The Quartz Tower (Kingdoms of Oz Book 2)

by Carrie Whitethorne

  Trying not to smile at the warmth filling me, I attempted to focus on the conversation.

  Tati just nodded and picked up her spoon. “Nothing we can do now. I left a squadron of Lioneag there to watch the nests, what eggs I salvaged are upstairs. A few of the younger females are sitting on them. What did I miss here?”

  “Not much,” Bree replied, returning to her seat. “Fallon is well recovered, although he does need another few days using the salve to ensure his skin is properly healed. Nox has decided he’s staying close to Ella, bringing her personal guard to two. It has been noted that Sayer is an unknown entity.”

  “He hasn’t joined her,” Tatiana stated firmly. “He’s doing exactly what he said he would do. He’s sacrificed more than any of us. If we doubt him now, we’re certain to fail.”

  “We have a plan,” Nox informed her. “Remi will hold the West. Ella will head south and work on the city’s defenses. When the city is secure, we will move all our forces there and make our stand.”

  Tati nodded her agreement, and offered, “Take as many Lioneag as you need. We will need an envoy to relay this information to the East. Whether they will come is up to them, but they must be given the option to fight for their freedom.”

  I cleared my throat. “I’ll go. Glinda won’t expect me to return there, and then I can double back to the city.”

  “I have somewhere to go first,” Nox announced. “If you can wait, two days—”

  “Where?” I asked, interrupting him.

  He looked around the table, then at me and shook his head once. “I can’t—”

  I remembered then what he’d said about Sayer. Something had changed between them, and Nox needed to look further into Sayer’s claim.

  Nox looked apologetic. He had something to say but I could see he wouldn’t part with it here at Tatiana’s table.

  There was a tense silence Fallon broke by putting his glass down a little more heavily than necessary.

  I looked to him. Fallon was staring at me expectantly.

  “You’re staying here,” I ordered, looking over the table at him. “I need someone to plan around her attack. You know what she’s most likely to bring, how she’ll hit the city, and where. And we don’t know what she has lurking out there. If she manages to track me, she’ll kill everyone I’m with. Please Fallon, stay here. Let Bree finish—”

  He stood abruptly and left the table, striding toward the door without looking back.

  I let him go. I didn’t want to get into it at the table. I had to explain and I couldn’t with people here to interrupt.

  I understood that he wanted to stay with me. The truth was, I didn’t want to be apart from him either, but if we stayed together and Glinda found us... it wasn’t worth the risk. It would be easier to sneak into the city just Nox and I. Easier still if one of us were a black cat.

  I watched him go, with guilt tugging in my chest. I could tell Fallon felt rejected, but with Sayer acting as Glinda’s puppet, Tatiana as Glinda’s sister, and Bree compromised by her affection for each of them, I needed someone I was certain I could trust.

  No one scored higher than Fallon. He was unwaveringly loyal. But he wasn’t fully healed.

  “When do we leave?” Nox questioned before he was out of the room.

  I shot Nox a contemptuous look and picked up my goblet.

  “That was a dick move,” I snapped, knowing he said it to goad Fallon.

  “Ella, this is no time—”

  “You’re an asshole,” I muttered, knocking back my water. “Find yourself a Lioneag. I’m riding Kali.” Pushing my chair out with the backs of my knees, I rose and looked to Tatiana. “Thank you for having us and for keeping Fallon here. Maybe you should find someone else to inform Frank of these latest developments, it looks like I’m going to be tied up. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She gave me a weary smile. “The legion will be battle ready in two days. Send one of your guard with news, I can come to you when you’re ready.”

  I nodded once, then turned to Bree. “Look after him,” I pleaded, knowing she would understand.

  She smiled gently, and soothed, “He’ll calm down. Good luck.”

  With a tight smile I headed out into the hall. “Fallon?”

  He was halfway up the stairs, but paused when he heard me and waited.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, taking the stairs two at a time to catch up with him. “I need you here. If we stay together and Glinda has an ambush set, we’re all screwed.”

  I searched his eyes, he looked so dejected. Grasping his hand, I raised it to my lips and kissed it. “Tati loves her sister. Bree loves her brother. They love each other. I need someone not emotionally involved to keep everyone straight. And I want you to heal. God, when I saw that happen to you I—” I choked, the memory of seeing him so horribly burned taking my breath away. Reaching for his face, I stroked his cheek and continued, “I’ll meet you at the city in a few days. I don’t want to leave. Believe me, if I could, we would, just you and me, but I can’t. I have to make this right. For you. Them. For Dorothy. This has to end, Fallon, and it’s up to us. You got me this far.”

  His shoulders slumped, and he relaxed into my hand.

  “I love you.”

  Reaching up on the tips of my toes I kissed him softly.

  His responding kiss was slow. Tender. Reluctant somehow, as though he wasn’t sure if it would be the last.

  “I’ll see you in the city. I have to go.”

  He let me pull away, and I left him on the stairs turning and heading outside.

  When I reached the courtyard I paused and scanned the battlements. “Kali?”

  “Ella, I need to check something out before we head to your fortress,” Nox told me as he came up behind me.

  I squared my jaw and turned to face him. “Giving me orders now, too?” I snapped.

  He took two swift strides and was right in front of me, his chest only inches from my face. “It’s worth the detour.”

  “Really? What could be so important?” I countered, taking a step back and looking up at him.

  I expected there to be some challenge in his expression, or the usual mischievous glint in his eyes, but I was disappointed. All I saw was pleading.

  “It proves one way or another if Sayer is really with her.”

  There was the unmistakable sound of wings at my back, then the scrape of claws on the cobbles. I took a deep breath and turned to Kali, scanning her to find the easiest way onto her back.

  Right then, another Lioneag landed beside her and I watched Nox stride forward and swing himself up onto its back just before its wing joints.

  Kali lowered herself to the ground, making it easier for me to climb on, and I managed to get into the same position Nox had.

  “What if it’s a trap?” I asked him, while Kali turned around.

  He grinned at me. “That’s why I’m taking you with me. What use is having a witch if she can’t watch your tail?”

  I scowled as his mount took off and glanced back at the door as Kali took flight. I couldn’t see clearly, but I was almost certain I saw Fallon standing just inside the entrance.

  My Fallon. My love. My support.

  Chapter 18

  Leaving Fallon was hard. Necessary, but hard.

  He’d been at my side since I’d arrived at the fortress. He’d protected me, loved me, and I’d repaid him by leaving him behind at the overlook.

  But I had to. He wasn’t fully healed after Sayer had burned him in the fight, and I didn’t know if Nox was being led into a trap. I didn’t know anything about where we were going, or why, but it seemed important to him. And I owed him.

  Kali began the flight by fighting to take the lead over Nox’s mount. When she felt comfortable with her position in front, we remained that way for hours until I leaned in close, and murmured, “Slow down. We don’t know what we’re heading into.”

  Nox noticed we’d fallen back and slowed his own. When Kali drew level, he si
gnaled down. I had no idea where we were or how long we’d been flying, but judging by the position of the sun in the sky and the pain in my hips, it was approaching dinner time. What I did know was that he must be damn near freezing. I’d given myself a thick coat only a couple of minutes into the journey. He was only wearing a cotton shirt and leather pants, and while it was the most I’d seen him wear, I didn’t know how he could stand the icy wind.

  His Lioneag began its descent and Kali followed. I took the chance to scan the landscape.

  The terrain was as rocky here as was it was around the overlook, but it was bordered by what appeared to be a mountain range. It seemed to form a corner, which was strange, as though Oz were a square island bordered by a rocky outcrop. The Lioneag continued their steady descent, riding the air currents toward this unnatural corner, and I searched for landmarks below I could use to navigate back to the overlook if necessary.

  We finally landed in the shadow of the westernmost mountains and I slid from Kali’s back the second her wings folded in.

  “There’s nothing here, Nox,” I said, looking around.

  He didn’t say anything, just patted the side of his bird’s neck and dismounting.

  His mount had a bag clutched in the talons of its left foot, and Nox tugged it from the tight grip before turning on the spot and peering around.

  “It’ll be dark soon. Once the sun falls behind these rocks, the temperature will fall too. We should get comfortable,” he suggested.

  Kali and the other Lioneag followed him toward the natural wall, and I had no option but to join them.

  “So, what, we just spend the night out here?” I asked.

  He pulled a thick fur blanket from the pack and held it out to me. “Yes.”

  I took it and wrapped it around my shoulders before sitting with my back against a large bolder. The two Lioneag found themselves a ledge above us to perch on and appeared to settle down to sleep, while Nox sat on the ground opposite me, leaning on the pack.

  “Are you going to tell me why we’re here?” I inquired, suddenly questioning his decision to come out here. I tried, and failed, to keep my irritation from my voice.

  He looked at me. “Are you going to tell me why you’re snapping at me all of a sudden?”

  “I’m not...” I trailed off. I couldn’t lie. “I haven’t meant to.”

  “I get that, but what did I do wrong? All I’ve ever done is trust you. I’ve defended you, I’ve joined your cause. What more do you need from me?”

  He spoke casually, but I could see how he truly felt in his eyes. They were so expressive. He couldn’t hide it.

  I glanced down at the rocky ground and picked up a pebble. “It’s complicated,” I hedged, unused to speaking about my feelings.

  “The relationship between you, Sayer, and Fallon? I don’t see how. If they love you and you love them, and it’s clear you do, there’s nothing to complicate,” he stated easily.

  I kept my eyes on the pebble in my hand, turning it over and over.

  He watched me for a few seconds before continuing, “But everything seemed fine until we were alone at the overlook. Then Bree walked in and your behavior changed. You went cold. Why?”

  I didn’t know why he was torturing me.

  Could I sit here and admit I was attracted to him as well? Would it make things awkward?

  “You don’t have to answer me, but I’d appreciate it if you could give me a reason. There’s no one here to hear you, and Fallon won’t ever find out,” he assured me, his tone gentle.

  If he was trying to goad me into voicing how I’d felt in that moment he could think again.

  I was in no position to be chasing a third man around Oz. And the thought of it was absurd. Three guys? Okay, so Sayer had been out of the picture longer than he was in it, but Fallon was okay with my relationship with him. That didn’t mean it was okay for me to chase every guy I felt a flicker of attraction toward.

  “I’m just a bit... stressed,” I muttered. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

  Apparently done making me squirm, he sat upright and asked, “You hungry?”

  I nodded and he reached into the pack.

  “Good. Bree sent soup, but I managed to swipe some scones when I passed through the kitchen later. Sorry, the soup is probably cold.”

  He handed me a flask and I took it gratefully, opening up the stopper. A plume of steam escaped and I put the flask straight to my lips.

  “It’s still warm,” he noted, surprised. “Have to say it’s impressive how those women can create almost anything from a dead Wyrm.”

  I drank my soup quickly then handed back the flask.

  Nox exchanged it for a large fruit scone and I huddled back beneath the fur to keep warm.

  “Feel free to make a fire,” Nox commented.

  “I didn’t think you felt the cold,” I countered, glancing up at him. “Anyway, aren’t we supposed to be keeping a low profile?”

  The light was fading fast, but I saw him smile and shake his head. “No. There’s nothing to hide from if Sayer’s as trustworthy as you say. I’m trying to do it your way.”

  I didn’t ask him to elaborate, and produced a small fire between us—just big enough to keep us warm without drawing attention from far away. He may feel at ease up here in the left hand corner of nowhere, but I didn’t. Every time I closed my eyes I could see the look on Glinda’s face as I escaped her. She was out for my blood. I’d rather she didn’t get it. Especially not out here.

  “Thanks,” he said, stretching out on his back and tucking his arms behind his head. “Saves me from having to shift.”

  “Why don’t you want to shift?” I questioned, huddling farther into the fur despite the fire.

  He didn’t answer and I didn’t push.

  Instead, I sat thinking through the last few days and all that had happened.

  Fallon was going to be okay. Tatiana seemed to have a plan.

  I kept coming back to Nox. Was he really attracted to me the way I was to him, or was I blowing it out of proportion? He’d become distant somehow. Probably because of my own fluctuating emotions. There was so much going on I couldn’t keep up, and was beginning to think I was seeing something that wasn’t really there.

  The fire was doing its job and I was starting to feel sleepy. Nox hadn’t said anything for a while, so I leaned back against the boulder and closed my eyes.

  I was almost asleep when Kali hissed, stirring me.

  “Call her off,” Nox whispered into my ear.

  I startled, turning my head sharply toward him. “What?”

  “Kali,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “Now.”

  I noticed his hands were held up in front of him and looked around wildly. “What’s happening?”

  “On your feet,” a strange voice ordered.

  My chest contracted and flames coated my hands.

  “Put it away, witch, or your friend dies.”

  “I…” I shook my hands, trying to extinguish the flames. “I can’t.”

  “Ella, please. They won’t hurt us if you do as they say,” Nox pleaded, a warning in his tone. “Just calm down, call Kali off, and do as he says.”

  I looked up to the ledge where Kali and the other Lioneag were perched. Both were gazing down at us, their eyes reflecting the light of the fire. Kali looked like she was ready to eat someone. Her feathers were puffed out around her head and neck, and her claws were gripping the rock so hard it was crumbling. “Don’t… just stay up there. We’re fine.”

  I pushed myself up on my knees and looked behind me. “There. She won’t attack. Who are you?”

  A hand closed around my upper arm and hauled me to my feet. “Move.”

  I looked to Nox and when I saw he was getting to his feet without being manhandled, I fought to hold my temper. He began to move after the guy closest to him and I shrugged my arm free, muttering, “All right, pushy,” then followed directly behind Nox.

  Kali cried out
as we moved toward the north wall, and I looked back at her, hoping she would see my expression.

  She calmed right down, but didn’t take her eyes from me while I stumbled into the darkness.

  “How did you find us?” the guy behind me demanded.

  “He brought me,” I confessed, pointing to Nox. “And he was tipped off by—”

  “Abel, take him down. I’ll follow soon,” he called to the guy ahead.

  “Just do as he says, Ella,” Nox ordered. There was an edge to his voice I wasn’t sure of. It didn’t sound like fear. He seemed too relaxed.

  “Wait here, witch,” my guard said, tugging on my coat.

  I stopped moving and shoved my hands into my pockets. It was cold away from the fire, and dark, and I didn’t want to risk starting any fires that could cause me to lose my head. “Look, I’m not here to hurt anyone,” I stated, turning to face the guy.

  “Stay right there,” he warned.

  I didn’t. I carried on turning until I was face to face with him, and I was both surprised and relieved at what I saw.

  “Keep your hands where I can see them,” he warned, raising an axe.

  I swallowed, nodded, and brought my hands out of my pockets. “I’m not here to hurt you. I’m trying to help. Nox is trying to—”

  “Nox?” he echoed.

  I focused on my right hand and created a flame, flicking it a short distance away before allowing it to grow. I needed to see him clearly. I wanted to be sure.

  The man in front of me was no older than twenty, with a small goatee doing nothing to make him seem older. He was slim but tall, a good six feet, and was wearing leather pants and a thin sweater.

  His hair was tucked inside a bandanna, but I could see the edge of a tight black braid running along his hairline. His skin wasn’t as dark as Nox’s, but he had the same amber coloring to his eyes. “You’re a shifter too?”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Nox…” I trailed off, suddenly figuring out who, and what, those guys were. “Oh my god! How many of you are there?”

  He blinked at me a few times before lowering the axe. “Nox? He’s… are you a Dorothy?”