by M Guida
Lucien changed his grip and wrapped his arms around him. “I know, buddy. I know.”
My heart bled for Xavier. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t fair. King Cormac must truly be a monster. “Why is Cormac doing this now?”
“I suspect he’s worried.”
I blinked. “Worried? Why?”
“Perhaps he saw us on the practice field.”
I stiffened. Not just over what the Defenders, but what Lucien and I had done the other night. “How could he see us?”
Anton smiled gently. “You don’t think the Magic Orb was the only one in existence, do you?”
I gritted my teeth. “Damn it.”
Xavier slumped. “You can let me go, Lucien.” His eyes burned with hate. “What’s our next move?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Anton looked at each of us. “We have an invitation we need to respond to.”
Mina sat next to Xavier and rubbed his back. He jerked away from her and she slowly dropped her hand.
“So, we met them on Friday?”
“No,” Anton said quietly.
“What!” I raised my fist to smash the mirror, but someone grabbed my wrist.
“You’re not going to hurt your pretty little hand,” Lucien whispered in my ear.
“My parents.” I could barely get the word out. “I can’t let them die.”
“And we won’t.” Anton folded his arms. “I said we wouldn’t go on Friday night when they are expecting us. We shall go Thursday morning.”
I jerked my head around. Thursday was only two days away. We had only one day to practice the Puriforgio Virtueus spell, and if we failed, Cormac would know.
Chapter 19
Lucien put his hand on the brick wall next to the bathroom mirror. “I don’t think it’s safe for Mina and Raven to stay in Wyvern Tower by themselves tonight.”
Anton nodded. “I agree. They’ll stay with me.”
Lucien put his hands on my shoulders possessively. “Not without me.”
I frowned. “But aren’t all the kings staying with you?”
“I’ll make room.” Anton gestured with his arm. “I suggest all of the Defenders stay with me. You’re the targets.”
Lucien grinned and hugged me. “It will be like a big slumber party over at Anton’s.”
Anton glared. “We will not be having a party. Tomorrow, we must perfect the spell, because on Thursday morning we go to war.”
“Sure.” Lucien said as he clasped my hand and led me out of the bathroom. “Don’t worry. We’ll sleep.”
If Anton believed his teasing tone, I had some swamp land I’d like to sell him in Florida, but one glance at Anton’s glowering face, he wasn’t fooled.
“Montae also will stay with us.”
Anton’s sharp tone made Lucien stop and grumble under his breath. I bit back a laugh.
“It’s not funny,” Lucien said. “Montae’s nothing but a killjoy.”
“Only to you,” a familiar male voice teased.
Lucien glared. “Montae, leave us alone.”
“Not until you’re both safe back at Anton’s.
Lucien rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. There wasn’t a point since Montae had proven himself today and he was invisible.
Mina followed us into our bedroom and gathered up some clothes that Anton had gotten for her. She was strangely silent, and she kept blinking away tears. Xavier had hurt her. I wondered how long she’d been in love with him. It couldn’t have been just recently.
Besides extra clothes, I grabbed my things, including my crossbow, the silver dragon spell book, and the Magic Orb. We walked back to Anton’s huddled together. I kept looking up in the sky for a red dragon, but I didn’t see one. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched.
Once we crossed the threshold into Anton’s, the feeling faded. Whatever it was outside couldn’t pierce Anton’s home.
Mina clutched her backpack close to her chest. “That was creepy. I felt like we were being watched the whole time we were walking from Wyvern Tower to here.”
“I think we were.” Lucien plopped down on the couch next to me and draped his arm around my shoulders. I held onto his hand.
Rhys walked into the living room with a big whole grin. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
His father came up behind him and looked at each of us. “I suspect you want your friends to have some High Tempest.”
Rhys rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.
“I actually think after what you all experienced, I think it would be a good idea.”
Rhys beamed. “Really?”
His dad held up a finger. “One and only one drink. The High Tempest is to calm your nerves, not get you inebriated.” He sat down in a high chair. “We’ll wait for the others to join us.”
It wasn’t long. Dante and Katona came first, followed by Xavier and Zayne. When they walked inside, Mina lowered her eyes and sat on her shaking hands. He sat in a chair closet to her, and I don’t even think he suspected what he had done.
Zayne had a pinched face, and he wasn’t as jolly. The upcoming battle must weigh heavily on his mind. It was one thing to practice and boast about what you could do in a battle, but it was a whole new game when you were in it.
Anton swooped into the room and muttered some words underneath his breath that I didn’t understand. Tingles swept over me, and some of the fear haunting me faded away.
“I have re-warded my home,” he said.
King Nico walked into the room. “What about the professors?”
“They are quite safe,” Anton said. “I assure you. They are all trained in protection spells. But you needn’t worry about them. They are not the targets. We are.”
“That’s comforting,” Rhys grumbled.
“I’ll return in a minute,” King Finbar said.
Rhys rubbed his palms together.
Anton cocked his eyebrow. “I believe your father said one drink.”
Rhys dropped his hands and gave us a we’ll-see-about-that-look. Anton returned with some shot glasses on a wooden tray just as King Finbar brought in a bottle of High Tempest.
After what I saw, I wasn’t sure one shot would be enough.
King Finbar opened the bottle and put his palm over the blue liquid. Like Anton, he muttered something over the liquid.
Rhys scrubbed his face. “Great.”
I looked at the bottle warily. “What’s wrong?”
“He just put a spell that we can only have one drink unless you want to get really sick.”
“I’m sorry.” King Finbar filled the shot glasses and then served each of us. “I felt compelled to do this because of what’s in store for you tomorrow.”
I hesitantly picked a shot glass up, hoping it wouldn’t make me sick.
Rhys raised his glass. “To the upcoming battle. May we be successful.”
Lucien tossed his drink back, and I watched the movement of his throat as he swallowed. He sighed and his warm breath brushed over me, easing away some of the terror from earlier. His long dark hair graced his well-muscled shoulders and arms. He was my mate and always seemed to be there when I needed him most.
He frowned as he took my empty glass from me. “What?”
“Nothing.” I snuggled closer, wanting to feel his body warmth.
He whispered in my ear, “Are you okay?”
I nodded wordlessly. I missed the cheering and laughter that usually went with drinking High Tempest, but a sobering quite filled the room. The battle was being forced upon us and lives were at stake. We each finished our glass, and then placed them back on the tray.
Montae came inside. “Guards are posted outside your house as you requested Anton.”
“Very well.”
“I’ll return to be with my men.”
Anton clasped his arm. “That’s not a good idea. You’re a Defender and a target is on your back. Until the battle is finished, you will draw evil to yourself. Your men are safer without you with him.�
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Montae glanced over at King Gregori, who nodded in approval.
Anton picked up the tray of empty glasses. “I have one more bedroom that is not occupied. It’s the one at the end of the hall.”
I blurted, “Mina and I will take it.”
Lucien blinked. “Seriously?”
Dante opened his mouth to say something, but Katona cut him off.
“That will be fine.”
“Yes.” I patted his thigh. “You’ll be fine.”
He frowned. “But I’ll be lonely.”
I kissed him on his pouty lips. “But you’ll survive.”
Muscles tucked over impressive muscles as he crossed his arms.. “Yeah, but I won’t like it.”
Mina’s brows deepened.
I titled my head. “Come on, Mina. Let’s go check out our new digs.”
She followed me out of the living room. “You didn’t have to do this, Raven. I could have slept in the living room.” She looked down at her feet. “A couple should have taken this room.”
“We need to talk.” I put my arm around her stiff shoulders and pulled her close.
“About what?”
“About Xavier?”
She stopped and jerked away from me. “What are you talking about?”
I stuck my thumb down the hallway. “Okay, the idiots down in the living room might not have noticed, but both Katona and I did.”
Bright hazel eyes flickered back to me. Mina was so pretty with her purple and white strands curling around her cheeks, dusted with pink. I didn’t know how Xavier could have not noticed her.
She stammered, “I…I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I opened the door to the bedroom and was surprised that it had twin beds rather than queen and king sized beds in the other rooms, but like always, it was decorated Vlad style–dark red drapes and matching comforters, and dark stained wooden furniture. I laid my bag at the foot of my bed. “This room looks tailored made for roommates.”
“Maybe. If you were vampires.” Mina quietly shut the door. “You and Mina are wrong about how I feel about Xavier. He’s just a good friend, that’s all.”
I cocked my eyebrow. “Mina, you’re not fooling me. I have seen the way you look at him and how protective you are over him.”
“He’s hurting, that’s all. I know how that he feels. When you lose someone, it really hurts.”
I sat on her bed next to her and held her hand. “You mean like your dad?”
She wiped a tear off her cheek. “He’s been a prisoner, too. No matter what anyone thinks.”
“The Defenders believe you.”
She shook her head. “Not all of you. Zayne still thinks he’s a traitor.”
“Bo didn’t.”
“I know.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I miss him.”
The overwhelming grief lodged in my throat. “I do, too.”
She wiped her tears on her sleeve. “I can’t believe Cormac has brought back both he and Poppy to do his dirty work.”
“His little plan is going to end on Thursday.”
Mina let out a slow sigh. “I hope so.”
I gave her a small nudge. “Enough about Cormac. I want to know how long you’ve felt this way about Xavier.”
She opened her mouth as if she were going to argue, but I could see it in her eyes. “You’re not going to let up, are you?”
“If you don’t tell me, Katona will be all over you next. So, how long have you been in love with him?”
She gasped and put her hand on her heart. “I’m in in love with him.”
“Mina.” I drawled out her name.
She lowered her head and sniffed. “Since the very first day I saw him.”
My mouth dropped. “Seriously?”
“He was so nice to me, even nicer than of the other Royals. He didn’t judge me or my dad. You weren’t there, but that first day, Vivian and her minions had cornered me and were saying some really nasty things. Xavier came up and put to a stop it. He growled and wolfed out. He scared the pants off them.”
I arched my brows in surprise. “Even Vivian? She’s a dragon.”
“And a serious coward. Xavier’s a prince. She wouldn’t dare do anything to him––not if she wanted to be Queen B of Ember Kingdom.” She bit her lip. “Do you think Xavier knows?”
I thought about it for a minute. “No, I don’t. He’s deep in grief, Mina. He’s lashing out at everyone and he’s not himself. Just like I watched Bo, he watched Poppy die right in front of him.” I clasped her hand. “He may never get over that.”
She shrugged. “I know, but I can’t change my feelings.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that.”
I hugged her tightly, not knowing what else to say. I wished I could tell her that Xavier would let go of his grief and turn his focus on her. But it would be a lie. I couldn’t get Bo out of my head. He hadn’t been my mate, but I cared for him deeply. I can’t imagine what I would have gone through if Lucien had sacrificed himself for me.
Mina pulled away. “Tomorrow’s a big day. We should get some sleep.” She studied me. “Are you okay?”
I rubbed my thighs. “Oh, you mean the bathroom mirror? Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
She scanned my face with such an intensity that I squirmed. “If you have bad dreams, wake me up.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She clasped my hand and put another one over it. “Raven, you have been having nightmares ever since we got back. You’re not fooling me.” She gave me a teasing smile. “I sleep right next to you.”
I looked down at my hands. “Sorry. I didn’t know I was keeping you awake.”
She rubbed my arm. “You haven’t kept me awake.” She crossed her heart. “Honest.”
“Thanks.” I stretched out my arms. “All of a sudden, I’m feeling sleepy.”
“I am too.” She got up and pulled back the covers and climbed underneath. “Tell me. Is Anton stuck in the Middle Ages decor?” She laughed and curled up on the pillow. “You know there are pastel colors.”
I yawned and sighed. “Try telling him that.”
She nestled her arms underneath the pillow. “Good night.”
“See you in the morning.” I don’t even know if I finished off the sentence.
Sleep came over me and I drifted off, which hadn’t happened in a long time.
I was back on Mt. Elbert, dressed in my dirty and torn nightshirt. Dirt covered my toes and fingernails. I looked around for my team, but I was alone.
Goosebumps broke out over my arms and down my legs. Pink and orange clouds peeked over the horizon and the air was crisp as it always was right before dawn. Cardinals and blue birds hopped on the tree branches and chirped. Wind blew my hair across my face.
Crunch Crunch Crunch
Heavy footsteps were approaching, but I couldn’t tell from where. A trial swirled down the mountain. Someone was coming, and I looked down the side but there was only a winding dirt path.
“Montae.”
The wind immediately stopped.
Crunch Crunch Crunch
“Lucien.”
I looked around on the ground for my crossbow and stopped. A pair of brown boots stood next to my bare feet. I slowly raised my head and peered into Bo’s blue eyes.
“We know you’re coming and you’re all going to die.”
“Bo.” His name died on my lips.
The color of his eyes changed to a crystal white. He put his hands on my throat and choked me, his fingers squeezing tighter and tighter and tighter. Panic bubbled inside me. His face blurred…
“Raven, Raven, wake up.”
I thrashed back and forth. Cruel fingers were still on my throat.
Someone shook my shoulders. “Raven, stop. You’re choking yourself.”
“Let me go.” I sucked hard. Air… I needed air.
“Raven, it’s me.”
I opened my eyes super wide. Lucien sat on my bed shirtless, clasping my wrists and his gaze swim
ming with a thousand questions.
My heart zoomed around in my rib cage. I heaved in and out, but only inhaled snippets of air. I couldn’t talk.
Mina clicked on the lamp. “Raven, are you okay? Your hands were clutching your throat.”
“What?”
Lucien slowly released my wrists. “Yes.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed my cheek. “You were actually turning blue.” He stroked my hair. “What the hell happened?”
“I had a dream… a nightmare…”
He slowly released me. “About Bo?”
I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “I was back on Mt. Elbert alone and filthy. He said he knew we were coming and choked me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t cry out. I couldn’t stop him.”
“But why were you chocking yourself?”
“What? I was?”
“Yes.” He gently moved my chin gently back and forth. “Damn, babe. You’ve got bruises on your neck.”
“She was being compelled.” Anton turned on the overhead and we all winced. He held a glass of water in his hand and brought it over to me. “Here, drink this, Raven. You’ll feel better.”
I took the glass from him with my shaking hand and took some sips. My neck throbbed, and it hurt to swallow, but the water was cool and refreshing.
Anton took the glass back.
I looked up at him. “Anton, Bo was different in the dream.”
He frowned. “How so?”
“His eyes changed from blue to white.”
Anton clasped my shoulder. “I do not think it was Bo. Unseelie’s have the ability to change their eyes to pure white. It’s a way for them to put people under their control. I believe it was Cormac.”
Lucien gathered me close. “Cormac was trying to kill her?”
“Possibly.” He scowled and then shrugged. “Or possibly just trying to scare her. Both Ryker and Cormac are getting worried. We must assume the dream was correct and they know of our plans.”
“Can they do this with any of us?” Mina rubbed her throat.
Anton put the half glass of water on my nightstand nearest my bed. “Unfortunately, I think so, but so far, the attacks have been focused on Raven.”
“I’m staying here tonight.” Lucien pulled me onto his lap. “No arguing.”
