“Sure, if that makes it easier,” Ariel practically threw up her hands in frustration. She was not having luck with this search, and it bothered her because she was not a person who failed. The first grave that she had been through had been robbed. The second coffin was empty, but she found evidence to suggest that the mortician at the time was quite crooked and often buried empty coffins, selling the bodies to the local medical college instead. Now, her third and final hope was apparently for naught.
“I'm sorry, Miss. There's no evidence,” the librarian replied. “The bodies buried in that graveyard were poor workers, and they mostly disposed of them in the ocean. They didn't treat them with respect, and now they are impossible to trace.”
“Did they keep any records of their work, at least?” she asked. “Perhaps spots where they found bodies?”
The librarian raised an eyebrow.
“No,” she said flatly. Ariel practically slammed her head into the desk. She knew that it wasn't the librarian's fault, but she desperately wanted it to be, just to be able to blame someone.
“Thanks for nothing,” she said, spinning on her heel. That was it; it was over.
Come and get me, she texted Nicholas once she was standing outside. His text came back almost instantly.
Where are you?
She texted him her coordinates, expecting him to tell her to finish up what she was doing and meet him at the nearest vortex. But instead, his reply was quite different.
Get there as soon as you can, he said. You need to be back.
Her heart sunk at that message.
Why? Is it Alexander?
Yes, came the instant reply, and her heart skipped a beat.
The vortex was nearly an hour's drive away, and she took a taxi that cost her an arm and a leg. But she didn't mind paying the three-figure fee with her credit card, knowing it was much less than the cost of her heart.
She only had to take one look at Nicholas' face when she got there to see it was bad. He was pale and drawn, looking like he hadn't slept all night.
“Please tell me we still have time,” she said. “I shouldn't go to him, not if things are that precarious.”
“Sister,” he said, softly, “if you are in the palace, across the hall, you aren't going to hurt him. And if things get much worse, it won't matter.”
She took his hand, bracing herself.
“Let's go,” she said, her heart hammering.
She hadn't thought that it would ever come to this. When she walked down the aisle to Alexander all those years ago, it had been a deal; a convenience None of this should have mattered. They weren't even ever supposed to see each other again. And yet, here they were, over ten years later, rushing to each other's side.
She barely felt the whoosh of magic as they hit the chamber floor. Ariel fell heavily because she wasn't trying to be graceful or ready.
Cole was waiting for them, looking equally as tired as his brother.
“Well?” he asked, hoping for an answer.
“Inconclusive,” she snapped. “One's broken into, one was likely sold, and one was likely thrown into an ocean when they were poor. Or all three bodies have become new again. There's nothing to suggest either way, Cole, so we're back where we started.”
“God damn it,” Cole growled. “But what do you think?”
“I can't think one way or another,” she said. “Everything about this case has been one way or another. Does she remember, or is he telling her? Is she guessing? Are the bodies gone because of magic, or because of logic? Can I not feel magic on her because it's different, or because it's not there? I don't know whether she can transcend death, or whether anyone can...” she stopped when she realized she was crying. Her voice was cracking, and the heavy tears rolled down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to control herself. “Did you figure out who those wolves were?”
“No,” Cole replied. “Either they were the original kings, or they were Father, reincarnated. Unless they show up again and again, I suspect we will never know.”
“So, what do we do now?” Ariel asked. “Can I see him?”
“You can see him,” Cole said. “But probably not for very long.”
“God, this is my fault,” she said, and Nicholas squeezed her shoulder.
“This is not your fault,” he said. “This is the fault of those who you chose to disassociate yourself with, for good reason. He knew the dangers of marrying a carapace, and he did it anyway. You can't blame yourself.”
“I'll consider forgiveness if he lives,” Ariel replied. “Or if he dies and returns to me. Please, take me to him.”
They started down the hallway, Ariel's heels clicking as they moved faster than they ever had. She was trying to remain dignified, but it wasn't easy.
“If he dies,” she said, suddenly, “the line of succession changes.”
“Precious,” Nicholas said. “You will always be a dragon princess. You married him, and it made you an equal heir. His death will not change that for you.”
“I'm not concerned about myself,” she answered. “Your line will be one weaker.”
“That it will,” Nicholas replied, softly. “And my daughter will be one step closer to a throne that is dangerous and has nearly killed each of us.”
“I wonder if Father felt the same way for us,” Cole said, softly. “He was not one for compassion, nor empathy, but did he think about the burden we would inherit?”
The words hit Nicholas like a shot. “Are you suggesting that's why he's returning? To force us out and drag us away? That this is his roundabout way of saying I love you?”
“I don't know what I'm suggesting,” Cole admitted. “I don't know what is going on anymore.”
They stopped outside the medical bay. Ariel tensed at the lack of magic she felt inside. Peaking around the corner, she found Alexander flat on his back, a position he never slept in. He looked dead already, had it not been for his chest rising and falling.
She let out a tiny squeak, and to her relief, he opened his eyes. They were clouded and a pale yellow, which indicated a lack of magic.
“I'm going to stay right here,” Ariel said, standing as close as she dared on the other side of the room. “I don't want to get close.”
Alexander rose one shaky hand, reaching out to her, and she shook her hand.
“Alexander, don't,” she said. “As much as I want to, I don't want to hurt you.”
“Go to him,” Cole give her a little push. “It's okay.”
She squeaked at him. “It's okay, or it won't make a difference anymore?”
“Go to him,” Cole repeated. She couldn't resist temptation anymore, moving toward the bed. She took his hand, and Alexander closed his eyes, reveling in her touch.
His brothers only stayed long enough to make sure that he was all right. His chest continued to rise and fall, and they exited, leaving the husband and wife alone, save for the beeping of the machines and a bustling medic.
“What did you find?” he asked, licking his dry lips. She looked around for a moment before she found a water glass.
In the process of helping him sit up, she spoke. “I don't know,” she admitted. “On one hand, everything is explainable. All three of her graves were empty, but it doesn't have to be logical. It could just as easily have been magic. I don't know.”
He took two sips of water before pushing it away, watching her eyes.
“What do you want to believe?”
Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“I want to believe it,” she said. “If you vanish into the Other, you may or may not come back. And even if you do, we aren't sure if you stay. But if reincarnation is real and you can come back, I'd find you again and again. It seems to eternal.”
He gave her brief smile. “Do you think that's what Spencer is doing?”
“What?” she asked.
“Wanting to believe?” he asked. “Wanting to believe so badly that he makes it true? I have always believed that, and
now, I think we understand his position.”
“God,” she closed her eyes, “we were just supposed to have hot sex, and that was going to be it.”
“That was never it,” he reached a hand to her face. “I know you thought that in the beginning, but I always knew it was going to be something more. I knew I just had to wait it out.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“You knew I'd love you?”
“Ah ha, so you do love me,” he teased her softly.
She blushed bright red. “Never something I thought I'd say in my life. But I'll say it if you promise to take the secret to the grave.”
“That I will do,” he said. “But I may bring it back.”
She perched onto the edge of the bed, knowing that the clock was ticking down the minutes that she could be there. “I hope so,” she said.
“Ariel.” She turned around to find her sister-in-law, Rosa, standing there. “You're back.”
“I am,” Ariel said, getting up to give her a hug. “How are you?”
“I'm all right,” Rosa said. “Alexander? Any better today?”
“Perhaps a tad,” he said, glancing at his wife. “But that could be the change in attendance”
“Such a romantic,” Rosa rolled her eyes. “Ariel, I love you, but I need you to leave.”
“I know,” Ariel said, and then stopped. “What? Why? Are you trying something?”
“Dolcetti magic is the oldest and most powerful magic,” Rosa reminded her. “And it grants dragons immortality, if you remember.”
“I do,” Ariel answered, looking between the two of them. “But I understand you needed a full life force of Dolcetti magic.”
“In the case of Cole, it's only half,” Rosa shrugged. “I don't know if this will work, but I'm trying to give him as much magic as I can stand each day. It might make a difference.”
“Please,” Ariel said. “Try anything. I'll go away so I don't disrupt the process. Call me if anything changes.”
“Ariel.” Alexander reached his hand out, not quite ready for her to leave. “A kiss, my love.”
She obliged without a word, leaning down to place her lips on his. They had kissed thousands of times over the years, and she always enjoyed it. This time, though, she tried to remember every aspect of it. How he responded; how it felt; how they knew when to nip. She was far too aware of the fact that it may be the last time she ever kissed him in this lifetime.
Chapter 14
“Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?” Spencer asked her. It was a week into their honeymoon, and they had chosen an all-inclusive resort in the middle of Bermuda. It was sunny, classy, and a small enough island that they had plans to explore the whole thing before they left. However, they had mostly spent the time floating in the pool and relaxing in the ocean or in bed. Their plans to explore the island weren't quite working out, but he didn't mind.
“No,” Katianna said. “But maybe you could go and bring me something for later? I just want to stay here, take a cool shower, and then relax.”
“I can stay with you,” he said, concerned. She had been quiet today, moving slowly, and he had been watching her every movement like a hawk.
“Spencer,” she reminded him. “I don't breathe fire; I'm not used to heat. I just want to relax, that's all.”
“I don't breathe fire in human form either,” he said, but kissed her gently. “I won't be twenty minutes.”
“Please eat first,” she begged him. “I don't want you to come back so ravenous that you consider eating the livestock.”
“There are a ridiculous amount of chickens wandering around, if you've noticed,” he pointed out. “It reminds me of the old days.”
“The old days had chickens just wandering around?” she raised an eyebrow. “I guess that was the definition of fast food.”
He laughed at that, shaking his head.
“Only you, my dear, could make a joke like that and get away with it.”
“I was just suggesting,” she grinned, “that Kentucky Fried Chicken has a longer history than it realizes.”
“Go and take a shower,” he said. “I promise you that I will be back before you are done.”
“Can you bring me some of those pastries?” she asked. “From the dessert cart? And then just some coffee.”
“Coffee?” he replied, in shock. “It's evening. You want to be up all night?”
“Caffeine helps headaches, so I want to ward one off. But also, I wouldn't mind being up all night.”
“Katianna…” he started, and then decided to take her up on her invitation. They were on their honeymoon after all. “I'll be back soon.”
“See you,” she said, waiting until he was gone before she headed into the bathroom. Taking off her clothes, she looked at herself in the mirror. She was thinner than she would have liked, having lost weight despite the buffet here. Her face seemed odd to her, her eye twitching. It had never done that before, and she had been working for the past half hour to control it. Now that he was gone, it was a relief to relax and take a deep breath.
Her vision was going funny around the edges; black spots dancing in front of her eyes. She told herself she just needed to cool down, and she turned on the shower.
It only took a moment for the water to become the perfect temperature before she stepped in.
The cold water hit her, and she breathed out. Her body had been burning, and it was instant relief.
This place was heaven; it really was. She had a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that she didn't have to go back and live with her parents. She loved them, of course, but she had moved on from that life. This was real life – living with Spencer; having him come home to her every night.
She was almost finished with school and had spent some time looking for jobs already. He said that she didn't have to work, but she wanted to, and he accepted that. She wanted to manage a grand hotel somewhere, maybe a former castle. She thought fondly of her time on Umora, even though they had parted on unclear terms. It had changed her life, and she wanted a reminder of those days around her.
The last she heard from Enya, Alexander was dying. She wished she could reach out to offer her condolences to the family. Dragons were so majestic and so strong; she couldn't believe that they could just waste away. She hoped he would be all right, but she saw death differently since Spencer found her.
There was always a way to return somehow.
The water pounded onto the back of her neck, and she closed her eyes, letting the stream wash away the soreness of her muscles.
She was so tired today, and the world swirled around her. She arched her back, trying to steady herself, and lost her footing.
Her head made contact with the marble behind her with a loud crack. For one moment, she felt incredibly nauseous. The world rushed up to her, and the last thing she remembered was her cheek cracking against the drain.
Her limp body pushed open the door; the water quickly flooding the bathroom floor. Her hand lay out in front of her, her wedding rings sparkling from the recent cleaning.
It was exactly twenty-three minutes until Spencer returned. He was carrying enough food to feed an army, wanting her to be satisfied. His arms were full, and he knocked on the door twice before becoming concerned.
“Katianna?” he called through the door. He put his ear to it and heard the shower running. “Still?”
Putting some of the food onto the floor, he reached into his back pocket, pulling out his key. He slipped it into the door, and pushed it open.
The first thing that he noticed was that the carpet was soaking wet. There were noticeable puddles of water everywhere, and it was coming from the bathroom.
“Katianna?” he asked, moving toward the bathroom door. He opened it, and the sight he found was horrifying.
There was blood everywhere on the bathroom floor. Her body lay half out of the shower, her eyes unseeing as they stared up toward the ceiling
“Katianna!” he s
creamed, moving toward her. “Help! Help me! Somebody please help me!”
His brain should have registered to call 9-1-1, but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. He was stuck in the early 1900s, the first time he had found her like that.
He grabbed a towel, wrapping her in it as he picked her up. She was limp, and he frantically reached for a pulse.
To his relief, there was one, but it was weak.
“Help!” he screamed again.
It only took a moment more before a member of the staff came running.
He didn't remember much about the next few moments. He knew that there were more staff members running in, and someone called 9-1-1. The paramedics came rushing in, and they had to pry his arms from her to try and help her.
It was the most terrifying moment of his life to see them pressing on her chest; hooking her up to machines and putting her on a stretcher
“Is she going to be all right?” Spencer asked frantically. “Please, is she going to be all right?”
“We're doing everything we can, sir,” the paramedic said. “Come with us. We're taking her to the hospital.”
He had lost her before, and he knew what this was going to feel like. But it didn't mean it got any easier. He held onto her small hand as the ambulance sirens screamed, talking quietly to her the whole time. He wanted her to know that he was there; he wasn't leaving. And if it ended like this, he wouldn't stop looking for her.
There was fear in the pit of his stomach, though. What if her lives weren't unlimited? What if he never found her again?
And what if Ariel's words were right? What if this wasn't real?
The hospitals had changed in the last century. The equipment was updated, and the terminology was different. Procedures were quicker and more efficient; doctors were more confident in their tests results than their own minds.
One thing that he noticed hadn't changed was the emotion. Despite the advances in technology, hospitals were still places of fear, of tension, and of sadness. There were still families pacing the hall; people crying in corners – overtired eyes and weakened life forces. For all the advances they had made, they still hadn't been able to cure death.
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