Gathering Darkness (22 page)

“When Phaedra stopped visiting his dreams, it broke his heart,” Lysandra whispered.

Hearing that name felt like a hand gripping Jonas's throat.

“At the time,” Lysandra continued, “I thought he'd gone mad, but maybe it was true. Maybe she was real.”

“Did you say . . . Phaedra?” Jonas asked.

“Yes. Why?”

Phaedra. The name of the Watcher who had healed Jonas at the brink of death. “This is impossible.”

Felix leaned back in his chair and pushed his hands through his short dark hair. “Wow. We definitely need more drinks. Barkeep! More drinks for my friend here, please. He needs one very badly.”

Bruno hobbled over, his permanent smile still plastered to his face. However, instead of drinks, he held just a folded piece of paper sealed with wax. “I almost forgot all about this! Your lovely lady friend Nerissa delivered this message a few days ago. She worried you wouldn't be back for weeks! Oh, she'll be so pleased you were here to receive it. She said it's quite urgent. What wonderful timing you have.”

Lysandra watched the man warily as he slapped the message down on the table and then wandered away without another word. “He's delightful, isn't he?”

“Very,” Felix agreed. “But look here. Another message, with the same seal as the last one. A perfumed love letter from the princess, you think?”

Glancing at Lysandra, Jonas picked up the message.

“Open it,” she urged.

He nodded, then broke the seal and unfolded the paper.

“What is it?” Felix asked. “What does it say?”

Jonas's eyes lit up with every word he read. “It's a request.”

“A request from her royal highness,” Lysandra said, and, for the first time when speaking of Cleo, her voice held no palpable animosity. “And are you planning to grant her request?”

There was a time he would have thrown the note away and laughed about such a ridiculous appeal.

He wasn't laughing now.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “All three of us are. At first light tomorrow, we're setting out to do exactly what her royal highness wants.”

MAGNUS

AURANOS

A
lexius.
The name Lucia had whispered like a prayer as she'd slept for weeks.

Alexius.
The Watcher who'd preyed upon Lucia in her dreams when she'd been unconscious and defenseless.

Alexius.
Now here with the king's full permission, and officially appointed as Lucia's private tutor. They'd barely left Lucia's chambers since he'd arrived here a week ago.

The boy was a problem and a threat. But no one seemed to believe this except Magnus. He'd taken it upon himself to keep an eye on the Watcher and make sure he behaved himself.

Today, the king had given permission for Alexius, Lucia, and her new friend Cleo to leave the palace on a journey to a festival in a nearby village.

Magnus was not surprised that he hadn't been invited to join them. But that didn't stop him from going anyway, following them on horseback at a discreet distance.

It was no secret that he didn't trust Alexius—or Cleo, for that matter. Lucia was a fool to trust either of them, even in the company of guards.

He followed their carriage for hours, until finally it came to a stop. Magnus directed his horse into the shelter of the forest line so he could watch unseen as the three stepped out into the sunshine. Lucia said something to a guard, and then headed off with the Watcher and the other princess into the forest. The guards didn't follow.

How odd.

Magnus waited until they'd disappeared before he approached the guard Lucia had consulted, who stiffened at the sight of him.

“Your highness,” he said, his voice strained.

“What's this?” Magnus asked. “Where are they going?”

“Princess Lucia requested that we stop here, then asked us to stay behind and wait as they go for a—a stroll.”

“A stroll.”

“Yes, your highness. She was adamant that we give them privacy and said they'd return when they were done—”

“Strolling,” Magnus finished. “Yes, of course.”

“If you want us to go after them . . .”

“No, don't bother. I'll go. Stay right where you are.”

He left his horse with the guards and strode into the forest, following a trail of trampled grass and broken twigs. With every step he took he became more suspicious of the nature of his sister's day trip. Especially when accompanied by the likes of Alexius and Cleo, both of whom had dubious motives for spending time with the young sorceress.

He hastened his pursuit. He needed to learn the truth.

It didn't take long for him to draw in on Lucia's party. They were conversing, but the words were indistinct, so he decided to get closer. Then, suddenly, all fell silent.

Curiously silent.

What exactly is going on here?

He stopped and listened carefully.

“You! Come out!” It was Lucia. “Whoever you are, you're fearless enough to follow us, so show your face and prove you're no coward.”

His adopted sister sounded particularly fierce today. Perhaps this was the influence of the company she'd begun to keep.

Magnus was no coward. He was ready to confront them about where they were strolling off to in the middle of nowhere, so far away from their supposed destination.

Magnus emerged from the trees and stood on the pathway. They all regarded him with varying expressions of surprise.

“I was never told about a day trip,” he said, sliding his gaze from Cleo to Lucia, whose clenched fist blazed with fire magic. Her new and irritatingly attractive tutor stood tall next to her. “You can douse the fire, sister. Don't worry your pretty little head. I mean you no harm.”

It took a moment, but she finally tamped out the flame. She watched him with both caution and suspicion.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Following you. Obviously.”
Steadily, he regarded each of them in turn. “I hear you're going to a festival. I hate to break it to you, but it's a bit of a walk to any village from here.”

Lucia exchanged a glance with Alexius. “We're not going to a festival.”

“I'm shocked. Perhaps the three of you have journeyed out here to commune with nature. Is that it?”

He felt Cleo glaring at him, but didn't spare her a glance.

Their silence spoke volumes. What were they trying to hide?

“And you.” He turned to Alexius. “What are your intentions today, luring two young girls out into the middle of nowhere, away from their assigned protection? Should I guess? Or should I go ahead and kill you where you stand?”

“Magnus!” Lucia cried.

“Am I being rude? So sorry, sister. But I'm sure you'll forgive me for showing the caution you seem to lack. What exactly do you know about this boy other than that he claims to come from the Sanctuary as Melenia's representative?”

She raised her chin. “I know enough.”

“But I don't.” Magnus regarded Alexius, who stood passively, his expression relaxed. “You're not easily intimidated, are you?”

“No,” Alexius replied, having the audacity to look bored by Magnus's barely restrained ire. “Why? Is that what you're attempting to do? Intimidate me?”

He smirked. “I've been able to coax at least a trickle of perspiration from Lucia's previous suitors. That's what you are, isn't it? In addition to being her so-called tutor? I see how you look at her and I don't like it. I don't trust you like she does.”

“You don't know me.”

“I know enough.” Magnus walked a circle around Alexius. He could see no reason to mince words. “Why have you come here today? There's nothing around for miles besides the Temple of Cleiona.”

The three exchanged a look, confirming to Magnus all the more that they were up to something.

Finally, Lucia broke the silence. “We need to tell him.”

“Lucia,” Cleo protested.

“He may be a bit brash and rude, but I trust him—I trust him every bit as much as I trust the two of you.” Lucia turned to Magnus. She searched his face and took a deep breath. “We're here today to claim a part of the Kindred.”

Every ounce of his bravado and composure Magnus walked into this situation with washed away in an instant. All he could do was stare at her, wondering if he'd heard her wrong.

“Are you certain of what you're saying?” he said with a rasp in his voice.

“It's true.” She nodded. “Father wants it for himself, but he can't have it, Magnus. That's why I had to lie today. He doesn't know the truth.”

His throat was tight, his mouth dry. He suddenly realized how warm it was today and felt as if his heavy black coat was trying to choke him.

“What truth?” he asked.

“That the Kindred must be found and immediately returned to the Sanctuary. If they're not, the world will . . . it will . . .”

“What?” He forced himself to regain his composure. “Will life as we know it end? Is that what your new tutor told you?”

“Essentially,” Alexius said.

Of course. How better to manipulate Lucia than to convince her the world would end without her assistance?

Magnus glanced at Cleo. She held her arms across the bodice of her rose-colored gown, which was far fancier than anything typically worn on a walk through a thick forest on a hot day. She regarded him with a silent, sour expression—not a new look for her by any means.

“And why are
you
here?” he asked her.

“I want to help,” she replied.

“Oh, yes. So helpful.” If Lucia honestly believed this duplicitous creature was a true friend to her, she was a fool. For all her rigid upbringing and the lack of love and guidance from her cold and calculating mother, Lucia could be so unforgivably naïve. “How convenient it is that you're along for the ride today. With your interest in the Kindred and all.”

“Of course I'm interested in the Kindred,” Cleo replied quickly. “I live in Mytica and have heard the legends and stories all my life. However, I didn't know it was all true until just the other day.”

She said it with such confidence, even Magnus almost believed her.

Almost.

Magnus looked at Lucia. “You should have told me about this.” He didn't mean to sound so harsh. But they used to share so much, it pained him that she hadn't trusted him.

“I'm sorry. I should have told you. But I know how close you've become with Father lately. You two are practically inseparable.”

“That is vastly overstating matters.”

“Magnus is right,” Cleo said. “He doesn't spend all his time with the king. Some of his time—or at least some of his nights—are spent with Princess Amara.”

Lucia looked at him, shocked. “You and Amara?”

He'd spent only the one night with the Kraeshian princess. She hadn't made contact with him since returning to her villa and it hadn't bothered him one bit. She'd been a pleasant distraction, nothing more than that. But no one had to know that but him.

“I couldn't help myself,” Magnus said. “Amara is irresistible. We do have so much in common. That girl is full of possibilities.”

He half expected a retort from Cleo, but she stayed silent.

“If you say so.” A new frown creased Lucia's brow. She turned to Alexius. “I want Magnus to be a part of this. I trust him not to say anything to Father.”

Lucia's words tugged at Magnus's heart. She still cared about him, trusted him, even though he couldn't think of many reasons why she should.

Alexius said nothing, keeping his gaze fixed on Magnus. There was something in the Watcher's eyes that seemed far more ancient than his otherwise youthful appearance. “As you wish,” he said at last.

Lucia nodded and turned her attention to Magnus. “Father can't know. Promise me, Magnus. He can't know about this.”

“Oh, I promise,” Magnus replied. “Father will never possess even one crystal now that I know they have much more important purposes.”

Although, not the important purposes Lucia believed in.

But first he needed to see it, to prove to himself it was real. Then he'd figure out what to do next. If this journey led to nothing, he could use this as a means to get rid of Alexius, to soil the Watcher's reputation in the eyes of the king. Just another useless boy with his goals set on the king's daughter.

He knew that Alexius and Lucia could be extremely dangerous if provoked or betrayed. And Cleo . . . well, he didn't underestimate her, either.

“Let's keep moving,” Alexius said. “We're almost there.”

Alexius and Lucia walked ahead and Magnus trailed behind them with Cleo, who walked slowly, as if treading on broken glass.

“Trouble with your shoes? Are they too tight for the long walk?” he asked, eyeing the fine golden sandals that peeked out from beneath her skirts.

Her jaw clenched. “Not at all.”

“Good. I'd hate to think you were in constant pain due to your poor choices.”

They continued on in silence. Magnus tried to ignore the uncomfortable heat and resisted the urge to remove his jacket. And, frankly, his boots were rather uncomfortable as well.

It was an unpleasant day, but one made infinitely tolerable because it might lead to triumph.

They were so close, and now the king would never lay his hands on what he wanted most. That single thought gave Magnus more pleasure than he'd felt in months—or even years.

Finally, they arrived. The Temple of Cleiona had been a massive structure of white marble, thick pillars, and stone carved with artistic precision. It had been the grandest and most impressive structure that Magnus had ever seen in his life. When he'd come here for the first time, it had actually taken his breath away.

Now it lay in ruins. The large statue of the goddess out front had crashed to the ground during the earthquake and in pieces. A massive crack split the marble floor down the center. The ceiling was mostly caved in.

The site of his marriage to Cleo had been abandoned. Where once many had come to pray, there was now but the four of them.

“You're certain a crystal is here?” Magnus said, still finding it hard to believe that they could be so close.

“I'm certain.” Lucia held out her hand, and Magnus noticed that she wore a familiar ring—the ring he'd often seen Cleo wearing. “I used this ring to help awaken it in this place of power. And now we can claim it through a ritual.”

The ring.

Magnus fought to keep his expression neutral. Phaedra, the Watcher in Paelsia, told him about a ring that could help Lucia control her magic.

This was it.
His heart pounded at the realization. She'd found it, it had simply dropped into her lap, when he'd had no idea where to even begin looking.

Magnus cast a dark, quizzical look at the blond princess, and Lucia caught his eye. “Cleo gave it to me,” she said. “To help me. To help us all.”

All this time, Cleo had had the ring. It couldn't be a coincidence. “Did she now?”

“I like to help when I can,” Cleo said evenly.

He forced a smile and said, “If you'll excuse us for a moment, I'd like a quick word with my
wife
.”

Lucia regarded him with uncertainty. “Of course.”

She then took Alexius's hand and drew him away, closer to the temple's entrance, to give the pair their privacy.

Magnus studied the ruins before him, remembering, with a churning sensation in his gut, the last time they'd been here. Cleo stood nearby, just as quiet and still as the crumbling statue of her namesake goddess.

“I know what you're trying to do,” Magnus said to her finally. “And you can't have it.”

“Can't have what?”

He wrestled with frustration. Cleo had a way of testing his carefully crafted composure that was unlike anyone else he'd ever met. “The Kindred belongs to my family, not to you.”