The Golden Key Chronicles

by AJ Nuest

  He loosened his grip but kept her near, kissing the top of her head as she turned her cheek to his chest.

  “Better.” Her shoulders lifted and her breath warmed the side of his neck as she exhaled. “So we should probably head back to Oliver’s. I hate to think of what Denmar and Fandorn are going through right now.”

  Frowning, he seized her upper arms and brought her away from him. By all the goddesses’ tears, the woman spoke as if her return to his realm was an inevitability. As if she’d spared not one thought to the portent of her untimely death. “You will not squander one moment longer than necessary inside Castle Seviere, Rowena.” He tightened his grasp on her arms to emphasize his resolve. “You will see my safe journey through the mirror and then immediately return here.”

  She stiffened under his palms and he braced for the gale of her unavoidable tirade. Yet, of all the skirmishes between them, this final clash of wills would not be hers to win. Her life hung in the balance and, in this, his decision would not be swayed.

  The gentle lap of the water continued its ceaseless kiss of the shore, tugging at the earth with the same persistence the air he held trapped in his lungs begged for release.

  Her eyes glittered in the moonlight and she stepped nearer, her hand floating like the wisp of a dream to his chest. “Caedmon…” She sighed and shook her head. “Do you know what I see when I look at you?”

  The breath rushed from between his lips. Though not what he’d expected, her soft reproach did not shelve his worries. Helios, himself, would be hard pressed to surmise what transpired behind the enigmatic mask she wore. “Desperation? A man ill-prepared for the crushing realization his sole purpose for living is soon to be stolen from his grasp?”

  She tipped her head, lifting her hand to cup his cheek in her palm. “I see a king, my love. I see the rightful ruler of the Austiere Kingdom, and the most honorable man I have ever known. A man who is destined to lead his kinsman toward a glorious victory the likes of which will be heralded throughout his kingdom’s entire history.”

  Adulterous tears stormed his eyes and he dropped his gaze to the beach. Ah, yes. She had always clung to the conviction he was more than his worth. Yet this time she was wrong, and he could not allow her life to be forfeit as recompense for her erroneous assumptions. “I do not want the throne, Rowena. Least of all, if I must pay a price my heart is ill afford to survive.”

  “Which is exactly why you’re the perfect man for the job.” Her other hand rose to his face and she forced his gaze back to hers. “Rarely in life do what we want and what we have to do follow the same path. But think about it. You and I both know Braedric is a traitor, and if you accuse him alone he could have you imprisoned…or worse. We need to face him together. You need me to corroborate the evidence of how we found the armoire in Seviere’s castle. If I don’t and your father becomes ill, the kingdom could fall into ruin. Braedric could toss the gates wide open and Seviere could march in unopposed. You and I are the only ones who can stop that from happening. Don’t you see? In coming here, we’ve been given a chance to save everyone we love.”

  The soft pad of her thumb swept the curve of his bottom lip. “I’m not saying my going back is the best choice. I’m saying it’s the only choice. Just as it’s your destiny to rule, my destiny is to return in the service of my king.”

  No. She hadn’t considered the risk. Precisely as she’d always done, she’d set herself and her safety second to everything else. Yet she’d made a dire mistake in bestowing him such power, granting him the authority to choose her next path. “If what you say is true then, as your king, I command you live out your days in this realm.”

  A harsh breath broke from her chest and she dropped her hands, spinning away from him. Like the fleeting moments so quickly ebbing between them, the wash of the tide eroded her footprints as she paced the shore. “So you would have us just throw it all away. You would alter the past, strip me of my birthright, give up the time we’ve spent together and have us never fall in love?”

  He scowled. Of course not. If one joy remained as he moved forward, it would be the remembrance of the blissful moments he’d spent in her arms, the unparalleled grace and beauty she’d bestowed him. “You are the white sorceress of prophecy, and shall now and forever remain my wife.”

  “How, Caedmon?” Hands fisted, she marched back to her spot before him. “If I don’t return the key to the past, then it stays here, in this time. You go back without it and when the day comes for me to find it in the armoire, it’s not there. The door will never open, I will not be able to help you, and Sorceress Rowena remains a myth, a legend, someone who never existed.”

  His stomach seized and the steely bands of dread bore down upon his chest. What measure of king would he be to deny her the rightful place she’d earned in Austiere history? Her bravery, loyalty and fierce determination bespoke the qualities due sonnets and poems. She should be revered for her courage, sit in a place of honor so every being, man or beast, could kneel and give thanks at her feet.

  And yet, with his decision, he’d sentenced her to obscurity. He’d denied their love and rewritten their fate.

  Anger heated his blood, coursing slick and hot through his veins like boiling oil. He tossed his head back and roared at the sky. By Helios’ golden blood, where did the sacrifices end? Must he lose everything to appease his heartless god? Had not he proven his faithfulness time and again?

  The soothing comfort of her embrace circled his waist and she lowered her head to his chest. His arms instinctively enveloped her, one hand cupping the back of her head.

  Oh, his love. His purest, most noble love. To maintain that his heart had never belonged to her would be the cruelest blow of all. Better that Gaelleod should brand his tongue with a white-hot poker than for him to ever utter such a vile lie.

  “I would give it all up,” she whispered. “I honestly couldn’t care less how I’m remembered. But you once told me we would be together forever, and whether we remain here or go back through the mirror, that’s a promise I intend to see you keep.”

  He closed his eyes, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. She spoke true, and he’d been a fool to assume he could alter events preordained by the gods. The course of their lives had been written in the stars, and his place was not to contest the fulfillment of their destiny.

  Out of respect for her…to satisfy his vow and make safe the Austiere Kingdom, he must consent. Yet, with their return, one last detail prevailed, guaranteed his control. No longer would her life be the only one at stake. Whether in his realm or in paradise, they remained together. Forever. Exactly as he’d promised. The will of Helios and Selene be damned.

  “We go back.” Though the words soured his tongue, the ache in his heart eased. They faced the future—the past—as one. “And may the goddesses bless our steadfast devotion with eternal grace.”

  * * *

  “Historians have been known to be wrong, you know.”

  Or, at least, that was the mantra Rowena kept repeating in her head during the two-hour drive back to Oliver’s apartment. Sitting in the passenger seat of Ollie’s Land Rover, she’d struggled like hell to conceal her anxiety, all while adamantly refuting every rational argument he and Jon tossed in her direction. Of course she was scared, but that didn’t change what needed to be done. She was the only one who could substantiate Caedmon’s claims against Braedric and make certain he never claimed the throne. Absolutely, they were about to charge headfirst into danger, but what was the alternative? Let Caedmon go back alone and automatically condemn him to failure?

  Even as they climbed the stairs to Oliver’s third floor apartment, she’d argued her case, and was the first one to lead her disgruntled entourage straight down the hall to Oliver’s bedroom. “There is no way such an obscure event from the fourteenth century could’ve been recorded with any semblance of accuracy.”

  Jon pressed a tissue under his nose in a vain attempt to stifle a sob, turning his cheek to Oliver’s che
st.

  Oliver wrapped an arm around Jon’s shoulders and patted his head. “There’s nothing I can say to change your mind?” He blinked past the glistening sheen in his eyes, glancing between her and Caedmon, standing before the armoire. “You do know you’re welcome to stay, right? You’re both welcome to stay.”

  Even though her dear friend stated the obvious, Rowena’s heart tightened at Oliver’s last-ditch effort to alter the course of history. If only she and Caedmon could remain in this world and forget that Seviere, Gaelleod—the danger they were about to face—ever existed, she would seize the opportunity and hold it tight in both hands. Yet every person in the room already understood Oliver’s suggestion was impossible. For her and Caedmon to do as much would destroy every honorable thing they’d accomplished, erase all the good and negate every principle they believed in.

  Like it or not, they had to go back.

  Stepping forward, she smiled over the hard knot of sorrow crowding the base of her throat, and placed her hand on Oliver’s cheek. Never in her wildest dreams would she be able to thank God enough for bringing him into her life. Regardless of the time and distance separating them, one thing would never change. Oliver would always be her big brother. “I’ve never done anything the easy way, Ollie. I don’t see why this time should be any different.”

  “But…I love you, doll.” His arm caught her around the waist and he jerked her to his chest. Jon joined their hug and the three of them shared an inconsolable moment of heartbreak. “The thought of you purposely traipsing off to get yourself killed is ripping my heart out.”

  A tear crept from under her lashes and traced a warm trail down to her chin. He was right. Saying goodbye tore her heart out too. And yet, she couldn’t shirk the heavy responsibility that had been placed on her shoulders. “A war is raging, Ollie. One that I’m a part of. But keep in mind, I’ve got everything to live for.” She held her hand out behind her and smiled softly as Caedmon clasped it in his. “I promise you, I’m not going down without a fight.”

  “And I shall go to my death defending her,” Caedmon whispered.

  A wail careened through the room as Jon broke from their clutch and tossed his arms around Caedmon’s neck.

  Rowena withdrew from Oliver, clearing the tears from her cheeks. Lifting her brows, she compressed her lips to smother a chuckle.

  Caedmon held his arms awkwardly to the sides before hesitantly patting Jon’s back. “There, there, Jon,” he murmured. “I shall miss you as well.”

  Oliver smoothed his hands along Jon’s shoulders and eased him away from Caedmon, rolling his eyes when Jon honked loudly into his tissue. “How will we know?” he asked. “If you’re successful in this quest of yours, is there any way we’ll be able to tell?”

  Rowena smiled. At least, in this, she could soothe Ollie’s worries. “The armoire will close and remain that way. Just like when I first bought it. If the Austiere Kingdom is victorious…” she shook her head. “After the Austiere Kingdom is victorious, mine and Caedmon’s first duty will be to make sure both the chest and key are hidden away someplace safe. Until their power is forgotten and so I can find the key like I did two years ago in this time.”

  Oliver scrunched up his nose. “Yeah, that’s exactly the kind of twisted logic that makes my head hurt.”

  They shared a quiet chuckle and she ran her palm down past his wrist to squeeze his fingers.

  “Well…” He opened his arms and she stepped inside to hold him tight, enjoy one last parting hug. “You too, Caedmon.” He waved her prince forward. “Get over here, you big lug.”

  Caedmon’s hard chest met her back as he wrapped both her and Oliver in his arms. A moment later, the tips of Jon’s hair tickled her cheek, and the four of them shared a bittersweet farewell.

  They broke apart, though Oliver and Jon remained linked, each of them resting an arm around the other’s hips.

  Oliver swept the moisture from his face with the heel of his palm. “This seems like a horrible thing to say, but I sure hope I never see you again.”

  “Now that’s exactly where you’re wrong.” Rowena twined her fingers through Caedmon’s and turned them toward the shimmering glass. Dropping a wink over her shoulder, she grinned as another tear tumbled past her damp lashes. “I’m going into the past, remember? Don’t worry, Ollie. It’s only a matter of time before you and I meet and become best friends.”

  With a nod toward her prince, she faced the mirror and they leapt.

  The roar of fleeting centuries washed past her ears. Oiled machinery and the coppery scent of spilled blood, broken promises and the sweet bloom of wishes granted filled her senses. The light distorted and swirled, melding into a plunging vortex of bright colors. Eerie flickers detonated at the tips of her fingers. A dazzling halo sparked along the crest of Caedmon’s head.

  In the distance, a focused pinpoint emerged and raced toward them. The hard muscles of Caedmon’s arms encircled her as they lurched and spun. She held tightly to his shoulders, chest to chest, closing her eyes as their destination became clear.

  Vaulting ass over tea kettle through the veil, they landed in a bone-jarring heap inside the domed chamber of Castle Seviere.

  Rowena rolled off of Caedmon onto her back, narrowing her eyes to bring the room into focus. In the sky beyond the domed, glass ceiling, fiery magenta streaks mingled like watercolor with azure blue. The sprinkling of white stars winked into non-existence one by one.

  Sunrise. They’d arrived just before dawn.

  She groaned and sat up, and then slapped a hand to the top of her head as the floor keeled dangerously off-kilter. Her stomach pitched and she gritted her teeth against the urge to heave. “I wonder if traveling through dimensions is something a person ever gets used to.”

  Caedmon blinked repeatedly, turned his head toward her and smacked his lips. Arousal sparked in his brown eyes as he trailed his focus down the length of her naked body.

  “You have got to be kidding.” She smacked his arm.

  He chuckled then moaned, placing a hand on his chest.

  The armoire still barricaded the chamber door, their clothes and supplies lying in a disheveled pile at its feet. The myriad chests scattered about the room remained open, the candles unlit above a fine layer of dust coating the black cloth running the length of the altar.

  Huh. Apparently in her and Caedmon’s absence, Gaelleod and his minions had never breached their inner sanctum. All thanks to the nine aside, this didn’t solve the problem of how they were going to sneak out of this room…not to mention the castle.

  Regardless, they couldn’t delay. At this very moment, King Austiere could be fighting for his life. They needed to ride for his bedside as soon as possible.

  Rowena pushed to her knees, crawled past Caedmon and rifled through their belongings, tossing his clothes over to him while donning hers. Her leather warrior’s ensemble fit like a glove and she smiled over how a simple change of clothes could bolster her confidence. God, it was good to be home.

  Her breath caught and she glanced toward Caedmon, distracted with tying his breeches at his hips. Everything they shared hung in the balance of the next few days. Braedric, Seviere, Gaelleod…those bullies threatened all she’d come to love about this realm, the place she now called home. Despite the risk to her personally, their deceit also jeopardized Caedmon’s safety, her nation’s way of life and its people.

  She tugged on her boots, a vicious sneer curling her lips. With Helios as her witness, she would do whatever it took to protect them. If those jerks wanted a fight, she would rain down a wrath of destruction the likes of which they had never seen.

  Bring it on, assholes!

  Shoving to her feet, she strode toward the altar, snatched a brass thurible off the stand and swung the incense burner back and forth on the chain. She pumped her wrist, faster and harder, until the momentum built and the thurible broke over its threshold, rotating in a complete circle. Muted pink rays from the rising sun glinted off its surface. The
thrumming pulse of the chain increased. Shackling her wrist in her opposite hand, she built up speed until the motion formed a strobing streak of light.

  A grunt punched from her chest as she tossed the brass missile high into the air. It flew toward the glass roof, tinked against a pane and tumbled back down. She covered her head with both arms and squeezed her eyes tight, bracing for the crash. The burner exploded near her feet, spraying incense and denting one side flat upon impact.

  Well, crap. So much for her clever ingenuity.

  “What are you doing, my love?” Caedmon stepped to her side, adjusting one of his vambraces. He squinted at the dome and crossed his arms.

  “Trying to break us out of this joint.” She nudged the damaged lump of metal with the toe of her boot. “Either this isn’t heavy enough, the glass is too thick or I just don’t have the strength to smash through.”

  One of his brows rose. “Or this chamber is guarded by a spell.”

  She slumped. Shit. She hadn’t thought of that.

  “Only one way to test our suspicions.” He plucked the chain from the ground, swung the thurible in a circular motion and repeated her maneuver, lobbing it high into the air. A loud clang vibrated the window pane and Rowena clapped her hands over her ears. The brass burner clattered to the ground, but not so much as a scratch marred the surface of the glass.

  “Well, if the residents of the castle weren’t already awake, they are now.” She scanned the room, considering and discarding various objects on sight. Nothing else appeared sturdy or heavy enough for their purposes.

  A tick sounded from overhead and she flinched, knees bent, preparing to leap for cover in case she’d erred in her original assessment and the glass was preparing to shatter. The flutter of a pair of brown wings snagged her attention and she slowly stood. With her ascent, the worries of her heart lifted and she grinned as her beloved falcon alit on one of the ceiling’s curved, metal support beams. He pecked the glass and another tick echoed through the room.

  “Dart!” Rowena clasped her hands under her chin, beaming with pride for her loyal companion. He cocked his head to the side and stared at her with one shiny black eye. How he’d found her, she couldn’t guess and didn’t care. His presence offered a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.