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Chapter Six

Roth

I gazed up at the utilitarian fortress before us. Most of the castles left behind by the Fae were architectural wonders that combined beauty and functionality.

The Fae who had built what was now House Devereux had skipped the beauty.

Foreboding, dark grey stone walls stretched towards the sky, while a deep moat curved around the outside of the walls.

Its waters were obsidian black, and all kinds of wicked things swam in them.

Behind the walls, a singular rectangular structure rose.

The windows were hidden by glamour, so it appeared to just be solid walls.

The only break in the uniformity was the occasional turret. But those had none of the whimsical designs like those of House Harker or many of the other Houses. Just more grey stone with no visible windows.

I’d once made a comment to my parents that perhaps the House’s appearance wasn’t enough and we should hang a sign on the outside that read, “You are not wanted here. Leave or die.”

My mother’s response had been, “Do you think it will help?”

I hadn’t been able to tell if she’d been joking.

Kieran and Alaric stood on either side of me, silently lending their support. We’d all agreed that it would be best if I spoke for the group. It wasn’t a position I preferred, but it was my House—my family. Nyx, Adrienne, and Emil were fanned out protectively around us.

My siblings wouldn’t be happy about outsider rangers being allowed in, but they’d just have to deal with it. It wasn’t like I was happy to be back here after swearing to never return.

“Let’s get this over with.” I grimaced and strode forward, Alaric and Kieran immediately falling into step with me.

It was telling how unlike himself Kieran was at the moment because he had barely asked me about my family and why I’d left in the first place on our way here.

He was usually so nosy about everything.

I was pretty sure he was clinging to his rage and channeling that into motivation to get Samara back.

Because if he allowed himself to feel the despair and panic that we were all dealing with, he’d fall apart and never put himself back together.

I couldn’t blame him for that, and personally, I preferred this version of Kieran.

I could deal with clipped answers and cutting remarks, but I didn’t handle criers well.

Alaric had withdrawn into himself a little more than usual but was otherwise acting the same. If Samara were here, I’m sure she would have picked up on more clues as to how he was truly feeling.

We needed her back. I needed her back.

That was the only reason my steps didn’t falter as we moved beyond the tree line and into the view of the two guards posted on this side of the moat. The drawbridge was up, and to lower it, the guards on both this side and inside the fortress had to activate the glyphs.

I had no doubt there were others in the forest who had spotted us miles ago, but it was standard operating procedure for the guards posted in the woods to only observe and not intervene unless necessary. They were meant to be the dagger in your back you never saw coming.

Adrienne and Emil were experienced enough that they probably knew where the rangers were. Nyx was still young and had much to learn. I had no doubt Alaric and Kieran were oblivious.

They were both lucky they were so pretty. Not my cup of tea, but I did have eyes.

The guards watched us approach. Neither of them drew their swords, which made me think they recognized me. Impressive, considering I’d been gone for a long time. I’d left for Drudonia almost eight years ago, and I’d never returned.

It wasn’t that I hated my family or that they were unkind to me. I just didn’t belong here. Looking at the fortress before me brought back all the memories of growing up as the person out of place. The scholar living amongst warriors.

Paranoid. Violent. Warriors.

The guards scrutinized us from underneath silver visors, their helmets hiding most of their features. Neither of them said anything. Didn’t welcome me home or ask what the fuck I was doing in the company of House Harker.

They just waited for me to speak. Argh.

“You know who I am.” I raised my chin. “Lower the gate.”

“Do we?” The guard on the right cocked their head and looked at the other. “Nothing is jogging my memory. You?”

“Nope. Don’t remember a thing,” the left guard responded, their pale green eyes mostly focused on the rangers. They sparked with interest as they took in Adrienne. She was quite the looker, but if he didn’t drop his gaze soon, she’d have his eyes plucked out of his skull before he could blink.

One of my favorite places to work in House Harker overlooked the training courtyard. I’d seen Adrienne take down just about everyone who challenged her. Only Emil was able to hold his own against the beautiful blonde ranger.

Tension rolled off Kieran, and I didn’t miss the way his hand slid to the dagger on his thigh.

Based on the way both guards subtly adjusted their stances, I knew they hadn’t missed it either.

I wasn’t a fighter—much to the disappointment of my parents—but I was observant.

It was impossible to grow up in House Devereux and not have fighting mechanics and strategies drilled into your head.

It was just, for me, they were all theoretical rather than practical skills.

When I’d left here for Drudonia and started going by Roth, it’d had nothing to do with my gender.

I’d just needed a way to separate myself from my House.

From the legacy of being Astaroth Devereux .

. . and just be the scholar Roth for a while.

But I knew who I was now. And I was ready to reclaim the part of me I’d left behind. While I would never be like the fierce warriors behind those walls—I was far from harmless. Something my brothers were well aware of. It was time these guards remembered it too.

“Allow me to properly announce myself.”

The guards took a step back and away from each other as the ropes around my forearms unwound.

Magic pulsed from me, and the blood magic ropes shot forward.

Both guards swung with their swords, trying to cut through the ropes, but the bloodred tendrils snapped out from the ropes and wrapped themselves around the swords, yanking them from the guards’ grasps.

Before they could take another step, my ropes looped around their necks and pulled them off the ground.

Strangled gasps came from the guards as they clutched at the ropes and tried to stay conscious.

Another pulse of magic from me had the ropes lifting them higher off the ground as I stepped closer to the ledge, the drawbridge to my right.

The ropes turned the guards so they were facing the House, where I knew we had an audience watching us from the top of the wall, hidden from our sight by glamour.

It was very likely that at least one of my brothers was up there. I bit back a frustrated sigh. Would it have killed them to just let me in?

“I’m Astaroth Devereux,” I called out in an even, steady voice. “Open the fucking gate.”

“Didn’t know you had it in you, Roth,” Kieran said in a voice that was almost back to his teasing, light tone. His blue eyes were still strained and tired, but I was glad to see a hint of his old self.

“That was a bit dramatic,” Alaric said dryly as we walked across the now-lowered bridge.

The guards I’d almost choked out walked behind us.

As soon as the bridge had lowered, I’d released them from the ropes.

They’d dropped the ten feet to the ground and landed easily on their feet.

Instead of being angered or frightened, they’d taken off their helmets and grinned at me before activating the glyphs to lower their side of the bridge.

No doubt they’d be bragging about almost being choked out by the lost child of House Devereux later while they got drinks after their shift.

“Personally I’m disappointed you didn’t drop them into the moat.” Adrienne glanced over to the dark water. “I’ve always been curious about what’s hiding in there.”

“Have dinner with me later and maybe I’ll tell you,” one of the guards offered.

Adrienne looked over her shoulder, a bright, sunny smile on her lips. “Or I could just throw you in now and find out.”

“Marry me.” The guard gave her puppy dog eyes, and Adrienne rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile on her lips.

Emil and Nyx both zeroed in on the guard and gave him warning looks before returning their focus to the courtyard we were about to walk into.

From the outside, it looked like the House went right up to the exterior wall, but there was actually a small space carved out.

Lining that small space was a wraparound balcony, where guards with crossbows would happily point their weapons at any newcomers.

There was a reason other Houses only came here when it was absolutely necessary.

More than one House representative had said or done the wrong thing and ended up shot full of bolts and then dumped into the moat.

House Devereux was almost entirely self-sufficient and traded very little with the other Houses, and when they did trade, the negotiations were always fraught with tension.

We stopped in the center of the small courtyard while the two guards who had escorted us moved to stand with the others who had lined up on both sides of us. I glanced up to see another dozen guards on the balcony; at least they didn’t have their crossbows out. Everyone was just . . . waiting.

I grimaced. This was going to be pure agony.

Adrienne and Emil moved to flank Alaric, Kieran, and me with Nyx guarding our backs.

None of the Harker rangers pulled their weapons—as skilled as they were, we were outnumbered, and escalating wasn’t in our best interest. Alaric caught my eye and ever so slightly raised his brow in question. I shook my head and mouthed, Wait.