“How did you know that?” she hissed.
“It is of no importance. You must go. There will be many others here shortly. The fire is…” He stopped and his head tilted, as if he was reaching out to read the air. “The fire is on the third floor, but it is spreading. We must go,” he said flatly. "Unfortunate accident."
“I can’t go. My friends are inside. They need—”
“We’re clear. Rendezvous at the car in five minutes. Out.” Izzy's voice was calm and cool. Weird. Maddie had totally forgotten she was still wearing her headset.
The dark eyes measured Maddie's face. “Your friends are safe now, it would appear. But you are not.”
Another police car rounded the corner; this one stopped directly outside the museum steps.
“These men have not come about the fire. They are here to check the safety of the museum. They are from a different unit altogether, and they take their job very, very seriously.”
Maddie hesitated. The man might be nuts, but he had been right about everything so far. He had also saved her life more than once. Maybe…it was time to trust him. Just until she could get away from the fire and whatever else was going on here.
“Okay, fine.” She gripped Izzy’s laptop tightly. But another car growled up a service alley and stopped less than ten feet away from her. Two men in suits jumped out, silent and focused. At any moment they were going to see her.
One of the men in a suit stopped walking. His hands slid into his pocket as he looked across at Maddie and the man beside her. “Hold it right there,” he said flatly.
Maddie tensed and she prepared to run. But the man called Lyon held her exactly where she was, whispering a phrase in a language that sounded old and fiercely beautiful. And then the sky overhead filled with shadows that crossed the roofs and blurred for a moment in the streetlights.
Maddie saw shapes that she seemed to remember from her dreams. All wing and sinew, they swooped low, triggering a deep memory of respect and awe. One dropped before her. A gray limb unfolded, delicate in its strength as it curled around her shoulders.
The man in the suit cursed. “What the hell? Did you see that, Harris? Where did they go?”
The officer trotted right past them, barely eight inches away, running up toward the side entrance to the museum, with his partner in close pursuit.
“Well met.” Lyon looked up at the shadow. “Your help is given freely?”
“Given freely and with whole heart. It is an honor, as ever, Lyon of Greyhaven and Gwynned.” There was another ripple of movement, another drifting of sinewy limbs, and Maddie could have sworn—no, it was impossible—yes, it was a head with deep eyes and a hooked, craggy nose. She had seen faces like that in books. The same faces appeared on ancient churches.
“Your bidding, Crusader?” The stone mouth moved, intent on Lyon’s face.
Maddie watched in amazement as a great wing opened.
“I think we will leave this place. And perhaps my Rose would like a different view of London.” There was a hint of humor in Lyon's voice as he raised a hand, pointing up to the velvet sky. "Up there."
But the gray shape caught a hissing breath. “A Rose? You have found her in this time?”
The gentle hiss seemed to be carried through the air around them, echoed by a dozen more creatures of sinew and shadows. The figure beside Maddie drew up very straight and then bowed low with infinite dignity—in front of Maddie.
As if she was—well, some kind of royalty. It was all getting to be too much.
“This honor is great indeed.” The shadows seemed to ripple off the nearly transparent figure. Two great wings opened, unfurling slowly so that Maddie could almost see the rim of cartilage and bones and fierce, gleaming claws.
“I shall give you transport as you choose. All glory to the Rose. All praise to Lyon and to his return."
Before Maddie could protest at this strange acknowledgement, the wind seemed to move beneath her feet and she was caught gently in gray, powerful wings, rising, rising, her heart in her throat and the fence and the roofs of the museum falling away beneath her.
One minute Maddie felt a quick wrench of nausea, and then—nothing. She was aloft—weightless. Wind rushed in her face and she blinked hard, gasping. She hated airplanes and she didn’t like heights. But this silent gray whooshing of wings was like nothing else she had ever known. She felt the wind and power beneath her, while the gray wings cut through the air. Even the lights of the city were muted, visible through a sheer veil of feather and skin.
They turned sharply and dipped over a long row of park trees. Maddie gave a cry of surprised delight, reaching out to grip Lyon’s arm. He was right beside her, carried by the same powerful wings, a hand locked on her shoulder.
She should have been frightened, trying to fight her way free, but the experience was upon her too quickly. And there was too much grace in the slow rise and fall of the gray wings.
“This—I don’t believe this is happening,” she said hoarsely.
“You will in time. But tonight, no questions. Simply enjoy your ride. Our old friend knows the city as no one else does, for he has watched over it through long centuries.”
Another simple declaration that made no sense. But her questions fell away beneath a wave of wonder. They passed the bright lights of circular streets and flowing traffic. There were bright shops that gave way to the sudden darkness of a great park.
Then Maddie saw what had to be the palace. She craned her neck, trying to be sure, aware of people moving on the roof. Men were positioned at each corner. Snipers for royal protection, she figured.
She shook her head and realized she was still wearing the headset Izzy had given her at the museum. Better tell him she was okay.
She pressed the transmit button with fingers that shook a little. “Izzy —I left. There was a fire. I’ll meet you back at the hotel. Be careful. There are police everywhere on the street.”
“Copy. You sound odd.” Static growled. “—need assistance?”
Maddie almost laughed. Assistance up here? Only if she got struck by air sickness or passing geese. The whole night felt surreal. She was enjoying the exhilarating feeling of freedom. Maybe the race of the wind served to cut her nausea. “No, I’m fine. I’ll see you at the hotel. Hope you have those documents for me to work on.”
“I do. And we’re both going to be very busy for a few days, believe me.” His voice faded in a growl of static.
Afterward Maddie was never sure how long they soared through that silent darkness, in an exaltation of wings and power. Each detail burned into the next, as she was wrapped in the cocoon of those strong wings. And always she felt the pressure of Lyon’s body beside her and the reassurance of his hard hands at her back. She should have questioned everything, but her mind had simply shut down, overloaded by an experience that could not be explained or understood. Somehow during that rushing hour of flight, a door opened in her life and she walked right through it. Without even realizing the change, Maddie crossed a threshold.
She was different suddenly. Her world was different. She had seen too much and she could never go back.
She was as tough as she had always been. She was difficult and demanding and questioned all authority. But now…Maddie dared to dream. The world seemed full of surprises. So the questions that came from her lips were not sarcastic or angry, but filled with calm wonderment. “Some day you’re going to explain to me about these…friends of yours.”
Her shoulder was pressed against his chest and she felt as much as heard his soft chuckle. “Some day. I promise you that.”
“No one would ever believe this. I’d be carted off to the nearest psych facility if I mentioned it.”
“We are often afraid of what we do not understand. And the truth is, most of life is what we do not understand.”
“Nothing seems to frighten you.” Maddie studied the shadowed lines of his face. “You make me feel calm just being around you.”
“That is dee
p praise. I thank you. Time…along the passage of centuries…does carry certain gifts.”
“Centuries?” Maddie blinked at him. Surely she had heard that last part wrong.
“Look below, down to your right. I believe that is your hotel.”
“You followed me all the way back there from the cemetery?”
“Of course.” It was a statement of simple logic—and steely resolve. Maddie understood a great deal about this man in that moment. He would not threaten or shout in arrogance or snap noisy orders. His strength came from deep within.
She leaned back a little, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
Just for a moment. And having him behind her felt as natural as breathing.
Then she realized they were still moving south. “Wait. Aren’t you taking me to the hotel?”
“There is one more thing I thought you would like to see. It is Aeryx’s favorite place, where the southern cliffs jut into the sea. It’s not far now.” Lyon raised an arm and pointed south, into the darkness. “Can you smell the water?”
Maddie saw the vast network of lights pass away, vanishing into the satin darkness. There was only a dim trail of roads now and beneath her the race of great shadowy wings.
None of it should have been possible. Even in her wildest dreams Maddie would have laughed at anything as tangled and strange as this night’s events. But all her senses could not lie.
How could she accept what defied all logic? How could a world like this exist when she had never glimpsed it before?
How…
Muscles flexed. Lyon’s arm tightened beneath her shoulder. “You are worried?”
“Of course I am. This is all totally off the charts for crazy.” Maddie glanced over his shoulder as the creature he called Aeryx looped southeast. “I just can’t process this. None of it. If I weren’t so confused I’d be terrified right now.”
“But instead you are enjoying the flight.” His arm moved beneath her, and Maddie flushed. Sitting so close was…unnerving.
“Very little frightens you, I think.” His arm rose. He slid a curve of hair from her face as the land grew darker beneath them. “You feel the power of these wings, but they are nothing compared to the power that you hold.”
“Me?” Maddie gave a startled laugh. “I’m the last person in the world you could call powerful,” she said grimly.
“You will understand more soon.”
“You mean more surprises like this?” Maddie didn’t think she could take many more shocks right now. She closed her eyes and rubbed her face, suddenly tired and very lost. Lyon’s fingers lightly brushed her hair.
Even that small touch made her body stir with awareness. Maddie wondered if he had felt it too.
“There is time to make everything clear,” he said quietly.
She felt the sweep of the cold night air over her body. “Teague will be right behind me, you know. And the U.S. government will be one step behind him, waiting for their pound of flesh. I need to get back. I promised Izzy my help.”
“Soon. We are almost to the sea. And Aeryx sometimes enjoys a chance to show his skill.”
“I still don’t get why I’ve never seen these…creatures. How do they hide? Where—” Suddenly pain tore into Maddie’s throat like thrown acid. She cried out, feeling a violent weight press down on her chest. “H-elp. Lyon, I can’t—”
“Maddie, what is it?”
“I can’t breathe. Too much pain. What’s wrong—with me?”
Lyon caught her arm and studied it intensely. “We must land, Aeryx. I see the marks. It has begun,” he called out harshly.
“What has begun?” Maddie could barely force out the words.
Lyon didn’t answer her as Aeryx looked back at them.
“It is too soon,” the deep voice rumbled. “There are weeks yet before she must choose. It is her right by prophecy.”
“Then something has changed prophecy,” Lyon said angrily. “Set us down wherever you can. There is only one way to stop this.”
“And there is only one place safe to do that,” Aeryx boomed back. “Beyond the Witch’s Pool. Beyond the moat and the gray rooftops at Draycott Abbey.”
Lyon’s eyes filled with fury. But his fingers were yet gentle on Maddie’s face as she fought for breath. “Do it then. I swore never to return, but no place is closer. The cursed abbey ghost shall help us, whether he chooses to or not. There is no other choice. She is dying, Aeryx. Take us to the abbey.”
There should have been weeks before them to plan, Lyon thought grimly. There should have been quiet days and slow nights to prepare while Maddie came to understand the responsibility of the decisions before her. By prophecy a Rose was always given free and clear choice to assume her power—or reject it.
But something had changed. Lyon felt the sharp force of that change pound in his blood and drum through every muscle.
If prophecy had been shifted…
It was impossible to imagine. If this one thing was wrong, then everything was wrong. All his years of duty as a guardian would mean nothing.
Lyon cradled her gently, trying to calm her labored breath with his voice and touch as the great wings swept low, over dark woods and the circle of a shining moat.
To Draycott Abbey’s shadowed gray walls, where old, mullioned windows glistened in the faint moonlight. Somehow he would have to make her safe, using ritual words and his own power of binding. And once the ritual was done, there would be no going back.
For either of them.
“He will know you have returned.” The dark voice rumbled through the night as they winged east. “He will oppose you, of course.”
The man he had known centuries ago had once been a friend, but lies and secrets had turned him into an enemy. The hatred between them had begun over power—and after that had moved to a woman.
And the length of their enmity had been measured in centuries.
“We have no choice. Your island is too far. And my home is even farther.” Lyon bit back a curse as Maddie coughed up dark bits of blood. “Do it now. There is no more time.”
“Very well. It shall be so.”
They turned in a dizzying swoop and the moon seemed to lurch crazily as they soared east. Lyon gripped Maddie’s shoulders. “Just breathe, my heart. There is hope. You will be safe with me.”
He prayed it would be so.
Ahead of him he saw glistening water and then proud gray towers.
Draycott Abbey.
He had lived here once, long years before. He had been loyal to this family and to the powerful men who had held these lands.
He had sworn never to return.
They soared over the high hill and passed the great trees of the home wood. Aeryx knew the way. Aeryx had been here often. There was only one place he would take Maddie now.
To the cliff called Lyon’s Leap, where the Crusader had been betrayed long before.
Judging from the anger that stirred in the air around him, the abbey’s guardian ghost was already there waiting.
Aeryx plummeted, catching his fall mere inches above the ground. Lyon stepped down with Maddie in his arms and set her on the soft, cool grass. When she shivered, he covered her with his odd, modern jacket and then raised an arm to the air, beginning the chant of Welcome to a Rose. The words were as old as the gray stone walls beyond the moat—and just as powerful.
“By dawn and dust. By sun’s light and midnight shadows, I call you back. You are welcomed, held in light.”
Lyon had time to say no more.
A shadow exploded over the hill and burned into human shape. White lace floated above black velvet cuffs below the cold, aristocratic features of Adrian Draycott, the ghost who guarded these lands still.
“You dare to return here? You think that I have forgotten—or forgiven?”
Lyon steeled himself for the hatred he would see in the features of a man who had once been his closest friend. The hatred was there, most certainly. With it was the cold arrogance of a man
well used to command. “I need your help,” he said coldly.
“Leave now. Otherwise I will shatter your body to dust.”
“I cannot.” Lyon looked down, feeling Maddie’s body growing cold in his arms. He held the binding words in his mind, pulling them around her like a warm shield. But he had little time left. “Enough of the past and its hatreds, Draycott. More important things are before us now.”
The arrogant ghost of Draycott Abbey sneered at the woman on the ground. “A woman? What surprise in that? You were always famed for your conquests. Your woman is of no interest to me.”
“But she should be,” Lyon said grimly. “She is the sixth of her kind. And if we do not hurry, she may well be the last.”
“She is…a Rose?” Adrian’s breath caught. “The sixth?” He dropped slowly to one knee, studying Maddie’s glazed eyes and pallid face. “It is not possible. She is too small. Her hair and clothes are odd. Bah—she is young. I feel no power in this one, but a Rose may command armies—even kingdoms.” It is a trick. He shook his head. “Leave now. Take your imposter with you.”
“No imposter. She commands me,” Lyon said harshly. “At one time that would have been enough to convince you.”
“At one time you deserved my trust. But no more.”
Lyon muttered harshly. He had no time for old hostilities while Maddie’s life hung in the balance.
Her eyes opened suddenly and she tried to sit up. “Stop arguing, will you? Do something—useful. Water. A doctor. Must you always—fight?” Her words broke off in a harsh wave of coughing.
Adrian Draycott broke into rich laughter. The sounds rippled over the dark woods and lawns. “She sees me? Though I am a ghost, invisible to all mortals? Then there is my answer. Only a Rose would know me. I can feel her light now. It is weak indeed. She has no understanding and no control yet. And her heart wavers…” He stood up in an angry rush. “By all that is sacred, make haste, man. She is shivering.”
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