Breath of Air (22 page)

“Come inside, darling.” Clynn rose and pulled her with him, his arm still around her in support. “This is unsettling news for all of us.”

Later that evening, Thea gathered everyone for dinner, and she explained everything Balgaire had told her. The adults had all heard it, of course, but this was so their children could hear it, and understand it.

Her message was simple: Roarke had betrayed the people of Euphora, most notably her and Sebastian, and had committed horrible crimes. She commended Balgaire on securing a resolution to those crimes by way of the confession, and added that she hoped he was coping with his partner’s unexpected betrayal. With that, she led a toast to the Furies and the Enforcers, and afterwards everyone began to eat dinner in silence.

When dinner was over and everyone poured out into the parlor or went up to their rooms, Capri searched for Rian amongst the crowd. She hadn’t seen him all day until dinner, and even then he sat several seats away, his gaze focused on nothing but the plate in front of him. She didn’t even see him eat anything; he simply sat there in silence.

She didn’t see him enter the parlor, so she headed away from the majority of the crowd and out into the corridor. Just as she walked through the door, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side.

“Rian.” She wrapped her arms around him the moment she saw his face. He held her back tightly, unsure what it was about her that comforted him. He only knew he needed it.

When she pulled away, she had tears in her eyes.

“I’m so sorry.” She mumbled, shaking her head softly, sorrow so clearly written on her face.

“I am too.” He said in return, reaching out to hold her hand, to have some kind of contact with her so he wouldn’t lose control. His face was strained, as though he was trying to contain the rage he felt. “I know my father is not guilty of doing those things. Confession or not, it isn’t true. You must believe me.”

“I do.” She said immediately. “It doesn’t make sense.”

He seemed to relax a little then, relief coursing through him. “You weren’t there, you didn’t see it happen. But I did.” His face hardened at the memory. “And I can tell you, something was wrong with him, he wasn’t himself, it wasn’t him talking. I knew him better than anyone except Balgaire, and something was off about the whole thing. My father was a good man; he would never have done those things.”

“So what do you think happened?”

“I’m not sure.” He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “But I’m going to find out.”

“I want to help you.” She blushed, diverting her eyes at the look he gave her. “That is, if you want me to.”

“Of course I want you to.” He replied, and when their eyes met she recognized that he needed her now just as badly as she had needed him before.

Before she could respond, Balgaire emerged from the dining hall and approached them, his face set in stern lines, his dark eyes cold. Capri watched him as he walked straight to Rian, leaning in to murmur something in his ear. Rian’s brows knit in concern as he listened silently, nodding as Balgaire pulled away.

Balgaire eyed Capri grimly, but didn’t say anything as he turned and stalked off down the corridor.

“Why does he always do that?” Capri wondered as she watched Balgaire’s retreating figure disappear through one of the doors.

“Do what?” Rian asked as she turned back around to face him.

“He mumbles, he never says a word out loud. He must be the shyest person I’ve ever met if he’s afraid to speak in front of people.” She looked slightly hurt at the idea that he was afraid of her, something that Rian found briefly amusing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, he speaks out loud all of the time. Maybe you just catch him at moments where he feels the need to be discreet.”

“Like just then?”

He nodded. “Yes. Though all he told me was that he wants to speak with Brogan and I first thing tomorrow morning regarding my new obligations as lead Fury.” He sighed, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m stepping into my father’s place now, much earlier than expected, but I have no other choice.”

“You’ll be great.” She squeezed the hand she held, smiling at him. “I know it’s hard, but you’re one of the strongest people I know. If anyone can get through this, it’s you.”

“Your faith in me is astounding.” He chuckled, causing her face to redden slightly.

“All I know is that I wish I had even half of your strength.” She bit her lip and glanced at the floor, fighting against embarrassment. “I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.”

“Thank you.” She looked up at him and he was smiling at her. She realized it was the first time she had seen a true smile on his face, and it comforted her to know that he felt at ease enough with her to let his guard down.

“So what do we do now?” She asked, her anxiety returning.

“I don’t know.” He looked troubled as his eyes narrowed. “No one else seems suspicious about all of this, but I know better.” He paused for a moment, deep in thought. “Meet me in the courtyard tomorrow night after dinner, and bring a list of every detail you think is significant from your dream. There has to be something we’ve missed, some piece that can explain what is really going on here.”

“I’ll start working on it right away.” Capri assured him. “We should probably-“

“Capri?” Clynn stood just outside the dining hall doors, his eyes narrowing suspiciously at seeing his daughter standing in the darkened corridor with Rian. “Is everything alright?”

“Y-yes, everything’s fine.” Capri’s hands fell away from Rian’s awkwardly, and she sent him one last knowing look before walking towards her father, who led her back into the dining hall. Rian didn’t follow them, but instead turned away and headed to his room.

“What were you and Rian talking about?” Clynn asked her quietly as he led the way through to the parlor, where everyone was sitting around talking.

“I was just giving him my condolences.” She replied, hoping there was enough truth in the statement to convince him.

He nudged her down onto one of the many plush sofas, and sat beside her, watching her closely.

“He is going through a tough time right now, and he might prefer some time alone to grieve.” He told her, reaching for her hand.

She looked up at him curiously. “Are you telling me I shouldn’t talk to him?”

“No, not at all.” He defended, looking sheepish. “I just think that maybe you should give him time. I know he’s been helping you figure out who the demon is that kidnapped you.” He chuckled at the surprised look on her face. “I’m not blind, Capri, nor am I oblivious to the passion you have for finding this demon. But keep in mind that Rian has other things on his mind right now, and he may not have as much time to devote to helping you as he had before.”

Capri considered his words for a moment, feeling guilty that she was not going to be able to follow his suggestion. She knew the last thing Rian wanted was for her to leave him alone. And regardless of what her father seemed to want, she was going to continue helping him, just as he was going to continue helping her. They now had a common goal, and even loyalty to her father couldn’t keep her away from pursuing it.

“Okay, I won’t bother him for awhile.” Capri told him, mentally crossing her fingers to offset the lie.

Clynn patted her knee, smiling. “Good girl.”

She smiled back at him, though it most certainly didn’t reach her eyes. He didn’t seem to notice, however, as he turned and began a conversation with Lucian about some storm in Russia that needed attention.

Capri looked around the room at the few people who had yet to retire upstairs, and noticed that no one really seemed angry or upset anymore. On the contrary, it appeared that most of the people there seemed to believe that the recent events involving Roarke were enough to conclude their fears about everything that had been happening on Euphora. They were all content with the explanation that he had confessed to everything, and since he was dead then justice had been served. Case closed. How they could hide their heads in the sand and believe something so honestly unbelievable was beyond her.

Even Blythe, Liam, and Rhiannon seemed unperturbed by the news, and were acting as though everything was fine.

Was that really how the people of Euphora dealt with murder and scandal? By simply accepting the first valid explanation as complete and utter truth? Why was there no doubt in anyone’s mind that Roarke might not have been guilty? Sure, she supposed that in most of their eyes a confession was the end all be all of an investigation, but why didn’t anyone look to Roarke’s character and the years of faithful service he had given to them? The protection he had offered all of Euphora in times of crisis seemed to mean nothing now. It shamed her to think that his memory was tarnished by what she knew was an outright lie.

And if they so easily condemned Roarke and dismissed his entire reputation because it was easier to accept that he had been guilty, then it raised doubts in her mind about Brock. What if Brock hadn’t actually been guilty either? What if he had been framed, used as a scapegoat for a crime someone else had committed? And what if that same person had now done the same thing to Roarke?

Uneasy, she pressed her hand to her stomach, feeling suddenly sick. No, Brock must have been guilty; his own mother was there with the demon the night she, Capri, had been kidnapped. Why would she be involved if it weren’t to help him?

She took a steadying breath, trying to calm herself. Rian would help her figure this all out, and then the truth would be discovered and everything would be fine. Until then, all she could do was compile that list of details from her dream before she met with him the following night.

She said goodnight to her father and the others, feeling numb and exhausted. It had certainly been a long and trying day, but she couldn’t go to sleep yet. She had to write that list.

Rising from the sofa, she slipped out through the parlor doors into the dining hall, and then out into the corridor.

Back in the parlor, one of the Fates watched her leave, his gypsy eyes carefully blank despite his broken heart.

♦ ♦ ♦

List in hand, Capri snuck through the Atrium the following night and out into the courtyard, grateful for the darkness outside. She had complained of a headache and gone to bed just after dinner, only to sneak back down again moments later, accompanied by the list she had spent the better part of the night before compiling.

The pale blue moonlight illuminated the courtyard and deepened the shadows cast down by the trees. Capri glanced around, searching for Rian, wondering if she had arrived before him. As she walked along the pathway, her eyes scanning around her, she saw him appear from the shadows to her right.

She walked towards him, her lips curving into a smile.

“Hi.” She greeted softly, keeping her voice low in case someone had a window open above them.

“Let’s walk.” He cupped his hand under her elbow gently before leading her swiftly down the walkway towards the front gates. They walked in silence, neither really knowing what to say, but each comforted by the other’s presence.

When they reached the gate, he placed his hand upon the wrought iron, which melted away beneath his touch. He led the way through the meadow and down the same pathway Liam and Blythe had taken her, the path that led towards the bench on the edge of the island.

Under the cover of the forest, the moonlight did little to help light the way. She wanted to ask him if he had a flashlight, as she hadn’t even thought to look for one to bring, but he seemed to know the way well enough in the dark.

She could see the open sky through a break in the trees just ahead, the stars exploding against the deep velvet blue of night. When they left the forest behind them and were out in the open meadow, facing the edge of the island that dropped off dramatically to the sea, Capri felt momentarily mystified.

If she had thought this place to be beautiful in the daytime, it was nothing compared to what it looked like at night.

The stars were so bright and illuminated that they seemed to be alive and glittering, and the moon above them was crisp and clear, its body surrounded by a glowing blue ring. Everything was reflected in the ocean below, making it seem as though there was no break between sky and sea, but instead that they were in one all-encompassing universe, and she was standing right on the edge of the planet.

In the open moonlight, she could see the grasses swaying slightly in the soft and cool breeze, and when Rian gestured for her to sit on the bench she sat and reached down instinctively to pick a dandelion growing up from the ground right in front of her. Twirling it between her fingertips, she did what she always did with such things: she made a wish.

When she suddenly blew at the dandelion, sending the tiny seeds bursting into the air to be carried by the breeze, she heard Rian chuckle beside her.

Blushing, she tossed away the stem and turned to him, grinning.

“What was that for?” He asked, the amusement clear on his face.

“I was making a wish.” She defended good-naturedly. “Haven’t you ever done that before? I used to always do it when I was little.”

“Can’t say that I have.” He shrugged. “What did you wish for?”

“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.” She smiled again, relaxing, her gaze drifting out towards the sea. “It’s so beautiful here. I should come and sit on this bench every night.”

“It’s quiet.” Rian leaned back against the bench, relaxing as well. “I can think clearly when I’m out here.”

“That’s good because we have a lot of thinking to do.” Capri reminded him, holding out her list for him to look at. “That’s everything. Most of it we have already talked about, but it helped to put it down on paper.”

He took the list from her and looked it over in silence. When he was done reading, he set it down in his lap and turned to her.

“The only thing I can’t seem to figure out is who the second man was in the library.” His brows furrowed as he looked at her. “We know Rohan is most likely involved, and my father was suspicious of Tobias, so he’s involved somehow. And Brock is also most likely part of this since we assume he has been residing in Richmond which was where my father and Balgaire went last. But none of this answers who the voice was that you heard. That is the missing piece.”