Page 40

Welcome to Castle Sanguis

“ D oes it ever stop snowing in this gods-forsaken place?” Isobel Clearbrook asked from where she stood at the window, pulling up her long black hair into a ponytail and exposing her curved human ears.

Looking up from the computer where he’d been working for hours, Nikhail ran a hand through his hair. Snow cascaded down in thick white sheets outside the office window, reducing the visibility to next to nothing. Even the forest, which they’d passed on their way in, was masked by the snow.

“I mean, I don’t really think it does,” he replied. “I’m pretty sure that’s why the vampires claimed this part of the continent in the first place.”

The Northern Region was known for its inhospitable weather, endless cold nights, and short days.

“Gods, I hate it so much,” Isobel groused, drawing her black cardigan tighter around herself. She retook her seat at the computer across from him, sighing as she pulled open her laptop.

Isobel had graduated at the top of her class from the University of Balance two years ago, and she’d promptly been recruited by the intelligence sector of the military. Isobel was great at her job, and she was on loan to Nikhail’s team from the military intelligence branch in the Western Region.

In Nikhail’s experience, it wasn’t uncommon for new intelligence officers to complain about the tediousness of their job.

It wasn’t always fun, which they quickly came to understand.

Often, it meant hours, or even days, of analyzing evidence and searching for the smallest piece of useful information.

That said, he understood where Isobel was coming from.

The bitter, northern cold was the polar opposite of the heat he’d grown up with in the south.

After enduring a week in the Northern Region, he was ready to escape the snow for good.

He yearned to feel warmth on his skin once more.

Maybe a trip to his hometown was in his future.

Would River want to come with him and meet his family? His mother would love her, he was certain of it.

The thought was enough to redirect him.

“I know, but it’s not like we’re here for a vacation.” He gestured to the computer, raising a brow at his younger colleague. “The sooner we get through this intel and make sure there aren’t any active rebel forces in the area, the sooner we can go home.”

And gods, he wanted to get back to Lakewater. In the past, work trips had rarely bothered him, but that was before he’d kissed River.

His body was in the Northern Region, going through hundreds of reports, detailed accounts of suspected rebel activity, and aerial maps, but his mind and heart were both with his water fae.

He wanted to be with her, to hold her and feel her beneath his hands. He wanted to assure himself that their moment in the solarium hadn’t just been a blip but the beginning of something long-lasting and real.

They’d exchanged a few texts throughout the week. He knew she’d returned to Lakewater and was working long shifts at the hospital, but the messages weren’t enough. He wanted to do more than just chat back and forth.

Nikhail was beginning to suspect that nothing, save having all of River, would ever be enough.

He wanted everything she had to offer. He wanted every one of her kisses from now until the end of time, every hug, every laugh.

He wanted to see her smile, to fall asleep beside her, and to wake up with her in his arms.

The way he yearned for her was entirely unprecedented. He dreamed of the day he’d feel her body beneath him, of that glorious moment when he’d be able to get on his knees for her and show her exactly how magnificent he found her.

It was that thought that had him diving back into work. Soon, the steady clicking of keys was the only sound that could be heard in the small office.

Hours passed before Isobel exclaimed, “Oh!”

Nikhail jolted, his stiff back cracking as he met her gaze over the top of his computer. “You’ve got something?”

“I think so.” Her eyes were bright. “Come take a look.”

He rounded the desk, resting one hand on the wooden surface as he peered at the thermal imaging map spread across the screen.

Taken by drone, it was one of the hundreds they’d been analyzing.

The Chancellor’s orders had been clear: every single piece of intelligence, no matter how small, had to be looked over with a fine-tooth comb.

“Someone was there, right?” Isobel pointed to the bright red spots on the map. “That’s what those mean?”

Nikhail chewed on the inside of his cheek, leaning in closer. “ It looks like it.” His eyes swept over the screen. “What’s the date on this file, Isobel?”

The building in question had been vacant for decades, and no one was supposed to be there.

Humming, she clicked through the file. “I think… Ah, there it is. The last time the drones flew over this part of the region was several years ago.” She twisted in her chair, tugging the bottom of her ponytail in a way that reminded Nikhail far too much of River. “The intel is old, but…”

“It’s the best we have,” he finished for her. It was the only lead they’d uncovered after a week. Whistling low, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “We’re going to need reinforcements for this.”

“Welcome to Castle Sanguis,” Commander Conner Root, the military officer in charge of the team Nikhail had called for backup, said grimly as he cut the engine to their military vehicle on the edge of the snowy road.

The Earth Elf’s short cut of ginger hair resembled flames in the afternoon sunlight, and he wore a grim expression as he surveyed the black castle looming before them.

Nikhail’s stomach twisted as he jumped out of the dark SUV.

Snow crunched beneath his feet, and he was grateful for his sunglasses as bright sunlight reflected off the expanse of snow.

He kept his hands flat at his sides, his weapons within reach as he took in their surroundings with military sharpness.

They were parked on the edge of the Dead Forest, and the ancient fortress rose in front of them. Sands save him, but even though the building was technically a ruin, it was still an imposing sight .

Nikhail had heard stories about Castle Sanguis, of course. No one, fae or otherwise, grew up in this country without learning about the kingdoms that came before them.

He had heard of the mad queen with her Blood Ruby and how she’d used and discarded humans as though they were nothing but trash.

He’d studied the Battle of Balance and read about how the Carinoc Dragons had worked with the High Ladies of Life and Death to turn the tides and restore the balance.

He knew of the feral First who had escaped the tombs at Hoarfrost Hollow and of the halfling prince and his vampire bodyguard who worked together to stop her before it was too late.

And, of course, he knew of the King of Darkness and his Sunwalking Queen.

They were, perhaps, the most famous couple to have ever walked the land once known as Eleyta.

Nikhail’s sisters had swooned over tales of the monarchs’ renowned love for each other, the king’s possessive nature, and the way he would do anything for his beloved bride.

Nikhail knew all the stories, but none of them had done Castle Sanguis justice. Not really.

This was a castle, but it was more than that. Black gargoyles stood guard atop stone walls of the same midnight shade. Snow-dusted spires reached for the heavens. Windows that would’ve once held violet Light Elf orbs now stood empty, their sills vacant.

The structure was a ruin—as empty as it was expansive—and there was an eeriness about it that had goose bumps crawling over Nikhail’s flesh. Death and darkness resided within Castle Sanguis, and even the sun couldn’t chase them away.

Snow drifted from the skies, and even though it was barely winter, several feet of the white substance were already on the ground.

Keeping his gaze trained on the castle, Nikhail adjusted the weapons strapped to his black tactical gear.

He had always preferred magic over guns, but only a fool would enter an unknown situation without protection.

If he hadn’t had a weapon on him when the Black Night shot him a few weeks ago, he would’ve died.

An engine cut off behind him as the other half of their team arrived.

“Vampires don’t still live here, right?” Isobel had been riding in the other car and came up next to him, shifting from one foot to the other. Easily the smallest member of their team, she was the only human in their group. Her tactical gear seemed to wear her, not the other way round.

“No, it’s been empty for centuries.” He glanced at Isobel, who was wringing her hands in front of her. “Just in case, you have your wooden stakes, right?”

Isobel nodded, tapping the pair of whittled weapons strapped to her chest.

“Good.” Nikhail also had a set, as did the rest of the team. “Hopefully, they’re just a precaution, and we won’t have to use them.”

It was likely that whoever had been in Castle Sanguis had already moved on, but they had to check.

They were here to clear the building, and on the off-chance they actually found something useful, they would bring it back for further analysis.

Chancellor Rose wasn’t playing around, especially since, after leaving the Hub, Winterthread and his team had had more dire visions of what was to come.

The head of the government was clear: she wanted the rebels stopped, once and for all .

Personally, Nikhail thought that the rebels weren’t entirely off-base with their accusations that the Republic of Balance was unjustly run.

No one could listen to Laurie talk passionately about the subject for long and not come to that conclusion. The Representatives did hold an inequitable amount of power, and something needed to be done about it.