Unlocking Void (Book 3) (24 page)
Read Unlocking Void (Book 3) Online
Authors: Jenna Van Vleet
“No, walking the courtyard.”
He looked surprised. “She walked in on me.”
“Half naked.”
“
Details
.” He waved a hand.
“How did she know?”
He thumbed a ring on his finger. “She has wards set on the doors to feel how many people come and go from my rooms. I was alone when Maxine passed through my bedchamber. She must have thought I was in danger.”
“You forgot about them?”
“I was a little preoccupied.”
“So the Arch Mages have no way in now?”
“As far as I know,” he nodded and removed the towel. The bleeding had stopped. “How did you get here?”
“I rode.”
“With who?”
“Just me. Your bridge is out.”
His eyes widened. “You did
what
? Does Aisling know?”
“No.”
“Isn’t your kingdom at war?” he gathered his shirt. “You can’t up and leave them like that.”
“And had I been a minute slower, you would have left yours.”
He paused while pulling his shirt on. “Fair enough. I will be back shortly.” His eyes and hair suddenly became frighteningly white, and he vanished. A large golden-eyed cat wandered in a few minutes later. It regarded her with moderate disdain and plopped itself before the fire.
Gabriel suddenly reappeared. His wound began to seep again.
“She is relieved.” He said.
“Was she infuriated?”
“Not when I explained why you came. But, you should know…” he took a seat before her. “Ryker Slade came looking for you, and since you were not there, he took Prince Virgil.”
“
What
?” she breathed. “When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Oh stars, will he kill him?”
Gabriel grimaced. “I do not know.”
“Can you do anything?”
He shook his head.
She put her forehead in a hand. “His father will think I had something to do with this.”
“His father sent him to be murdered if necessary.”
She looked up. “He may think
you
had something to do with this.”
“King Victor would not be so foolish. Now, we’ve both had a long day. Shall I walk you to your rooms?”
“Do not be silly. I am staying here tonight.”
“
I’m
silly? I would not have you disgraced so.”
“I’m not leaving you tonight,” she stated with a terse tone she used when commanding subjects.
He knew he would get nowhere. “Fine, take the right side. I’ll find you some clothes.”
“I’ll have a bath first.” She stood and undid her hair.
“As my Queen commands,” he said quietly and pulled out fresh towels.
She washed quickly and dressed in a pair of his sleeping garments. The trousers pooled around her ankles and the shirt reached her knees, but she could not complain. They smelled like him. He was already in bed when she joined him. The big black cat curled up on his thighs.
“Coal protects my dignity, so don’t get any creative ideas,” he said as she climbed in.
“After the story you just told me, you cannot possibly think I would try anything licentious with you.”
He gave her a sad smile and touched her face. “Thank you for listening.” With a wave of his hand the fire died, casting them in darkness and silence. “Wait. How did you get over the bridge if it was out?”
Maxine hovered outside the walls of Castle Jaden, standing on a plinth of air. In the shroud of evening no one could see her, and what guards passed along the walls looked to the landscape, not the skies. She stood with her arms folded and a scowl on her pretty face as she watched the Head Mage’s windows.
Gabriel passed them briefly and she smirked. It was a rare occasion that anyone bested her. It was rarer still for her not to see it coming.
‘What a treasure you are,’
she mused.
‘I will have you in the end, my beauty, but it will be you who begs for me.’
Gabriel stepped before a window and her heart gave a surprising leap. The smile on her lips slid away. In the end, one of them would die. If she allied with him, the Arch Mages would kill her. She had a much better advantage fighting against him.
‘I’m sorry, Gabriel, for the things I have yet to do.’
-End
Continue the story here with book four:
Other Books by Jenna Van Vleet
The Father of the Fifth Age series
About The Author
Reality is boring, and Jenna realized that very early on. If she was not reading fantasy, she was writing it. As an artist she dabbles in everything from costuming, portrait art, and leather crafting. She currently resides in Utah with her husband, and is 15 cats away from being crazy.