by Brenda Drake
“Why didn’t you guys put him in prison when you had him?”
“Just as the human world struggles to convict criminals, so do the havens. It’s called justice.”
“Well, justice sucks.” I banged my helmet against my leg, ignoring the pain. “And now our world is in as much danger as yours.”
“Have you forgotten? Mystik is your world, as well.”
Pop came up behind me and dropped his hands onto my shoulders. “Calm down. We have to keep our heads straight.”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Gia.” Arik let out an exasperated breath. “The human world is part of our world. Wizards and Sentinels are partly human. We’ll fight to the end to protect both worlds.” He turned his back and mumbled, “We’re not monsters.”
“Son, no one thinks you’re a monster.” Pop squeezed my shoulders, egging me on to agree with him.
“No, Arik. I don’t think you’re one,” I said, faintly. The last thing I wanted to do was to make him feel like a monster. “But I can’t stand by and not be in the heat of it. My birth started all of this. I’m a Sentinel just like you.”
Pop removed his hands from my shoulders. “Can you give me a weapon?”
Arik turned around, startled. “I can’t have you risking your life.”
“I’m guessing it’s already in danger.” Pop’s red unkempt eyebrows knitted together. “Don’t you think I should be able to defend myself?”
Arik bent over, pulled a long dagger from his boot, and handed it to Pop.
Pop took the dagger. “What, no guns?”
Arik shook his head. “We don’t use guns. The laws established at the Mystik Summits forbid their use in the libraries. Only hand-to-hand combat and magic abilities are legal. There are enchantments over the libraries that disable the propellants of bullets.”
“What are the Mystik Summits?” Pop asked.
“It’s an annual gathering of the Wizard Council and the Mystik League,” Arik said. “They discuss matters to keep the Mystik world hidden from humans—”
“Wait,” I cut in. “I read about this in a book called The Invisible Places.”
Arik smirked.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” I said.
“The book’s author is Professor Gian Bianchi. He was to be the next High Wizard of Mantello, the Italian Haven, before he died.”
I blinked at him.
“You don’t see the similarity of your names? Your mother’s name is Marietta Bianchi. They have the same last name.” He paused to see if I caught on. “He was your great-grandfather. You’re named after him.”
“I see.” My mind wrapped around the importance of this revelation. I felt a little stupid for not noticing the name similarity before. “So I have a wizard gene–that’s good, right?”
“Not really. We all have wizards in our lineage. Having more Sentinel blood than any Sentinel alive is, though.” He studied my face. “I just wish you were better trained. You could have all the talents in the world, but without training, they’re worthless.”
I stiffened. “I could beat you any day.”
“All right, you needn’t get upset. I just meant as far as your magical powers are concerned. I’ve heard you have good sword skills.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you?” I said.
He smirked again. “I’m not so pretentious to think I know everything.”
“Arik, we have guests,” Lei said from the doorway. “The Sentinels from France are here, and guess what?”
Arik frowned at her.
“I gather you’re not in a guessing mood, eh?” She grinned at him. “Bastien’s with them.”
“Why did he come?” Arik growled and then stormed off for the doorway.
“Who’s Bastien?” I asked Lei as we followed Arik.
“Bastien Renard is the son of the French High Wizard, Gareth.” Lei laced her arm through mine. “He’s simply gorgeous, and kind, and is like a rock star around the Mystik world.”
Afton joined Lei and me as we walked into the room. “Hot warrior boys are here,” she purred. “And. They. Are. French.”
In the other room, two girls and three guys dressed in Sentinel garb stood behind a gorgeous guy of about eighteen or nineteen. His blue eyes sparked under the lights. A sloped nose ran in a straight line down his face, ending at a confident smile on his beautiful lips. Sweeping dark strands of hair framed his face. He wore black pants and a tight gray T-shirt, which hugged each chest and arm muscle perfectly. I got the whole rock star status Lei mentioned. The guy was so hot, it felt like the room temperature rose with him in it.
Arik walked up to Bastien. “Why are you here?” he asked stonily. “You’re not a Sentinel.”
“My father thought it best for me to assist you,” answered Bastien. “These are dangerous times, wouldn’t you say? A wizard can come in handy.”
“I see you’re missing a Sentinel.” Arik’s jaw tightened. “Do you miss your sweetheart, you Judas?”
“What are you talking about?”
Arik snatched the collar of Bastien’s shirt. “Veronique. She told me she was dating you. She attacked our haven. You had to have known what she was up to.”
The five Sentinels behind Bastien moved toward Arik. Jaran, Kale, and Demos cut them off.
“Tell them to back off,” Arik ordered through locked teeth.
“Do as he says,” Bastien choked out as Arik tightened his hold. “Listen Arik, I’m not with Veronique.”
“She said she was dating a Renard.”
“It wasn’t me.” Bastien clutched Arik’s hands and tried to tear them away. “It was probably my brother, Odil.”
“Arik, let him go.” Kale grabbed his shoulder. “This won’t solve anything.”
Arik released his grasp on Bastien’s shirt. “Odil? I forgot about him. Has he been acting strangely?”
“He always acts strange.”
“All right, then,” Arik said. “You need to prove it. Will you let one of mine perform a truth globe on you and your Sentinels?”
I warmed with pride when Arik called me one of his.
Bastien seemed puzzled. “No one has been able to perform a truth globe in over three hundred years. I didn’t know your haven possessed one.” His gaze touched each Asile Sentinel. “Are they twins?” His eyes drifted from Deidre to me, and I drew in a shaky breath. “Hold on, now, is one a changeling?”
“Yes.” Arik gestured to me. “This is our missing Sentinel, Gianna”—his hand shifted toward Deidre—“and her changeling, Deidre.”
Bastien’s smile faded, and he stepped over to me. “It can’t be. They told me you died at birth.”
“Well, I didn’t.” I placed a shaky hand on the hilt of my sword. His silvery blue eyes were unsettling. “Wait. Why would they tell you?”
He took a step forward. “Because you’re my betrothed.”
I took two steps back. “I’m your what?”
Chapter Twenty-One
I had to get some space, so I marched over to a vacant corner of the room. Lei and Afton came after me.
“He can’t be my betrothed. He’s a wizard.”
Lei adjusted her belt. “Sentinels are betrothed only to wizards. Your bloodline determines what wizard level your husband is chosen from.”
Afton laced her arm through mine. “This is so antiquated. But, hey, the boy is smoldering. I say go for it.”
Bastien stopped in front of us. “You don’t have to fear me, Gianna.”
“It’s Gia,” I snapped. “And I don’t. Fear you, I mean.” I spotted Arik heading toward us. He looked as stunned as I felt.
“You better back down, Renard,” Arik said.
“Don’t push me, Sentinel. I wouldn’t harm my betrothed.”
“She’s just a girl,” Pop said, coming up to us. “She’s no one’s betrothed.”
“Who are you?” Bastien asked.
“I’m her father.”
“Well, she was promised to me,” Bastien sa
id and squared his shoulders. The angles of his chiseled face made every tilt of his head amazing. “It was a promise made between the High Wizards of Asile and Couve.”
The way he scrutinized me made me a little dizzy but I ignored it. This was beyond crazy. No way was I going to feel anything toward some guy they’d force me to marry. “I’m sorry,” I said. “But I don’t care about a promise between people I don’t even know.”
“Come with me.” Arik took my hand, and, still flustered, I let him lead me to the nearest room. “Listen, Gia, we haven’t time for this. We’ll deal with this later.”
I nodded.
“Bastien, bring your Sentinels,” Arik called over his shoulder. “We’ll do the truth globes in here.” He dragged two chairs together and motioned me to take one.
After I’d finished with the French Sentinels and their alliance with Asile was verified, Bastien sat down to have me verify his. Everything about him suggested royalty. I kept my focus on the globe, trying to ignore the intense vibe coming from him. He passed, and I was eager to get some distance between us. But he just sat there, not moving, staring at me with those eyes that held so much depth it was like falling into the ocean.
“You should be proud being betrothed to me,” he finally said. “One day I’ll be the high wizard of Couve and you’d be like a queen.”
I adjusted uneasily in my chair. “What if you hadn’t found me? Isn’t there a runner up or something? I’m happy to give her my spot.”
Amusement played on his face. “If you’re trying to dissuade me, you’re doing a horrible job.”
“I take it you’re not used to rejection,” I said.
He lifted a smile. “I’ll admit it’s a rare occurrence.”
Arik took a step toward us. “All right, we’re finished here.”
Bastien stood and leaned over to my ear. “You not wanting nobility intrigues me. I’m curious to learn more about you, Gianna.” His whisper tickled my neck and sent a shiver down my back. I held my breath, every inch of my body at attention. He straightened, gave me a wink, and swaggered to the door with Arik on his heels.
Holy crap. I felt like I’d just melted in my chair. The boy was definitely confident, maybe on the side of arrogant, but something about him made me want to know more, too.
Arik glanced back and caught me watching Bastien’s retreat. I dropped my gaze and played with the fraying hole in my jeans. The look on his face was somewhere between disappointment and anger. But why? He’d made it clear there could never be anything romantic between us.
Alone with the familiar smells of the library, I shut my eyes and inhaled the musty scent of old books. Sitting in the middle of history with the scent of aged leather and floor polish teasing my nose, I began to relax.
“Well, did they pass?” Lei entered the room. “Arik won’t say. For some reason he’s all puffed up like a blowfish, brooding.”
I lifted my heavy head. “Yeah, they did.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m just a little weak. We haven’t eaten in a while. I’ll be fine in a moment.”
Lei crossed the room, pulling a power bar from a side pocket in her cargo pants. “Sorry it’s a bit squishy, but it’s food.”
“Thanks.”
Lei pulled out another flattened bar, and we ate in silence. When she was finished, she extended her hand to me. “Come on, let’s join the others.”
“Yeah, okay.” I grasped her hand and let her pull me up.
“This whole business about betrothals is a bother, isn’t it?”
“It’s pretty stupid, if you ask me.” I curled my hand into a fist. “There’s no way someone else is going to pick who I marry.”
“I’m not certain the Wizard Council realizes what one will risk for love.” A sadness hinted on her face before she forced a smile. “On the upside, you could do worse. Most girls would think they won the betrothal lottery with Bastien.” She headed back to the door, flinging her wrapper in a nearby trashcan.
I stopped. “Who’s Arik’s betrothed?”
She turned around, raising a curious eyebrow at me. “You’re still pining for him, huh? She’s a mage in Esteril. A very wholesome girl.”
Blood rushed to my face. “I’m not pining for him.”
“All right, Ducky, and I’ll pretend to believe you.”
“What about you?” I challenged her. “Can you give up true love for your betrothed?”
She shrugged.
“I bet you like the silent, strong type,” I teased her. “Say, with an East Indian flare.”
“I gather you’ve figured out Kale and I fancy each other.” A mischievous smile crossed over her lips. “And no, I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
I dumped my wrapper in the trashcan and followed her out of the room. Everyone’s attention was on us when we walked into the lobby.
“We have a few from the human world with us,” Arik was saying to Bastien when we joined them. “I must get them to the shelter.”
“I think we should go to Couve first,” Bastien said. “If my brother is Veronique’s lover, I fear for my Haven. With our Sentinels gone, my people are vulnerable. If your Sentinels come with me, I will send one of mine to take the humans to the shelter.”
“That will do,” Arik said.
Bastien spoke to his Sentinels in a hushed voice. I couldn’t make out anything he said.
Arik came over to us. “Jaran, I want you to go with Mr. Kearns, Deidre, Afton, and Nick to the shelter. The rest of you will come with me to Couve.”
“What’s Couve?” Nick asked.
“The French Haven,” Lei answered.
Pop rested his hand on my cheek. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
I rested my hand on his. “I promise.”
“I’m not ignorant, you know?” He smiled. “I knew there was something different about your mother. I felt there was something more to my mother. And I’m sure there is something magical about you. It’s hard to let go. Let you be who you’re meant to be…but I know I must.” The tears in his eyes mirrored mine.
Deidre stepped forward. “I’ve been trained to fight. I should go, as well.”
Sinead’s head snapped in Deidre’s direction. “No. You must go to the shelter and help Jaran protect the others.”
It was so weird having Deidre around. It was as if I was watching and hearing myself.
Deidre scowled. “As you wish, Mother.”
Jeez, I would have begged and protested longer before giving up. Watching Deidre give in to Sinead’s magic without putting up a good argument made me feel guilty about all the times I pestered Pop until he’d given in to my requests. A headache was building behind my eyes and I rubbed my temples.
Bastien was at my side in a flash. “If you aren’t well, I’ll aid you through the gateway.”
“No, that’s okay,” I protested. “I can jump by myself.”
Arik leaned against a wall across the room, eyeing us with a scowl. He angrily unhitched himself from the wall. “Let’s get this over with,” he said then jumped into the open gateway book on a nearby table.
One by one, the Sentinels jumped into the photograph of France’s Senate Library. Before I jumped in, Bastien wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me into the page with him.
“Let go of me!” I yelled.
His grip tightened. “It’ll throw us off balance.”
“You’re really something, you know that?”
“I’m pleased you finally realize that.” His breath puffed against my neck and my stomach twisted. We fell in silence for several minutes, until we landed in the middle of a battle.
Colored globes flew by like paintballs in an arena, smashing against walls and shields, bursting into flames, shooting whips of light, and blowing gusts of wind. Lashing swords, explosions, grunts, and yells echoed around the room. A French Sentinel fought off a hairy eight-armed man near us.
Across the room, Arik battled a hound, just like the one that had
attacked Nick, Afton, and me in the Paris Library. Arik darted and rolled away from the beast. The hound charged him. A fire globe burst to life on his palm and he manipulated it into a fiery whip, snapping it at the hound until it backed away. Once the hound was in range, Kale stabbed it with his sword.
To my right, Demos held tight to a rolling track ladder with his sword extended, speeding across a bookcase toward a Writhe who was climbing the shelves. The track ladder stopped violently, and he swung his sword at what I recognized from the books as a Writhe. The blow fell short, hitting a shelf.
The Writhe soared to the floor, swinging a spiked mace. Demos shrugged with a cocky snicker and slid down the ladder, his sword meeting the Writhe’s mace at the chain. The chain broke and the spiked-ball fell to the floor. The Writhe and Demos stared at the decapitated mace.
Thick veins branched across the Writhe’s pale bald head like raised roots of a tree. The frozen expression on his face reminded me of a theatre tragedy mask. When the spell of the murdered mace wore off, Demos and the Writhe resumed their battle dance. The Writhe contorted his body away from Demos’s sword, twisting and bending in different directions to avoid each blow. Demos chased him down an aisle of bookcases.
A Laniar sprinted on all fours and attacked a hairless creature with an oversized head, a spindly body, and tons of teeth heading for Arik. The creature whipped its tail at the Laniar, who clawed the demon with its sharp nails, then latched onto the creature’s throat with its canines. Dark blood sprayed down the Laniar’s pale chin.
I choked on a gasp and spun away. Oh my God. A wave of nausea swooshed through my stomach. Everything was in fast motion around me, I couldn’t move.
In the middle of the room, Lei and Kale stood back-to-back, throwing globes at their adversaries. Lei hit three Writhes at once with a lightning globe, while Kale stunned a charging man shrouded in a cape. There were several cloaked men, their faces hidden in the shadows of their hoods, battling the other French Sentinels. I spotted Sinead fighting one, the hood slipping off and exposing the woman underneath.
Veronique. How did she get out of Asile?
Just as Bastien shoved me to the floor, a purple globe whizzed by my head and hit him. My helmet flew from my hand and rolled across the floor. Bastien slumped to the ground, and I scrambled to him. Though his body was immobile, he breathed. The stun globe had hit him.