by Rye Brewer
“Yes, I’m glad we found her,” Felicity agreed. “I don’t know that I could stand Gregor if he were thwarted.” Her eyes went wide when she realized what she’d just said, and her cheeks darkened.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry. I understand. He’s difficult enough to handle when he’s not disappointed.”
She smiled in relief. “That’s an understatement.” Her eyes found the two of them, still walking side-by-side, with hardly an inch of air between them. “I’m glad to see him looking so happy, too. Truly.”
“So am I.”
I felt her gaze fall on me. “You are? I mean, and I hope I’m not overstepping my boundaries by asking: are you glad they’re together again?”
“Oh, yes!” I meant it with all my heart. To see them walking that way… I could imagine them in Central Park, so many decades earlier, exploring the human world together.
“What if they rekindled what they once had?”
I considered this. What if it were Jonah and me? And there was a reason we couldn’t be together for so many years. What if he thought I was dead when I wasn’t? And I couldn’t send word that I was very much alive? How would I feel if he came back into my life? I’d want us to be together again—and I would expect the people who loved me to want me to be happy. “I would be happy for them. Really, I would. They deserve this.”
“What do you think Allonic would think about it?”
My attention snapped back toward her. “Allonic? I don’t know. He might feel a little strange, since he doesn’t know Gregor, but I’m sure he’d see that he doesn’t have much of a say in it.”
She nodded, with a faraway look in her eyes. “Mm-hmm. I’m sure you’re right.”
This was interesting. I watched her, observing the slight smile which touched the corners of her mouth. The memory of her shining face and eyes came back to me, the way she’d looked when she entered Gregor’s chambers back in Avellane. That breathless excitement. “Where is Allonic, anyway? Did you leave him back at the Hermitage?”
“No. He had something to do.” She caught me out of the corner of her eye. “He’s very busy, isn’t he?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure what he does with much of his time. But he’s been there for me when I’ve needed him.”
Her smile widened perceptibly. “He’s the type. I can tell.”
Yes. This was very interesting. “The two of you had some time to talk after he woke up, then?”
It wasn’t a trick of the light that made her face turn red. She looked away, but it was too late. I’d caught her.
I was just about to press the subject, maybe even tease her a little—was there something going on between them? I could hardly imagine Allonic having a romance—but the sight of a newcomer pushed everything else out of the way.
A man walked across the courtyard which ran along the front of the outermost fortress, acting as a sort of wide balcony over the lapping waves below.
There was no mistaking him, even though I’d never seen him in daylight before.
“Fane?” I whispered in disbelief.
27
Anissa
I could hardly believe my eyes. Of all the places I would expect to run into Fane, this had to be the very last.
“I’ll be right back,” I breathed in Felicity’s general direction, already making a beeline for Fane.
His eyes widened when he recognized me, but he didn’t attempt to avoid my catching up to him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, caught between pleasant surprise and suspicion.
What business could he have in Hallowthorn Landing? I thought he spent most of his time in that strange, in-between realm where it was always night, and the dead had been sleeping for hundreds of years. Maybe thousands.
He didn’t answer my question—instead, he asked one of his own. “Where is Jonah?” He sounded as though he were accusing me of something, like it was my responsibility to keep track of him at all times.
As it turned out, I knew the answer to his question. “He was taking care of a security issue at another location the family has,” I rattled off.
“Issue? What sort of issue?”
“I honestly don’t know. He didn’t share that with me—I don’t even think he knew at the time.”
He frowned, looking sterner than ever.
I wondered what I had done to make him that way—was it a matter of not liking the girl his son had chosen? I remembered the tension between the two of them over Sirene’s baby. Maybe that was it. He was taking out his frustration with Jonah on me.
“Are the two of you still split up?” he asked.
I gaped at him. “How did you know about that?”
“I have ways of knowing things—I like to keep tabs on my children, now that they know I’m alive.”
What would the Bourke children think if they knew that? For all the pushing away he tried to do, telling them it would make life easier and safer for them not to be associated with him, he couldn’t let them go. I decided to keep his secret between the two of us.
“As a matter of fact, we’re not split up. He asked me to marry him.”
His expression softened. “He did, did he?” When I nodded, he asked, “And you said…?”
“Would you like to attend the wedding?” I asked by way of reply.
His smile was kind, genuine. “Nothing would make me happier, Anissa.”
I wanted to hug him, but I thought twice about it. He didn’t seem like the hugging type.
While he was in such a good mood, I thought I might as well press my luck. “You never did answer my question. Really, what brings you here?”
His eyes moved back and forth, like he was looking for some way out of providing an explanation. I recognized it after seeing it from Jonah so many times—and I gave him the same look I normally gave his son.
He sighed. “It’s important business which I’d rather not discuss with just anyone.”
“I’m not just anyone,” I reminded him.
“You’re my son’s fiancée.”
“Not just that. I happen to know a lot about what you’re going through right now. Isn’t that true? Or do I need to remind you of what we found in Sorrowswatch?”
He held up one hand, turning his face away. “You don’t need to.”
A shard of guilt sliced into my heart. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw that up at you the way I did.”
“It’s all right. You make a good point. You’re not an uninformed outsider.” He took me by the arm and led me to the edge of the courtyard, just before the rock dropped off and met the water. “I’m here to find someone. Or, at least, to find information on them.”
“Who?”
He looked around to be sure we were alone before leaning a little closer. “Nivia used a necromancer and a witch to turn Valerius from one of the fae into a vampire. She used them to change herself from shade to vampire, too.”
“So, you’re looking for them,” I deduced. “Are they the ones who put Vance into Valerius’s body, too?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ve already looked for them—sadly, I was too late. They were already dead. I’d bet anything it was Nivia who had them killed. At any rate, I know they weren’t involved with changing Valerius and Nivia. I know it because the necromancer in question is in prison, and has been for the last few centuries.”
“I see.” It took a moment for me to absorb all the new information. “Do you think the two Nivia killed were the ones to move her into Elena’s body, maybe?”
Pain touched his eyes. It took a moment for him to reply. “Elena… I thought she died long ago. If she didn’t, I don’t know when the switch took place.”
For the second time in less than an hour, I felt like I should give someone their privacy. He was so obviously pained by the thought of his wife being alive, out there somewhere, while he… The image of Sirene’s face flashed across my mind.
He cleared his throat. “At any rate, I’m certain Nivia will
try to find the necromancer and witch from so long ago. Wherever they are, that’s where she’ll eventually be.”
“Do you know where to find them? Where’s the necromancer imprisoned?”
“On Shadowsbane Island.” He looked away, across the water.
I assumed that meant the island was somewhere out there.
“I’m not familiar with that name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.”
What else was new? It seemed as though there was always something I needed to catch up on. How had I ever thought I knew everything about my world? I was so naïve before meeting Jonah—even though I was wise beyond my years in so many other respects.
Fane didn’t look surprised. “Its primary purpose is to keep witches incarcerated—usually for crimes against other witches. The prison takes up a large part of the island, though there are homes for the family or loved ones of the incarcerated to live in while the witch serves their sentence. Samara, the witch Nivia will be looking for, lives on the island where Elazar, the necromancer, is imprisoned.”
“You said it was witches who were incarcerated there.”
“Yes, well, in some cases, the prison’s elite security measures are necessary to keep a particularly dangerous criminal safely locked up. The cells are enchanted, you see, with no chance of outsiders getting in or out. The enchantment wears off as a sentence dwindles, but Elazar has another century to go before he’s freed.”
I narrowed my eyes as the larger picture came into focus. “Something tells me you have no intention of letting another century pass.”
“Would you?” he asked with a derisive snort.
“What are you planning, then?”
“To help Elazar escape in exchange for a promise that he’ll get Nivia out of Elena’s body.”
I sighed to myself. “What about Sirene?”
“What about her?” He raised an eyebrow in silent warning.
I had to tread carefully when it came to her, I could tell.
“You have her now. And a baby coming. This is extremely risky. Why are you taking such a chance?”
He looked out across the water again, so I couldn’t see his expression. The sun was sinking—it had to be late afternoon, or the equivalent thereof. I didn’t know how time worked in Hallowthorn Landing. The late day sun turned Fane’s dark hair to a deep auburn. “I’m doing it for my children. I can do this one last thing for them, if nothing else. They deserve to have their mother back, if it’s possible.”
His words touched my heart. I knew what it meant to have my mother back—a glance over my shoulder showed her still walking with Gregor, this time along the water, where we’d first portaled in. I had never seen either of them look so happy and peaceful. I could just imagine what it would mean to Jonah and the others to have Elena in their lives again.
“Do they know what you’re planning?”
He shook his head. “They have no idea, and I can’t have any of them involved in this.”
“Why not? I’m sure they would want to help bring their mother home, if possible.”
“Philippa is busy guarding Valerius’s body. She won’t want to leave him. Gage always seems to be gone for one reason or another—I never know where to find him. Scott is too young, too unskilled in this sort of mission. And Jonah?” He snorted. “Jonah hates me because of Sirene and the baby. For all I know, Gage hates me, too. Besides, it’s far too dangerous. I wouldn’t want to involve any of them even if I could.”
I couldn’t let his comment about Jonah slide. “Jonah doesn’t hate you. I’m sure of it.”
He processed this without comment before continuing. “At any rate, if they’re caught, the price for something like this could be steep. And the witches of Hallowthorn Landing would be bound to notice that many vampires arriving all at once. They would see the vampire auras and be on the alert.”
That confused me. “My mother and I haven’t had any problems, and we’re vampires.”
“Whoever brought your mother and sister had permission to do so,” he explained. “Your mother’s aura is not a problem.”
“It was Sirene who brought them.”
He seemed to take this in stride, though I could tell he didn’t know before now. “I have to admit, I wonder why they’re here at all, but I understand that it’s a private matter.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t about to explain what brought Sara there, and I wondered again how her training was progressing. It would’ve been so much better if I could just get a look at her. “But what about me? And, for that matter, what about Gregor and Felicity? Nobody seems to care that we’re here.”
I looked around to confirm this. There were no hordes of hooded witches rushing out from the fortresses, eager to question us.
“As for those two, they’re fae. There are treaties in place which allow the fae to intermingle peacefully with witches—for the most part. I wouldn’t say their presence is completely welcome, just as I’m sure a witch wouldn’t be celebrated on entering Avellane, but they’re tolerated. As for you…” He looked me up and down with an appraising gaze. “One of them must’ve placed a ward on you. I’m guessing the woman, since I know Gregor wouldn’t be able to do it. Something to mask your vampire aura—even though you’re part-fae, you’re still a vampire.”
Felicity, that’s who he meant. “I see.” At least, I thought I saw. There were still so many rules I was unaware of. No matter how far I went, there was always more to learn.
I looked across the water with him, toward where I guessed Shadowsbane sat. Even though I knew it was probably foolish, I hated the thought of him going there alone. It was heroic of him to take on a challenge like that for the sake of his children. He deserved all the help he could get.
I took a deep breath and hoped I wouldn’t regret what I was about to say.
“I could go with you to Shadowsbane. I would like to help you.”
He shot me a look from the corner of his eye. “You? You must be joking.”
“What’s so wrong with that idea?” I asked, more than a little offended at his tone.
“You have no idea the level of danger you could be in if you took a chance like that.”
I waved a dismissive hand. “Danger? Please. One day, when we have the time, we’ll talk about some of the dangerous situations I was in before I even met your family. Don’t forget what Marcus used me for. I’m hell on a zipline, you know. I don’t know if that matters, but I thought it was worth bringing up.”
He laughed, sounding surprised—whether it was me or himself he was surprised with, I didn’t know.
“Fair enough. I would appreciate the help. And the company.” I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased with myself, hearing his acceptance.
Even so, there was something nagging at the back of my mind. “Before we go, I think I should head back to the penthouse—just to see Jonah, just to let him know where I’ll be. Or, at least, that I’ll be with you. I don’t want him to worry.”
He winced.
“As I said, I’m sure he doesn’t hate you. And I’m sure he’d want to know what you’re planning to do. It would mean a lot to him, hearing what you’re willing to risk to bring Elena back, if you can.”
He mulled this over, emotions running across his weathered face. “You know him better than I do now. If you think he could accept my presence, I’ll go with you. But we should hurry. I don’t want to waste time.”
28
Sara
Somebody needed to tell Stark what a terrible storyteller he was, because I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what was on his mind with a lead-in like the one he’d just given me before continuing down the dark tunnel.
I hurried to catch up. “You want to tell me everything there is to know... about what? About me? You make it sound like that’s a bad thing, like I’ll regret it.”
“I didn’t say that, did I? I only want you to withhold your request until you know for sure what you’re asking. It’s for your own good.”
&nbs
p; “And you’re such an expert at what that means.”
“When last I checked, you were here because you needed my help. Am I forgetting something?”
“No. You’re not forgetting anything,” I sighed.
“Exactly. It stands to reason, then, that there are things I know which you don’t yet know.”
“And maybe, if you’d not drag me halfway around the world, and stop and talk to me about them, I could know them. Or is it just that you prefer being a know-it-all?”
He chuckled as he came to a stop, then turned. “I’ve always been a know-it-all. Emilie used to tell me so—but I have to tell you, nobody’s called me that since.”
“Well. You must not know many people, then.”
A gentle incline of his head told me I wasn’t far off the mark. “We’re here now, at any rate.”
I looked around. The same blank darkness surrounded me. “We’re where?”
“Allow your eyes to adjust. It might take a moment. Your vampire blood must make it a challenge to see what witches see.” I dismissed the impulse to snarl at him—he couldn’t resist the opportunity to mention my vampire blood, could he?
Instead, I focused my energy on letting whatever was around me come into view. Images began to separate themselves from the deep, black nothing. A chair. A painting which seemed to hang in mid-air, until the wall behind it came into view. The marble mantle which sat beneath it. A bed with a strong, heavy, wooden frame and four posters which supported a thick set of emerald-green drapes. A fireplace, cold and dark.
There were no windows. I had no sense of the outside world. Candles soon appeared, flames flickering at the wicks. Wax dripped down the mantle and cooled in shapeless blobs which must’ve taken centuries to produce.
“What is this place?”
A bedroom, clearly, stuck far in the past. It reminded me of something out of photos I’d seen from the nineteenth century, though it could’ve dated further back than that.
Stark’s voice was low, flat. “This is the place where Emilie and I were born. It’s home.”