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 swimming 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?”
“Good.” If my closeness affected him, Rowan didn’t show it anymore. “Three deep breaths and we go under, all right?”
My skin broke out in goose bumps. How exactly did I end up tied to a man I hardly knew and about to dive into a heavy current?
Because of the Tsar, that’s how.
I tightened my hold. If I was going to die, it wouldn’t be by drowning on Rowan’s back. “I’m ready.”
“One… Two… Three.”
Together, Rowan and I plunged under the water. The current seemed to yank us in a dozen directions at once. Coils of rope dug into my skin. We began spiraling downward, caught in the pull of the whirlpool. Somehow, Rowan broke free from the current and swam into a side passageway carved into the rock. The rough walls scratched my skin and pulled at my hair. I couldn’t have cared less. We were free.
The pressure in my ears lessened as we headed toward the surface again. Every inch of my body ached to breathe. I bit my lips together, forcing them to stay shut.
Not much longer now.
Finally, we broke through the surface of the water. I greedily sucked in breath after breath as Rowan untied me and set me onto the stony ground. Within a few seconds, he found a candle and flint and lit them up. The illumination seemed impossibly bright after such total darkness.
I found myself in a small cave with three archways that led off into the shadows. My home Cloister was built on caves, so I knew a bit about the first two passages. They were uneven and naturally made. The third one was something else entirely. I shucked off Rowan’s ropes and walked up to the perfect arch. It was carved with runes of power and lined with gemstones.
A gateway.
I knew about these. Necromancers built them to connect allied Cloisters or Monasteries. They were hard to build, exhausting to maintain, and required a lot of magick to make them work. Still, few Necromancers developed enough skill for a transport spell. For those mages, this was the only alternative.
“We had a gateway in my old Cloister. Nothing as large as this one. Where does it go?” Usually, a gateway had at least three destinations.
“I was hoping you might know that.” Rowan gestured across the runes written into the stones. “That’s Necromancer writing.”
Moving closer, I carefully scanned the runes. “This says it’s a gateway to the Eternal Lands. It goes to the court of the Sire of Souls or to the garden of the Lady of Creation.”
“Do you think it’s real?”
“If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have told you the Sire of Souls and the Lady of Creation were nothing more than children’s stories.” Since then, I’d met both of those deities in real life. In fact, they were the ones who helped me defeat the Tsar and send him into exile. “I’ve no doubt this gateway is precisely what it claims to be.”
“And what can you tell me of these?” Rowan knelt before the archway. His candlelight flickered over a pile of insect carcasses.
I crouched beside him for a better look. “These are bone crawlers. It’s one of the spells that only the Tsar can cast.” The Tsar was unique in that he could combine Creation Caster and Necromancer magick at will. His hybrid magick gave bone crawlers like these their insect side. His Necromancer power created their flexible bone shells.
Rowan frowned. “But why would he create bone crawlers here?”
“I don’t think he created them here; I believe he brought them in. Every one of the Tsar’s followers is implanted with a bone crawler. These creatures can drain our magick.” I’d seen this happen firsthand too. The thought made me shake with rage. “But bone crawlers can also store magick, just like a totem ring.”
“So he brought them here for extra power.”
“Precisely.”
“And what would he need more energy for?”
“My guess? Passing through a gateway can be hard work. He might have left these here to help him return from his journey. I’ve heard of regular Sisters doing something similar with gateways and totem rings.”
Rowan rubbed his chin. “Still, there may be other explanations. Perhaps he was merely experimenting with casting bone crawlers. He could have done the spells here to keep them secret.”
“Not likely.” I pointed at different dark marks on the shells. “See these burn marks? There’s no mistaking the signs. Magick was placed into these creatures and then drained away. The marks are clear enough, but…” I shook my head “I just can’t believe the Tsar wanted to visit the Eternal Lands.”
Rowan chuckled. “It explains a few things to me.”
“Like what?”
“In my opinion, the Sire and Lady always seemed overly concerned about the Tsar’s welfare. In fact, they insisted you send him into exile instead of killing him, right?”
“I couldn’t even raise a hand ag
ainst the man.” Although I very much wanted to.
“Precisely. I always suspected there was some history between them. This proves it. There was a time when Tsar visited the Sire and Lady.”
I stared at the gateway. The Tsar and the god and goddess. It was possible. Still, what was he doing there? Some divining spells would give me answers. I tried to pull in magick, but the wards were still too strong.
Well, there are ways to see things without magick.
Reaching out, I set my palm against the gateway’s smooth stones. Magick slammed into me. Fresh images began to appear in my mind.
“Elea, are you all right?” Rowan’s voice echoed as if he were standing many leagues away.
“I’m seeing something. Gateways can hold the image where they lead to, assuming you’ve been there before.”
“But you’ve never visited the Eternal Lands, have you?”
“Not that I know of.” I gritted my teeth as an image appeared in my mind: the darkened tent where I’d first met the Sire and Lady. This was the place where I’d eventually sent the Tsar. His eternal prison. I’d assumed it existed on some nameless magickal plain. It didn’t.
I’d sent the Tsar to the Eternal Lands.
I dropped my hand and stepped backward. “This is very bad.”
“What did you see?”
“The Tsar is exiled in the Eternal Lands.” A chill of realization crept up my neck. And he could use a gateway just like this one in order to escape. “The Tsar’s a master schemer. He might have suspected that the Sire and Lady wanted to send him into exile. Even worse, he might have known they’d send him to the Eternal Lands.”
Rowan frowned. “If that’s true, then the Tsar might need extra magick for the return trip… Something to help him cross back.”
I hugged my elbows as more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “The Tsar built the original dungeons where the Necromancers were drained. I’ll bet he chose a location with a gateway. It’s just the kind of failsafe that he’d put in place.” A shiver rolled across my shoulders. “The Tsar could be returning.” I paced the floor and bit back a groan. “This is a catastrophe.”
Rowan stepped into my path, forcing me to stop. “We can’t worry about the Tsar just now.”
“How can I not? This is the Tsar we’re talking about. The man killed off thousands of my people. If he comes back, I’m his top target.”
“No one is getting anywhere near you, Elea.” Rowan’s voice was a rough rasp. “You have my word. I know what you care about, and it’s your Sisters. For now, simply think of this gateway as another clue for how to find them. A gateway like this one might be hidden in any of the places that you’re inspecting with Amelia. Perhaps you’ll find it under a tapestry or behind a wall. But if you see it, then you’ll know your friends could be close by. That’s all you need to think about. At least, for the next two days. Promise me?”
Rowan’s words helped to center my thoughts. “You’re right. Little time remains to save Ada and the others. I need to stay the course. Thank you, Rowan.”
“I’ll always be here for you.” Rowan stared at me for a long moment. I thought he might have more to say. Instead, he shook his head, stepped across the cave floor, and picked up the loops of rope. “Any ideas on where your Sisters are imprisoned?”
“Amelia wants to check the Havilland mansion first.”
“I can send in someone from my team. They’re experts at subterfuge.”
“No. These are my people. I have to go.”
Once again, Rowan moved to stand so close our bodies were only inches apart. “Trust me on this. My people can handle the Royals.” He brushed the backs of his fingertips up my cheek and I melted into the touch. “I want you safe, Elea.” He leaned in until his mouth was only a breath away from mine.
This wasn’t the time for emotion. I couldn’t seem to stop my zuchtlos feelings, though. My heart thumped with such force I thought it might burst from my chest. Rowan’s voice became low and gentle. “Return to Braddock Farm. Stay safe. I will end this. Once it’s done, I’ll find you there. I swear it.”
My legs felt wobbly beneath me. In my mind’s eye, it all appeared so easy and clear. Rowan could handle this. I’d return to my farm and help the faithful servants who’d kept it thriving. Then one day, Rowan would arrive and we’d be together. How wonderful would that be?
I closed my eyes and stepped away from his touch. This was impossible. My people were my responsibility. No one else’s. And the idea that Rowan and I could be together? That was an illusion.
“It’s a sweet dream. We both know it isn’t the truth. You’re part of the Caster Imperial family. Your uncle is none other than Genesis Rex. You can’t have a life with me as a farmer, can you?”
Rowan’s gaze intensified. “No.” He stepped closer once again. “I’ll still find you, though.”
“And when you do, what will I be?” I wanted to touch him and to be with him. I knew that now. But not at any cost. “Your mistress? Your absentee wife?”
“You’ll be mine.” He pulled me into his arms. Every ridge of his hard body pressed against my soft curves. I’d never craved anything more in my life than I wanted to kiss Rowan right now. He leaned in closer than ever before. His warm breath cascaded over my lips. “Don’t fight this. Please.”
My control snapped, and I pressed my mouth to his. Yes. Our first few tastes were tentative. Gentle. Rowan was as delicious as I’d imagined, a flavor that was somewhere between musk and desire. Every touch of his lips sent spasms of want through my core.
Our kiss quickly turned rough. Rowan nipped my bottom lip, and I let out a rough groan. This kiss could go on forever. Still, some small part of my brain shouted for me to stop.
I didn’t know how I found the strength, but I pushed Rowan away. “I want you too. That’s not enough for me. We’re from different worlds. Your place is with your people. I need to save mine. Once this is over, we’ll never see each other again. I can’t afford to feel more for you than I already do.”
Rowan’s eyes took on that intense look I knew so well. A muscle worked in his jaw for a long moment. “I understand. We both have work to do.”
I exhaled. “I’m glad you can accept the truth.”
“I didn’t say that.” He scooped up the ropes and offered them to me. “This isn’t over.”
I stared at the green cords coiled around his palm. I wanted real ties between us as well. Yet wanting a thing wasn’t the same as having it. I pulled the rope from his hand and looped it around my shoulders. “We better get back.”
The sooner I could return to my regular life and get away from this fantasy with Rowan, the better. We bound ourselves together again and plunged deep into the cold water.
In no time, we’d returned the forest. Tension was thick in the air. Rowan and I dressed in silence. We walked back toward Philippe without so much as looking at each other. The quiet between us turned deafening. At last, we reached the small clearing where Philippe still stood frozen. It felt like a year had passed since I last saw Amelia’s brother.
“I’ll wake him up,” said Rowan.
“I’ll do it.” I stared at my hands, the ground, and the trees. Anything but Rowan.
“Elea.”
“I know you said this isn’t over. It is for me.”
“Perhaps.” Rowan nodded and slipped off into the darkening woods. I had no illusions that he would let what happened between us stop, yet there was nothing I could do about it right now. I cast a quick spell to awaken Philippe.
A few seconds later, Amelia’s brother blinked up at me. “How did we get out here?” He scanned the sky. “And how did it get so late?”
“We went for a walk. Our conversation was so entertaining, we simply lost track of time.” I lowered my voice. “That was rather strong wine we were drinking back at the cottage.”
Philippe’s eyes narrowed. Even so, he seemed to accept that explanation. “Your dress is filthy.” I didn’t think it was all that
bad, actually, what did I know about gowns? Philippe offered me his arm. “Shall we return to the mansion?”
I gave him a cool nod. “Sounds lovely.”
“Now that was the perfect courtly reply,” said Philippe. “Have I told you that you don’t need to play the smiling fool?”
“You may have mentioned that.”
“Well, I think you might have found your rhythm in your courtly dance, so to speak. Let’s return and tell Amelia. After you practice a bit more, you could be ready for a visit to the Havilland family.”
“Perfect.” As I walked back toward the mansion with Philippe, I thought I saw Rowan watching us from the shadows. It was too brief a glimpse to be sure, though. And even if he was there, it wasn’t anything I should worry about.
Soon I’d visit a place where my Sisters might be imprisoned. This time tomorrow, I might have Ada safely in my arms and have destroyed the Vicomte’s vortex watch with its horrible totem. That was something to consider, indeed.
7
I spent the rest of the day at Amelia’s table, practicing my new approach to Royal chitchat. Essentially, I kept my cool and learned how to assess the subtleties of small talk. Turns out, there was a lot hidden in the way one said hello or asked for the salt. Amelia was thrilled with the results. So was I, for that matter, especially because Amelia felt certain that we could visit the Havilland estate tomorrow.
Amelia had also been surprised to see me enter the cottage while sopping wet. I explained that Necromancers always went for a quick swim in the afternoon. Amelia accepted my words without question. That was one benefit of being the last of my kind, I supposed. No one to contradict any of our supposed habits.
It wasn’t until late that night that I finally returned to my tavern room. By this point, I was bone-tired and yawning up a storm. Still, I needed to cast my seeing spell for the day. No way could I miss a chance for more information about Ada. Besides, there was an odd sense of anticipation in my soul. The reason was simple. When I cast, I pulled power into me. On a rare occasion, that energy called to me. And tonight? A spell was definitely tugging at my consciousness, waiting for me to bring it to life.
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