by C. A. Worley
“While we wait, I’m going to retrieve one of my men. If we’re in two groups, I’d like to have at least one Prajna with each.”
Kellan licked his upper teeth. “Isn’t your home on the coast?”
Viktor rolled his eyes, a habit of his mate and her sisters. One that was now his, evidently.
“I’m just saying that’s an awfully far distance to travel. My men will reach us soon.”
The wolf’s eyes were sparkling mischievously and Viktor grunted.
“I find you very annoying, wolf”
“Tis the way of families, is it not?”
“You’re digging for information. Where I live. How I travel. I’m certain you already know the latter.”
Kellan flashed a big, toothy grin. “Nora said you were smart. Don’t worry. I’ve not been broadcasting your abilities to the world at large. My father saw you arrive at the temple once. ‘Appeared right out of thin air!’ he’d exclaimed. He was quite impressed, if it helps.”
“Bloody wolves,” Viktor muttered, earning another slap on the back.
“Go on, get your man. We’ll eat while you’re gone. I’m sure my wolves are hungry.”
“You’ve brought food?”
Kellan unsheathed his claws. “No. We’ll hunt food. With your permission, of course.”
“Just don’t eat any of my people.”
Kellan’s grin widened. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Viktor assumed Kellan was joking. He’d hurry, just in case.
Even though Kellan knew about Viktor’s ability to port, he didn’t think the others did, so he walked some thirty yards into the thick of the forest before tracing away to Castra Nocte.
* * *
“I swear upon my name, I will not discuss, disclose, or share anything you tell me in this room without your express permission. Unless it is an absolute matter of life and death or could bring harm to an innocent life.”
The magic of Yuri’s oath zapped across Eden’s skin. He was the last of the three to pledge. He’d instructed Luka and Mariana to add the last caveat, just in case.
Yuri had insisted there needed to be a way out in the direst of circumstances, especially when dealing with something so serious. He also told her to be very wary of demanding pacts for they all had magically-enforced consequences. Eden fully intended to heed his warning.
“Now,” Luka said, “what is so important you demanded an enchanted oath?”
Eden took a sip of wine, a deep breath, and let the story unfold. She started with the death of her mother and the fact it had been poison that took Elora’s life. When Eden mentioned Sephtis Kenelm, Mariana’s face went white.
She kept the details succinct and refrained from displays of emotion, even when revealing the attack on her father. When her story ended with where Viktor was today, Mariana was shaking her head and Luka’s face was pinched. Yuri’s expression gave away nothing.
“That was quite a tale,” a deep voice rumbled with disapproval from the door.
Eden pushed her seat back, launching herself up and throwing her arms around Viktor. She buried her head in his chest. He’d only been gone for half the day, but she’d missed him terribly.
Guarded green eyes fell upon her face when she lifted to offer a kiss. Viktor simply glared.
“Are you angry with me?” she inquired cautiously.
“Angry? No.”
“Oh, good—”
“I’m beyond furious. What were you thinking, Eden? There are reasons I do not disclose certain things to certain people.”
Luka pointed a finger in the air. “If I may—”
“You’d do well to remain quiet,” Viktor spoke sharply.
“—your sieva took precautions,” Luka continued, ignoring his older brother’s threatening tone. “Brilliant precautions, if I might add.”
“Thank you, Luka,” Eden said. She pushed away from Viktor, scowling. “I am neither dim nor inexperienced with handling sensitive information, Viktor. You would do well to remember that.”
Viktor’s eyes crinkled in the corners. He loved the fight in her. She was the only person he allowed to speak to him in such a manner. Others had tried and paid for it with their lives.
He wasn’t really furious with her, but he thought she had been careless with information. He reached for her arm and jerked her forward into his iron embrace. Eden didn’t struggle.
“I don’t like it when you speak to me thus.”
The corners of her mouth lifted. “I think you do.”
A soothing vibration ran up and down their bond. Viktor sighed and bent to kiss the corner of her mouth. If they’d been alone, he’d have her pinned against the wall.
After inhaling her essence at the crook of her neck, he straightened and escorted Eden back to her seat. Viktor stood behind her chair and rested his hands on her shoulders.
Mariana, Yuri, and Luka were gawking at the pair as if they had suddenly sprouted extra heads. Viktor knew he was losing his reputation as someone to be feared. So long as it didn’t spread past this group, he could live with it.
“Tell me, Brother, of these brilliant precautions.”
“She forced us to swear on our names to never disclose, discuss, or share what she told us without her permission.”
“All of you?”
“Yes,” Mariana complained, “all three of us.”
“Come now, wife, don’t be so cross. It was the best way to trust us,” Yuri chastised as kindly as he could.
Viktor massaged Eden’s shoulders affectionately. “Well done, Eden.”
“I know,” she chirped. She could feel Viktor’s mirth through the bond and it felt wonderful. She was growing tired of his newfound apprehension, which was getting worse by the day. It only fed her own anxieties.
“Join us,” Yuri pointed to Viktor’s seat at the head of the table.
“I cannot. I must return. I only came here to retrieve you. I need your assistance.”
“But of course. Is everything okay?”
“We found the wolf.”
Eden’s breath caught.
“She was already dead, under the water in a shallow pool. We’re guessing the vampire used his or her power to force her to drown herself. Aside from the obvious, nothing else was wrong with the body.”
Mariana covered her mouth and Yuri rubbed her back.
“And then there was one,” Luka whispered.
“Isn’t that good news?” Mariana asked.
“We’re not sure the vampire was working alone. The wolves picked up on two different scents in Burghard during two different attacks. Both were vampire,” Viktor responded.
Yuri kissed Mariana on her cheek then rose from his seat. “I’m at your service, Viktor.”
“You might want to change your clothes. We’ll be navigating the edge of the marshlands. I can meet you outside the guardhouse in, say, twenty minutes?”
“Of course. Wife, don’t wait up.”
Marian nodded and bit her lip nervously.
“Eden, I have a couple of things I need to do before I meet Yuri. I apologize I cannot give you any time today.”
Eden put her hand on his and craned her neck. “Do not apologize for doing your job, Viktor.”
Viktor knelt beside Eden and kissed her firmly, yet briefly, on the lips. His knuckles brushed her cheek just before he rose.
“Take care of my sieva, Luka. I’d like someone with her until I return. Goddess knows why, but she seems to be enjoying your company.”
“I will guard her with my life.”
“I know,” Viktor answered, shocking Luka with his faith in him.
“Can we still explore today?” Eden asked.
Viktor really didn’t want her to, but he’d promised. He’d already taken measures the past week to tighten security by limiting who was allowed in and out of the castle. He’d even sent some of the more jealous females in the Komora away to another property.
It wasn’t much, but his order had delighted his m
ate. She’d been very obliging and patient with him when he’d told her he couldn’t simply send them back from where they came. It would have been an insult to their families and the females might be shunned for it.
Though, he didn’t actually believe anyone in the Komora was a member of Sephtis Kenelm. He had seen each of them in various states of undress and not one had the marking the members carried on their chests—not that he’d ever tell Eden how he knew. She was smart enough to guess and he was smart enough not to call attention to it.
Members of Sephtis Kenelm had a tattoo-like brand over their heart with the brotherhood’s name in a swirling script. Viktor had Yuri check every royal guard. None carried the mark.
All signs pointed to the traitor being somewhere near the border. He doubted any fool would come to Castra Nocte and raise so much as a finger against Eden when either Viktor or Luka was around. Their grisly reputations were rooted in truth.
“I’d prefer not, mala vestica. Not unless you can talk Luka into showing you some of Castra Nocte.”
She turned a hopeful face towards the male.
“It would be my pleasure, Eden.”
Mariana clapped, eager to show Eden the beauty of their home.
“Do not leave the castle,” Viktor ordered.
“We won’t,” Eden promised.
Viktor brushed his lips across hers and headed for the door.
“Oh,” he turned towards Luka, “stay out of the kitchens.”
Luka cocked his head, as if waiting for Viktor to explain. Viktor held his tongue, preferring to cut it out before he announced Bianca had decided to invite several chefs today to finalize wedding fare. He was looking forward to ruining it for her.
Viktor disappeared before anyone could question him on it, confident they would obey.
Chapter 22
Viktor ported straight to the kitchens. He’d expected a flourish of activity, but the area was calm. Bianca sat at a large table covered in a variety of dishes.
She stood the second she saw him, wiping her hands down the front of her dress. It was a nervous trait she’d never shown before.
Viktor’s eyes darted to just above her cleavage, half expecting to see a black brand. Or maybe it was hope? Treason carried penalty of death, which would unquestionably solve all of his current problems.
He cursed himself for such foolishness. He’d seen that skin a thousand times. Nothing blemished her skin. She was virtually flawless—physically, that was.
“Come,” he commanded, holding out his hand.
Bianca blanched. Viktor hadn’t sought her out since she’d returned to Castra Nocte. The only contact they’d had was the night she’d stupidly gone to his balcony and then again, briefly, when she’d asked to speak with him at court.
He’d only learned of her meetings today after a guard alerted him upon his return from the forest.
Schooling her surprise, she rounded the table and lifted her hand to grab his. She’d barely touched him when he ported them to her rooms.
As soon as they landed he jerked his palm from her grasp. Viktor did not want to touch her any more than he had to.
“I’m guessing you didn’t come to taste the food,” she commented dryly.
“Sit.” Viktor pointed to the chair next to her dressing table.
“I think I’ll stand, unless …” she nodded to the bed.
“I am not in the mood for your games, female,” he snarled.
“Very well.”
Bianca lowered to the chair and crossed her arms. Viktor was in a mood. He was never cheerful, but he could usually be pacified with sex. His sieva had ruined that for Bianca.
She wished she could say her poor reaction was due to jealousy. On some level, it was. Mainly, Bianca was terrified Viktor intended to force her to leave the safety of Castra Nocte. Without his protection, what would she do?
“Release me from the contract, Bianca. Name your price and you’ll have it. But release me.”
She inhaled sharply, her features hardening. Swallowing, she dared to defy The Heartless King.
“No,” she spoke softly, but with conviction. “You know I cannot. I am not the one who created the agreement.”
“You can and you damned well know it. Dmitri loved you. He gave you an out.”
“Only if I did not want you. So long as I do, I’m just as bound to this as you are.”
Viktor’s mask slipped. He knew she would refuse. However, he never believed she actually wanted him, only the title he could offer her.
“Do not look so surprised, Viktor. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I have my sieva. We are bonded. How could you possibly want someone who could never have interest in you? We will never live as man and wife. Never. All you would get from this is a title.”
A humorless laugh escaped her lips.
“You think I only ever wanted to be Queen?”
“Don’t you?”
“Of course I do! But you are very foolish if you think you’re not the reason I …” her voice trailed off, unable to finish.
“The reason you what?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
She knew he’d never feel the same, but Bianca didn’t care. He offered her a safe place to live. The marriage would give her a position of power, of control. It was the one thing she would never willingly relinquish. She refused to ever be vulnerable again.
“Last chance, Bianca. Give me what I want or I’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”
Seconds ticked by slowly. Bianca bore his glower, feeling thousands of tiny daggers stab the back of her eyes. She’d never let it show, but she did care for him. It wasn’t love, but it was something.
“I—I cannot,” she finally responded.
“Then you leave me no choice.”
“Viktor …” She wanted to ask him what he meant. She was too afraid of his response to follow through.
“You are to remain in your rooms the rest of the day.”
“Gorlind is coming today.”
“He can attend to you in your rooms. Better yet, send him away. I’ll never see you in that dress. Never.”
With his final declaration, Viktor ported out of her room. If he’d stayed but a second longer, he’d have seen the cracks in her icy demeanor break wide open.
* * *
“You were right, Mariana, Castra Nocte is a marvel. Truly,” Eden stated.
Yuri’s mate beamed proudly and continued chattering away as they headed towards the throne room.
Luka had led the trio around the castle and allowed Mariana to show off her knowledge of history. It was a fortress decorated in antiquity.
Priceless vases and urns lined the halls. The weapons room was a museum of sorts, where long-outdated armaments were hung in neat rows, gathering dust.
Eden had been especially impressed with the enormous tapestries in the main hall, telling stories of battles and wars fought over the millennia. Some were the only archives remaining after a fire had wiped out a large part of the library centuries ago.
She now understood Viktor’s reluctance to allow Eden to use her powers inside. Fire was her favorite power, and it was the easiest to wield. It also scared a lot of people. She should probably tell him she could also control other elements.
It was hard being forthcoming with such information after a lifetime of being forced to keep it hidden. Eden knew her father’s concern was warranted, but hiding it was starting to feel like she was lying.
She doubted Viktor would be upset. It’s not like he set aside a lot of time for conversation when they were together. It wasn’t an excuse, per se, she was just easily distracted by the male.
It had only been hours since Viktor left the dining room and Eden was once again pining for his touch. He might not return until tomorrow, so she needed to focus on something else.
Eden watched Luka open the doors to the throne room. From behind, the two males were almost identical. She forced her attention to the room they were entering,
wondering what she would learn from Mariana.
“It’s beautiful, is it not?” Mariana sighed.
“It is. Viktor brought me here once before.”
“Yes, I remember it well. Wonderful first meeting,” Luka added sarcastically.
“Not my fault,” Eden countered.
Luka’s shoulders shook as he bit his lip. He really did like his brother’s little mate.
“It’s known for its windows. The stained glass took years to create,” Mariana informed Eden, changing the subject.
The three of them walked closer to the far wall. The sun was low in the sky, bringing out the darker hues of orange and red in the glass. The prismatic effect spread across the shining floors, making the room look like it had been set aflame.
“Why fire?” Eden questioned.
“It’s one of the few things than can kill us, yet we do not fear it as we should. Something in the Prajna make-up is intrigued by the flame,” Luka replied.
“Why put it here, as décor in the throne room? It seems … I don’t know, like a reminder of your weakness. This is a room where the Prajna must stand strong.”
Luka looked to Mariana who sighed dreamily. She’d always loved this part of Castra Nocte.
“We’re not sure,” she told Eden. “I always thought it was because these were the only colors the glass makers could manage all those years ago.”
Luka snorted. “Perhaps. I see it more as a poetic show of strength and courage. It’s saying, Here we are, surrounded by flames, and yet we continue on our path.”
“I like that assessment,” Mariana complemented Luka. “It’s much better than my guess.”
Luka dipped his chin bashfully, making him look far younger than he was. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked towards the dais.
“I used to despise coming in here, when my father was king. Viktor and I used to pretend the flames were real and they’d eventually crawl up the steps and destroy him.”
He scratched at his head, ghosts of his past dancing across his mind. “In the end, I guess we were the flames.”
Eden tried to keep the pity out of her eyes. She’d never experienced such depravity as Luka and Viktor must have. Nikolai was a monster.
