Crimson Mist

by Rachel Jonas

  Julian’s calming smile owned the room once again.

  “I’m sure that was quite a confusing report to come across,” he answered. “But the truth of the matter is, we had no idea why those gentlemen showed up, demanding that we hand Mistress Corina over to their custody in the middle of the night. If I’m being honest, we’ve received several concerning threats lately. The men demanded entry into my home with zero explanation whatsoever, not even an answer to the question of who had sent them or where she’d be taken. So, we did what I believe any honorable men would have done for the woman they’ve vowed to honor and protect.”

  Gloria’s brow jumped up again, but this time a smile accompanied the action. “Are you admitting on national television that you—Prince Julian Westower—lied to those officers?”

  He lowered his head and clamped his teeth down on one side of his lip, scrubbing well-manicured stubble with one hand.

  “When you put it like that, it sounds terrible,” he said with a chuckle.

  “I don’t think it sounds terrible at all,” Gloria quickly shot back, shocking the guys as much as she shocked me with that response. “Some might argue your actions were … valiant. Romantic, even.”

  I glanced toward Elle, seeing the surprise in her expression matched my own.

  “He’s got her right in the palm of his bloody hand,” Aaric said in triumphant awe on the other end of the line.

  I stared at the monitor again, at three of the gentlemen who held my heart in the palms of their hands.

  “You can say that again,” I answered distractedly.

  Gloria closed the blue folder she’d clung to throughout the entire interview.

  “This has been quite the eye-opening experience,” she said in summary. “However, it would be remiss of me not to ask how you did it. How you managed to get Mistress Corina out of the house, right under the officers’ noses?”

  Julian laughed—light, easy. “We’ll just say the palace has its secrets,” was the only answer he offered.

  When Gloria smiled, I guessed she didn’t miss the double meaning. Although, she could never guess the depth to which it applied.

  “Indeed, it does,” she concluded. “Before I let you three out of my sight, is there anything you’d like to say to the people? Your people?” she amended.

  “Actually, I’m glad you asked,” Levi piped up. “With the entire world watching as my brothers and I have navigated these uncharted waters, we thought we owed Ianites everywhere a bit of transparency. It’s for this reason that we’ve decided to have a … coming out party of sorts. A gala to properly introduce Mistress Corina to Ianite society.”

  Gloria’s eyes lit up.

  “That sounds like a splendid idea!” she agreed. “And if you’ll have me, I’d love to organize a crew to cover the event.”

  “We’ll do you one better. How does exclusivity sound?” Levi asked, sweetening the deal. The offer also provided us some measure of control, unofficially sanctioning that only one news outlet would be given access to the gala.

  Excited, Gloria could barely contain it as she smiled brightly from her seat. “Well, gentlemen, the next time I see you, I believe it will be on the red carpet.”

  And just like that, the groundwork was laid, and we had successfully regained control of a situation that had nearly ended us.

  Another small win for us.

  One huge win for the mission.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Corina

  Well, it certainly looked like fun—the guys flying, going invisible, lifting large stones and branches with their minds, uprooting entire trees with ease. It wasn’t the first time I’d observed while they indulged in their new abilities, but they were especially charged up tonight. And here I sat, holding down a moss-covered log, watching instead of participating.

  The five of us—Aaric, the princes and myself—had changed into comfortable clothes and then snuck off to the woods surrounding the compound as soon as the sun set. It seemed a celebration was in order, following the success of the interview earlier that day. Elle stayed behind to chat with Paige, but only after helping me hunt down the large picnic basket resting beside me. We filled it with champagne and fruit, plus the blanket she tucked inside. While I couldn’t have been more pleased with how this day had gone, something still dimmed my mood a bit.

  The strange buzz of excess energy hummed in my bones—actually, it had the entire two weeks since turning—but I wouldn’t use it. Having fun in this new form would be the same as accepting it, reveling in the benefits of becoming something I was never meant to become.

  And for that reason, I lingered on the sidelines.

  My gaze flitted up toward the moon. I’d never seen it clearer than I had since the change. It was like seeing it while floating in space, far closer than most will ever travel. Keen eyesight—another gift, another advantage.

  I angled my head back toward the guys when I heard footsteps approaching. There was so much laughter and commotion I shouldn’t have even noticed the subtle crunch of leaves and debris being crushed beneath Aaric’s large boots, but I did.

  My heart lurched once when our eyes met. That happened a lot more often than I anticipated, but knew the reaction was only the result of being near the guys.

  “Beautiful night, isn’t it?” After asking, he tilted his head back until he faced the sky like I’d been a moment ago.

  “Very,” I answered. “I think I can see neighboring galaxies with these eyes.”

  He let out a quiet laugh and, at the sound of it, my gut twisted in so many knots. Even more so when he lowered to the log, not hesitating to sit close.

  “You’ll get used to it, I imagine. And, who knows? You may even learn to enjoy your gifts one day.” He nudged my arm gently before meeting my gaze, letting me see and feel the affection he held in his eyes. It was unmistakable.

  I did my best to pretend I was unfazed. “We’ll see about that.”

  In my peripheral, I noted the cocky sort of grin he gave. Warmth spread up from my stomach, to my chest, and finally reached my face.

  “Shouldn’t you be celebrating?”

  I joined him in staring at the moon once again. “What do you mean?”

  His broad shoulders lifted into the air briefly when he shrugged. “The interview today was a win for all of you. Was it not?”

  I replayed my favorite bits in my thoughts.

  “It was definitely a win,” I answered. “I just think it might be a bit soon to celebrate.”

  No sooner than those words left my mouth, Levi popped the cork on the second bottle of champagne we smuggled out from the kitchen.

  “Or … maybe I’m just being a Debbie Downer and I need to loosen up.”

  When I backtracked my statement, Aaric chuckled a bit. “It’s been a while since you’ve done that, I imagine.”

  “A while since I’ve done what?” I asked through a smile.

  His eyes left the moon and I felt the concentrated stare he leveled on me. “Since you’ve loosened up.”

  At first, I didn’t dare make eye contact, then I honestly couldn’t help myself. He was nowhere near as brazen as Levi, but I didn’t miss the meaning. And he wasn’t wrong. It had been a while since I’d partaken in any activity not directly related to the cause. There was always some task to be completed, some objective to chase.

  I shrugged casually like he’d done a moment ago. “It’s hard to say.”

  A breath of a laugh left him, and then I was set free from that intense gaze I’d been locked inside. “Well, a little balance never hurt anyone.”

  I didn’t disagree with his conclusion. Nor could I lie and say I’d never wondered what it’d be like to … ‘find balance’ with him.

  Smooth skin brushed the back of my hand when he shifted to shove his own inside his pockets.

  “I’d like to take you somewhere,” he announced, literally forcing the statement from his mouth as if to avoid losing his nerve.

  My brow qui
rked. “And where is that?”

  Orbs of liquid metal shifted downward to observe my lips as he answered. “It’s sort of my little secret.”

  Secrets weren’t usually my thing, but something about the one he held was too tempting to turn down.

  “Okay. Sure.”

  Was that excitement I saw gleaming in his eyes?

  “Perfect. As soon as we’re done here, I’ll see if I can’t manage to steal you away for a bit.” His weighty stare settled on me for a second time. “Honestly, I’ve looked forward to you and I having a moment to ourselves.”

  I’d had the same thought, but hadn’t been so bold as to admit it.

  “Thing is, we don’t have to sneak or wait until the guys aren’t around,” I reminded him. “I’m not bound to any one of you. I’m bound to all of you.”

  He smirked hesitantly, and I believed I knew what he was thinking. Yes, we were bonded, but the circumstances surrounding it had once been tainted by the memory of the attack. But being with him every day, getting to know the real him, that first impression he left was now such a distant memory.

  Not once had he rushed me to forgive. Not once had he diminished my pain. Instead, he accepted the repercussions of his actions and took it like a man.

  When he didn’t seem to catch my hint, I shook my head and tugged his hand free from the pocket of his jeans to hold.

  “Follow my lead,” I said quietly.

  He did just that, letting me tote him toward the others.

  “Aaric and I are taking off for a bit,” I announced. “Don’t wait up.”

  Those last words quieted the guys’ conversation completely, and also earned me their full attention. Levi’s expression dimmed a bit, giving way to that inkling of concern he still carried for me when it came to Aaric, but it wasn’t as powerful as it had once been. I considered that a small step in the right direction. Perhaps it meant he was finally seeing the newest member of our unit as I saw him.

  I’d taken a few steps before a sharply spoken, “Be careful, love,” touched my ears. Levi’s words didn’t make me turn, but he knew I heard them, knew I felt the affection that bled through every syllable.

  Soon, they would all fully realize I was as safe with Aaric as I was with any one of them. For now, I’d take the small victories.

  Gripping his hand tighter, I offered Aaric a confident smile, letting him know he had my full trust. “Lead the way.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Corina

  A boathouse.

  That’s where he brought me. Apparently, others on the compound didn’t typically venture this deep onto the property, so it was about as secluded an area as one could find here.

  Water glittering with moonlight lapped against walls made of battered, wooden slats. A shelter fit to house a small boat had long-since been empty, I imagined. Now, all that remained was the small, shack-like structure above it, painted forest green.

  Seeming slightly hesitant, Aaric’s hand braced the small of my back before we ascended a set of questionably rickety steps together. I waited on the small porch while he unlocked the door and then stood aside to let me enter first.

  It was a little cramped, dark, and other than the rhythmically sloshing water beneath the platform, it was quiet.

  “One moment. I’ll get us some light.”

  My curious gaze was fused to Aaric when he spoke, and it followed him as he stooped to grab a candle from the floor. Reaching inside his pocket, he presented a pack of matches, and the next second we were bathed in the warm glow of a single flame. He moved around the small space and repeated the same action with other candles lain about—one from a rustic table in the corner, two on the windowsill, and another perched on a mounted shelf.

  The space felt different now. What I had perceived to be an unkempt shack was actually very well cared for. The floor was free of debris, and the surfaces had been dusted clean. A half bookcase beneath the window held trinkets—a thin journal with a pencil tucked beneath the string that bound it together, a small radio, and a stack of old books with no words embossed on the spines.

  “It’s uh … kind of empty, but before we relocated here from Blackthorn, our visits to the compound were few and far between. When we did come here to lay low, seemed I was usually too busy to even think about time to myself,” he explained while I walked the room’s perimeter slowly.

  “Is that what this is? Your sanctuary?”

  Even without peering over to steal a look at him, I pictured the faint smile that likely curved his lips just then.

  “Some might call it that.”

  I nodded, stopping to take a closer look at the small collection of books. “You took a big risk bringing me here,” I teased. “Now that I know it exists, you might not ever have it to yourself again.”

  He laughed quietly when I glanced toward him, letting my gaze creep up the length of him slowly where he leaned against the wall.

  “I’ve already taken that into account,” he answered. “It’s quite possible I brought you here for that exact reason, to ensure I never have it to myself again.”

  The response brought a slow-growing wave of heat to my hands, and it moved through me like lava, finally reaching my heart.

  “Duly noted.” My reply was casual, but I felt nothing of the sort deep down on the inside.

  There was an honesty about him. It had nothing to do with the words he spoke, and everything to do with his eyes. Beyond the liquid silver staring back at me, there was only truth within them. They expressed many things he had not been able to convey with his mouth; things I felt every time our gazes became fixed on one another.

  “Would you like me to put on some music?”

  I turned from the bookcase, facing him fully to nod. “Sure. That’d be nice.”

  His gaze lingered on me a moment, and I fully expected him to flip the switch on the radio I stood near. However, instead, he moved toward a strange case tucked into the corner.

  Brown leather with polished, gold embellishments was handled with the utmost of care as Aaric lifted the lid. I’d seen pieces just like it showcased in one of my father’s history books, but had never seen one in person. It was old, despite still being in excellent condition—a vintage record player.

  “Where’d you find it?” I couldn’t hide the awe in my tone when asking.

  He smirked at the sound of it. “It was one of the few things that survived the many moves Mother and I were forced to make. It’s traveled across quadrants, overseas, and back again.”

  He unfolded a blanket he pulled from inside a chest. While he spread it, there was a look of nostalgia in his eyes that wasn’t lost on me.

  “She must have been one courageous woman,” I observed, having only heard him speak of how she went into the unknown, time and time again, all to ensure the safety of her son.

  “She was,” Aaric agreed. “And thanks to the circles she tended to run in, it seems she made certain I was destined to spend my lifetime surrounded by those with courage matching her own.”

  I smiled at that, not missing how that familiar gleam of admiration filled his gaze when it landed on me.

  “Tell me about her. Something you haven’t shared with me before.” After making the request, I lowered down onto the blanket when he did the same.

  Side-by-side, gazing out at the water through the door we hadn’t closed behind ourselves, we stayed close. In this light, he looked so innocent, so vulnerable.

  “Let’s see, then.”

  My attention was completely his. He thought deeply and I was unashamedly entranced. In fact, my heart warmed as I stared, melting when he leaned back on the heels of both palms, donning a warm smile as he thought of his mother.

  “When we first returned to this quadrant, before linking up with the Roamers who took us in, we didn’t have much. Not that we lived in the lap of luxury before that,” he joked. “But Mother was known to make magic happen when she needed to.”

  I leaned in as I somehow became e
ven more invested in what he would share.

  “It was Christmas morning,” he continued. “I was fully content going another year without a gift. That was just how it was. How it had always been. It didn’t even matter as far as I was concerned. I didn’t envy kids who woke up that morning with a tree packed to the top with presents.”

  My gaze lowered to where my hands were linked in my lap, relating to his experience so much.

  “Sometimes, I think that was what she hated most. Not that she wasn’t able to provide the way she would have liked, but that I was used to things being that way. That I was used to going without.”

  That distant look returned, but the thoughtful smile didn’t fade.

  “However, this particular year, I woke up to the sound of soft classical music coming from that very device.” He pointed toward the antique playing me a tune from the corner. “I came out of my room to find a lone box beneath the tree, all by itself. Just one. The first thing I did was turn to Mother, because, naturally, I was confused. But then, she nodded toward the box and told me to open it.”

  I hung on his every word. And, okay, that accent melting over his smooth tone may have made that easier.

  “What was inside?” I asked softly.

  His smile grew a little. “A collection of things. Mostly artifacts from before the war as a means of indulging the obsession I had with items like that at the time. She hit paydirt at an eclectic shop not too far from where we settled. Coins, military medals, a few low-end trading cards.”

  “You must have been ecstatic,” I guessed.

  “You’d think.”

  My brow quirked with his unexpected response, but I hesitated to question him when his lips parted to speak again.

  “I couldn’t help but to wonder what she’d given away to cover the cost. Maybe a second after the thought hit me, I glanced toward her neck and noticed the necklace she always wore—the only of her mother’s trinkets she held on to before being shipped off to serve at Emperor Fairchild’s palace.”