Page 30 of Inked in Emeralds (Inkbound #3)

I rubbed at my tear-streaked face, doing my best to put it out of my head as I turned to my side. Hook’s scent rolled over me and butterflies fluttered in my belly. He’d been so gentle. So sweet. How could he not see that he was deserving of love and forgiveness? How could he not want?—

Nope. Shut it down, dummy.

He had taken care of me the same as any friend would. No more, no less.

The memory of his lips on mine had me clenching my thighs together and I gritted my teeth. Okay, so maybe a little more than a simple friend. But we both knew he’d been doing me a kindness. Nothing had changed, not one lick. If anything, I had a dozen new reasons to put the man out of my head…

I sat up and let the rest of yesterday’s events come rushing back.

The battle with Almira and her worms. Seeing my father in the face of the Wizard. Billy’s confession. Finding out about my mother’s role here in this place.

Finding out she never saw a way for us to win.

Destiny is like a river, everchanging…

“Damn right. And we are about to change the course of this one, starting right fucking now.”

I looked down at the gleaming pearl on my finger and pressed it to my lips.

“I won’t let you down, Mother.”

With that, I rolled out of bed and headed into the common room, surprised to find myself alone. Hook wasn’t much of a sleeper…

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. A knock followed, and I made my way to the door. “Yes?”

Fenwick pulled it open, poking his head inside. “Good morning, Miss Harmony. Hope you slept well,” he said, pulling the door open further.

“Well enough, thanks. You’re up early.”

“Always. The palace is an exacting mistress! Apologies if I've disturbed you, but breakfast is almost ready downstairs and it’s a rather fine spread, if I do say so myself. Fresh pastries, eggs, braided bread with nuts and currants with some truly delicious marmalades…”

My stomach growled and Fenwick’s sharp ears perked at the sound. “I’ll take that as a yes?”

We’d left the sandwiches untouched after last night’s gut-churning game of Truth or Consequences and I was famished. “I’ll check with the others.”

“Excellent. I’ll have your place settings and tea waiting,” he replied as Hook, Duncan and Bonnie made their way into the room with Billy trailing in behind them.

“I've also taken the liberty of arranging a little something extra for you and your companions. Our palace spa is excellent, and we’d love for you to pay them a visit. Complimentary, of course, at The Wizard’s insistence. ”

We hadn’t exactly ended on friendly terms with The Great and Powerful Oz—more like a reluctant truce—so I couldn’t contain my surprise. “Really?”

“Indeed. After your long journey and all that is left to come, he thought you could all use some time to relax and recover.”

“That’s very kind?—”

“We’ll see what happens after we train,” Hook cut in. “We’ve got work to do.”

Fenwick straightened, smoothing the front of his immaculate coat. “Understood.”

“And we’ve still got provisions left from our travels, so no need for breakfast either,” Billy added. “Too much to do and too little time to do it in.”

Fenwick lingered at the door, leaning on his cane, but made no move to step out.

“Sooo…” Billy paused and then shuffled her feet. “Thank you for your hospitality, though.”

“My pleasure. Might I ask what your plans are for the day? Perhaps I can help with those in some way?”

I glanced at Duncan and Hook. “We will need a place to spar…and maybe access to the armory and some additional weapons if possible?”

“I’ve got you covered there.” He pulled a map of the palace from a deep pocket inside his vest, then pulled it open and pressed it against the wall.

“The training courtyard is mainly used by the palace guards here.” He tapped a gleaming, black claw against a large rectangular symbol not far from the palace.

” He whipped out a pencil, drawing a quick circle around it.

“I shall inform them that you’ll be coming.

They can assist you with whatever you need. ”

“Thanks again.” Fenwick was annoying, but he did seem eager to help. “We’ll head down there now.”

“If you require anything else, grab hold of any of our little birdies in the palace. Whisper my name, and they’ll fly right over to fetch me.” He handed me the map and swept from the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Billy let out an audible sigh. “That guy’s exhausting.”

I spared a glance at Billy; it was clear that Fenwick wasn’t the only thing exhausting her.

Her skin was nearly translucent, it was so pale, and the hollows under her eyes could’ve been two bruises if I didn’t know better.

All in all, it looked like someone had beat the shit out of her—which I might as well have—and I was so sorry for it.

It took everything I had not to throw my arms around her and squeeze.

The only thing that stopped me was the knowledge that she would hate every second of it.

All I could do now was try my best to make it up to her by leading us to victory against Almira.

No problem.

By the time we dressed, scarfed down some stale crumpets and stepped outside a short while later, the sun had fully risen. Another beautiful day in Oz…

Which, given the previous days of sunshine followed by utter chaos, meant absolutely nothing.

Hook walked a few feet away from me but other than a quick search of my face that seemed to pass muster, he kept his attention face front and opted out of idle chatter.

That was good.

Eyes on the prize, Harm.

We walked through the palace gardens a couple minutes later, following our map as Bonnie flew overhead, eyes peeled for some critter or other.

The training grounds came into view, and they were already buzzing with activity.

My jaw dropped as I took it all in. Dozens of guards trained and sparred, fists flying, swords clanging, morning stars whirring.

Those not armored wore vibrant uniforms of every color imaginable, from deep violet to emerald green.

Duncan cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Now this is more like it."

"Looks more like a festival than training if you ask me,” Hook muttered.

"There’s something strange about it though, don’t you think?” Billy turned, waving to an older guard in a crimson uniform, who was standing right by the entrance. “Why is everyone wearing all those different colors?”

He turned, running a hand through his thick, graying beard. “We’re privately contracted.”

I frowned. "Privately contracted? You mean mercenaries?"

“Something like that,” he said with a shrug.

“And the ones dressed in green?” Duncan interjected.

The guard cocked an eyebrow. “The greencoats work for the Wizard, but they’re no different from the rest of us. He’s the most powerful, but our city has no king and other houses choose to protect themselves as well.”

“You all seem well trained,” Duncan said, seeming unbothered. “I’m looking for some very hearty sparring partners. Any recommendations?”

The grizzled veteran looked him up and down, standing up a little straighter. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll come work with you myself.”

“You might want to bring some friends.” Duncan softened the words with a wink and a smile, and the guard let out a hearty laugh.

“We’ll see if you’re still saying that once I’m done with you. I’ll be right over; I’ll grab some training swords.”

The old guard headed toward a building that was marked as the armory on our map.

As we crossed into the training yard, soldiers watched and whispered as we approached, but I just rolled up my sleeves and kept my gaze forward. This was no time to get self-conscious. We had a witch to kill.

“Billy and I can work with Harm while you burn off some of that energy,” Hook said, turning to Duncan.

Duncan sized up each group of soldiers as we passed, stretching his arms high over his head until his shoulders cracked. “Should be fun."

Hook let out a low hiss. "We're here to work, not play, Pretty Boy.”

"I don’t know. Watching the ox beat some cocky sell-swords sounds like a damn good time to me,” Billy said with a smirk.

Duncan bent into a deep bow. "Always happy to entertain.”

"Just try not to embarrass us out there,” Billy said. “After running your mouth to that guard, it would be pretty humiliating for me to have to come and clean up your messes.”

“Not going to happen,” Duncan said, his jaw flexing.

He might seem lighthearted on the outside, but he was taking this as seriously as any of us. I had no doubt these men were in for a very rough day.

He turned to me. “Once I’m done, we can do some more hand to hand combat training.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Ready for us, big fellow?” We all turned to see the barrel-chested guard from before coming toward us with three other men, each of them built like the side of a barn. “Ask and you shall receive!”

Duncan’s dimple flashed as he strode toward them and reached for a sword.

“Let’s do this.”