A Burning in the Bones (Waxways #3)

Chapter 17 Ren Monroe

17 REN MONROE

What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?

That was the panicked thought that echoed between Ren and Theo. No one came to the door to help. Ren realized the sound of Horn’s fall had been barely loud enough for her to hear. This would be their only opportunity. Both of them began testing their bindings. Tugging, pulling, twisting. Groaning with effort. No matter what they did, however, the leather straps held tight. Horn had dropped his saw, but it was well out of reach. Ren was still searching the floor for some other option when she realized Theo was signaling her. He mouthed a single word, over and over. She couldn’t make it out until he paired it with hand movements. He held his hand flat and shoved his palm outward as far as his binding would allow. This time when he mouthed the word, she understood. Push.

She nodded. It was their only chance. They’d tested it at the very beginning, and the counterspells had swatted away their effort. Hours had passed, though. The magic would have waned. And the first attempt had been one-sided. Theo desperately pulling at her. If they both worked together, could that overcome the wards? Her bond-mate closed his eyes in concentration.

Ren felt that familiar tug. The same beckoning voice that had drawn her from Ravinia to Nostra that first time. She shoved headfirst into that sensation. Counterspells flared, bright and brief, but she was already moving. It wasn’t pleasant. She’d traveled along their bond easily before. It had always felt similar to traveling the waxways, but this time she was passing through a reduced version of their magic. The final threads connecting them. All of her compressed into that too-small space. And then she was there. Beside him. Half-there and half-not. One final pull of magic from Theo solidified her form. She was free—and falling.

“Shit!”

She had been lying down. The magic kept her in that position before dropping her. Her back collided painfully with the stone floor. She rolled over on one side, groaning against that pain, and then she was pushing back to her feet. She spared a glance for Horn, to make sure he hadn’t woken back up, and then she set to work on Theo’s bindings. Loosening each strap in spite of her trembling. When his hands were freed, she moved to the bindings down by his ankles.

“You knew,” she whispered. “About the portal room, and you didn’t say anything.”

Theo nodded. “Yes. I knew.”

“You must hate me.”

She knew those words weren’t true—or fair. Guilt made her say them. It hurt that that flaw Dr. Horn had found in their love came from her heart and not his. Theo had no such flaws in his affection. It had been her decision not to fully trust Theo that nearly doomed them. And might still.

“I could never hate you,” Theo whispered. “I read my father’s report, and then I assumed the best of you.”

Ren frowned. “Theo. The portal room was my fault, though. It was.”

“It’s behind us,” he said. For the first time his brash confidence felt like a salve on old wounds. “Look, you’re not the only one who’s smart, Ren. I knew you’d never put Timmons at risk like that. Which means the binding spell you performed—it was meant for me and Clyde. My father’s notes made your position clear. An unfair lack of offers from the great houses, in spite of your performance at Balmerick. The desire you showed for a new position. What better audience than two heirs? I still don’t think it was a wise decision, but you’re assuming everything that happened after that was your fault. Think, Ren. What happened to Clyde? That would have happened no matter what you did. He was casting a spell. Magic was coursing through his veins when the waxways activated. Your binding spell was irrelevant. He would have died no matter what. Either in that forest or in the streets of Safe Harbor. It wouldn’t have mattered. His death isn’t on you.”

“But the others…”

“Weren’t supposed to be there! Your binding spell drew them in completely by accident. What do you want me to do, Ren?! Hate you for the things you never meant to do? Despise you for being so desperate that you felt like you had no other choice but to do something drastic? I’m sorry, but I’ll never hate you for that. I’m not sure I could if I tried. I mean, just look at that….”

He pointed. Their bond was still visible in the air. Even marred by Horn’s work, the spell remained breathtaking. Ren noticed that in the few seconds they’d been speaking, the magic had already started restoring itself. As if Theo’s words were healing the damage Horn had done, word by precious word. “Look, I’m in love with you,” he said. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here.”

Ren felt like a fool. How much time had she wasted worrying about that secret? When love had already propelled Theo past it? She watched as he collected Horn’s tool from the ground before handing her the spare wand from his pocket. There was little chance she could use it. Accessing someone else’s vessel without permission was enormously difficult. It took years of training, but Ren accepted the wand anyways. It was possible a guard might not know it belonged to someone else. She could at least create the pretense of being armed.

“Are you worried he’ll wake up?” Ren whispered.

Theo shook his head. “I don’t think so. Besides, now he has no wand. Come on.”

They crept over to the door. Staying low the entire time. Theo’s voice was so quiet that it barely reached her. “I wish I knew who was involved. We have no idea what’s waiting out there. If we’re in a basement or a loft. Outside the city or somewhere downtown.”

Of course. He didn’t know. He’d been sedated for the entire conversation with Tessa.

“It was your sister’s idea. We spoke. While you were unconscious.”

Theo’s eyes shocked wide. “The Proctors released her?”

Ren nodded. “All of the great houses were involved. This was a state-approved coup.”

“To remove me?”

“No. They wanted to keep you. The goal of this was to remove me.”

“A severance procedure. Gods. I would have forgotten who you are.”

His eyes were bright in the surrounding darkness. Ren felt burning anger begin to fill the space between them. The kind of fury that led to the destruction of entire cities. It was the most attractive thing she’d ever witnessed, and she’d once seen him perform a ceremonial dance shirtless. It had her smiling in the dark.

“Save that anger for later,” she suggested. “Right now, we need to stay focused.”

He nodded. “We knock three times. They come to the door—and then what? Do you know how many guards are out there?”

“I’ve only seen attendants. Rotating. Maybe two or three of them.”

Theo regripped the saw. “We’ll have to move quick. Before they can get off any spells. Are you ready?”

When she nodded, he knocked on the door. The same rhythm Horn had used. They stayed out of sight as the answering footsteps approached. The door swung open and they thundered out of the shadows like a pair of revenants. There was a clipped scream before Theo seized the person by their collar and put the saw to their throat. Ren darted past, her stolen wand raised high, but there was no one else in the room.

“Where are they?” she asked. “The other attendants?”

The young woman burst into tears. She’d dropped her own vessel to the floor. Ren collected it, keeping her eyes on the adjacent hallway the entire time. Theo’s borrowed weapon had grazed the girl’s neck. There were small rivulets of blood staining her collar.

“Tell us where they are,” Ren repeated.

The girl stammered. “No one else… I was… Arlo just went home sick. He wasn’t feeling well. Someone was supposed to come an hour ago. My shift… over. My shift should be over. I was supposed to be home. It’s just been me. No… no one else came.”

“Where are our vessels?”

The girl pointed at the nearest wall. Ren frowned, but moved in that direction. It appeared to be empty. She ran one finger across the cracked paint, though, and found a spot that sent vibrations back across her skin. Goose bumps ran down the length of her arm. There was magic here. She tapped the wall three times and a cloaking spell fell away like shed skin. A hidden door.

“Got them,” Ren announced.

All their vessels. Their coats, too. Ren traded Theo his wand for the saw. It fell to the ground with a clatter. She slid the dragon-forged bracelet over her wrist, then adjusted her grip on the horseshoe wand she’d used since she was little. Gods, it feels good to have my magic again.

All that was missing from their arsenal was Vega.

“You will lead us out of the building,” Theo explained. “You will tell us everything you know about where we are in the city. If you want to live, you will be quiet and helpful. Hesitate for even a moment and we will leave you here for your colleagues to clean up in the morning.”

That had the girl shaking violently. Theo forced her to start walking. Ren trailed them both. They found themselves strolling through a private medical wing. The entire place appeared to be empty. Ren assumed that was intentional. Fewer witnesses for their illegal procedure. Now that decision worked in Ren and Theo’s favor. No one sat at the intake desk. No one was watching over the lobby. They slid like wraiths toward a set of double doors with stained glass panels on either side. Ren thought she saw a figure waiting outside.

“How many guards are there?” she whispered.

“T-two. Usually two.”

Ren and Theo edged quietly forward. She silently counted to three—and then they burst through the doors. There were two chairs set on a dimly lit porch area. The left one was empty. The right one occupied. Ren was preparing to unleash a concussive blast when she realized the guard was asleep. She gestured to Theo, who understood, slapping one hand over their attendant’s mouth.

The girl struggled before remembering that her life was very much in danger still. Slowly, they edged away from the guard. Ren saw that he was sweating. His face had turned pale. Not just tired, but sick? The grounds were extensive. All draped in shadow. They reached the darkest corner of the courtyard, but Ren still felt terribly exposed by the terrain. It ran flat in every direction with very few trees. They would have nowhere to hide if someone stumbled upon them, but at least it was night. Visuals would be low. They were shadows walking inside shadows.

“Is this the Whisper Garden?” Theo asked.

Their captive nodded frantically.

“You’ve been here before?” Ren asked.

He nodded. “Once. For a luncheon. It’s a reward for the Shiverians’ vassal houses. There are underground baths. That place they had us… it’s a rejuvenation center.”

“How lovely,” Ren whispered back. “Where the hell is the exit?”

A third voice cut into their conversation.

“Stop where you are. I am a member of House Shiverian. Do not move!”

The missing guard. Shit. He’d made his approach using the same shadows as them. Several spells rotated through Ren’s mind. It would not be easy, she knew, to spin around and cast magic. The guard had the drop on both of them. Their one advantage was that they had the numbers. Two of them to just one armed guard. Unless he was uniquely skilled, he’d have a hard time hitting both targets. All they had to do was move in opposite directions. Ren glanced at Theo, who glanced at her. Understanding passed between them. The guard noticed.

“Hey! None of that…”

Ren saw that he’d lifted his wand into the air. It was the clever solution. He didn’t need to stun them both or attempt to duel them at all. One firebright spell and he’d have the rest of the guards on this estate joining the hunt. She flinched in expectation of the bang. Magic launching into the sky, bright and bold and beckoning.

Instead, she watched the man’s entire wrist detach.

Blood poured out. The pain was delayed, but when it arrived, it arrived in full. The man fell to his knees and Ren had the split-second awareness to cast a silencing spell. The gossamer wave of magic struck him just in time. There was the briefest slash of a scream, and then nothing. Just a man with a stump for an arm, screaming without making a sound. Theo was more merciful than her.

A stun spell thundered out from the tip of his wand. Too wounded to resist, the man took the full force of Theo’s casting in the chest. He slumped unconscious to the ground.

“What just happened?” Ren asked. “Did his spell backfire?”

Theo shook his head. “Look.”

A small cry echoed above. Ren spotted Vega swooping in tight circles, the gruesome appendage still clutched in her talons. Focused on her flight, they’d forgotten about their captive. She was sprinting back in the direction they’d come from. They watched her vanish and knew the countdown was on. Ren followed Theo into the night.

Vega winged overhead like a talisman of hope. They encountered no other guards. Eventually, the gardens began to narrow. From sprawling sections to a sort of stone labyrinth. Ren did not like that feeling—of being trapped as she’d just been trapped on that table—but Theo moved like someone who knew where he was going. There was a lone gate between hedges. He led them through that archway and out into the public streets.

He knew this area better than she did. They walked parallel to the property, still too close for Ren’s comfort, until the road began to slope down into a market space. Theo pulled up short when they reached that waiting square. “There’s no one here?”

“It’s the middle of the night, Theo.”

“I know. They call this the Midnight Market. It’s popular with Safe Harbor residents. It doesn’t usually empty out until sunrise. There should be hundreds of people here….”

Ren frowned. “Holiday?”

“National Day is still a few weeks away. This is something else. Let’s keep moving.”

As they continued, her paranoia flared. Kathor was a massive city with a large enough population that it never truly slept. Being raised in the Lower Quarter had taught her that much. As a child, loud conversations and passing footsteps had served as bedtime songs. The perfect amount of noise to lull her to sleep each night. But Theo was right. These streets were more than quiet. They were dead.

“People are watching,” Theo muttered.

Ren saw what he meant. The windows. Eyes peeking through slats. A hastily pulled curtain. As if the entire city knew something they didn’t. It was unnerving.

“What are those markings?”

Dark X s were chalked across a door on their right. As they walked, Ren noticed more and more of them. One X here, two X s there. Right now, all it meant was an unhindered walk to the nearest portal access. The station was empty. Normally there was at least one attendant. City protocol dictated that there be someone here to oversee waxway transportation. More troubling, the candles had all been stolen. It took some rummaging in a back closet to find a few spares. The two of them lit the wicks and counted down the minutes, half expecting someone from House Shiverian to stumble into the room with their wands raised. But that didn’t happen.

Empty streets greeted them in the Heights. More chalked doors. Ren felt as if they’d been kidnapped in one world and set down in another. Like the old fairy tales where people would travel through mirrors and stumble upon entirely separate universes.

Their first priority was safety. The two of them trotted up the front steps. Theo made quick work of the lock. Once they were inside, barriered to the outside world, they both sagged to the floor, their shoulders pressed together. Death had come for them again, and it had come away empty-handed yet again. Neither of them spoke. What was there to say?

All that mattered was that they were safe.

The nightmare was over.