the sirenic play. Now I simply want your destruction as vengeance against Arias and the Hawkes. And the black witch assures me he has ways to block the magic marshals, so we'll depart long before they arrive. But we might leave your defiled body behind for them to find."
She shuddered as nausea burned her throat. "Mother would be ashamed of you."
His cheeks hollowing, Uncle Adan stiffened. "Isabel is dead, so her opinion no longer matters." He turned and strode from the room.
Selena sighed and leaned against the headboard, eyeing her outstretched arms. She'd not delayed the auction, and her wriggling hadn't loosened the knots binding her. Goddess, how could she escape? She'd probably only eight hours or so before the auction.
Chapter 32
Aragon clenched his hands behind his back as the royal witch continued staring into her massive scrying bowl. Would she ever finish?
At long last, Lady Juliet smiled and lifted her head. "Miss Midor is unharmed so far and tied to a bed on the second floor. The black witch and Midor are downstairs preparing for her auction. Nasty traps, both magical and physical, surround the rowhouse."
He relaxed and shut his eyes. Selena was unharmed, but for how long? He tensed again, his eyes springing open. He leaned toward the communication mirror. "When is the auction?"
The royal witch abandoned her scrying bowl to approach her mirror. "Midnight."
Aragon sighed. Now that they knew Selena's location, almost eight hours should allow them to rescue her well before the auction. And if they left at once, surely nothing would happen to her before they arrived. So she'd escape her kidnapping unscathed. Thank the Goddess.
Still seated, Thurston slowly nodded and rubbed his chin. "And no one else is in the rowhouse?"
Lady Juliet frowned. "Not at the moment. The black witch's two lackeys are delivering invitations to the auction but shall return afterward."
The master marshal leaned forward. "Are they witches too?"
Lady Juliet snorted, her mouth twisting. "No, just ordinary ruffians."
Why were Thurston and the royal witch still talking? Aragon forced a smile and gestured toward the door. "Can we go rescue Selena now?"
Thurston waved for him to sit. "Not yet, my lord."
Aragon scowled and remained standing. Why delay rescuing Selena? His stomach hardened. Harm could befall her if they did. Yet he held his tongue as the master marshal began instructing his companions.
Thurston turned and pointed at the younger magic marshals. "You two, go scout that rowhouse and its traps. Make sure they don't spot you."
The young man and woman leapt up then strode from the room.
The master marshal eyed his other companion. "You, go prepare negation and sleep spells. We'll need lots when we raid the rowhouse."
As the other magic marshal left, Aragon's temples tightened. What was Thurston about? "Lots? Only the black witch and Midor are there now."
The master marshal nodded. "True, but there shall be more at the auction."
Aragon stiffened and narrowed his eyes. "At the auction? Why can't we rescue Selena now?" While she was still unscathed.
The royal witch interjected from the communication mirror, "Delay seems risky."
Thurston shrugged. "That can't be helped. We must capture the auction bidders."
Fire surging through him, Aragon bent and grabbed the master marshal's shirt. "I'm not waiting to rescue Selena so you can be thorough."
Lady Juliet pursed her lips. "I can enhance the magic in the protection charm I created for Miss Midor. As its creator, I'm still linked to it, so the black witch shan't notice my magical signature if I take care. I can shield Miss Midor from physical attacks as well as spells."
Aragon relaxed with a sigh. Following the master marshal's deliberate plan would ensure Selena's rescue, and the royal witch could protect Selena in the meantime. Although he'd rather rescue her at once. "Please do. Thank you, my lady."
Lady Juliet inclined her head. "Goddess bless your rescue attempt, my lord." The communication mirror glowed white then cleared to reflect Thurston's office.
Aragon glanced at the master marshal, his chest tightening. "What should I do while you're preparing?" He'd go mad if he hadn't a chore.
Thurston eyed him. "Go procure dinner for everyone."
Aragon stiffened with a frown. 'Twas too early for dinner. Besides, who could eat with Selena in danger? "Why dinner?"
Thurston rose and clapped his shoulder. "Spell work requires a great deal of energy, and hunger causes muddled thinking. We all must be well-fed to capture the black witch and his cohorts."
Aragon grimaced but nodded. That made sense. And 'twas a chore to occupy him. "Very well."
After sliding Selena's hairbrush back into his pocket, he strode to a nearby tavern and purchased food for a dozen starving magic marshals. Staggering under its weight, he brought back the food to Thurston's office. He made himself eat with the magic marshals, although the food threatened to choke him.
As Aragon waited in Thurston's office, he forced himself to remain still—he must save his energy for rescuing Selena. Yet during the interminable wait, Selena being raped, killed, and everything in between kept flashing before his eyes.
An hour before midnight, Thurston gestured for Aragon to join him.
Finally! Aragon leapt to his feet and bound across the room. Then he and the magic marshals strode downstairs and rode to Sand Lane to meet the marshals scouting the rowhouse.