Page 35

35

Belanore

Rain hung heavily in the air. Most were inside, afraid they might get wet. But he didn’t care. He placed his hands on the railing, then leaned in and looked across the city from atop the tower. It wasn’t the tallest building in Belanore , but it was close. Only the best would do.

He directed his gaze south. He wished he could be at Mortham to watch what was undoubtedly unfolding at that very moment.

“ One !”

Gods , that name. He had been known by many, but he hated that one more than most. He drew in a deep breath and turned to look inside. Gita reclined on the bright turquoise sofa, wearing a long, navy silk gown that left nothing to the imagination. Her blue hair was carefully arranged for seduction. The Moon Elf was a beauty, but he knew what kind of soul lay beneath her pale, silvery skin.

Her ice blue eyes were locked on him. He strode through the balcony doors inside the flat arranged for her to hide out in after the debacle at Shaldorn . Gita wasn’t used to being confined. She had been in charge of Shaldorn for years, ordering others about. Sitting idle was not in her nature. Not even when her life was in danger.

“ What are you doing?” she demanded.

Oh , the things he could tell her. He wouldn’t, of course, but he could well imagine the shock that would darken her face if he did. He dealt in secrets by the hundreds. Few in power across Shecrish didn’t have something they sought to hide. But nothing could be kept from him. He uncovered all the appalling, loathsome skeletons—whether buried or locked away.

“ It’s a pleasant night. I’m looking over the city,” he answered.

Gita rolled her eyes. “ There’s nothing pleasant about the rain. Tell me you have more news on locating Yasmin and Ravi .”

“ They haven’t been seen.”

“ Impossible !” she retorted.

He stared, remaining calm against her outburst.

“ No one can stay hidden forever,” she replied in a calmer voice.

“ They are at the moment.”

Her eyes narrowed as she seethed. “ If you can’t handle such a task, I will look for them myself.”

“ You can’t leave the tower.” He shouldn’t get such joy out of reminding her of that, but he did.

Gita huffed, her indignation growing. “ Fine ,” she snapped. “ Tell me about New Shaldorn .”

Why come up with a different name when they could just slap new in front of the old? No one had any imagination anymore. “ I would’ve told you had I anything additional to share beyond what I’ve already imparted.”

“ Tell me again,” she ordered.

He could refuse. It was on the tip of his tongue. He was tired of being ordered about by her. But he kept control of his ire. It wasn’t time to unleash it yet.

“ It has to keep me going until the construction is finished,” she said as she rolled her ankle, staring appreciatively at her sapphire-adorned blue sandals.

There had been no confirmation that she would head up New Shaldorn , but he kept that little tidbit to himself. For now, anyway. The Masters wanted her hidden, so that’s what he would do. Until they figured out what to do with her. They might end up sending him to kill her. Now , that was a job he wouldn’t mind.

It was better than babysitting.

“ The elite have demanded another location to give in to all their…proclivities.”

Gita’s grin was devious. “ I created a playground for those who needed it. Of course, they’d demand its return. Go on. Tell me the rest.”

He’d already told it twice. His smile tightened. To hide his irritation, he turned to the bar cart and grabbed the bottle of wine to refill her glass. He chose the cava for himself. It was only after he took a swallow and savored the smoothness that he had himself under control again.

“ The need for secrecy is paramount so the DIA and CCD do not uncover its whereabouts,” he continued. “ Two locations are being considered. The mountains and the sea.”

Gita’s lips twisted. “ The water is ridiculous. It took members a long time to get to the mountains. Traveling under the ocean would take considerable effort. We will lose participants.”

“ Perhaps that’s the point. Your eagerness to grow the membership is likely what led to Shaldorn’s downfall. It wasn’t so secret any longer.”

Her ice blue eyes turned frigid. “ How dare you put the blame on me? You , Two , and Three were in charge of security. The responsibility lies with you since Two and Three are no longer here.”

“ You did dub me One for a reason,” he replied.

She sniffed and slid her gaze away as she rearranged herself to recline once more. “ Who wants New Shaldorn in the sea? I want to know so I can send over my reasons for why that would be a mistake.”

“ That information wasn’t shared.” That was far from the truth, but lies were as plentiful to him as secrets.

“ Fine . Where in the mountains?”

“ It would be deeper.”

Gita sighed dramatically. “ Then we’ll have to make arrangements so members can arrive easier instead of traveling by carriage. It was already a long journey. And they want to make it longer? That’s outrageous.”

“ Aye . The plan is to make it even farther than before, but I meant deeper . As in…inside a mountain.”

“ Well ,” she said after a brief pause, “that would keep us hidden. We wouldn’t have to worry about anyone escaping again, either. How could they if New Shaldorn’s built within a mountain?” Her smile was wide as she took a drink of wine. “ I like this idea very much.”

It wasn’t in his nature to allow her to gloat about something she favored. “ Construction underwater would afford the same. Members demand discretion.”

Never mind that the members weren’t in control of things, even though they acted like they were. They would soon come to find out just who they were dealing with.

Gita’s smile vanished. “ I don’t like the water. I don’t want to spend the majority of my time there.”

“ In the sea, the moonbeams might make it to you, depending on how deeply they choose to build. The same can’t be said for inside a mountain.”

“ I hadn’t thought of that,” she murmured before sipping again.

He tossed back his drink and set the glass on the cart. His gaze moved through the open double doors. Had Rohan and Farah made it to the compound yet?

“ I need something to do,” Gita whined.

He had many other things to do, yet he was here. With her. A responsibility he wished he could hand off to someone else. One day, but not tonight.

“ Did you hear me?”

He swung his head to her and realized he had an idea that would keep her busy for some time. “ You put together Shaldorn’s appearance, inside and out. Why not start thinking about how you want New Shaldorn to look?”

“ While that is tempting, you know that isn’t what I meant. I’ve been sitting here waiting to be told I can go out and look for Ravi and Yasmin . I want my revenge for what they did to Shaldorn . I want my life back.”

It always came back to the Sun Elf and the human. So many other things had happened since he’d gotten Gita out of Shaldorn , but she didn’t know about any of them. That was by design. The less she knew, the better.

Dealing with Gita always made him want to drink. He debated whether to pour another splash of cava. In the end, he realized it wouldn’t numb his growing annoyance. He focused his attention on her just as she preferred. “ You know that isn’t possible.”

“ I’m counting on you to find them, One .”

“ I have a team of elves searching with me.” They were looking, all right, just not for Ravi and Yasmin .

Gita leaned up with a huff and set her glass on the table with enough force that some of the dark liquid spilled over the side. “ I know the power of the Masters . I know their reach. How is it possible that those two are still in hiding?” Her eyes narrowed. “ Or have they been detained, and you don’t want to tell me?”

“ Why would I keep that information from you?”

“ I’m asking myself the same question.”

He’d just about had enough. “ You’ve been ordered to remain here.”

“ So you say,” she said and surged to her feet. “ I’ve heard nothing from the Masters themselves. It’s all come from you, and you could be lying.”

“ Why would I do that?” he asked wearily.

She walked around the table, flashes of silver magic snapping between her fingers. “ You want my position.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “ Your position has you locked up here while I can move about freely. I think not.” His smile died as he took a menacing step toward her. “ Don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t have gutted you long ago if I wanted Shaldorn for myself.”

To her credit, she didn’t back down, but he saw her pulse beat rapidly at her throat just the same. His words had hit their mark as intended.

He stepped to the side and swung his arm toward the door. “ You want confirmation from the Masters , then go to them.”

They stared at each other for several minutes before she whirled around and sank onto the couch once more, swiping the glass into her hand as she settled. “ Nice work. I was testing you. The Masters will be pleased to hear how well you’ve taken care of me.”

He almost laughed. Instead , he pivoted to the door. He’d had enough of Gita for the night.

“ Return tomorrow,” she called just before the door closed behind him.

For a moment, he stood there, listening. Almost immediately, the sound of glass shattering reached him through the door. He grinned as he walked away.