Chapter 13
Blade
Blade Gushiken was a happy person by nature.
Rebecka Erring Fortis was a happy person by force.
“And then you throw the ball into the picnic basket,” Blade instructed the reluctant Human and Magical Creatures Resources woman with an encouraging grin.
“I know how to play Ball Basket,” Rebecka grumbled, tossing the ball cleanly into the basket rigged to the courtyard roof several feet above her head. The white rubber ball rolled around until the bottom of the picnic basket gave and the ball came down with a large bounce.
They’d taken a break in the midst of their haphazard planning.
After many, many, many disagreements on the best manner in which to catch the guvres, Blade had decided their best course of action was to catch them once more.
In a giant wicker basket, much like the one they were playing Ball Basket with.
When he’d suggested the game, she’d acted indifferent. Naturally, she was as effortlessly skilled at this as she was at everything.
What in the deadlands was she doing with him?
Her grin of victory made his heart take off at a gallop, her glasses slipping down her nose.
“What does it mean if the ball goes in, again?” she asked with exaggerated ignorance.
The laughter that followed was like the chiming of lovely bells, her eyes glinting with mischief when she chucked the ball at him with no warning.
He caught it with a grunt and a smile. “It means you have to kiss whoever you pass the ball to next.” He clicked his tongue. “And the rules must be observed.”
She gave him a dubious glance and then took three sure strides toward him, grabbing his cheeks and slowly coming up on her toes, pressing her lips to his in slow measures.
One kiss, then two. His eyes pinched shut almost painfully at the sweetness of her lips, the softness of her sighs, the feel of her fingers coming up to comb through his hair.
It ended too soon, but she remained on her toes with her arms around him, staring up at him with an expression that was a mixture of joy and disbelief.
A mirror to his, likely. His hands flexed around her hips, heat growing beneath his skin. “I didn’t think that would actually work,” Blade said softly.
Rebecka gave him a hopeless grin, shaking her head, and then leaned her forehead against his. “I suppose it’s because you and I actually work.”
He gave no warning—too overcome with how much he loved her—merely lifted her and spun her about, reveling in her giggles as she clutched at his neck. When he put her down, they were both breathless with red cheeks. “You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever held.”
Her eyes glistened. “I won’t tell Fluffy.”
The dragon, who was lying steps away, snorted out a puff of smoke on what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
Blade feigned a wince. “I fear he already knows.”
The animal was content, enjoying the last of the daylight after a large supper. Rolling onto his back, he allowed his long tongue to roll from his mouth with a sigh.
“He’s rather one of a kind, isn’t he?” Rebecka observed with a soft smile. Then Blade watched with growing distress as the smile faded and worry etched itself between her brows. “Do you think I should answer my mother’s letter?”
Oh no you don’t, you little sneak. “Rebecka, I am not deciding that for you.”
She folded her arms with a frustrated growl. “Why?”
“Because you know very well what you’re going to do already.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I hate that you know that about me.”
Blade chuckled, walking back to the wicker guvre trap to begin weaving once more. “No, you don’t.”
With a hmmph sound that Blade truly enjoyed, Rebecka came back to assist him, wordlessly falling into a rhythm. After a few minutes of working side by side, she asked, “You’re sure the measurements of this will be big enough to catch the guvres?”
“I didn’t get a chance to whip out my ruler, but I’m gonna say we can eyeball this time around.
” Blade shrugged, ducking when she picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at him.
“It needs to be small enough to fit over the nest. We’ll only have a few seconds before she sees the trap and flies off. ”
“But what are we going to do to get the guvres to come back to the eggs?”
This would be the tricky part of his plan. “I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it. Nor will Evie, by my guess.”
Rebecka tilted her head, her gaze shrewd. “How so?”
Danger. Danger. Danger!
“Making the eggs viable again?” They were dull and lifeless, likely laid ten years ago, before the female was imprisoned. As far as they knew, the female still hadn’t laid any new eggs, but regardless, they needed the youngling for the prophecy.
Fate and starlight fall together.
The venom of the guvre youngling was known to be all-healing, and Benedict would be searching, too. Blade had never been the vindictive sort, so it surprised him when he felt an intense need to beat that fucking arse.
And to do it, he’d be infuriating every woman in his life.
He should be holding a shield.
Rebecka laughed at his suggestion. “That’s not possible. There’s no magic that can reverse the viability of life.”
Blade sighed. May as well throw himself into the fire. “No one’s ever attempted it with starlight magic.”
Rebecka’s lips twisted. “Why in the deadlands would—” Suddenly, her eyes widened on a gasp. “No! Have you gone mad?” She shoved past him in a huff, heading for the doors of the manor.
He bolted to catch up with her, knowing if she got to Evie in this state, the chances of convincing them would bottom out at zero.
“The prophecy said that Fate and starlight fall together! That could easily be Lyssa using her starlight magic on the eggs. And if it works…” He reached for her arm but shrank back at her glare.
“She’s a little girl!” Rebecka bit out. “She doesn’t even know how to use her magic yet, and you want to just put her in harm’s way while we try to catch two of the deadliest animals in existence?” She was huffing, a vein protruding from her forehead at the strain.
She looked bloody ravishing, all told, but he didn’t think now was the time to tell her that.
“We would be there to protect her,” Blade promised Becky. “You really think I’d suggest something like this if I thought there was even a small chance it would put her in danger?”
“You fly around in the sky on a fire-breathing dragon! I hardly think you’re the best judge of what is safe.”
“Rebecka, see reason,” Blade urged, regretting the words as soon as they left his lips, but he forged on anyway. “Lyssa traipses around Massacre Manor like it’s her personal playground. The same place that’s been under constant threat since her arrival.”
Rebecka’s resolve was cracking; he could see her wavering at the truth of his words. “Even if I agreed with you.” Her finger flew up in an accusatory point. “And I’m not saying I do. Evie would never allow it.”
“She might if you and Tatianna talk to her. She listens to you both.” Blade held the door open for Rebecka, and she walked silently back into the manor. The entryway glowed with candlelight and the fading sun, making the room feel pleasant and warm.
Curious, how he still felt as if he’d just entered a tomb.
Blade searched the area. Two Malevolent Guards stood by the front doors, and another several were posted near the entrance to the dungeons. Nothing appeared out of order. Just the prickling at the back of his neck and the overwhelming feeling he was being watched.
By something…ominous.
A force slammed into him, a blur of pink bows coming down next to him in the form of a very frantic healer. Tatianna scrambled to her feet, looking panicked. “He—he ran away. We cannot find him anywhere!”
“Lost” was not a look one ever saw upon Tatianna’s face, nor did her fingers normally shake. “Tatianna, where have you been?”
“The laundry!” She leaped to her feet, pushing her ponytail behind her shoulder. “He— And then I went— But then he— And now—”
“Tatianna!” Blade called her name, feeling like he was trying to pull her back from a bad dream. “Take a breath. Who are you looking for?”
Her brown eyes shone beneath a veil of tears.
“Kingsley.”