Concealed

by Christina Bauer

  That’s Tamu. Rowan’s bird.

  The animal perched on a fir tree just outside the window. It stared at me, fluffed its wings, and chirped. There was no question. It wanted me to follow it.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “I’d like to spend the rest of my break by taking a short walk.”

  Amelia frowned. “Come back soon?”

  I rose. “You can count on it.” Turning on my heel, I marched off to follow the bird, wherever it might lead me.

  Chapter Six

  I strode through the forest behind Amelia’s mansion. Rowan’s bird flitted from branch to branch, guiding me along a thin path through the fir trees. My heart thumped harder at the thought of seeing Rowan again. There was only one problem, though.

  Philippe was following me.

  Clearly, Philippe was a master at courtly conversation. But creeping silently through the forest? Not exactly one of his skills. As I walked along, I thought of ways to get him to abandon me.

  The only good thing? I didn’t need to follow courtly rules while I did it.

  The bird led me deeper into the trees. Soon, even the breeze couldn’t break through the thick canopy of leaves. This is far enough away from the mansion to afford some privacy. Pausing, I turned around. “Hello, Philippe.” The steady trudge of his footsteps ceased. “There’s no need to hide. I wouldn’t mind some company.”

  Philippe stepped out from the shadows. “I should hope so. A lovely lady like you, all alone in the forest? Anything could happen.” He winked. “Out here, dark creatures prey on helpless maidens such as you.”

  My brows lifted. I was many things. Helpless wasn’t one of them.

  Time to end this.

  Raising my left arm, I pulled Necromancer power into my body. The bones in my left hand instantly glowed blue. I sent a plume of sapphire smoke rolling across the forest floor. As spells went, this was a minor use of magick and nothing that would alert a Fantome. That said, it should be more than sufficient to inspire Philippe to depart. For extra effect, I made the smoke billow around us in waves.

  All the while, Philippe stood with his mouth hanging open. It was a most satisfying reaction.

  I snapped my fingers, and the mist disappeared. “Listen to me carefully. The dark creatures fear me, not the other way around. I’m a Grand Mistress Necromancer.”

  That ought to do it.

  For a long time, Philippe said nothing. Seconds passed until a sense of worry curled inside my stomach. What had I done? I needed Amelia’s help. Scaring the wits out of her brother was foolhardy. When I spoke again, I took care to keep my tone gentle. “Philippe?”

  “You’re a Grand Mistress Necromancer.” He stood frozen for another moment. After that, he started to laugh. The sound was gentle and rolling. “That’s brilliant.”

  “Really?” Most Royals feared Necromancers. “Thank you.”

  Philippe inspected me from head to toe. His gaze was so careful it was as if he were committing every detail to memory. “I’m afraid I misjudged you, Grand Mistress Elea.” His tone became reverent. “My apologies.”

  My cheeks reddened. “Don’t worry. Few suspect I’m a Necromancer since I’m not a Fantome.”

  “Let me try to make it up to you.” Philippe sauntered up to my side. “I promise to inspire smiles on your trek through the forest. Would that be sufficient penance for my misdeed?” He kept right on speaking without giving me a chance to answer. “Have I ever told you about the time I saw the Vicomte fall in love? It was terribly silly.”

  “Your offer is kind.” I watched Rowan’s bird hop from tree to tree. “I’d like to be alone for a while, though.”

  Philippe lifted his once-shiny boot, showing how it was now covered in dirt and gunk. “But I’ve ruined a perfectly good pair of boots while trying to protect you. The least you can do is allow me to keep you company.” He gave me a roguish grin. “Besides, the tale is a gossip’s dream, if I may say so.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Maybe I can turn this to my advantage. “If you insist on coming along…”

  “I do.”

  “Then I have my price.”

  His blue eyes glittered. “Name it.”

  “You must answer a question for me.” I plastered on a grin. “It’s clear that you think I’m not ready for court life. What’s wrong, exactly? And don’t fill my head with a pack of pleasant nonsense. I need your honesty.”

  Philippe frowned playfully. “Ah-ah-ah. You’re asking me to insult a lady.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Come now. We both know I’m no lady.” The bird flittered to another tree, and I started to follow it again. Philippe kept pace beside me.

  “You’ve been following that creature for a while now. Is the bird enchanted?”

  I arched my brows. “I don’t recall my answering your questions as being part of this bargain.”

  Phillips chuckled. “All right, then. Here’s where you fail. You’re trying too hard, my dear.”

  I stopped. “Whatever does that mean?”

  “When you force a smile, you drop your mask. I can see every hidden thought in your pretty amber eyes, and it’s clear how much you loathe the courtly game. That’s essentially admitting a weakness, and no one wants to be allied with the weak.”

  I slung my hair over my shoulder and began to absently braid it. This was a nervous habit that Mother Superior had discouraged in the Zelle Cloister, but Amelia told me it was appropriate for women to constantly preen. I was glad to have the ritual back. “Amelia encouraged me to smile.”

  “Because that works for her. I wouldn’t suggest it for you, though. You’re better off playing the cold beauty.”

  Ever since Amelia had begun her so-called lady lessons, I’d been carrying a burden of worry on my shoulders. For the first time in ages, that weight lessened a little. Cold beauty? That was essentially the emotionless way of acting that I’d been taught at the Cloister, only combined with a pretty gown. I could do that. “Thank you. That’s most helpful.” Philippe only stared at me in reply. I stepped closer and waved my hand in front of his face. “Hello?”

  Again, no reaction.

  My skin prickled into gooseflesh. The air had become heavy with magick. I reached out with my mage senses. Wild energy careened around me. I bit back a smile. I’d felt this power before.

  Rowan was nearby.

  Philippe remained perfectly frozen. The barest hint of red mist floated around him. No question about it. A stasis spell had been cast on Philippe.

  I turned about, my pulse speeding faster than ever. “Rowan?”

  A few seconds ticked by. Nothing happened. I was starting to wonder if I’d imagined it all. All of a sudden, Rowan stepped out from the shadows. He was still wearing his odd outfit—hunting leathers and a long cloak—but there was no mistaking the man’s rugged face and intense green eyes. “Elea.”

  “How long have you been following us?”

  “Since you left the mansion.” He leaned against a tree and kicked his left ankle over his right. “This admirer of yours is a persistent fellow.”

  Admirer. Why did Rowan think that? For some reason, I wanted to make sure he knew that Philippe wasn’t my sweetheart. Not that I cared what Rowan thought. This was merely for accuracy’s sake, nothing more. “Philippe is no admirer. His sister Amelia is helping me. Philippe wants to aid in the effort. That’s all.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Rowan gave me the barest grin. Still, I felt the heat of it right through my stomach.

  It took an effort to look away, but I needed to. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be standing in the forest, ogling Rowan like a love-struck fool when I should be saving my friends.

  Only two days remained.

  I straightened my spine and refocused. “I have important news. There are two Royal estates that could be hiding Ada and my other Sisters. Philippe and Amelia are helping me inspect them.”

  Rowan stepped closer. He smelled of leather and musk. It made my insides squirm. “Excellent work.”

  My
heart warmed under his praise. “There’s more. Amelia Masson is the Lady Amelia. She’s confirmed that the Vicomte is indeed charging a totem ring with Necromancer power.” I pulled the witness watch from my pocket. “The ring itself is housed in a watch exactly like this one.”

  Rowan stared intently at the device. “That watch you’re holding… Can it gather Necromancer energy too?”

  “No, only the vortex watch can do that, and sadly, the Vicomte has that device.” I tapped the machine in my palm. “This is a witness watch. Amelia built it to track what’s happening with the vortex one.” I quickly pointed to the different parts of the watch face. “See? This shows how much time is left until the ring is fully charged.” I was proud of how I was able to keep my voice steady while I spoke.

  “And how long until that comes to pass?”

  “Two days.” I fought hard to keep my features level. “That’s poor news for me and my friends.”

  “It’s bad for both of us.”

  “Why? You still don’t know what the Vicomte plans to do. Once he has Necromancer power, he may not wish to destroy the Casters.”

  Rowan’s gravelly voice became even deeper. “The Vicomte is already trying to hurt the Imperial family. We’ve gotten word that he’s launching an assassination attempt against Genesis Rex.”

  “Your uncle?” My eyes widened. This was news. “How do you know?”

  “The source we found in the Vicomte’s court gave us irrefutable proof.”

  “Is Rex safe?”

  “We’re taking diplomatic steps. The King will be fine.”

  “But Rowan—”

  “There’s more, Elea. Things are worse than you know.”

  That doesn’t seem possible. “How?”

  “That’s why I came to see you. I must show you something. Follow me.”

  I gestured to Philippe. “But what about him?”

  “Oh, he’s safe enough. My stasis spell will last for a few hours yet. And my people are close by, in case anything happens.”

  I squinted into the shadows. If Rowan’s guards were lurking in the trees, I couldn’t see them. “Is it anyone I know?” For a time, I’d stayed with the Casters in the Endlos desert. Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how much I missed their bright spirits and quick laughter.

  “No, sadly enough.” Rowan moved off deeper into the shadows. I was about to call him back when his bird began diving before me while twittering excitedly.

  “All right, I’m coming.” I followed the bird through the forest until the roaring sound of water broke up the heavy silence. I hiked into a small clearing. Here a waterfall cascaded into a dark pool. Rowan stood by the water’s edge.

  “Amelia didn’t mention anything like this on her land.” Then again, she never left the house in anything but a ball gown, so I wouldn’t have expected her to meander through the woods.

  Rowan unclasped the cloak from his shoulders and tossed it onto a nearby rock. His loose hunter’s tunic followed next. Now he was bare chested. I tried not to stare at how his muscles shifted as he moved. Not sure I succeeded.

  “Elea? Is something wrong?”

  I cleared my throat. Traitorous mind. It was always bringing me back to unwanted thoughts about Rowan. This was the definition of what Necromancers called zuchtlos. It was our word for impulsive behavior. It was also one of the greatest weaknesses a Necromancer could have. “No, I’m fine.”

  “What I discovered isn’t easy to explain. Like I said, I must show you.” Rowan flexed his hand. Creation Casters focused magick into their right arm, making the veins there glow red. Like so many things with Casters, it was the opposite of Necromancy. Our bones shone blue when we used our powers.

  “Are you going to cast a spell?” I asked.

  “Not here. There are too many wards on this waterfall.”

  “There are?” I stepped closer to the water’s edge. Instantly, a wall of magick slammed into me. I knew this kind of spell. A protective ward. I tried pulling Necromancer power into my body. I couldn’t summon so much as a drop. A chill of recognition crept up my neck. The solid strength behind this power was unique. I’d only felt it once before.

  When I battled the Tsar.

  But what’s the Tsar doing in the forest behind Amelia’s mansion?

  Rowan gestured to the waterfall. “There’s a small chamber on the other side of that wall. We need to swim into the pool to access it. Once we get there, you’ll understand everything.” He began loosening the ties on his leather pants.

  I took a half step backward. “What are you doing?” I’d seen Rowan naked to the waist before. At the time, I’d been injured and Rowan was healing me. But that was a special circumstance. Plus, I’d been semiconscious and half dead. Now I was very much awake and alive.

  “I’m getting ready to swim.” Rowan frowned. “You can swim, right?”

  It took all my Necromancer training to speak in a calm voice. “Not exactly.”

  Rowan finished loosening the ties at his waistline. A trail of dark hair ran down from his stomach. By the Sire. Another spike of heat ran through me. Suddenly, the tree bark in this part of the forest became utterly fascinating.

  “Are you coming?” asked Rowan.

  “You can go for a swim. I’ll wait here.”

  “I need to show you firsthand what’s in that cave. It’s important.”

  “Well…” I risked another glance in his direction. A deep V of muscle arrowed down Rowan’s lower belly. Who knew that kind of muscle was even a part of the male body? I liked it, and I hated that I liked it, all at the same time.

  Stay calm, Elea. Focus on your mission.

  I inhaled a firm breath. “I’ll swim by myself. I can cast a spell to do it.”

  “No magick. The wards, remember?”

  I twisted my fingers at my waistline. “But the wards here feel very old. I might be able to cast past them.” I could feel the difference between old and new spells. The magick n this place must have been created years ago. It had a distinctive wobble to it.

  “The wards here may be old, but they’re still quite strong. You won’t be able to break them without attracting attention.”

  He’s right. And at this moment, I really loathe that about him.

  I stared down at the water. It seemed everything black and foreboding. Was it my imagination, or did the current make a kind of whirlpool of death? I closed my eyes and forced myself to picture Ada’s sweet face. That did it. I cleared my throat, inspected the water, and nodded sagely. “I can swim. It’s just a shallow pool, right?”

  Rowan stepped up to stand before me. His body radiated warmth, and I wanted nothing more than to lean into him. “Elea, that’s a deep whirlpool. If you can’t swim, you’ll need my help.” He raised his hands. A length of green rope now looped across his palms. “This will do it.”

  I fought hard to keep my voice level. “You want me tied to you?”

  “Once you take off that gown, yes.”

  I folded my arms over my chest. “That plan makes no sense.”

  “My homeland is laced through with fierce waters. Not everyone can swim.” He shook the rope in his hand. “We train for this from the time we’re children. As long as you stay calm, we’ll be fine.” He tilted his head. “You’re strong, Elea. You can do this.”

  His confidence made it impossible to back down. “Agreed. But the gown stays on.”

  “Really. That dress has how many layers?”

  I could see his line of thinking, yet I didn’t want it to give in. “Five.”

  “Once those get wet, they will weigh you down like a bag of stones. You’ll sink straight to the bottom of the pool.” He gentled his voice. “I know how Necromancers are about touch. I realize this is hard for you. Believe me, if I saw any other way to do this, I would. Trust me. You need to see what’s beyond that wall. This is about far more than the Tsar setting magick wards.”

  Meaning it’s about my Sisters.

  Any concerns about bare skin and swim
ming disappeared. I turned around and offered Rowan my back. “Pull open these ties for me, will you?”

  “Thank you, Elea.” Rowan began loosening the ribbons that wove down my back. Every brush of his fingers sent waves of awareness through me. Soon the dress was loose enough.

  I shimmied out of what ended up being a rather large pile of fabric. “Ready.”

  Rowan didn’t say anything. He looked almost as frozen as Philippe had back in the forest. I was starting to wonder if he’d been placed under a spell too, when I noticed his heated gaze was moving up and down my body. I should feel embarrassed, yet I didn’t. All those years of being taught that touch was a Necromancer’s enemy seemed to vanish. I moved closer to Rowan. “I said, we should get ready.”

  Rowan nodded slowly, the heat still strong in his eyes. He wore only short cotton under-trousers. Ropes of muscle outlined his upper thighs. For my part, I had nothing on except for my pantalets and a thin cotton shirt. Suddenly, it became hard to breathe.

  Bit by bit, Rowan looped the rope across my back, his fingers brushing over my bare skin. It made me shiver, and not from the cold. Rowan finished by knotting the cord around my chest. “Does that feel secure?”

  “Yes.” My voice came out low and husky. “How do we—” I gestured between us.

  “We get into the water, and then I’ll tie you against my back.”

  “Understood.” The air between us became charged with its own kind of energy. Still, I needed to focus on stopping the Tsar and finding my people, not on whatever strange thing was happening between Rowan and me. I took the rest of the rope in my hand and stepped off into the water. A shock of cold liquid hit me. I gasped.

  Rowan glided into the pool and stopped before me. With a few swift movements, he strapped me on. The cold water helped freeze out the sensation of my partly bare chest against his back. Not enough, though.

  “Wrap your arms and legs around me.” His voice was commanding, and I liked that too. Gods-damn it.

  I did as he asked. My calves rubbed against the firm planes of muscle on his stomach. I looped my arms tightly around his neck and fought the urge to nuzzle him. “How’s this?”