Heritage: Book Three of the Grimoire Saga

by Boyce, S. M.

  “You’re right,” he eventually said.

  She ran a hand along his jawline. “Are you going to stay out of trouble while I’m gone?”

  He laughed. “I don’t know how.”

  She grinned and inched closer. He became a blur, but she wanted to savor every bit of him—the oaky musk of his cologne, the sparks his warm touch shot through her.

  A thrill raced up her thigh. She tensed, her smile widening with a rush of heat through her core. Her pulse quickened. His fingers swept along her back, casual enough that he likely didn’t realize his caress set her nerves on fire. Desire shot into her fingers, giving them a will of their own. She wanted to reach under his shirt, to push the boundaries of their relaxed intimacy. He wanted her. She wanted him. It should be simple as that, right?

  But this is Ayavel.

  Her throat tightened. She couldn’t let her guard down, not even for a minute. Evelyn had to have made a life-changing decision back in that war room, one that left Kara sick to her stomach with worry. The tides could turn at any moment. Kara couldn’t indulge herself, however much she wanted to. In Ayavel, it just wasn’t safe.

  Braeden laughed. “I can almost see the smoke coming out of your ears. What are you thinking?”

  Heat rushed to Kara’s cheeks. “Nothing.”

  “Lies. You’re red as a tomato. A blush usually comes before an embarrassing confession.”

  She grinned in an effort to be coy and forced back the warmth flooding the pit of her stomach. She didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent.

  “You’re not going to tell me?” he asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Mean.”

  She laughed. “Well, yeah. I’m terribly cruel. I’m leaving you alone in Ayavel, after all. You’ll be utterly defenseless.”

  He laughed. “All right, I confess. I want you to stay because I’m selfish. I can’t focus when you’re gone.”

  She smiled and burrowed her head into his chest. Not fair. Her heart melted. He hugged her closer. At least she’d distracted him from her wanton thoughts about how she would prefer to spend the next hour, but now she wanted to indulge herself even more.

  To be honest, she would like nothing more than to stay. To be near him. Her time in the village distracted her enough that she could focus on training or planning, but that changed the moment she saw him. Now that she was with him again, she never wanted to leave. He kept her warm. He made her laugh. His presence cleared her mind. Braeden made her happy.

  She took a deep breath of his shirt and caught that oaky cologne again.

  “Please,” he said.

  “You’re serious? I have to go. We need Ithone.”

  Braeden shrugged. “Not really. He’s a control freak. He makes everything difficult. It might be easier without him.”

  “That’s a lie, and you know it. We can’t lose a fourth of our army and expect to win.”

  His jaw tensed.

  Kara sighed. “I’m not trying to call you out. I just don’t want you to lose sight of what’s important here. We need Ithone, and you understand that. The problem is you don’t want me to go.”

  “Of course I don’t want you to leave. Not when I finally have you again.”

  She smiled. At least he felt the same way.

  “It’ll only be for a few days, Braeden. Then I’ll come right back, even if he doesn’t agree to come with me.”

  “What can I do to convince you this is a bad idea?”

  She smiled. “I’m sure you can get creative.”

  He lifted her chin until she was inches from his face. His eyes bored into hers as if trying to memorize them. She lost herself in his gaze. He leaned in and kissed her. She didn’t want it to end. She forgot where they were. She forgot why she wanted to leave or where she needed to go. She forgot about her curse and her grandfather and the war she couldn’t stop. For a moment, she just enjoyed him. She let herself forget everything else because, really, he mattered most of all.

  But no. She couldn’t stay.

  Braeden shut the door to his bathroom. He let out a long breath.

  He’d told Kara he needed a shower, but he really needed a break. They’d spent nearly an hour talking about everything and nothing—their plans for after the war, old dreams and the places Kara wanted to visit someday. And through every second of it, he’d wanted nothing more than to pin her to the bed and see what happened.

  He had to control himself. Ayavel had too many spies to let his guard down. He would convince Kara to stay, to let Ithone come to his senses on his own. And once she promised not to go, maybe the two of them could escape for a while. He wished he could take her to their waterfall in Hillside, but he no longer had access to the kingdom. Maybe one day, Gavin would trust him enough to give him back the key to the city.

  Braeden would have other opportunities to give in to his desires. For now, he needed a cold shower.

  Kara settled into the chair at the desk in Braeden’s room while he took his shower. Temptation tugged at her to join him, but she had to focus. She already spent an hour enjoying his company and nearly caved three times in the process. Only the fear of Evelyn walking in on them kept her from indulging herself. Considering all she had left to do, even that hour was selfish. But she needed the break. She needed him.

  With nothing else to do, she summoned her Grimoire from the blue stone in her clover pendant. Dust spiraled out of it and trailed toward the desk. It formed the shape of a book, the blue dust glowing with its own light. In seconds, the Grimoire appeared from within the glowing grains and rested on the table’s surface, waiting for her.

  The cover ripped open and flipped ahead several hundred pages. Kara sat back, her grip on the arm rest tightening as she watched the paper fly by. Her stomach tossed with dread, but at least her vagabonds would keep her informed of everything that went on.

  The pages settled after a moment, drifting apart to flowing handwriting Kara didn’t recognize. She leaned in. At the top was yesterday’s date.

  Elana, Kingdom of Kirelm

  News arrived of the Vagabond’s request for an audience. Blood Ithone spent the night in meetings most likely about what to do with Kara when she arrives. I accompany Heir Aurora most of the time, but she was not allowed into Blood Ithone’s debates. I believe Remy was invited. He is a famed isen hunter and close to General Gurien, so he is known as a trusted confidant in the royal circle.

  Rumors are spreading that Blood Ithone plans to trap Kara in her time here. She must be careful.

  Heir Aurora is...irritable. She barks orders constantly. She refuses to see her father, though she will speak to Gurien. That’s new. I don’t believe she has ever trusted him before, so that confuses me.

  Kara rubbed her face. She didn’t remember meeting Elana, but only vagabonds could write in the Grimoires. She would have to be better about meeting everyone and learning their names.

  She flipped the page to see block letters written in tight, militant rows. Yesterday’s date yet again dotted the top of this note.

  Remy, Kingdom of Kirelm

  I spent six hours in a meeting with Blood Ithone, General Gurien, and a dozen other military officers. The primary focus was on how to detain and control the Vagabond when she arrives. I offered ideas I knew would not work so no one would suspect me of foul play.

  Though I am concerned for Kara’s safety, she should still come. I will highlight their plans below and continue to update as they change.

  It has been decided she will be captured in the first ten minutes of her meeting with Blood Ithone, chained and controlled with poison spikes until our king can inject her with his bloodline. That will allow him to control her. It has come to my attention Blood Gavin attempted a similar feat using a cursed tiara at the Gala, though I do not believe Blood Ithone knows of this. Blood Ithone believes this will work because it will be forceful and swift. Kara will not have much of an opportunity to resist or escape it if they spike her, nor will I be able to do much to help he
r.

  An approval of her request to visit will be sent to Ayavel soon. Kara must wait to come until it arrives. Otherwise, they will suspect she is being fed information and likely change plans at the last minute.

  She will be granted audience, and she must use the time to show her power. All of it, including her blood ties to the infamous Agneon. Without it, Blood Ithone will never listen. If we are to have him as an ally, he must fear her power. He will never respect her otherwise.

  When Kara arrives, she will have only a few minutes to fully demonstrate herself. Again, after only ten minutes—long enough for her to drop her guard—soldiers will be sent to restrain her in the court. She should not hesitate to kill them.

  Kara groaned. She didn’t want to kill. She didn’t want anyone to fear her. Only yesterday, she explained her isen nature to the other Bloods without telling them who she really was. What she really was. To tell Ithone about her grandfather would mean she had no choice but to tell the other Bloods as well. She could lose their trust over keeping something that important from them. She might even have to start all over.

  “What’s the matter?” Braeden asked.

  She pivoted in her chair. He stood in the middle of the room, fully dressed. His wet hair hung in his eyes, and she wanted to run her hands through it again.

  “Life,” she answered.

  He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. “So dramatic.”

  She glanced back to her Grimoire. If she told Braeden about Ithone’s plan, he would press his point that she should stay. He wouldn’t care that she had so many Kirelm vagabonds on her side.

  “So what are you reading?” he asked.

  “Notes. The vagabonds are telling me about the various kingdoms.” She could tell him that much, at least.

  “Useful. What’s going on in Kirelm?”

  Kara smiled. “When the call comes from Ithone, I’m not going to stay here. I need to bring him back.”

  He frowned. “But I said ‘please.’”

  She laughed and shut the Grimoire. With a mumble, she wished the book away. It dissolved once more into dust and stowed itself in her pendant. The stone in her necklace glowed blue once more, the sign that her Grimoire was safely hidden from the world.

  Her satchel sat on the floor by the bed, so she stood to pack for her trip. Braeden stood between her and the bag, his dark eyes following her as she crossed the room. She kissed his cheek as she passed but didn’t pause for fear she would lose her resolve and stay. He apparently had other plans. He grabbed her waist and pulled her back. He held her to his body, arms around her.

  He kissed her forehead. “I don’t want you to go. If you stay here, you’ll be safe. You’ll be with me.”

  “I don’t need protection anymore, Braeden.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re still breakable. I’ll always want you safe.”

  “You said you have to go on a few more surveillance trips anyway. It’s not like I can just slip out and go with you.”

  “Sure you can.”

  “So the Stele is safer than Kirelm?”

  He shrugged.

  She sighed. “Braeden, come on. This is a war. You are the only one who can plan a successful attack on the Stele. I’m the only one who can bring Ithone back. As much as I never want to leave your side, we can’t do those things together.”

  He pouted—full on pouted. A prince. Pouting.

  She smiled and kissed his jaw, distracting him enough that she could slip out of his grip. Once more, she headed to her bag. He didn’t stop her this time. The satchel’s worn fabric reminded her of everywhere she’d taken it: Losse, Kirelm, Hillside, the drenowith Council of elders. She saw more of Ourea than most yakona would in their entire lives, yet she wanted nothing more than to spend as much time as possible in this room.

  She reached into the bag and pulled out the silver box Aurora gave her at the Gala. Inside, still on the black silk pillow, was the golden necklace that matched one Aurora had worn that night. A corner of a note stuck out from underneath the pillow, but Kara didn’t need to reread it.

  Back at the gala when she first opened the box, Kara hated to think she now owned something that would tie her to Kirelm—a nation she believed undermined everything she was trying to do. She was wrong. Too late, Kara realized what the necklace really was—a way for Aurora to share her kingdom’s culture. Even the note was just a request for her to respect their differences.

  Kara had never given Aurora that respect before. She always thought the Kirelm treatment of women to be wrong. Perhaps that was why she’d never received any respect from Ithone or his people. She couldn’t force that; she had to earn it.

  She unclasped the necklace, but a muscled hand reached for it. Braeden knelt beside her, one hand open and waiting for the necklace. He didn’t say anything—just waited.

  She obliged. The chain shifted on her palm and fell into his. He reached around her—so close she could smell him—and clasped the chain around her neck.

  “Come back to me,” he said softly.

  She smiled. “Likewise.”

  Someone knocked on the door. A folded note slid underneath and settled on the floor, sealed shut with wax.

  Braeden picked it up and broke the seal. He scanned it and frowned.

  “Looks like you’ve been summoned to Kirelm,” he said.

  Kara just nodded. Time to go.

  She grabbed her bag and swung it over her shoulder. Flick yawned and stretched from his place on a pillow on the nightstand. His tail swished, brushing the wall as he blinked himself awake. Kara reached for him from across the room. He chirped. With a loud crack, he disappeared and reappeared on her shoulder. She scratched his tiny head.

  “Are you going to meet with the Bloods before you leave?” Braeden asked.

  “No. They’ll just slow me down. I don’t need their approval to do something I already promised to do. Will you let them know I left?”

  “Yes.”

  He watched something out the window, but Kara figured he was trying to restrain himself. She didn’t want to leave, and he didn’t want her to go, either.

  She wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his chest. Flick followed suit, nuzzling Braeden’s neck and chirping. Braeden hugged her back.

  “Three days. No more,” he said.

  “Three days,” she promised.

  “Be safe.”

  “You, too.”

  He stepped back and smiled. This was it. If Kara waited any longer, she just wouldn’t go.

  She forced a smile and rubbed Flick’s head again, her thoughts focused on the main lichgate that led out to an underwater temple. She could leave through the kingdom’s primary lichgate since her dramatic entrance yesterday gave away the fact her pet could teleport. Might as well use it to travel faster. Since Flick couldn’t teleport through lichgates, she would have to walk out of the golden temple on her own—but once out, she would simply teleport to the Rose Cliffs. The Bloods kept a close watch on their kingdoms’ borders. Even if someone from Kirelm wasn’t waiting for her there, they would know she was waiting for them.

  With another loud crack, Flick whisked her away. The room disappeared. Braeden disappeared. And even though she knew she would see him in just three days, it broke her heart to leave him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  OLD FOES

  Barely ten minutes after Kara left him, Braeden slammed his office door and leaned against his desk. His hands curled into fists. Curse words tumbled out of his mouth faster than he could register them.

  He let her go. He let her travel to Kirelm, and she might not return. He let her go without asking her to be his forever. If something happened to him, she would never know how much his life changed since she found him. And if something happened to her, he would raid Kirelm himself. He wouldn’t stop until every building burned to its foundation. He wouldn’t stop until Ithone was dead and Kara was safely in his arms.

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He nee
ded to relax. He couldn’t think like that.

  With a groan, he walked around the table and sank into his chair. His latest Stelian map covered the desk, rips along the edges from all the times he’d picked at the corners as he sketched. Four new guard towers littered the forests to the north and east, their ink still wet. He’d only just discovered them on his last scouting mission. They couldn’t be more than a week old.

  Each time Braeden visited the Stele through his secret lichgate, he inched closer to the castle. He had thus far avoided civilians and soldiers alike, keeping as he did to the shadows and forest. Iyra took them through the woods like a ghost, and he could observe in passing. He still hadn’t gotten close enough to see Carden’s office balcony, nor did he want to. He could sense his father’s presence the closer he came to the castle. He didn’t want his father to find him out in the same way.

  The study door opened. Braeden’s head shot up as Gavin walked into the office.

  Braeden rolled his eyes. “Do come in.”

  “You are too kind.”

  “What do you want, Gavin?”

  “Use my title. It’s Blood Gavin.”

  Braeden grimaced. “I’m not in the mood to deal with you. Get out.”

  “Not until I get answers. You’ve been holed up in here for a month, feeding us tidbits of a plan while we sit idle. I’m beginning to think you’re stalling.”

  “Think what you like—doesn’t make it true.”

  Gavin sighed and sat in a chair by the bookshelves. “That’s not how politics work, Braeden. Perception is more powerful than the truth. You never did understand that.”

  “I understand it well enough. I simply don’t tolerate such thinking.”

  “The Bloods are losing what little faith they had in you.” Gavin set his fingertips together and rested his pointer fingers on his forehead.

  “And you’re doing what exactly? Giving me a fair warning?”

  “I’m reserving judgment until I hear your plan or lack thereof.”