by Shea Berkley
The look she gives me says she’s scared to believe me, and it melts my heart. I pull her into my lap. Her arms rest limply on my shoulders as she straddles my hips. Her knees press against my sides, and I cup her face between my hands and kiss her forehead.
“Can a good person, a really good, honest person, turn bad?”
The desperation I hear in her voice makes me pause. “I don’t know.”
Philosophy was never my thing. I rarely had the need to think beyond myself, not until I met Kera. She definitely changed my life. She opened my eyes to the needs of others in a way that had me feeling personally responsible for their happiness. From day one, she’s been grooming me to be king by leading the way.
My answer isn’t the one she wanted and she drops her gaze, her lips a straight, neutral line. I hate seeing her so sad. I duck my head to find her eyes, and I mouth the three words I will never get tired of saying. I love you. Not even a tiny hint of a smile touches her lips. There’s only one thing that can get her this worked up.
“You’re worried about the dark magic, aren’t you?”
She nods. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”
She should be worried. “I know. I thought I was going crazy there for a while, but after Wyatt died, something clicked inside me. It was my choice. Either I controlled the dark power or it controlled me. I came to the conclusion that if I couldn’t be in control, then I’d rather not have any of it.”
She blinked and sat straighter. “You gave away some of your powers? You can’t do that, you need them.”
“I didn’t give any away, but I’ve lived most of my life without magic. I can’t say I was happy to force the part I didn’t like deep within me, but I had to do it. The power tried to convince me only it could make me happy.”
Kera’s teeth tug at her bottom lip again and I force her to look at me. “It’s a lie. Power doesn’t make me happy. You make me happy. Only you.”
I pull her close and kiss her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, and whisper in her ear, “I love you down to my bones. To my core.”
I kiss her ear and move to her neck. I smile when her hands slide into my hair and she tilts her head toward mine. We kiss, the beginning of it gentle, quick pecks and nuzzles, but all too soon our kiss deepens. She tastes exotic and warm, and I can feel that crazy addictive need only she creates start to take over.
I twist and we fall onto the bed. I roll her onto her back and stare into her big violet eyes. They’re filled with the same need as mine. She stares at my lips and presses closer for more and I have no way of stopping myself now, not when she looks at me like that.
A heavy knock sounds on the door. I lift my head and snap, “Go away.”
Kera runs her hands under my jacket and pulls it off me. I slip hers off her shoulders and my lips follow the line of her collarbone.
Another knock sounds. Louder. I stop and stare into Kera’s eyes. We’re both breathless with want. The heavy knuckles pound so hard, I’m surprised the door doesn’t cave in.
A throaty growl escapes me, and I push off the bed and yank the door open. The hall is dark and cold. Bodog appears out of the shadows, looking like a rag doll that’s become a dog’s forgotten chew toy. “You leave soon.”
I glance behind me at Kera, who pushes to her elbows and cranes her neck to see who is at the door. I step forward and whisper, though my words are anything but kind, “Keep it down.”
“How soon?”
The guy won’t let it rest. I close my eyes and sigh. “Soon.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, sure. Now.” I’d say anything to get him to go away.
“Bodog will wait.”
“Are you kidding? Where’s Faldon?” My grandfather Faldon is always nearby.
Bodog brings forward a tall wooden walking stick and plants it in front of him. He leans heavily on it as though he’s not kidding.
Perfect. I narrow my gaze at the stick that holds the spirit of my dead grandfather. “Has anyone told you your timing completely sucks?”
“No,” Faldon’s rough, dry voice says.
I step back into the room and grab my coat.
Kera rolls out of bed and stands next to me. “What’s going on? Is that Bodog? Is he looking for me?”
“He wants me. I’ve got to go.”
I hesitate, undecided on whether or not I should tell her where I’m going. It’s only a quick run home. No big deal. And once we have the magic, we’ll use it and Teag will settle down and life will get a little more normal. I could use a dose of normal about now.
I bend and kiss her one last time. Every time our lips touch, I fall a little more in love with her. I break off and bury my nose in her neck and smell the heady scent of her skin. It’s killing me to leave. “When I get back…”
I let the promise hang in the air and bolt for the door. If I don’t leave now, I’m afraid I never will. I don’t look at Bodog as I pass him. It doesn’t matter. He falls in step beside me, his big head bent to watch the progress of his even bigger feet, which surprisingly match the quickness of my steps. My grandfather rides in Bodog’s paw of a hand as he taps out a staccato beat on the shiny stone floor.
As we make our way through the labyrinth that makes up Phoenix Hall, whispers follow us. Baun built his new structure on the footings of the collapsed Hall of Whispers. It’s only a guess, but I think that’s why I hear little snippets of conversations, like echoes. It’s tempting to stop and listen, but the words are too soft to really know what’s being said. It’s annoying, like a headache that won’t go away.
We round another corner and Bodog’s head swivels my way until his googly eyes latch onto me. “You leave soon.”
Bodog can be such a nag. “I suppose he told you.” I nod at the rustic-looking wooden staff. “He’s a dead piece of dried-up wood. How can he still see into the future?”
“Death does not steal one’s intellect,” Faldon’s voice rasps from the stick. His face appears and it doesn’t look pleased. “I am encased in a living shell. Until it dies, my soul is free to live in this moment.”
As if to make a point, a tiny sprig of green pokes out of a knot and waves at me before retreating.
I rear back. “Don’t do that wavy thing. Ever. And I’d keep the I’m-alive-until-the-stick-dies info to myself if I were you. You never know who might want to permanently prune you into teeny tiny pieces.”
“I show myself only to those I trust.” The sound of wood rasping against wood sounds as he clears his voice. “I’ve come to advise you not to do this thing.”
“Once a sage, always a sage. Thank you for the advice. You can go now.” To everyone else, he’s just a knobby old stick an odd little man uses to get around. To me he’s one of the reasons things haven’t gone so smoothly. Nothing screams dysfunctional family like a grandfather who tried to kill his grandson. He’s where he is because I acted in self-defense. And I’m where I am because he gives out crappy advice. I want to ask if he gave Grandma the magic we need, but Faldon hasn’t been the most trustworthy person in the past.
I bust out of Phoenix Hall with Bodog still on my heels. “Go away.”
“I cannot.”
I have no idea where Bodog’s loyalty lies. It’s clear Faldon can influence him. Still, Bodog has the heart to do what’s right. It’s his yapping stick I don’t trust.
“Our king is powerless and you are headed back to the human realm. Do you want Teag to fall into the hands of our enemies?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say he’s powerless. The whole invisible shield thing proves that. And I wouldn’t go if I didn’t think it was important.”
“What could be more important than saving Teag?”
“You’re the seer, the mighty sage of Teag. You tell me.”
A puff of wood shavings comes out of his mouth. “If you would listen to me, two of your human friends would not be dead and your most vulnerable friend wounded. When will you see that—”
I stop and whirl around. Jason a
nd Wyatt are dead. Kera was just with Reece, who is definitely wounded, but I would hardly call him vulnerable. The only other human friend I have is very much on the vulnerable side. I’ve never touched the stick before, but I grab it from Bodog and squeeze until the rough bark bites into my palm “Where is he?” I choke out.
“Now you care?”
I take the stick in both my hands. The wood begins to smolder under my fingers. I’ll gladly snap the stick in two. I’ve had enough of Faldon’s double-talk. Bodog’s eyes grow to the size of saucers and Faldon’s lips clatter together in disbelief. My voice is raw and filled with a promise. “Tell me where Leo is or your soul leaves. Permanently this time.”
He tells me, and I toss the stick back at Bodog, who wets the charred areas with his tongue much to Faldon’s disgust.
I push my way through the thickening crowds. Word travels fast. I wouldn’t be shocked if everyone in Teag has migrated to the Ruined City seeking safety. Nowhere is safe. We’re being attacked on so many levels, it feels like we’re on the final pass around the drain.
I don’t knock. I barge into a little room in the back of a dress shop where Lucinda is bandaging Leo’s side. He snaps to his feet, his sword in his hand, and she turns, her hair suddenly crackling with energy. On seeing it’s me, she turns back to Leo, all docile, and he sits, sagging into his chair. Blood spatters the floor and soaks a nearby cloth.
“What happened?” I demand to know.
“I had an encounter with a Nightmare Man. Got stabbed. Didn’t like it. Don’t want to do it again.”
“My dad has Orntho’s ring. He said the Nightmare Men were gone, that they—” I stop. What exactly did he say? No shadows, no Nightmare Men. I thought he meant they were gone, as in no longer around. Does he know what we’ve done?
Lucinda shakes her head. “Taking the ring from him was a mistake. You only relegated them to the shadows where they can attack at will.”
Is she actually blaming me for what happened to Leo? I officially hate Lucinda. “I had no choice. He was about to kill my dad.”
She pauses and slants a concerned glance my way. “Is Baun hurt?”
“Would I be here if he were?” My curiosity rears its head. She seems to know more about the Nightmare Men than she first let on. “Did you know the Nightmare Men would do that if we took away the ring?”
“I think the real question is, did your father?”
Lucinda loves trouble, and trusting her is never easy. When we were in the Hall of Whispers rescuing Leo, Lucinda seemed to have a very friendly attachment to my dad. Leo won, but it was really close. We stare suspiciously at each other.
Bodog appears at the door and the stick he carries heaves a heavy sigh. I glare at Faldon. “Did you know the Nightmare Men were still around and active?”
Faldon stammers for a second, and finally says, “How could I? No one knew they even existed until today.”
“If I find you knew, I will personally chop you into tiny pieces and throw you on the fire.” I turn to Leo, not completely convinced of what I see. “Are you okay? You look pretty good.”
But looks can be deceiving. Case in point; Lucinda appears to care for Leo, but I have serious doubts.
Leo wraps an arm around his girlfriend’s waist and squeezes. “Cin got old ugly face before he did any real damage.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. It’s more of a scratch.” He coughs and grabs his side. “She’s gotten good at bandaging me up. Been doing it a lot lately.”
I know. Leo’s been shot, stabbed, skewered, and roasted along with everyone else. He’s followed me into more than one situation that didn’t look winnable. Now I have to convince him it’s time to go home. Without Lucinda.
I’m pretty sure I have a way of getting her away from the “love” of her life. Acting has never been my thing, but I’m a decent liar. I bend my head and knead the back of my neck. “We have to warn people the Nightmare Men are still in the city. If my father doesn’t know, then he’s in danger. I can’t think of anyone they’d like to murder in the dark more than him.”
Faldon’s scratchy voice agrees and Bodog frowns. I turn to Lucinda. “You know more about the Nightmare Men than anyone here. What do you think?”
“I—” She looks at Leo for a long moment, then me. “I agree. I could go and warn your father.”
“Okay.” It was almost too easy. That little speck of loyalty she feels for my dad is still there. “I’ll stay with Leo.”
She stares at Leo, and whatever she whispers to him, I can’t hear. She grabs her things and leaves. I turn to Bodog. “Can you go and tell Kera about the Nightmare Men?”
He nods, and I stop him before he leaves. “She won’t let me protect her, but she might let you.”
The little man leans on his stick, clouded by layers of frayed and faded fabric. To look at him, no one would suspect there was an expert fighter hiding in there. “Bodog will stay with her.”
I nod, and glare at Faldon. “Do you have anything useful to tell me?”
His wooden eyes close and he goes into a state of sageness. When he pops out of it, he nods as if he’s satisfied by his vision. “You have a job to do and now a companion. Good luck.”
That doesn’t sound promising. And he wonders why I find it hard to trust him? Honestly, I’m finding it difficult to trust anyone. Even Kera. Her reckless nature, something Faldon warned me about, has taken root. Nothing I say will change her mind these days.
“What’s he talking about?” Leo asks when Bodog and Faldon leave.
I’m not slick, and I don’t want to lie to Leo, so I tell him straight up what I’m doing. “I have to go to my grandparents’. Do you mind coming with me?”
“Now?”
I know what he’s thinking. Too much is happening, and we don’t have time to go pay a family visit. He won’t go unless I give him a good reason.
“Listen, if I tell you something, you have to keep it to yourself. No telling anyone. Including Lucinda. Especially Lucinda.”
He blinks and then nods. “Okay. What is it?”
“I can’t tell you here.”
A grin stretches his mouth and a sharp laugh escapes. “You want me to go with you, but you won’t tell me why.”
“I will, just not here.” He shakes his head, and I dive ahead. “It’s really important. Life-and-death important. You’ve got to trust me on this.”
“Bro.” He stares at me, demanding my attention now, and says in his deep calm voice, “I’ve been trusting you this whole time.”
“Then you’ll come with me?” I’m having a hard time believing him. Everything in my life has been a struggle, but not with Leo. He trusts me. Even Kera’s having problems doing that these days.
He smiles. “Let’s go.”
We’re both battered and bruised and running on fumes. All I want to do is sleep, but I know I can’t. At least I can recharge, even though I know it’s not healthy and I’ll regret it later. I don’t know how Leo hasn’t fallen facedown in exhaustion. I suspect Lucinda is helping him stay alert, but I have no idea how.
Our journey out of the city and toward the barrier is quick and easy. We’ve traveled the path more than anyone here, and as usual, I cover our tracks just in case we’re followed. The sun edges over the horizon and lights up the east. It’s early, but I know my grandparents are awake. Living as they do, work begins before dawn. Once we pass through to the human realm, I use a bit of magic to clean up our appearance. The sight of blood-soaked clothing has a way of upsetting most people. The closer we get to my grandparents’ house, the tenser I become. The questions they’ll ask. They’ll probe and dissect my relationship with Kera, and I won’t know what to say.
Leo notices and presses me for the reason. I try to steer him off, but eventually I relent and give him just a hint of what’s worrying me about Kera.
“…so much has happened. Our lives have been turned upside down. I want to protect her, but she won’t let me. It’s like we live
in opposite world, like I’m the chick and she’s the dude. It’s like I’m not a man. Like she doesn’t see me as a man.” I sigh, disgusted with my own insecurities. “Am I even making sense?”
“You know you just described my relationship with Lucinda. Do you find me…I don’t know, unmanly?”
“No. You’re fine. I mean, you aren’t a fighter, but you’re learning. You’ve picked up a lot of skills lately. It’s in Lucinda’s nature to be controlling, and you’ve accepted that. She says she cares about you…”
“And Kera cares about you. I accept Cin’s behavior because I know she loves me. We can’t treat them like every other girl we’ve known. They’re special. Different. And I wouldn’t change that for anything. I love that Cin will put it out there for me. Risk everything. It’s what love does to a person. Makes them risk it all. Anything less isn’t worth pursuing.”
“Yeah, but I still want to be the guy.”
“If I didn’t know you any better, I might call you a sexist pig.”
“I prefer to call myself a traditionalist. Otherwise, I just get really confused.”
Leo laughs, and I laugh along with him. I actually feel better than I have in a long time. Confiding in someone about my faults and stupid worries is new to me.
“We’re almost to the house,” Leo says and gives me an expectant look.
“Yeah.” It’s time I told him what we’re here for. I take a deep breath in and blow it out. “There’s this magic that can get rid of the Dark Souls and Grandma has it. That’s why we’re here.”
He doesn’t even try to hide his surprise. “No way!”
“It’s a big deal. Even though Grandma is nothing like me, she can use it if she knows how.”
“Are we talking LotR One Ring big?”
“I don’t think it controls the person, but honestly, I don’t know.”
He frowns and I already know what’s coming. “What’s it look like?”
I wince. “I don’t know.” I’ve already had this conversation with my dad and it was frustrating then, too. “Look, all I have to do is ask and she’ll give it to me. Pretty simple.”