“It was nice.” I whisper, haunted as images swim before my eyes. The same images that always swim by when I think of all me and my friends have been through. Our abduction, the Zodiac ball, Tristan’s death, his funeral. Horror show after horror show. It’s turned me into a haunted girl who cannot trust anyone we didn’t grow up with back in Baal.
“I admit, it’s good to have an agenda in the world we live in. It’s what keeps us striving, keeps us going, keeps us fighting, but it’s one thing to have an end game. It is another thing entirely to let that end game hurt the people you care about. Kol cares for Amara Boudelaire, therefore no harm will ever come to her. Not by my hand. You and Amara’s secrets are safe with me.”
I can hardly deny him my answer after that speech so I take a deep breath before speaking again. “They’re torturing Amara because of this Echo of ours, trying to extract intel on Theon’s plans from her so she told me through the Echo that she wanted me to tell Theon where she is, so he’d come for her. Said she’d rather be here than there, but Kol knows Theon will get too many of his own people killed just to get to Amara so…”
An unusual sadness comes over him, the type of sympathy you might have when your little sister’s in pain or your child, but not a stranger you’ve only just met. “So you had to tell your best friend that help is not coming for her. I’m sorry.” he says sadly.
“We’ll find another way.” I say, turning to meet Haydan’s eyes. “We have to.”
—CHAPTER NINE—
AARIC
ESCAPE
Escaping an armed palace isn’t easy.
Especially for a crowned prince.
Three months. That’s how long it’s taken us to gain a step-up on this find the Nexus, stop diabolical Theon Beleros plan. Jayla has mastered her Piscean skill to turn her water magic into actual magic. We—and by we I mean Jayla—finally found a spell that will help us locate the Nexus. By sunrise tomorrow we could be on our way to it and that is the only thing that has kept me relatively sane. The prospect of having a plan, a road to travel, a step to take. With the Nexus found I’ll be one step closer to protecting my sister from Theon. Maybe even one step closer to getting her back.
I didn’t say it was a good plan.
When Roman Novak’s eyes finally find mine through the busy west wing, I give him a nod that means Jayla’s spell is ready, but to my surprise he shakes his head. I have no chance to go to him and ask why when I notice the people in the hallway around us moving quickly. Some carry suitcases, children. Even the palace staff seem to be dressed to go somewhere.
What’s going on, I mouth the words to Roman while we try to get to each other through the rushing crowd.
Behind me someone grabs hold of my arm. When I turn it’s Niykee. “We have a problem.”
My eyes flash to her only briefly when I hear Roman’s voice on the other side of me. “We’re leaving.”
“Yes. Escape the palace, find the Nexus, save our friends. Where have you been?” I retort irritably.
“No. I mean, everyone.” Roman spits back. “The summer months have started. We always move to Blackfire Bay in the summer. It’s our palace in the eastern part of Limacore. I knew we’d be going, but I didn’t know we’d be going this early. Father usually waits until the end of July at the very least.”
“This might work to our advantage. Everyone will be distracted with the move.” Niykee says, but even I know that she’s wrong.
Roman gives voice to my own conclusions. “It just means they’ll be paying even more attention to us. Moving the royal family means more guards, more eyes on our whole Zodiac in order to transport us all safely. It’ll make this marginally more difficult.”
“We should have Jayla do her spell now.” Niykee suggests. “Who knows? Maybe Blackfire Bay will put us even closer to wherever the Nexus is.”
“It’s a good idea.” Roman nods.
“I’ll talk to her.” Aaren comes out of nowhere, looking determined as ever.
Aaren has surprised me in many ways since the funeral. I wasn’t sure about him at first. When we first came to this place none of us were sure who we could trust so we didn’t trust anyone. But it is the most unlikely people we found that we could trust. The king, the prince, and Aaren, our parents’ longest kept secret. He shows me more and more every day how much he cares about our sister, even having only known her a short while. I know I can count on him to protect her, to fight for her. It is the only thing I care about so the more people I have to help me do that the better off she’ll be.
Niykee raises an eyebrow at Aaren in silent question. Niykee’s been so consumed with trying to figure out this odd power of hers that she hasn’t seen how close Jayla and Aaren have gotten. Most of that is due to my mother. Lavina is more Aaren’s mother than me and Amara’s and Jayla spends most of her time with her, mastering her craft so they’ve grown close.
“Go, now.” I tell my brother. “If the move is happening now, we need to know what we’re doing and fast.” Aaren looks between me and the prince, nods, and then rushes off to find Jayla where she’s probably got her nose in one of Mom’s grimoires, books filled with spells, both old and new.
“What should we do?” Niykee asks Roman.
“Make sure we’re ready.” Roman says. There is a sharp edge to his voice that warns of danger if we’re not.
Getting ready doesn’t require much. We’ve already decided who should stay and who should go. Although Jayla would be of great use to us on the road to finding the Nexus, we’ve seen her powers and what she can do. She has surpassed anything my mother could even teach her so if Theron does work out a way to get Amara back from the king of Vakrov without starting a war, they’ll need her help to do it. And so Bay, Niykee, Felix, Roman, and I will be the only ones going. Aaren and Jayla will be staying back, to be the constant bug in the king’s ear about getting Amara back.
Bay and I have already stocked bags full of provisions for the long journey. It won’t last us more than a few weeks, but Roman is bringing enough gold to sustain us while on the road.
Now that we know what’s going on I see the signs. Servants covering furniture, tidying up rooms meant to be left empty. As I walk through the halls with Niykee everyone rushes around to prepare for departure. Outside there is transit after transit being driven up to the palace, armed by only the fiercest of guards.
Inside my room I pack light. I figure since the whole palace is going to Blackfire Bay it won’t look so suspicious now that I’m packing. To anyone who cares to ask—though not many want to speak to the mad village boy obsessed with his sister’s kidnapping—I’m simply packing for the trip.
I don’t need much. A few changes of clothes, toiletries are included in the provisions we packed. After I feel satisfied I’ve packed all I need from my room I go down the hall to a room I have not dared enter until now. But this is my last chance. I need something to remind me of her. Something to hold onto, to remind me that she’s not dead, just gone.
Amara’s room is untouched. In fact, anyone who’s tried to enter it has suffered the wrath of me, Roman, or Bay. It’s perfectly organized, but not because any maids have been in here. Because Amara is immaculate in everything she does, including the condition of her bedroom.
I know exactly what I’m here for so I go to the vanity and start to rummage through her jewelry box. What I’m looking for is at the bottom, tangled with a bracelet Keenan gave her when she was fifteen and a friendship ring Kara gave her years ago. A little pendant I gave her for our sixteenth birthday. It’s easily her favorite thing to wear. Inside our names are engraved, the letters intertwined together, like us, always. In fact, all of Amara’s jewelry has some kind of sentimental value. Not any real value, but her heart would break if any of this was lost to her forever.
“She was never happier than the day Keenan gave her this.” I feel my father’s presence before I hear his voice. I glance to my side at him as he turns the bracelet over in his hands. Aquamarine, the
color of her birthstone. Our birthstone. I see a nostalgic smile pull at the sides of my father’s face and it’s the only one I’ve seen in months. “She decided that day, her fifteenth birthday, that she and Keenan were going to get married one day.” Then Tristan asked her to that schoolhouse dance and it was over from there. “I’m not the one she told, of course. It was Meela, one of the small moments they shared together when she wasn’t busy telling herself she hated her.”
“Dad, come on. You know Amara doesn’t actually hate her, right?” I say and I have to smile. Reminding myself how well I know Amara is what silences the fears in my head, fears that she’s not okay. I know she is because I know her. “She was never going to like any woman you showed interest in because of Mom. She resented her for Lavina not being there instead. It was never about Meela.” Dad can only stare back at me. “What?”
“I just…sometimes I’m amazed by the two of you. So many kids grow up so hateful towards each other. I know I did with my own brothers. It’s why we don’t speak. That coupled with the fact that I was part of the king’s Zodiac and they weren’t, we never got along, but you and Amara, thick as thieves from the moment you were born. Never went anywhere without each other.”
“Dad,” I say softly and I hope he doesn’t hear the pain in my voice the way I do. “Please stop talking about her in the past tense.” By the look he gives me next—one that wounds—he didn’t realize he was doing it at all.
“I’m sorry, bud. I didn’t…I’m sorry.” he says again, fumbling for words.
“Dad,” I don’t know why I drop my voice down so low when I speak next because we are entirely alone, but we’ve been so paranoid someone would uncover our plan we’ve taken unnecessary measures to ensure that doesn’t happen. “I’m going to get her back, and I’m going to stop Theon’s plans for her before they can even begin. I’ve got a plan.”
I expect him to look at me like a child meddling in things he ought not to, but that’s not what I see in his eyes. What I see is hope and I know it’s not because he wants Amara back more than he wants me to be safe. It’s because he trusts me. With Amara, he always has.
“Aaric,” Jayla’s voice at the door gives Dad no chance to respond and maybe that’s a good thing. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were alone. Hi, Leo.”
“Hey, sweetheart.” Dad’s eyes find mine and he gives me a meaningful look before clapping his hand on my shoulder. “I love you, son. Please know that.” I don’t know how he knows that this may very well be the last time he sees me for a while, but he knows and he’s not going to stop me. “Be safe, boy.”
“Always, Dad.” I glance up at him, considering hugging him.
I don’t know where this journey is going to take all of us and I certainly don’t know if we’ll all come back alive, but I understand my father so much more now than I did just a few months ago when I was nothing, but a rebellious, resentful teenager just trying to find his way. He loves us. Everything he’s done—however misguided it was—has been for us.
I move to embrace him and he welcomes it. After all, I can’t remember the last time I’d shown him any sort of affection. “I love you too, Dad.” Our embrace doesn’t last long though when I see the anxious look in Jayla’s pretty amber eyes.
I don’t know how smart it is to leave Dad in Amara’s room, but taking care of him can’t be my concern right now. Amara has to be.
The moment I move for the door Jayla grabs my arm and yanks me out into the hallway where Aaren waits. “Hey, what the hell?”
“I know where the Nexus is.” Jayla says anxiously.
“You do? Where?” I demand.
“It’s in Baal.”
I blink. “Are you sure?”
The question annoys her. “Of course I’m sure.” she says dismissively.
“Well this might be easier than I thought. I guess we’re going home.” I look down at Jayla, amber eyes pensive. “What is it, Jay?”
“I just can’t help, but think I should be going with you.”
“Jayla, we talked about this.”
“I know, but what if you guys run into trouble and need me to do a spell? What then, huh?”
“Jayla, do you know where Blackfire Bay is?” Aaren asks, seeming to be leading to something.
“No.” Jayla says irritably.
“It’s right by the Vakrovian border.” My eyes go wide with shock. “It’s likely why Theron is moving us there sooner than normal. If we are going to make a play for Amara it would be easiest from Blackfire Bay. The Capital of Vakrov where the palace is located is just on the other side of the border.”
His words are enough for me to rethink the whole course of what we’re doing today. To have the chance to be that close and go the opposite direction for the Nexus, it feels wrong. It feels like I’m betraying her by not staying.
“Don’t even think about it.” Aaren warns me. “The plan is already in motion. This is why I didn’t mention it earlier. Because I knew you’d want to stay, but you know Amara wouldn’t want you to.”
Anger gnaws at my stomach and I have to fight to keep it in check. “Don’t pretend to know what Amara would want. You don’t know her. She’d want to be saved. She’s expecting me to come for her. I know that.” I know it in my bones. I have saved her every single time she’s been in trouble. I have never failed her and I won’t start now.
Jayla heaves a disappointed sigh. “As much as I hate to admit it, Aaren is right. Roman can’t do this without you. Your compulsion abilities, they’re invaluable.”
“They’ll be invaluable on the mission to get her back.” I fire back, but even as I say the words I know she’s right. I promised Roman I was all in. It was his one stipulation on coming. He’s a prince. He can’t very well abandon his father, his duties if the rest of us have no follow-through.
“Aaric,” Jayla takes a measured step toward me and curls her fingers around my wrist, squeezing gently. “Trust me. You don’t need to put Amara’s life in Aaren’s hands or in Theron’s. Put it in mine. Trust me enough to let me do this.”
Letting someone else take the reins where Amara is concerned has never been easy for me. It’s why Tristan and I butted heads so badly once he and Amara started dating. Because leaving her care to someone else felt like an impossible thing. I’ve been taking care of her since infancy, but if there is one person I do trust in this world full of liars and schemers, it’s Jayla. She has the purist heart of us all.
“Okay.” I say with some resolve.
“Take this.” From her pocket she pulls out a folded-up map and a little crystal sphere attached to a silver chain. “This is how you’re going to find the Nexus. It’s in Baal, but this will tell you exactly where. It’s called scrying. You hover the pendant above the map and it’ll pull the crystal to where you need to go. Do not lose it. It is your only way of finding the Nexus.”
“I won’t, I promise.” I pocket the items and take a deep breath, relenting my ingrained need to protect Amara to Jayla. “Where’s Roman? If we’re gonna do this we need to do it before they start transporting nobles and royals.”
“He went with Bay to get the bags with your provisions. He said to get Niykee and meet him at the east end of the palace. From there you’ll leave this place behind you.”
The finality in her words unnerve me. It makes me feel like we may never see each other again. That may be true. I may die trying to fight for my sister, but to me there is no better reason to die. Still, I feel I have to leave my brother with some kind of lasting words in case it is very well the last time I ever see him.
“Thank you, Jayla, for everything you’ve done for us, for Amara. I’m just sorry it came at such a high price.”
Braylie. I don’t say her name, but I don’t need to. She knows who I mean. I can only imagine her mind drifts to that same memory burned in our minds. The way Theon’s dagger cut through Braylie like a knife through butter, like she was made of nothing more than the clouds in the sky. The memory will haunt all
who witnessed it for eternity.
“She and I were complicated to say the least, but she was my friend.” I add.
“I know.” She touches my arm to soothe me, ease my mind, but it will never happen. I will never be able to get her blood off my hands. “Thanks, Aaric.”
My eyes linger on her for another moment before I turn them on my brother. “Ever since we were children I have been Amara’s fiercest protector. I’ve always protected her, but never more than after our mother left. Now I know you don’t see it that way, but no matter who did the leaving, she left us and I promised myself that I would never let anyone else hurt her like that again. It’s one of many reasons why I have never approved of anyone she’s shown any romantic interest in. I think as her brother that’s my right, but I might have taken it a step too far. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, I’ve seen how hard you’re fighting for her so I—I trust you, with her.”
“That is the biggest compliment you can get from him.” Jayla assures Aaren.
Aaren drops his gaze for a moment, feeling that same wall I do, the one that makes us so different from Amara. She shares her emotions like a child shares toys. Aaren and me, we bury that shit until it comes exploding out of us in some rash, inappropriate way. Aaren squares his shoulders and nods. “I promise to never make you regret it.”
He knows Lavina is not the only one to blame here. In a way, he abandoned her too. He knew about us while we never knew about him. He’s practically an adult. He had plenty of chances to come and find us, but he never did. While we are the same in many ways, in that we are different because I will always come for her. I will set this entire world on fire if it means saving her.
“Stay safe, Aaric.” Jayla says then, reminding me that it’s time to go.
“You too.”
“I’ll find a way to contact you if we get her back. Do not lose that crystal. It’s the only one you’ve got.”
“I won’t.” I press a kiss to Jayla’s forehead, spare my brother one last glance, and then I go to find the sister I still have.
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