Ascent

by Bethany Adams

  “Are you sure it was him?” Maddy asked.

  “Of course it was him.” Vek paused beside Dria’s chair, his body practically vibrating with energy. “I have been waiting for him to lower the spell he uses to keep me from tracking him, and for a moment, he did. Blood never lies.”

  Maddy was no expert on blood magic, but she had no doubt that Vek was. If he was certain, then she had no reason not to believe him, stupid move on Meren’s part or not. Any discussions about additional trips to Moranaia could be completed later.

  “I’ve ordered several mages and warriors to meet us in the portal room.” Dria stood. “I’ll build a gate to the spot where we battled the invaders last time.”

  Vek ran his finger down his mate’s cheek. “Ahmeeren, I wouldn’t have you go back there so soon. I know Gessen’s loss still grieves you.”

  “I’m hardly going to dishonor his memory by cowering,” Dria said, though the sadness in her eyes caught at Maddy’s heart. “It’s the best place to go. Meren isn’t likely to expect us to act so soon, even if it is a trap. Perhaps we can prevent him from rebuilding his group’s numbers.”

  Maddy’s phone vibrated against her hip, and she pulled it from her pocket to check the notifications. A text. While Vek and Dria debated strategy, Maddy unlocked her phone to read the message. Anthony’s name popped up, and she frowned. Was he that impatient?

  Sorry to bother you. One of my group members came in to the clinic sick. Could be a virus, but something was wrong with her energy. Not sure what to do. You said something about healing with magic?

  “Fuck,” Maddy blurted, almost dropping her phone.

  Dria lifted a brow. “What’s wrong?”

  “That guy I mentioned before we started planning my trip to Moranaia…” Maddy caught Vek’s gaze. “A man came into the shop today. He described an encounter he and his friend, someone named Ryan, had on the street, and it sounded like he’d met you. Anthony said a really pale guy told Ryan he had Unseelie blood, but his friend panicked. Fen, I assume, gave Anthony my information in case they had trouble. Well, they’re having trouble.”

  Vek nodded. “I remember them. Is said trouble currently relevant? We must track Meren.”

  Fen and Anna hurried in before Maddy could answer. Surprisingly, they both appeared calm, aside from the annoyed look Fen turned on his uncle. “Our asses are now here,” Fen said. “What gives?”

  “I detected Meren,” Vek announced.

  “Ah, hell.” Fen scrubbed at his face. “I guess my body count is about to rise.”

  Something about his expression saddened her, though he’d delivered the words matter-of-factly. Anna must have felt the same, because she halted beside Fen and settled her hand on his shoulder. An unnamable twist of emotion caught Maddy by surprise. She didn’t think it was jealousy. No, it was more like isolation. Or maybe longing?

  It definitely didn’t blend well with the fear Anthony’s text had lodged in her stomach.

  “You needn’t go with us,” Vek said, his eyes narrowing on Fen’s face. “Maddy was telling me of some trouble with Ryan, that kid with Unseelie blood we ran across in town.”

  Maddy lifted her phone, giving it a jiggle. “Not just that. Anthony texted me to say that someone in his coven is sick. Something is wrong with her energy.”

  Vek waved his hand. “He probably can’t tell one human illness from another.”

  “Anthony is a nurse practitioner working on his doctorate,” Maddy said. “He studies human illnesses for a living. He’s also fae, and though I don’t know his knowledge base, I wouldn’t discount his ability to detect a problem with a person’s energy.”

  Fen cursed. “Do you think it’s related to the virus we had?”

  “I don’t know, but we need to find out.”

  “It’s decided, then,” Vek said. “You three investigate the possible disease while we track Meren.”

  “Not that I want to do more killing, but are you sure you won’t need my help to stop Meren?” Fen stared at his uncle for so long that Maddy kept looking between the two to figure out why. She still hadn’t divined the reason when Fen shook his head and continued. “You’re sending me away on purpose.”

  Vek merely smiled. “Perhaps.”

  “Come on.” Dria gestured toward the door. “I’ll make you a portal before I create ours. Maddy can attune the connecting stone on the other end that will allow her to return without contacting me. It’ll be more efficient than calling before each visit.”

  Maddy stood, slipping the phone into her pocket. “So long as you tell me what to do.”

  “Of course.”

  As Maddy trailed the others out of the room, her thoughts pinged between the possible return of a virus that could sicken the fae and her upcoming journey to Moranaia. Should she delay the trip in order to investigate the virus? It was tempting, but she would be better served on both counts by speaking with Lial. Without training, Maddy wouldn’t be able to help if there was a problem.

  Not unless she needed to kill someone.

  As soon as the three of them exited the portal into the shop, Anna and Fen stepped out of the way so that Maddy could use the stone Dria had given her. Anna studied her girlfriend curiously. Despite living with a half-Sidhe woman, Anna hadn’t seen a great deal of true magic. The hum of power danced along her skin with a pleasant tingle as Maddy held a palm-length, multifaceted crystal into the gateway that still showed the underground outpost. Light surged, and the hum turned into a vibration.

  On the other side, Dria flicked her fingers, and the glow intensified until Anna had to pinch her eyes closed. She trembled with the force of the power, but it didn’t hurt. The resonance was…she didn’t know what it was. It echoed through her like the call of water, but she didn’t feel the urge to step inside and lose herself. She was a calm lake rippling from the soft plop of a thrown stone.

  The power cut off as Fen’s hand settled on her shoulder. “Anna?”

  She opened her eyes at his whisper. The gate was gone, and Maddy was shoving the crystal in her pocket. Anna spun to face Fen, dislodging his hand before her girlfriend could see it. Not that she felt guilty. Earlier, though, Maddy hadn’t looked pleased to see her comforting Fen.

  “That was interesting,” Anna said with a tentative smile.

  Fen’s frown didn’t ease.

  Maddy glanced between them as she approached. “Something wrong?”

  “No,” Anna answered quickly. “I was surprised by the magic, and I think it worried Fen. That’s the most powerful spell I’ve ever seen. Fen was checking on me. Sorry for freaking you out with my reaction, Fen.”

  Hell, she was rambling. Maybe she could even reference Fen a few more times to make it sound like she was obsessed. His brows had risen as she spoke, and at her groan, a wry smile twisted his lips. Ugh. She wasn’t obsessed, but speaking with him in the cave had started something between them. Like the magic, she couldn’t quite tell what.

  “This is so awkward,” Maddy muttered.

  Surprisingly, the comment had Anna’s shoulders drooping with relief, and a small laugh slipped out. “Yeah.”

  Fen rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you think this sort of thing would be less weird if we hadn’t grown up on Earth? From the way Vek talks, bonds with multiple partners aren’t that unusual. I mean, polyam is definitely a thing here, but…”

  “It’s not mainstream,” Anna finished for him. “I couldn’t say about the other, though. I don’t know a thing about my fae ancestors. I was adopted as a baby, so my parents wouldn’t have a clue, either.”

  Surprise crossed Fen’s face. “You were adopted?”

  “Yeah,” Anna said. It had never been a big thing to her, so others’ reactions usually amused her. But Fen’s expression gave her pause. “Is there something wrong with that?”

  “No, of course not,” Fen rushed to answer. “I…I was a foster kid. Not adopted, though.”

  Silence fell between them. Maddy lowered her phone, her concern
ed gaze on Fen. Anna nibbled on her bottom lip. What could she say that wouldn’t sound trite or assholish? From the pain barely banked in his eyes, it obviously bothered him. She’d never known that reality—that uncertainty of whether she belonged.

  “The foster system sucks,” Anna finally said. “So many kids get lost in it. If my parents hadn’t known my birth mother, I have no idea what would have happened to me. My understanding is that they convinced her to let them adopt.”

  Fen averted his eyes. “I was five. After my father died… Let’s just say it’s not easy to be an orphaned blood elf.”

  Her heart pinched, and her hand tingled with the urge to reach out to him. Maddy’s fingers had gone white around her phone, and when Anna met her gaze, understanding passed between them. They both wanted to comfort Fen, but neither of them had a clue how. Some experiences couldn’t be healed, only eased.

  A loud chirp from Maddy’s phone made them all jump, and Fen laughed uneasily. “Perfect time for a subject change. Is it from Anthony?”

  Fen’s voice sounded nonchalant, and when he glanced up, his eyes were clear of the pain she’d glimpsed earlier. But the resonance she felt from him didn’t lie. No matter how he tried to appear, the agony of his past was merely shoved down, not gone. Maybe someday she would be able to help, but not now.

  “Yeah,” Maddy said softly. “He sent me his address. The clinic is closed, but his coven mate is with him.”

  Fen waved his hand toward the door. “Great. Let’s go.”

  “Don’t you think we should talk about this?” Maddy asked, settling her free hand on her hip.

  “My past is over, and we have more import—”

  “We do need to talk about that, I suspect, but that’s not what I meant.” Maddy shook her head. “I’m not sure we should go to this guy’s house. He seemed perfectly nice, but it might be risky to meet somewhere private.”

  Anna frowned at that. She’d been willing to charge right along with Fen, but Maddy had a point. Good grief. When had Maddy become the hesitant one? “Could they come here?”

  Maddy glanced at the screen of her phone. “It’s almost eleven at night. I’m worried enough about how it will look for us to be seen leaving the shop at this hour, but having a couple of people show up this late… No, it isn’t a good plan. There aren’t many people downtown at this hour, but I still don’t want to risk notice.”

  Fen let out a sharp bark of laughter. “You’re worried about Anthony? I could subdue him in about two seconds. Give me ten, and I could drain him. I can’t imagine his friend would be much more of a challenge considering the other shit I’ve dealt with.”

  “And I could stop his heart.” An angry red stained Maddy’s cheeks. “That’s not the point. We can’t possibly know what to expect. What if we’re being set up by some of Meren’s friends?”

  “Then we’ll be helping Vek and Dria by disposing of a few of the bastards.”

  “We need to—”

  “Can we just get this over with?” Anna found herself snapping. “I’ve been on my feet for hours, and I’d like to go home and sleep. At this point, I’m about ready to strangle someone myself. Either we’re going to go investigate or we aren’t.”

  Maddy’s and Fen’s shocked expressions might have been comical under different circumstances. Then Maddy winced. “Sorry. Do you want me to take you to the house?”

  Anna dug her fingers into her palms to keep from shouting at her girlfriend. For a couple of months, Maddy had been treating her like she couldn’t handle her world. Like magic and magical creatures would somehow terrify or incapacitate her—even after Anna’s own fae blood had awakened. It was ridiculous. How was she going to learn about herself or what she could do if everyone pretended like she was some fragile being incapable of understanding?

  Having non-human blood had been a surprise, but she wasn’t going to mope about it.

  “You are not leaving me out,” Anna said firmly. “Vek suggested that all three of us research this illness, and I’m going to hold up my end.”

  Maddy shifted her weight, crossing her arms. “But you don’t know how to access your magic. Maybe you should come with me to Moranaia to seek your own training.”

  “Stop. It.” Anna gritted her teeth so she wouldn’t say more. Now wasn’t the time. “I’m fine. Let’s go find out what’s going on with this guy, and we can talk about the rest later.”

  Maddy’s cheeks puffed out before she released her breath with a soft pop. “Fine.”

  It was a small victory, but Anna would take it.

  Dria tried not to stare at the spot where Gessen had been impaled by an enemy mage, but her eyes kept wandering there despite her intentions. The stalagmite that had shoved through her friend’s heart was gone, no sign of blood marring the area where he’d fallen. Really, the only things that marked it were her memories and the cleanliness of the space.

  The rest of the broad cavern was coated in soot from where Vek had burned the bodies of their fallen enemies. Neither he nor the mages and scouts who had swept in behind had bothered to sweep the mess away—a clear warning for their enemies if any more were to take this path. Dria couldn’t help but approve. She wasn’t as bloodthirsty as her evil brother Kien, but even she wouldn’t have minded a few heads on spikes after what they’d done to Gessen.

  “Are you certain you are ready for this, ahmeeren?” Vek asked softly.

  Dria scowled. “I hope you aren’t questioning my ability to lead this mission.”

  “No.” Vek lifted his hands, palms outward. “But I can’t help my concern for my mate.”

  Her irritation eased until she could offer him a smile. “I know. I suppose I am a little shaken. Why don’t we move on from this chamber so we can get this over with?”

  At his nod, Dria signaled for the first half of the mages and scouts to advance toward the opening at the far end. She’d never been beyond this area, although the members of their troop in the front had swept the entire cave system after the last attack on the outpost. As the rest of the group took formation behind them, Dria squared her shoulders and gathered a fire spell in her palm. A network of shielding held by several mages tightened around them as they made their way toward the enemy camp.

  After far too many twists, turns, squeezes, and climbs, the advance troops reached the hallway leading to the broad natural chamber where the Seelie and Unseelie traitors had made their base. Dria sent out the order to halt, and the group froze as she scanned the area, then scanned it again. No spells or physical traps that she could detect.

  “Do you sense anyone?” Dria sent Vek.

  “No,” Vek answered, his mental voice ringing confidently in her head. “I can’t sense Meren through the blood link, and my life magic reveals no lifeforms that shouldn’t be here.”

  “Maybe Meren is still here, masking his presence. Odd for him to come alone.”

  “I’m thinking…” His voice trailed off, sparking Dria’s curiosity. Vek rarely hesitated. “I want to try to close up this chamber. If he’s here, he won’t escape being trapped by a mountain of stone, and if he’s not, we’ve still sealed up a weakness.”

  “But?”

  Vek frowned. “It will take a great deal of my energy without Fen to help.”

  “I’ll see you fed, my love,” Dria answered silkily, grinning when he trembled at the memory of the last time she’d let him take blood—in bed. “Don’t worry about that. Your plan is a good one. I’ve been uneasy about the vulnerability this place presents.”

  “Fine, though I’ll see you pay for getting me worked up with your innuendo.”

  Dria poked him in the side. “I’m counting on it.”

  He cast her one promise-filled look before striding through the troop waiting patiently in front of them. Though she wanted to call him back, urge him to be more cautious, Dria didn’t. It would be as useful as telling fire not to burn to request he not do what he thought was necessary. What she herself would do, if the truth be told. Had she the p
ower to shape earth, she would help cast the spell.

  Instead, Dria followed him to the opening of the cavern chamber. Fedah and Nia stepped forward to flank her, ready to protect her with their magic. Dria gave each a grateful smile and halted just behind and to Vek’s left as he directed a dim globe of light into the space. Over his shoulder, she glimpsed the large room beyond in the pale glow.

  The stone hadn’t been smoothed or shaped the way the central cavern of the outpost had, but then, it hadn’t been created by a dragon and her life mage rider. Stalagmites and stalactites speared everywhere, only a few open spaces scattered through the cavern. It must have been unpleasant for those who’d tried to camp here, but Dria couldn’t summon any sympathy for the bastards. Hopefully, they’d hated every moment of their stay.

  A thin waterfall trickled into a pool on the distant side, and she stifled the pinch of regret at its destruction. Meren had used water to sneak into her and Vek’s room a couple of weeks before, and Vek had almost died after being stabbed. Though they’d found a water mage to shield the water from future incursions, it wouldn’t hurt to eliminate this waterfall and its potential usefulness.

  Dria didn’t flinch as the rock shifted before her eyes. She didn’t feel anything except for satisfaction.

  Chapter 7

  Anthony’s house turned out to be a modest apartment not too far away from the university. Maddy studied his living room with curiosity as he led them over to the small, worn couch. A flat screen television sat atop a wood entertainment center, a video game console beneath it. Textbooks covered the coffee table, and the loveseat beside that had notebooks piled up on one side, highlighters huddled in a pile against the seat cushion. The only decoration was a carving of a leaf-covered face adorning the wall.

  “Have a seat, guys. Sparrow is lying down in the other room,” Anthony said. “I’ll go get her.”

  “Sparrow?” Maddy asked before she could stop herself.

  Anthony grinned. “Her Craft name. She’s not as cool with giving out her real name as I am.”