Page 59

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

FRANKIE

“ Your curtains do not fully block the sun .”

He chuckled, his breath tickling my skin on my chest. “I am not concerned for the sun.”

“ I know, but no one else does ? —”

“No one else knows this room exists.”

“ How do they not see the windows from outside ?”

He laughed again. Then pressed a kiss to my throat. “Magic.”

It was a damn good thing Everest spoke Spanish because I was getting annoyed that my thoughts were not matching my words, especially since I barely spoke Spanish. It was unnerving to be speaking words you didn’t know.

“ Wait .” I gripped his jaw and dragged his face up so our eyes met. “ The sun has not set yet.”

“Have you not had enough?” He brushed his nose against mine. “Do you think you can walk still?”

“ I do not need to walk. ” I slipped my tongue into his mouth and licked his fang, making it grow longer.

And then we were rolling again, a tangle of limbs and bare skin. At some point in the day he’d finally stripped me out of my corset and dress and I was thankful for it as his bare skin slid against mine. There was nothing between us but the sweat we’d made together. His cock nudged between my legs so I spread them enough for him to thrust inside of me again.

“ Fuck,” he whispered as he rested his forehead against mine and rolled his hips. “God I missed the taste of you…the feel of you?—”

“ Then do not stop. ”

He slid his hand down the side of my thigh then pushed my knee back up against my chest. He braced his hands on the bed and swung his hips hard, our bodies crashing into each other. I knew we needed to stop. I knew we needed to prepare for the night. But I couldn’t get enough of him and it hadn’t even been that long for me. I’d just had him a couple nights ago when he had to feed. And yet each climax that rolled through me was as strong as the first one.

My body was mush. Delicious mush. As yet another climax claimed me, I gripped his face and whispered, “ I love you. ”

He fell apart instantly, his hips thrust three more times before they stilled completely. His breath was hot as it swept across my face. “ I love you. ”

I let out a sigh that was more of a swoon, but he’d earned it. “ You’ve been holding back on me,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

He propped himself up on his elbows and used both hands to push my hair back off my face. At some point in the day, he’d gotten comfortable with my face not looking like my face. His lips curved into a cocky grin. “Your body feels surprisingly fragile.”

I wrinkled my nose. “ I am not fragile ? —”

“No, but your mortality is.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Now that I’ve felt how delicate this body is I feel I’ll want to be more gentle?—”

“ Planning on having me again already?”

He growled deep in his throat and shook his head. “It shall consume my thoughts for three centuries until I may have you again.”

“ Good. ” I grinned. “ Hey, you distracted me ?—”

“Oh, my apologies, m’lady?—”

I snort laughed then flipped him onto his back. I lifted off of him then sat up and looked down at his beautiful face. “ I had a point.”

He arched one eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes and jumped to my feet. If we didn’t get out of this bed now we never would. “ As I was saying before . . . the sun has not set. Can we get to her throne before nightfall?”

“No, we cannot.” He sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “Every day, a few minutes prior to sunrise, Sweyn’s throne is lowered down to her private quarters. Her locked private quarters. A few minutes after sunset, the throne is lifted back up to the main floor. There is no getting inside Sweyn’s private chamber unless she has invited you in . . . and there are but few reasons for said invitation.”

I cursed and dove for my linen chemise.

“Hold on.” Everest sat up with a scowl. He cocked his head to the side. “Why do you need to get to her throne?”

“ That’s where the missing page is .”

His eyes widened. “In the compartment in the arm rest?”

I nodded.

He cursed. “She moved it then. That is not where I last saw it.”

I gasped. “ You’ve seen it? Last I saw you, you hadn’t ? —”

“I made sure I saw it.” He smirked and his cheeks flushed. “I had to be ready for your return.”

“ Look. ” I dove for my magic bag and reached in until the decoy page slammed into my palm. I pulled it out and handed it to him. “ You and — someone — made this.”

“But before thee go a ruse to make, by heir and Aether a perfect fake. Will of magic, strength in deed, to replace in kind for which you need. Once thee find the page in question, the Tower makes the last impression.” He’d just recited lines from the final war prophecy. I must’ve made a face because he shrugged. “Are you aware of who I befriended during the One Hundred Years’ War?”

“ King Henry, Edward, Riah, and Malachi—-to name a few.”

He smiled and nodded. “They ensured I saw the new prophecy on Henry’s arm prior to . . . you know—damn, I want so badly to ask about the Lancaster bloodline and Michael’s sword.”

I just grinned.

He watched me a moment, then nodded. “Okay. Anyways, once the new prophecy about the final war with my mother arrived, I realized that was the time—-and the war—you had come from. I recognize the meaning in those lines. So, three centuries from now I will make this decoy, but you will have to make the final changes.”

I grimaced as realization hit me. “ That means I will have to hold both of them for at least a minute. And somewhere I can use magic. ”

He pursed his lips and nodded then shoved the decoy back inside my bag. “This is going to be a difficult task. She rests on her throne nearly all night.”

I frowned. He climbed to his feet and began redressing. I was watching the view when he tossed my corset right into my face, no doubt intending to derail the thoughts already going through my mind. We needed to focus. We had a job to do. We’d almost gotten it last night. If Aelric had just not been a disgusting pervert, I might’ve done it.

I’d just finished lacing up my corset when something stung my arm. I gasped and yanked my sleeve up. My eyes widened. Valathame had sent another message. “ Everest. Look.” I held my arm up for him to see.

He crouched down and read the lines out loud, “ Call to the mist from where it sings, lured away from the seat of kings. So, she wants us to lure Sweyn out of the castle?—”

“ To the Land of the Lore !”

His face went ashy pale, almost green. He stared at me for a long, long moment before he whispered, “ You should not know what that is. ”

I shrugged. “ I do. I’ve been there twice ? —”

His groan was so tense and deep I actually flinched. “You should not be going in there. It is dangerous?—”

“ I know, people got hurt. But you protected me, you got me out ? —”

“Please.” He pressed his fingers to my mouth to stop me from talking. “Please, my love, promise me you will never go in there again.”

I blinked. If he only knew. I could not tell him that he’d already destroyed it so that promise wasn’t one I needed to make so I would make it anyway. I cupped his face and pressed my lips to his real quick. “ I promise I will never go inside the Land of the Lore again. ”

He sighed with relief, then stood back up and went for his coat. “Here’s what we will do. You will leave my room and return to yours. I will go to Sweyn and make up a reason we need to go in there tonight before we socialize—-do not ask what I will say, it’s better if your ignorance is genuine in case you’re asked.”

I nodded. That sounded fair.

“Once we leave, the throne will remain upstairs. It can be either in the ballroom or the throne room. Without Sweyn or myself here, both rooms should be empty.” He rubbed his hands together. “If you wait until I tell you we’ve left, you might be able to pull this off.”

I jumped to my feet. “ It’s a good plan. ”

“It is an insane plan.”

“ Now, how do I find my room from here? ”

About half an hour later, if I had to make a guesstimate since I had no watch or clock now, I’d had my first experience with the privy. It was horrific. I didn’t even want to think about it ever again. That was my motivation for getting the hell out of this place. I didn’t want to think about a chamber pot. The experience made me not want to eat or drink so I’d have no reason to need it.

I glared at the chamber pot beneath the bed I hadn’t slept in. Then I shook myself and refocused on the notebook in my hands. Tegan’s cheat sheet of tricks for me. I was trying to absorb everything she wrote but I knew it was impossible. Didn’t stop me from trying though. I flipped the page and found a note I definitely needed.

‘If you wind up in the Land of the Lore, there are a few things I need to tell you. Do NOT go through the archway. Thorne and Sage are not your friends. Even if it’s post-100 years’ war, they are so deep in their chess game Thorne had to curse his own daughter for three centuries. The Seelie King will still be alive, if he gets his hands on you—-well, those frat boys would be a picnic, ya feel me? But more than that, he would figure out that you’re Everest’s soulmate and that could be lethal to him. Do not even step inside that circle around the archway. You’re smart and creative, think of something to keep yourself away from that.

The Strait of the Dead runs through there, I suspect you may be sensitive to this like I am. Keep your eyes OFF any spirits. Do not join their walk. Stay with Everest, and if he’s not there then stick to Sweyn. She won’t get herself killed. Now, see the rune I drew at the bottom of this page? Right so I need you to prick your finger then draw that rune on the bottom of both of your feet in your own blood. If you’re wearing long sleeves, then draw the rune also on the inside of your elbows. If your elbows are exposed, then please don’t lol.’

“Oh shit.”

I sat the book down and brought my fingertip to my fang, I had to admit they were handy. Once I pierced my skin and the blood bubbled to the surface, I lifted one foot at a time and drew the rune as it looked in the book. Then I copied into the crook of my elbows, took me a little longer to draw it with my left hand but I managed. Once that was done, I turned back to the book to finish Tegan’s note.

‘Now look, real-talk time, Everest told me Sweyn uses LOTL as a hunting ground. A vampire’s ideal food source is human blood. The way that horrible place works is similar to a portal. You very well may come across innocent humans who just think they’re lost in whatever forest they entered into. Try to ignore them. That is not a magic you can break, remember what it did to Everest when he destroyed it? Ignore the humans, they will not have the same experience we do when we enter. If you cannot ignore them, if you’re forced to interact you can draw this rune somewhere on their skin. It MIGHT help them. Remember, if you use your magic the forest will attack you and your quest may be doomed. Keep your head on a swivel and do whatever you have to do to stay alive. Lastly, change your bag into a waist chain you can wear under your dress so no one sees it.’

I sighed and stared at the wall. There was a lot to unpack in that one note, and more than one red flag, but I wasn’t going to think about it. I had no intention of going inside that damned place, I only drew the runes on just in case since I had a moment of privacy.

“ Francelina, ” his telepathic whisper made me jump.

I hated the sound of Francelina on his lips now. I was Celina to him, even if I didn’t remember being her, but it helped clear the line of who I was and where I came from. And what I was fighting for. Because no matter how much I wanted to reclaim the life of Celina . . . I was Fran celina now too, and that was the future I wanted to save.

“ Sweyn knows new ticklings do not handle the Lore well, so she agreed to leave you behind.”

I nodded as if he could see me.

“ Be ready to move when I tell you, as she will be eager to see her new little tickling the moment she returns. ”

So Sweyn was obsessed with me no matter what I did. I put the notebook back in the bag then practiced changing the bag into other items with Tegan’s spell. But if I was going for the page then I needed the bag in its true form. Once I had that back in place around my waist I jumped to my feet and waited by the door. My lower stomach was tingly and hot from nerves. I didn’t need but a moment to grab the real page. At bare minimum I just needed to grab and run then worry about getting the decoy back in later. Everest wanted me to stay in my room until they were gone but it was taking a lot of self-control to keep myself in place.

“ Now, my tickling. Make your move now, ” Everest’s telepathic voice sent shivers down my spine.

I didn’t hesitate. I yanked the door open and hurried into the hall. The sun had already gone down which meant the hall reminded me of school between classes. Some of them headed for the salon in the opposite direction, or perhaps the privy, but most of them were headed upstairs with me. I followed a group of females who were deep in conversation and paid me no mind. When we got upstairs, I followed them until the hall branched off for the ballroom. That was where I’d seen the throne last before it was lowered underground for daylight. But as I entered, I discovered the entire room was empty. I turned and left immediately.

No one stopped me as I passed them, though everyone stared at me. There were a variety of expressions from the women, but I was used to that. The men were all obvious about what they thought of me. Or of María. But that was fine, I didn’t want anyone to pay too close attention to me. It was better if the women were cold and distant and then only saw me as a toy to play with. It increased my chances of getting in and out of here unnoticed.

When I finally made it to the throne room, I didn’t stop to look around or even slow down. I kept my chin high and walked right in. Confidence was an excellent disguise. If you looked like you knew what you were doing people noticed less. The throne room was empty, just as Everest said it would be without him or Sweyn around. I took a deep breath and paused just inside the closed door, making sure the coast was clear. This room wasn’t lined with windows like the ballroom was. Less chance of witnesses. I raced over to the throne and sank to my knees.

My fingers were just prying open the compartment door when I heard Everest in my mind, “ Abort. She’s coming. Now.”

Fuck. I jumped to my feet and leapt off the steps just as the throne room door swung open.

Sweyn rushed through the door then stopped short when she spotted me. She narrowed her glowing red eyes and arched one eyebrow. “ María? What are you doing in here? ”

“ Mi reina. ” I dropped into a low bow. “ ?Dónde están todos?”

She strolled forward, each step deliberate. She tossed her long white hair over her shoulder. “What does that mean, tickling?”

“ ? Everest? ? Katelin? ? Tú?” I grimaced then bit my bottom lip and gestured around the room like I was looking for people. “ No sé qué hacer ahora.”

None of this was a lie. I didn’t know where everyone was, nor did I know what to do now. I scurried up to her then pulled on all those charade game nights I’d had as a kid and acted out eating where I brought my fingers to my open mouth then chomped my teeth together like I was chewing. I pressed my hands to my stomach and shrugged.

That sharp, suspicious edge to her expression faded. “Ah, I see. Come with me, pretty tickling. You do not need to fend for yourself this night.” Then she hooked her arm around my elbow and led the way out of her throne room.

This was weird. Sweyn was acting like my new best friend, like she wasn’t an evil monster. I knew better. But each interaction did alter my view of her. I found myself wanting to understand her psyche more, to figure out what it was she really wanted. It might help us win this war with her if we knew what she was after.

We were just approaching the front door of the castle when Everest stepped out of a shadow in front of us. His expression gave nothing away, he merely glanced to me and then back to her. “Is the tickling joining us?”

“Yes, the poor little thing looked frighteningly lost when I found her just now.” She stopped short and frowned. “Forgive me, I was so distracted by María I forgot what I went in there for.”

“Are you sure we need it tonight? The conditions are ideal?—”

“Yes. I want to feast as the sun rises.”

Everest held his hand out in front of us. “Allow me to escort our tickling into the Lore so as to not slow you down then? I would not dare rob you of the joy you intend on having.”

She lifted my arm then hooked it around Everest’s. “Take her, show her how we do things. I will grab the stone and meet you in there with the others.”

Everest bowed his head so I dropped into a curtsey. She spun on her toes, her white hair flying in the air like a cape, then sped off faster than I was prepared for. I squeezed his bicep with both of my hands. He rested his right hand over mine then urged me toward the door. I did not speak or even look up at him in case she was watching.

It wasn’t until our feet sank in the snow that I let out a breath I’d been holding. I licked my lips and snuck a glance up at him. “ That was too close, ” I whispered in Spanish.

“I am afraid of you being here . . . it unnerves me too much. I . . .” he grimaced and shook his head. “I cannot think straight through the fear in my thoughts.”

“ You are not alone in your fears, ” I whispered. “ Especially with where we are headed. ”

“I will not let any harm come to you in here.”

“ I know ,” I said without hesitation. “ You always protect me .”

His face fell. “Not always,” he grumbled.

My chest tightened. I squeezed his arm tighter. “ Everest ? — ”

“Not here.” His expression turned cold and distant, but I didn’t press it. “Stay by my side.”

I nodded and let out a nervous exhale. “ Can we take the long way in? ”

He smirked. “We are already inside.”

I stopped short and glanced around. Now that I actually was looking, I saw that telltale glittery shimmer in the air and the way everything had the faintest blue tint. We were in the middle of the trees, not on any designated path whatsoever.

“What are you looking for?”

“ The trail.” I pointed to the ground. “ The pathway. ”

“The magic of this land will not affect you the same from this side.”

“ That’s a relief .”

“Do not get excited too soon,” he spoke softly as he stopped and faced me. “Brace yourself.”

“For what?—”

An ear-piercing scream ripped through the trees. I didn’t want to look. I knew better than to look, nothing good happened here. But there was another scream, and another. Their voice moving closer like they were running. The trees rustled over our head, whole branches swaying in the screamer’s direction. My stomach rolled. I gripped Everest’s arm as hard as I could just as a flash of long red hair sped between two trees up ahead. Like the flip of a switch, the trail appeared up ahead, curving a path through the forest. The person with long red hair was fleeing yet not faster than the thing in the tree. A dark shadowy figure dropped from the branches and pounced on the red head. There was a scream, but it was cut off after a second. Two of the sentinels appeared beside the creature, like they were there for the prize.

Everest dragged me against his body then darkness claimed us.

I only barely caught my breath when we stepped into the blueish shimmery light again. In the distance I heard screams, both male and female. I also heard that low, steady rhythmic beating of drums that seemed to mimic a heartbeat. Humans darted between trees, their steps already doomed because they’d left the trail. Members of Sweyn’s Court lunged like jungle cats from behind trees.

Everest spun me away, dragging me in the opposite direction except we only made it about ten feet before Sweyn shot like a rocket up ahead. She cackled and the sound echoed off the trees in every direction. A group of athletic looking big guys stopped and huddled together. They raised daggers in the air and stood in a circle so none of them could be snuck up on. The idea was admirable even if foolish. They would be no match for this enemy.

Sweyn spun in a slow circle, and I spotted trails of blood running from the corners of her mouth. My stomach rolled and bile shot up my throat. I was going to be sick. Everest kept us moving, never lingering in one spot for more than a few seconds. No doubt so he could try to steer me clear of these human prey.

“ Where are they coming from? The humans? ” I whispered.

“Other forests.” He waved his hands in the air, causing a stream of glitter to sparkle. “The magic relocates them here.”

I shuddered.

“What are you doing all the way out here?”

We both stopped and turned at the sound of Sweyn’s voice. Except Everest’s cold, apathetic expression did not waver. He gestured to me. “How can María learn to hunt over there?"

“OH. Let me pick her first.” She giggled and skipped around us like she’d just offered to pick out new shoes. She stopped behind a tree and watched the forest, a wide grin spread across her face. “Here he comes. Get ready, María. He’s wearing a blue hooded cloak.”

I glanced up to Everest, wondering if he could see the panic in my eyes.

He squeezed my hand. “Just do your best, most ticklings fail on their first hunt.”

Oh Goddess. I had to do this. I had to hunt a human being. With shaking hands, I released my ninja death grip on my soulmate’s arm. Sweyn waved me forward. I moved closer then froze when she held her palm up. There was a beat of silence then she spun around with a wicked grin and used her fingers to count down from three.

When she hit zero a tall man wearing a blue hooded cloak emerged from between the trees. He looked left and right and up. He kept flinching and I wondered if he was hearing the whistling like we had. Everest cleared his throat pointedly. I cursed. I had to attack him. Rip the Band-Aid off, Frankie. Like you told Everest, do whatever you must to survive.

I rolled to the balls of my feet and crouched. When he got into my path I dove for him, tackling him from the side so hard we both flew in the air then crashed onto the ground. Momentum had us rolling in a tangle of limbs and fabric. Sweyn was watching so I had to make this count. I yanked his blue cloak and then he was gone, leaving me in a puddle of fabric. By the time I crawled my way out of the man’s cloak I spotted him a good thirty feet away, running for his life. I cursed and punched the ground.

Sweyn giggled and it sent a chill down my spine. She appeared right in front of me, holding her hand out to help me to my feet. “Did that feel good?”

It didn’t. It felt horrible. It felt like I would have nightmares for days. But I nodded and prayed my face was convincing.

Sweyn glanced over my shoulder and her red eyes sparkled. “Here comes another chance, this one is more appropriately sized. Take her. I shall hunt the escapee. His fear is intoxicating.”

There it is. There’s the monster.

Everest slid up beside me. “She will be back faster than you realize. You will want to make your attack beforehand, if you wish to save your victim.”

“But how? ”

“She approaches. Be ready.”

I turned and spotted the woman in question scurrying towards us in a green cotton dress with mud stains halfway up to her knees. Her blonde hair was frizzy and curly, and falling loose of whatever that weird hat on her head was. Her pale eyes were wide with terror. She kept glancing over her shoulder, and I didn’t want to know what was chasing her.

“Pounce. Now.”

I cursed and dove for the woman. Timing was of the essence here. The woman let out a shrill scream as I tackled her to the ground. “ Relax I won’t hurt you,” I whispered in Spanish.

Tegan’s note had already flashed through my mind. I had a plan, or an idea of a plan. I brought my fingertip to the tip of my fang and sliced it open. The woman shrieked and thrashed so I straddled her, pinning her legs down between mine. These big poofy skirts were a great tool for trapping someone. I let out what I prayed was a vicious growl and dove fang-first toward her throat. With one hand, I held her chest down. With the other, I traced the shape of the rune on the side of her throat. The woman wailed hysterically, kicking her legs to try and get free.

“Sweyn is coming,” Everest growled through my mind. “ Bite her now.”

“ Please forgive me ,” I whispered, then lunged forward and sank my fangs into her skin.

I pulled them out immediately, not wanting to pierce an artery and risk her life. But I lowered my lips to her skin to act the part. Some of her blood smeared across my cheek.

Light flashed beneath her body— and then she was gone.

I gasped and jumped back. She was just gone. I didn’t understand.

Sweyn clapped her hands and stepped out from behind a tree right in front of me. “Beautiful work, tickling. I have to admit, you’re even prettier like this. ” She traced my jawline with her fingertips. “Do not fret, such is the nature of their magic. Sometimes they slip back out.”

“M’lady?” One of the sentinels I recognized from my first trip to Avolire approached. “The time is nearing close.”

She huffed and pouted her lip. “It moved too fast tonight.”

“You will be pleased with our count.” He gestured behind him. “Shall we retire?”

She pursed her lips like she was thinking then she sighed and flicked her hair over her shoulder. Her fingertips grazed my jaw again. “Come, tickling. You can work on your hunting skills later. For now, let us feast.”