“Yes,” I moaned.
He leaned closer, making the chain dangle from his neck. I grabbed it and pulled his face closer to mine.
“Do you want me?” I asked.
His eyes widened in confusion, and I kissed him before I had a chance to question myself. His lips felt warmer than I’d expected. He tasted intoxicating, as if I couldn’t get enough of him.
Without warning, he pulled away from me. “What are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Were you lying about the pain?”
“Maybe,” I answered. A sly smile lit my face. “How did you figure it out?” I kissed his lips again, but he pushed away from me.
“You realize you’re not yourself right now,” he said.
“Does that matter?” I whispered in his ear.
He held back a smile. “Usually the effects of the magic don’t cause such a reaction.”
His nearness was driving me mad. The taste of his lips hadn’t been enough. I needed more of him.
Wrapping my hands around the back of his neck, I pulled him close, our lips only inches apart. I inhaled his scent. His cologne had a subtlety that reminded me of woody amber, raw and noble all at once. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from his. He held me spellbound, as if controlling me. I couldn’t look away if my life depended on it. He swept me away to a place I didn’t know existed.
Something told me magic was at work—a nagging warning so far in the back of my mind that pushing the thought away came too easily.
I ran my fingers over his lips. “You’re not like anyone I’ve met before.”
“No, but perhaps there’s a reason for that.”
“What reason?”
Brushing a strand of hair away from my eyes, he let his fingers trail down my cheeks, onto my neck, and along my collarbone.
He couldn’t do that to me. Did he have any idea how he made me feel? Blood pulsed hot and strong through my body, making me feel more alive than I’d ever felt before.
He brushed his lips against mine, kissing me gently at first, but then I deepened the kiss and he didn’t resist. His hands slid around my waist and under my back, then he pulled me to him, so close that our bodies pressed together. He kissed with unrestrained passion.
Waves of pleasure surged through my body. I ran my hands over his back, exploring the hard ridges of his muscular frame.
When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead on mine, breathing heavily. I placed my hands on either side of his face and studied his eyes—those strange gray eyes that had held me spellbound since I’d first met him. His irises glittered.
Questions formed in the back of my mind—what had happened to the wraith? Why did it want Maveryck’s crystal? No matter how hard I tried to concentrate, the words wouldn’t form, and my mind went in another direction.
“What did you do to me?” I asked.
He only smiled, and then he silenced my questions with another kiss, his lips trailing down my neck. The warmth of his body against mine drove me mad. He ran his fingers through my hair as he kissed my collarbone.
The world stopped—time stopped—nothing existed but us. Too soon, he pulled away from me, slipped the crystal under his shirt, and sat up. As he tucked the blanket tight around my neck and shoulders, I wondered if I was dreaming. It felt like a dream, like a place where pain couldn’t touch me. I wanted to kiss him again, but keeping my eyes open wasn’t easy.
“You should sleep now,” he said.
“I don’t want to.”
“Just sleep.”
As if he’d whispered a spell, my consciousness ebbed. His image faded until I was forced to close my eyes. I slept with the scent of amber lingering in my hair.
#
When I woke, I was ready to kill him.
I bolted off the bed but almost fell as my legs wobbled. I didn’t care. I was going to kill him.
Gathering a sheet from the bed, I wrapped it around me and then stormed to the door. I was about to fling it open when I heard a knock. If Maveryck was on the other side, he had better be prepared to meet his death.
I unbolted the door and cracked it open. As I suspected, Maveryck stood outside, wearing only a white shirt and casual pants. His feet were bare. He carried two cups balanced on a large box, and a bag hung from his arm.
“You,” I hissed. “How dare you come here!”
“Good morning to you, too.”
“What are you doing at my door?”
He lifted the box. “I brought breakfast.”
“I won’t touch that food, and I refuse to let you inside. As you very well know, I am not decent.”
“I’ve also brought clothing.” He lifted the bag.
I had the urge to throw it to the ground, but I thought better of it and snatched it from him. After slamming the door in his face, I dressed quickly in the hideous gauzy dress with blue flowers embroidered around the hemline. Yes, a dress. Again. Even though he knew how much I loathed them.
But as I was already outraged about last night, the clothing didn’t seem to matter.
When I felt ready, I opened the door and let him inside the room, but after closing it behind him, I rounded on him. Blood rushed to my face as anger consumed me.
“What… in Odin’s name… did you do to me?” I demanded.
“Nothing,” he answered.
“Nothing?” I pointed at the bed. “You call that nothing? I wasn’t myself. I… You did something to me with that crystal—the one the creature was searching for.”
“Yes,” he said. “I healed you. Your liver had been punctured, and you would have bled out if I hadn’t intervened. I had no choice but to use magic to heal you. The side effects you experienced were not my fault.”
“Liar.”
“I’m being completely honest.”
“You took advantage of me.”
He laughed. “Really? I remember it quite differently. Are you hungry?” He brushed past me without another word and placed the two cups and the box on a small writing desk. When he opened the lid, the smell of baked pastries, eggs, and salty bacon filled the air. “Come eat,” he said.
“I won’t touch that food.”
“Fine, I’ll eat it by myself.” He sat at the table and arranged the bacon, eggs, and fluffy pastries on two plates. I hoped Maveryck didn’t hear my growling stomach.
“You should know,” he said as he ate, “that we’ll be making a long journey, and it’s possible we may not eat again for quite some time.”
“I will never eat with you. I would spit on my grandstefar’s grave before sharing a meal with you again.”
He shrugged and continued shoveling in bites of food. After finishing his own plate, he started on mine.
“Are you going to eat it all?” I asked.
He nodded.
Begrudgingly, I sat and yanked the plate away from him. He would not have the pleasure of eating my food. The bacon was crispy and salted, and the eggs were fluffy and well seasoned. Although I’d been raised in a castle with chefs to prepare my food, I had to admit, it was quite good.
“It’s bad,” I said.
“Then why are you eating it?”
“Because I’ve been trained in survival and I’ve learned to eat anything edible—worms, ants, this food—”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Is that so?”
I only nodded.
After finishing the food, I grabbed the cup, which I discovered contained citrus juice, and drained it. I placed the empty cup on the table, feeling the lingering fog in my brain disappear. Whatever spell he’d used last night had been some sort of wicked witchcraft. I was only now starting to feel like myself again.
“That crystal,” I said. “What properties does it have? And why did the wraith want it?”
He pulled the crystal from beneath his shirt. It glowed faintly in the early morning light. “The Illumina crystals
store magical energy. In Faythander, they’re mostly useless, as magic can be found anywhere and there is no need to store it. In Earth Kingdom, however, the crystals automatically become more valuable. The portal we’re traveling to will have to be opened with magic, and I suspect the beast’s magic is limited here.”
“So, the creature needs the crystal in order to open the portal?”
“Precisely. I fought him off last night, but I was only able to do so because the magic from the crystal aided me. If not for it, I doubt either of us would have survived.”
“Why didn’t you use its magic sooner?”
“I don’t want to waste it. In Faythander, the crystal would have an easy time of regenerating, but not here. Now, it’s only got enough magic left to open the portal.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“Because now you’re the only person alive who knows I have the crystal, and I would like for it to stay that way.”
“Does this have something to do with the elves? Aren’t those crystals only given to royalty?”
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve spent some time with the elves. My brother was engaged to the princess, and she also wore crystals similar to yours. So what’s the story behind that crystal? Did you steal it?”
“I didn’t steal it, but it would make a lot of people angry if they knew I had it.” He tucked the crystal back under his shirt.
“Why all the secrets?” I asked. “Who are you hiding from?”
He gave me a shrewd glance. “Why do you want to know?”
My eyes met his. I realized we were more similar than I’d first thought. He had his secrets and I had mine, and neither of us was willing to part with them, so I decided to change the subject.
“Where do we go from here?” I asked.
“We’re leaving France. I’ve already bought tickets for the train. Its speed is maddeningly slow compared to the light carriages, but we have no other choice. We’ll have to be careful today. That beast is still after my crystal. He’ll be tracking us, so we should be prepared for a fight.”
He reached in his bag and pulled out a slender rectangular box. When he offered it to me, I took it from him, surprised at its heaviness. The box was made of handcrafted leather and looked expensive. Why wasn’t I surprised?
“What’s this?” I asked.
“I got you something. When I saw this, it made me think of you.”
As I opened the lid, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but inside I found a knife with a mother-of-pearl embellished handle sitting atop a bed of blue velvet. My eyes widened as I stared up at Maveryck.
I ran my fingers over the mirror-smooth blade, and then I stopped, staring, but not touching. I’d only been given a blade by one other man, the man who’d left me with scars.
“Is something wrong?”
“I—I’m not sure if I can accept it.”
“Why not?”
I studied the sleek pearl handle. Gold filigree decorated the cross guard, forming the likeness of a phoenix, each of its wings overstretching the guards. My heart pounded in my chest. It’s just a knife. It doesn’t mean anything.
“I’m more skilled in searching for quality than functionality,” Maveryck said. “Is it not acceptable? Should I return it?”
He lifted the box off my lap, but I grabbed his hand before he could take it away.
“Wait. I’d like to hold it first.”
“You’re sure?” His eyes held a fervent passion as he studied my face.
“I’m sure.” But I wasn’t. I reached for the knife, trying not to notice my scarred hands as I picked it up.
The moment I held it, I knew it was mine.
The metal warmed as I held the grip. Was there magic in the blade? Why did I feel as if it spoke to me?
Fear settled in the pit of my stomach. It was the same feeling I’d had when I’d first held the goblin blade. I stared up at Maveryck.
“Have you enchanted it?” I asked.
“It’s an Earth Kingdom weapon. There’s no magic in it.”
“Then why does it feel like there is?”
“I don’t know. Do you have the ability to detect magic?”
“No, not exactly. It just feels strange. I don’t know how to describe it.” I tightened my grip on the handle, and my heart raced with excitement. This was mine—the weapon I’d been searching for since I’d lost my goblin blade. But was it more? I still wasn’t sure I could accept it—wasn’t sure if I was ready for such a blade.
“Why did you get this for me?” I asked.
“Because it suits you. I realize there are subjects from your past you do not wish to discuss, but from what I’ve seen of you, I can say you are a brave warrior, and you have a pure soul. If there are people who have hurt you, then let this be the symbol of your redemption.”
Redemption?
“Is it acceptable?” Maveryck asked.
“I’m not sure.” I returned the blade to its box.
“Give it time. You don’t have to accept it now.”
I only nodded.
“The train leaves soon. Are you ready?”
My eyes met his. “Yes. I’m ready.”
Half an hour later, we’d made it to a large building packed with people. We wandered through one hallway after another, through metal gates that opened and closed behind us, while sounds of beeping and engines and voices filled the air.
Maveryck had given me a leather scabbard to keep the knife on a belt, and I’d secured it around my waist. I wore a gray jacket over the knife and belt, and he’d even whispered a word of magic to keep it undetected by the human authorities, but I still wasn’t sure I could use the blade.
Reluctantly, I had to admit that I felt safer with the knife close. Although Maveryck had only just given me the weapon, it seemed as though the dagger had always been with me, and its presence helped distract me from the noise of the station.
The building was exponentially larger than I had envisioned. We walked on moving staircases that brought us to one path and then to another. After wandering the station for what felt like hours, I was certain Maveryck had gotten us lost, although he assured me he knew where to go.
In one area, a glass-domed ceiling loomed overhead, making the cacophony of voices echo. My heart rate spiked as we approached yet another gate.
I was prepared for the unfamiliar, but this was nothing like the last time I visited Earth Kingdom. The crowds seemed to press in against me, and I couldn’t help but feel their eyes on me—as if they watched me—as if they knew I didn’t belong here. Was the wraith lurking among them? Was it hiding in plain sight?
“Are you coming?” Maveryck asked as he stood near the gate.
“I don’t know. I don’t think I can do this anymore. This is nothing like home. I feel like I’m going to suffocate if I keep going.”
He stood without speaking as the crowd passed us on either side to enter through the metal gate. If I turned around now, where would I go? I would be more lost than I was now. I felt like screaming, but doing so would bring us unnecessary attention.
He took a step toward me and took my hand, his fingers surprisingly warm and gentle. With that one small gesture, I felt my tension begin to ease.
“We’re almost there,” he said. “You can do this.”
“I’m not sure.”
“But I am sure, and I know you can do this.”
I inhaled deeply while staring at the gate that seemed so far away. “It’s all so unfamiliar. If I were in the woods back home, or the mountains—”
He gave my fingers a gentle squeeze, and then he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. If we’d been back home, I would have shoved him away without hesitation. But since we were here, in a place that felt so strange and different from anything I was used to, I decided to let him stay close to me. For a minute at the most, anyway. Just until I felt I could breathe again.
�
��I don’t understand,” I said. “Why is this so hard? I’ve fought goblins and wraiths, battled my way through a dragon’s lair, beaten beasts of prey, and overcome magical spells. Why is navigating through Earth Kingdom’s train station so difficult?”
“Maybe because you understand dragons and goblins. You know what they are and where they come from. Many times, the things we fear aren’t the things that can kill us. What we fear most are the things we don’t understand.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, gently caressing my face.
The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me—a scent that reminded me of amber and rich mahogany—reminding me of last night when he’d kissed me. I felt his eyes on me, so I met his gaze.
Sparks of purple danced in his irises, and I could have gotten lost in his eyes. He said he didn’t wield powerful magic, so why did I feel like he was casting a spell over me? Something inside screamed at me, telling me this was wrong, but I couldn’t look away. I wanted to be with him again, my longing an emotion so powerful I could hardly control it or make any sense of it whatsoever.
He was just too damn pretty—and that was the problem.
“I’m ready,” I said, finally looking away. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve had it with this place.”
He squeezed my hand, making my heart race even more. When we passed through the final gate and found the train terminal, we waited in yet another line as we boarded. But once we entered the train, I breathed a sigh of relief. We were finally out of the terminal.
The train had two levels, and Maveryck led me to a staircase where we ascended to the second floor. I was surprised to find elegant tables with white linen cloths interspersed among the seats. Vases of red carnations sat atop each table, and beyond the flowers, the windows gave us views of the enormous station.
Maveryck took a seat in one of the booths, and I sat across from him, peering out the window. A long line of people still filed inside the train, and I scrutinized each one, thinking anyone could be the wraith in disguise—the man with the hat, another man wearing a coat and dark glasses, another with shoulder-length, white hair…
The train slowly moved forward. As it did, a man wearing a white suit and apron placed several small loaves of crescent-shaped bread and chocolate-covered fruit on the table.
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