Page 36

T wo nights had passed and my patience was worn down to a fine strand as I waited for evening to come.

After finishing chores, I returned to my room, ate dinner, washed up, changed into my nightgown, and then decided it would be better to change back into my smock—in case I was caught and questioned, an excuse about a cleaning emergency would be convincing enough.

The halls were unnervingly quiet as I crept up to Devrix’s room.

After a few soft taps, the door opened and Devrix greeted me with his sparkling eyes and a wide grin. “I’m glad you made it,” he said, shuffling me in.

“I’m sorry if it sounded as if I was blaming you before …

in the hall. I just … Even when I tried thinking of you being unbothered by Claire’s death, I couldn’t picture you acting so cold.

” Pulling near, I rested my head on his chest, and wrapped my arms around him, needing his comfort.

His warm arms surrounded me, melting away my reservation.

“Trust doesn’t come easy for me,” I confessed.

“And this place makes me suspicious of even the walls.”

With a delicate touch, he lifted my chin and rested his forehead against mine. “I know you are a faithful friend to Claire. It’s one of the many things that draws me to you.”

Was. … I was Claire’s friend. My throat clenched; I didn’t correct him, only nodded. Tears welled my eyes.

“Nova, I trust you are trying to open up with me, as I am with you. One day, no uncertainty will linger between us. Until then, I will help you break down any wall of doubt, brick by brick, if I have to.” His gaze intensified.

“I’ve only seen a glimpse of that beautiful, heartful soul you hide away, and I am already enchanted by it. ”

A stray tear slid down my cheek, and he wiped it aside.

Having shielded myself for so long, I was in the habit of thinking everything was a lie or a way to manipulate me.

It should have scared me to put my faith in someone so quickly, but with Devrix, it didn’t.

I wanted to bare my soul in front of him.

“And what about you?” I asked. “Are you not fearful of opening up to me?”

A smile lit his face. “You are the last thing in this fortress that I am frightened of.” His gaze danced across my features a moment before he shifted back and dropped his hands to my waist. He placed a soft kiss over my cheek where he had wiped the tear away.

“There is so much I have to share with you, but before anything else, I need to give you something which will help explain it all.”

He pulled away and walked over to his desk. Retrieving something small from his top draw, he returned to me.

“This is for you,” he said, handing me a small folded square of parchment with an orange wax seal. “I’m sure it will make things better and explain what happened. Come, sit with me.”

We began walking toward the burgundy chairs. Devrix continued, “As I have said—”

A loud knock sounded at his door, startling us both.

He raised a finger to his lips, urging me to stay silent.

“I am retired for the night,” he called.

Jesmine’s voice rattled beyond. “You will open the door, Lord Embers.” I covered my mouth to smother a gasp of surprise at hearing her voice.

Devrix turned to me, features pinched, and whispered, “Quick, take the note and hide in my bedchamber.”

I moved to follow orders, but he pulled me back and framed my face in his hands. “I will get you out of here, Nova. Trust me. Only me, or Jarrett—remember that.” He pressed a firm kiss to my lips. “Now hide.”

I tucked the note in my pocket and tiptoed past the writing desk and into the large bedroom. Walking around the bed, I crouched between the bed and the far wall.

Voices boomed from the other space.

“I think it is time that you found your way back to Ohmlora,” Jesmine declared. “You’ve seen enough of my work to complete your reports. Your stay here has come to an end.”

“It is late, Lady Jesmine. Perhaps we can discuss this further in the morning,” Devrix’s voice echoed.

“I think not. It doesn’t look as if you were deep in slumber.”

“No, I wasn’t. But need I remind you that you have yet to share the entirety of your work with the Slips. The king wants the details of those recent studies and the methods you are using to perform them.” Devrix’s argument was calm and impressive.

“Yes, well, that is something I will take up with his majesty. As it is, no one else has succeeded in the ways I have. My methods are my own, and I will share them when I am ready … with someone I trust. And I. Don’t.

Trust. You. Lord Embers. As it is, our arrangement is no longer working.

I think it is best if you went back to your own city. ”

“If that is what you wish, I will pack and leave in the morning.” There was an edge in his voice.

“No. You will leave now.” Heavy footsteps thudded. “I will have your things sent after you. That is, unless you don’t trust me to look after your possessions. … If there is something you are hiding.”

Devrix wouldn’t fall for it. “No, of course not. You can send my things after. Will you allow me to grab a few necessities?”

“I will wait.” Jesmine made it clear she had no intention of leaving the room.

After some light rustling, there was a shuffling of feet. “My guards will see that you find your way to the fire tree.”

“As you see fit,” he replied.

Several sets of heavy footsteps plodded about and then receded.

I remained crouched and counted ten slow breaths to be sure that everyone had gone. I was about to appear from my hiding space when I heard a dull thunk —perhaps a book being laid down. Shrinking back, I spread my hand flat over my heart as if to muffle its frantic beating.

Light footfalls advanced—Jesmine’s heeled slippers. The tapping grew nearer and entered the bedchamber. I pressed myself firmly into the ground, there was nowhere else to go. I heard the rummaging of books on the nightstand.

Silence.

A moment passed, a page turned, and the mattress shifted. Luckily, there was nothing on my side of the bed for her to retrieve.

Another swipe of a page, then another. My legs became uncomfortable, turning numb from the awkward position I found myself in. How long will she stay and read?

I dared not to move from the position even as the prickling sensation in my right leg heightened—a moment longer and it would be numb.

The book snapped closed and Jesmine wandered from the room. Her steps were unhurried and trailed about the other space, searching.

Pulling in a deep breath, I slowly pushed out my leg and straightened it, wincing at the discomfort.

Jesmine lingered, until finally there was a light click of the door latch, and the air grew silent.

I stood. My leg pricked as if a thousand pinching ants were battling against me.

I stood motionless, waiting for the fight to end.

Walking on the pads of my feet, I crept around the bed and paused at the doorway.

Checking first, I peered around the corner and scanned the main sitting area—empty silence.

Satisfied that Jesmine had left, I stepped out.

A collection of books Jesmine must have gathered was piled atop the writing desk.

They were all the books I’d previously scanned through.

I moved past them, across the space, and beyond the small dining table.

Taking one last glance around Devrix’s chambers, it felt painfully empty without him.

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

Rough hands grabbed my shoulders from behind and rushed me forward. My face was pressed into the wall.

“You thought you were being so clever, didn’t you?” Jesmine clicked her tongue from behind. With my face crushed to the stone, I could barely discern her form at my side. The guard twisted my arms painfully behind my back, my shoulder stinging.

“Tell me, Nova, were you enjoying your evening with Lord Embers? Let me guess, he told you he would help you gain your freedom.” Her head tilted back, letting out a laugh. “You are so predictable … and desperate for something that you will never have.”

Rope bound my hands, and the guard pulled me back, then turned me to face Jesmine.

“It’s not that I want to be cruel. I gave you a chance.

In fact, until now, I have treated you fairly.

Provided you a room, food, and freedoms I didn’t have to.

” Her eyes narrowed. “But that will stop now. I may need you around in order to finish the blood ward, but all the kindness I have afforded you stops.” Nodding to the guard at my back, she said, “Take her to the dungeon. Her new home.” A tight smile spread across her mouth an instant before the guard pushed me forward and away from her company.

Without looking, I knew the man handling me was the same that had escorted me from the dungeon. His pinching grip was bruising around my arm and his breath stale.

He jostled me through the halls, making our way to the main stairs. We descended to the second floor, turned, and proceeded down to the first floor landing. The elaborate vaulted ceiling of the entry hall opened up, and I scanned around for any sign of Devrix … but there was none.

Faltering my strides, my eyes searched again, needing to verify that Devrix wouldn’t break through the front gate and save me.

But the pause only gave the guard incentive to jerk my arms crudely, sending a shooting pain into my still tender shoulder.

We scuffled away from the foyer and into the dim hall.

The bald, shorter guard from before, was waiting outside the dungeon door, Ashloran torch in hand. “Bout time, I was thinking I’d been sent here as a folly.”

“Ahh, Miss pretty took her time comin’ out.” The pinchy handed guard replied, pushing me to follow through the open door.

The too-familiar, putrid smell of the underground labyrinth rushed forward. Cold from the gray slate permeated the air, sending a chill over my skin. Our steps echoed against the rock walls as we descended.

The shorter guard’s limp seemed more apparent as he led us around the bends. He stopped before an open door.

Pinchy-hands untied my wrists. I stumbled to catch my footing as he pushed me forward. The door slammed behind me.

“Stay here, my pet. If yous is lucky, we can play later,” he taunted through the barred opening.

“I hope the shadows choke you!” I yelled, banging my fist against the door. They withdrew. A cry of frustration rang out from deep within my chest.

Without a torch, the room was pitch black.

My fingers traced the outline of the door.

As before, no handle. From the brief glimpse I caught while being tossed inside, I’d only seen walls.

With my hands outstretched, I mapped out the space.

I made my way to a corner, and then another.

My foot hit a pot on the ground. I stepped around it and continued maneuvering until I came back to the door.

The cell was small and empty. No cot or blanket. Only walls and a bucket in the corner. I moved to the side wall and slid down against the frigid stone—the note!

To some relief, the folded square was still secure in my smock … but without a candle, I had no way of reading it. I pulled it out and felt around the wax seal. What does it say? I turned it over in my palm several times, then tucked it away for later.

Curse Devrix and his useless trust—what good will it do now that he’s banished from the fortress, and I’m locked below?

I tried to convince myself there was still hope, but the same thought kept creeping back into my mind: You will die here.