by Linsey Hall
“Excellent.” I looked around my rooms. “She should not visit here. I’d hate to confuse the past version of myself if someone mentions her visit.”
Carrow nodded. “What’s a neutral meeting point in old Guild City?”
“The Mages’ coffee shop. We can get a private room there.”
“Perfect.”
I stood and went to the writing desk in the corner, drawing out a piece of paper and a quill. It took a moment to become adjusted to the quill again. Damn, pens were superior. I composed a short letter to the housekeeper. When I finished, Carrow handed me the seal.
It came as second nature to find the wax and flame, creating a hot puddle on the folded parchment. I pressed the seal into it, then handed it back to Carrow. “That should do it.”
A knock sounded at the door, and I went to answer it, the letter in my hand.
Clarence stood at the door, a maid at his side. Each carried a tray, and I permitted them entrance. They placed their burdens on the large table near the bookshelf, and the maid curtsied and scurried out.
Clarence looked at me. “Will that be all, my lord?”
I handed him the letter. “See that this is delivered to the housekeeper and let me know when it is done.”
He nodded and took the note, then strode from the room.
I turned toward Carrow. “Now, we wait.”
Her stomach grumbled faintly, and she pressed a hand to it. “Good, because I’m famished. What did you eat back then? Or…back now.”
“Let’s see.” I strode to the table and removed the silver tops from the trays, revealing cuts of meat, vegetables, potatoes, and some form of unrecognizable pie. “Looks close enough to modern food that I think you’ll be satisfied.”
Carrow grinned. “I’m just glad it’s not eel pie.”
“There’s no promising that.” I pointed to the pie. “But I doubt it is eel. I’ve never fancied it.”
“Thank God.”
We ate in silence. Every moment that passed tightened the air with tension. Once we’d finished, I rose and went to the bedroom. There used to be a bathtub that would magically fill itself.
I found it in front of the fireplace, just as I’d expected. The tub was filling with water, the clear, steaming liquid rising with every second.
I turned back to the main living room and went to the door, spotting Carrow as she stood. “There’s a bath here, if you like.”
“Oh, that would be amazing. We haven’t been here long, but I feel filthy.”
I left the room, giving her privacy.
The bookshelf called to me, and I strolled to it, selecting a volume at random. As soon as I sat down on the couch to read, I heard the first splash.
Images of Carrow in the bath, her golden skin bathed by firelight, flashed in my mind.
I looked down at the brown leather book. Suddenly, it was laughable that I might be able to distract myself with seventeenth-century literature when Carrow was naked in the other room.
I tilted my head back, staring at the ceiling. How was I going to bear this?
“Grey?” Her voice filtered out from the bedroom. “Do you want to join me?”
Yes.
“The tub is very large,” she said.
I drew in an unsteady breath. Most of my brain cells seemed to have perished as soon as I began thinking of Carrow in the bath. The few that had survived did their best to sort out whether it was wise to join her.
We’d been trying to avoid the thing between us, but why?
The curse had already sunk its hooks into us.
Unable to help myself, I rose and walked to the door, leaning against it so that I could see Carrow.
As I’d expected, she lounged in the bath, the water lapping at her collarbones. It was a bloody large bathtub, sufficient for at least two. I didn’t recall using it with others while I’d lived here initially, but the sight of Carrow made my blood run hot.
“Join me?” she asked.
“I’m not sure it’s wise.” My voice sounded raspy to my own ears.
“I think we’re already in trouble,” she said. “If we’re going to survive this, we will. If we aren’t, we won’t. But I think, tonight…” She shrugged, the gesture nonchalant despite the heat in her eyes. “Seems worth it.”
Fates, did it ever.
“I don’t want to think about the terrible things to come,” she said. “And if this is all we’re going to get, then I want it.”
I did, too. So badly. Desire surged inside me, making me go uncomfortably hard.
And she was right. Terrible things were coming. We’d try to stop them, but we might not manage.
I didn’t want to waste tonight.
I stripped off my shirt. Her gaze moved over me, heating more with every second. My blood rushed through my veins, and my muscles tightened.
Being surrounded by evidence of my past only highlighted how lucky I was to have her. Everything had been so dark for so long.
And now she was here. Light.
Last time we’d been together, we’d been in a dream. It had still been real, somehow. A product of her magic. But there had been a vaguely filmy quality about it.
This was clear as day, and it made it all the more intense.
I kicked off my boots and stripped out of the rest of my clothing, trembling slightly. I stepped into the bath, the water warm and welcoming. She smiled up at me, pulling me down to join her. Heat enveloped me, and she climbed onto my lap.
“Grey,” she whispered, wrapping her legs around me.
I groaned, fitting her tight against me. Impossible warmth and softness. I crushed my mouth to hers, wanting to absorb every inch of her. Her scent wrapped around me, lavender and lovely. I drew my mouth from hers, running it down her damp neck.
She still tasted slightly of sweat, the faintest tang of salt. I lapped at it, my fangs growing longer at the scent of her blood beneath her skin. The beast inside me roared, wanted to bite. To drink.
I shuddered and drew back. She whimpered her disappointment.
“Too dangerous,” I murmured, moving my mouth lower, to her breasts.
Her disappointment turned to pleasure as I swept my tongue over the soft skin of her chest. She clutched my head tightly, holding me to her as she moved her hips, seeking my hardness with her softness.
“Please, Grey. I don’t want to wait anymore.” The desperation in her voice made my heart race.
I didn’t want to, either. Couldn’t.
I reached between us, finding the softness there, wanting to know she was ready.
“Now.” She clutched at my shoulders.
I fitted myself to her flesh, moving slowly as I sank into her. Every inch was heaven. She surrounded me—her body, her scent, her moans, her magic. I lost myself in her, wanting to live inside this moment forever.
Finally, she tightened around me, crying out against my ear. Her pleasure dragged me over the edge.
13
Carrow
I woke full of hope. Maybe it had been last night—amazing—or maybe it was the fact that we’d time traveled, thus proving that anything was possible.
But the way I figured it, if we could walk through time and visit the past, then anything could happen. And today, we were going to break the curse on Grey and me.
I wanted to wake up with him every morning that I could, and I refused to settle for the scraps that fate wanted to give me. I was going to force our life together to be what I wanted.
By the time we’d woken and dressed, we were nearly late. Grey checked on the body of his former self while I pulled on my boots and cloak. Once again, the morning looked dreary, as if the entire seventeenth century were miserable.
Grey returned from the second bedroom, looking handsome as ever, even in his strange old clothing. It was a style that had always appeared a bit funny in old paintings, but on him, it looked good.
“He’s fine,” Grey said. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”
I fini
shed fastening my cloak. “How’s the coffee in this century?”
“Not what you’re used to.”
“No frappes?” I teased.
“Certainly not. Though the pastries are not terrible.”
At the thought of them, my stomach growled. We’d both worked up an appetite last night.
Together, we left his flat, making our way quickly through the magic-lit hallways. When we reached the front foyer where Miranda usually stood, I was almost surprised not to see her there.
Instead, it was Clarence. Grey stopped by briefly. “No cleaning today, Clarence. My rooms are to remain undisturbed.”
“Very good, my lord.” Clarence nodded. “You’ve a meeting with Madam Stockhausen this evening.”
Grey frowned, and I could tell that he was trying to remember what it was about. Finally, he said, “Please reschedule until the day after tomorrow.”
Clarence nodded. “Of course. And one more thing. Councilor Rasla came by to ask for you. And about your guest.”
My soul chilled at the thought.
“We have no business with him,” Grey said. “Turn him away next time.”
“I will do so. Have a fine day, my lord.”
“You as well, Clarence.” Grey turned, and I followed him out into the drizzly morning. “I suppose that answers the question of whether he recognized me.”
“Yeah. Not good.” The air was cool and wet, a welcome refresher until I had my caffeine. I sucked in a breath, trying to drive away the thought of Rasla. “Any idea who Madam Stockhausen is?”
“Not a clue. But hopefully, we’ll be done by then, and my previous self will be conscious.” He shook his head. “And I’ll have to determine how Rasla resisted my magic so that I can erase his memory of us.”
We made our way across town, headed for the Mages’ coffee shop. The morning crowd was out and about, but everything still looked so different compared to the Guild City that I knew. True, the bones were there—the roads and buildings were the same, but they looked newer. The people, however, looked older, more worn down. Even supernaturals were subject to the difficulties of life in the past. Everything was louder, dirtier, busier.
Finally, we reached the square in front of the Mages’ Guild. I spotted their enormous coffee shop and whistled low. “It looks fab.”
Grey nodded, his gaze moving over the façade. It looked much nicer than the building I remembered. The plaster gleamed white between the straight, dark wooden beams. The windows glittered, even though the sun was well hidden, and the structure looked like it was standing up a bit straighter. That could be said of the whole town, in fact. Time hadn’t yet worn on the buildings, and it showed.
“It’s brand new,” Grey said. “Come.” He strode across the square, and I followed.
Noise filtered through the windows as we neared, the sound of boisterous conversation and laughter. Grey opened the door, and I entered, inspecting every inch of the coffee shop that I could see.
Like the outside, everything looked nicer and straighter than the place I’d visited in my time. The ceiling wasn’t quite as slanted, and everything gleamed with the shine of newness.
The bar was in the same location and the same size, though the massive, whirring espresso machines were nowhere to be seen. There were other coffee-making apparatuses, though—gleaming metal and glass containers that billowed steam.
It was far warmer inside, and I reached up to remove my cloak.
A host stood near the door, his clothing impeccable. He spotted Grey and approached.
“My lord.” His voice echoed with reverence, reminding me that my mate was the most powerful person in Guild City.
Grey inclined his head. “A private room, please. We have someone meeting us soon. An older woman named Mrs. Birch-Cleve.”
“But of course.” The man’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Follow me.”
He hurried off toward the stairs, and we followed. As I crossed the coffee shop, I peeked into the various rooms that I could see. As before, there was one dedicated to music—albeit far older music than I preferred. Another room was full of people playing games, and yet another dedicated to quiet reading. Students, maybe. They all looked young. I would have loved to come back here and explore more in this time, but I had a feeling that Seraphia would say it was too dangerous. Since I risked being stuck here, I couldn’t help but agree.
The host led us to a quiet room with a large window overlooking the street. The dark floor was level and smooth, unlike the floors of this place in the present day, and the fireplace flickered with a warm light.
“Please, sit.” The host gestured to the table in front of the window. “I will show your guest up when she arrives.”
“Thank you.” Grey sat, and I joined him.
“Do we order the same way that we do in the present?” I asked.
He nodded. “They implemented the spell when they first opened, and that hasn’t changed.”
Grey waved his hand across the middle of the table, and golden light swirled over the dark wood. Images of various coffees appeared, floating in midair. They were different than the cappuccinos and lattes I’d seen the first time I visited. Instead, there were black coffees of various sizes, tea, and something that looked like hot chocolate.
I chose a black coffee, and Grey did the same.
“Now for breakfast.” He waved his hand over the table again, and a variety of tarts appeared, most of them unrecognizable.
I frowned at them. “Could you choose something savory and not weird for me?”
“No eel pie?”
“Not at this hour.” Not at any hour.
Grey chose two pastries that looked like they might contain egg and ham. “I think you’ll like this. Or tolerate it.”
I smiled. Our drinks and food appeared a moment later, and I drank quickly, ignoring the heat. As soon as our guest showed up, I’d likely be too busy to drink my coffee, and I didn't want to start this day without caffeine.
A few moments later, the woman from my vision arrived. Her beige dress was threadbare, and she looked tired. When her gaze landed on us, she stutter-stepped, her blue eyes flashing.
“You are not Councilor Rasla.” Her accent was a bit old fashioned, like Rasla’s had been, but I could understand her.
“We aren’t.” I stood. “But please, don’t leave. We need your help.”
Her gaze moved over us warily. She stared at Grey for a particularly long time. “What does the Devil of Darkvale want with the likes of me?”
“Your help,” he said, his voice soft.
Her face crumpled in a frown. “My help?”
“Please, sit.” He gestured. “Order anything you like.”
“All right.” She approached cautiously, taking the seat closer to me.
I sat next to her while she ordered. Once she had food and drink in front of her, she looked up at us. “You’d best explain. I wouldn’t have come if the letter hadn’t contained Rasla’s seal. How did you get it?”
Did I explain that I’d found it more than three hundred years into the future? No. Instead, I just said, “We stole it.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You dared?” She scoffed. “Of course you dared. You’re the Devil of Darkvale,” she muttered at Grey.
“Why did you think that Rasla was asking you to meet here?” he asked.
“Honestly, I did not know.” She shrugged. “But I feared repercussions if I did not come, so here I am.”
“Something went wrong at Councilor Rasla’s house, and you left your post, is that correct?” Grey asked, concern in his voice.
She nodded, her expression haunted. “I could stay there no longer. And yes, leaving led to hard times. Won’t be able to keep my home, come winter. The money will run out.”
Grey reached into his pocket and withdrew a pouch that jingled with coins. “Whatever forced you to leave is unfair and unfortunate.” He set the pouch on the table in front of it. “That is for you.”
She frowned an
d took it, looking inside. Her brows rose, and her face went white. “This would see me until the end of my days.” Suspicion flashed in her eyes. “Why? What do you want in exchange?”
“That is yours to keep no matter what happens here,” he said. “I dislike unfairness, and while I do not understand the details of your situation, I have no doubt that Councilor Rasla is to blame. A housekeeper would not leave her post without promise of a referral.”
“That is true enough.” She shrugged as if that were obvious. “But still, you must want something from me.”
“Information, if you are willing to give it,” Grey said. “If you are not, then I would use my power to compel you to tell me. It would not hurt you, but I would leave with the information I need. Either way, the money is yours.”
She scoffed again, which seemed to be her signature expression. “You’re honest, I’ll give you that.”
“As I said, I would see to it that no harm comes to you,” Grey said. “But it is a matter of life and death. Of my life and death, and that of the woman I care for.”
Her eyes darted to me, considering. “I do not recognize you.”
“I’m not a resident of Guild City,” I replied. “Not this Guild City, at least.
“So you’ve given me this money to ease my way.” She hefted the pouch. “And you’ll have the information you want, whether or not I give it to you of my own volition.”
“That is essentially it, yes,” Grey said.
“You could have just taken the information.” She frowned at him. “That’s the reputation associated with you.”
“I suppose so.” Grey shrugged. “Perhaps I am a changed man.”
Her eyes moved to me again. “Love.”
He said nothing, but I couldn’t help but look at him. Just briefly. Then I turned to the woman. “Will you help us?”
“Yes. And you’d best be grateful, because your power would not work on my mind. It is too strong.” Pride echoed in her voice.
“Really?” Grey leaned forward, interest in his eyes.
“Indeed. Part of my magic.” She gestured to herself. “Try.”
Grey’s brows rose, and then he spoke, his voice echoing with his power. “Tell me the date of your birth.”