Chapter 9 Devora
Devora
Inursed my wounded pride for the better part of the day, still reeling that Nox had the nerve to throw me over his shoulder the night before like I was nothing more than a sack of flour. Like I was his property.
The thought made my jaw clench as I traipsed back down the steps of my tower and to the library, the sun almost fully set behind the towering mountains in the west. After months of nothing but history books and almanacs, I was ready for a change of pace.
I ran into a few maids on my way to the third floor, but no other residents made an appearance.
I spent a couple of hours browsing the books, reading the first chapters of some, then switching them out if I wasn’t in the mood.
I’d never had access to this many books before.
Sure, the wealthy families I worked for had tons of them, but there was never much time for hobbies, and I wouldn’t have been allowed to touch half of them anyway.
Before I landed my first big job with Lady Reaux’s household, the only print I read was the Wanted posters hanging outside taverns.
The orphanage I was taken to after being found on Mysthelm’s shores didn’t hold the fondest of memories for me, but there was one nurse who took compassion on me: Miss Leigh.
I was the most troublesome of the lot, always sneaking into the kitchen, drawing on kid’s faces in the dark, getting my head stuck in the banister trying to spy on the adults.
But Miss Leigh took me under her wing. She taught me to read and write, giving me direction for the stray thoughts running loose in my head instead of scolding me and sending me away without dinner.
Books were a solace now. A way to escape the truths of my life and dive into someone else’s fantasies.
But as much as I tried to concentrate on the stories in front of me, a deep, sultry voice with a hint of a growl kept permeating my thoughts.
I’d been right—he did have a secret operation going on.
And many more people lived here than I anticipated.
I could hear them on the lower floors, the sounds of footsteps and slamming doors and clattering silverware from a nearby dining room.
As the evening bled into night, the sounds dimmed, the occasional door creaking shut or whispered conversations from people outside the library being the only signs of life.
One hundred and eighty-two children rescued. That was what Nox said last night. He spoke of them as if he knew them—the ones with their art projects plastered to the walls, their families and lives and trauma reflecting in his eyes. It certainly wasn’t what I had expected.
Then again, I barely knew him. Perhaps he was right, and I was too quick to assume I knew everything. But that didn’t negate the other things I’d heard. How he’d hurt some innocent Lightbender on that horrible man’s orders, and it didn’t seem like it was the first time.
I prided myself on my observance, my ability to read between the lines and piece things together that others may not want me to see. It was a skill developed in childhood, bred by curiosity and loneliness and the need to understand when nothing in my life was understandable.
But even I found it difficult to reconcile all the sides of this dragon Shifter.
His charm and charisma with those around him, his anger and disdain with me.
The fact that his sole mission seemed to be rescuing others from such a horrid fate, and yet he was quick to draw a blade and snuff out someone’s life.
I puzzled through the enigma that was Nox Duma while half of my attention was on the Alchemy book I’d chosen to keep me occupied, until my eyes strayed to the clock on the wall.
Half past ten.
I shut the book and put it back in its place, then crept to the only window in the vast room that overlooked the stables.
My real reason for coming here.
Sure enough, if I squinted through the darkness, I could see a group of hooded cloaks preparing their horses. Nox’s tall, broad frame was unmistakable as he smoothly pulled a saddle over his steed’s back and covered his own wavy hair with a hood.
The Mysthelm shipment. The one I’d caught them discussing last night.
Something was coming from my home kingdom. Something that this Scarven person they kept talking about wanted.
Call me curious. Call me brash, but I wanted to know too. If I could prove myself to be more than just a traitor in Nox’s eyes, maybe he would finally work with me. Maybe he’d finally keep his promise and help me uncover the truths of my past.
There was only one problem: I couldn’t leave the house.
But I had a plan.
I carefully snuck out of the library and down to the first floor, where I found the greenhouse the night before. I’d perused more books on Alchemy than I could count. I figured there had to be something in them about the type of ward Nox’s Alchemist used to keep me locked inside.
I may not be an actual Alchemist (nor much of a Shadow Wielder, obviously), but I read how much of their power came from herbs or crystals themselves, paired with a recited spell. Maybe simply ingesting certain powerful herbs could dispel a charm, and I didn’t have to actually cast a spell.
That was what I told myself, anyway. And I desperately wanted to find a way out of these walls.
The earthy scent of the greenhouse hit me as I hurried down the hallway leading to the glass chamber. What did that book say…something about dandelions being able to break curses? Wait, no. It was thistle.
I glanced around for the strange, jagged plant I’d seen in the book. Several of the sharper leaves with thorns pricked my finger as I—
“You’re not supposed to be down here,” a hesitant voice said behind me. “Does Nox know where you are?”
I whirled around to face a young man in tweed pants and suspenders over his white shirt.
The fabric was smudged with dirt and bits of leaves.
Keen, innocent eyes flitted from me to the entrance as he pushed his unruly blond curls from out of his eyes.
He was a few years younger than me, maybe nineteen.
I instantly relaxed, sizing him up and seeing what angle to play. This kid didn’t look like he would hurt a spider. And if the green marks on his fingers were any indication, he knew this greenhouse well. An Alchemist, perhaps?
An idea formed in my mind.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I rushed out. “I figured if I wasn’t allowed somewhere, the wards would stop me.” I tilted my head to the side. “They must be broken or something.”
His brow furrowed. “They’re not broken.”
I widened my eyes in mock innocence. “Well, it’s best to be sure. You should bring it up with Nox. You don’t want someone getting into—”
“I would know if they were broken,” he cut in, chest inflating slightly. “I’m the one who set them.”
“You don’t say?” A grin unfurled on my features. “In that case, my name’s Devora. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“We all know who you are,” he said, eyeing me with distrust.
I stalked closer to him. “And you’re Milo, right?”
He immediately stepped backward. “H—How did you know my name?”
“Rebekah, of course.” I remembered the note I’d seen in her pocket the other day. From your Milo, with the hearts. The same name Nox used when saying he’d have the Alchemist loosen the wards. Put two and two together, and… “She talks so much about you, you know.”
His lips parted. “She does?”
I nodded eagerly. “All the time. She wishes she didn’t have to spend so much of her day up in that tower cleaning the room. She doesn’t get much time for anything else.” I took a shot with that last part, figuring if he’d resorted to writing her letters, he didn’t get to see her often.
He swallowed. “They keep her so busy lately.” His eyes moved toward the door again, then flitted back to me. “Wh—what else does she say?”
Fates, he was kind of adorable. I almost felt bad.
“That she misses you. But she’s worried what they’ll say if she tries to sneak off during work hours.
” I knew how big properties like this worked their schedules, more or less.
The head housekeeper probably kept a close watch on her maids.
Tight rotations, not much downtime in between shifts. Poor kid.
I slid closer to the row of flowers he stood by, absentmindedly fingering the leaves. “I could help cover for her so she can get away and see you.” I looked up to see his eyes brighten. “If you wanted.”
“You would do that?”
“Definitely. Now that I can leave the tower, I could distract the head housekeeper. Give you some privacy in my room while Rebekah’s on her shift. I’d be happy to help you, Milo.”
His lips twitched. “That would be—”
“If you do something to help me, of course.”
His grin faded. He tugged on his earlobe, leaving faint traces of green behind. “You really shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, come on.” I propped my elbow on the nearest counter. “Don’t you want to see Rebekah? I’m sure it’s been a lonely few months. And if it works, maybe we can get a routine going. You’d never have to go this long without seeing her again.”
He brushed back his tangle of curls. I could see every thought running through his mind, displayed to the world on his youthful, freckled features. I knew I’d gotten to him. He just had to take the bait.
His shoulders moved up and down as he let out an exhale. I watched him lick his lips, then swallow hard, eyes darting with his thoughts. I tapped my fingers at my side. Come on, kid…
And then—
“What do you want?”
There it is.
I smothered a smirk. “For you to drop the wards on the house.”
He crossed his arms. “Absolutely not. Silas would kill me.” The blood drained from his face. “Nox would kill me!”
Silas. One of the names Nox had said last night. I didn’t know who the man was, but I filed it away for later. “Just for tonight, I promise. One single night for endless hours with Rebekah. That’s more than a fair trade.”
He shook his head defiantly. “They trust me. I can’t let them down.”
“Look, Milo…” I rested my hands on his shoulders to make him meet my gaze.
I changed tactics, quickly thinking through my options.
“You care about them, yes? Nox and the others? You must know where they are tonight.” He blinked, then nodded.
“So you know this shipment from Mysthelm could be dangerous.”
His lips parted. “Wait, how do you know about that?”
“Because Nox told me.” Okay, I’d crossed over into blatant lies, but I was in too deep to stop.
“It’s alright; I want to help them. I’m from Mysthelm, remember?
Maybe there’s something I could do if things go wrong.
But I can’t do it from here. Please, Milo.
Drop the wards, just for a few hours, and I’ll make sure they get back safely, and I’ll help you see Rebekah again. ”
His light brown eyes, so sweet and naive, slowly took in my words. I saw the moment he made his decision.
“Just for a few hours?” he whispered.
I smiled. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
He let out a long, shaky breath. “Fine. But they can’t find out.” He reached for his pocket and pulled out a small burlap pouch, then shot me a warning look. “If they get mad at me, I’m telling them you tied me to a tree.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “Deal. That was my next move, anyway.” He jerked backward, and I laughed again. “Kidding, Milo. I knew you’d make the right decision.”
He mumbled some choice phrases that had my eyebrows rising before he placed a few stems from his pouch onto his tongue. A string of unidentifiable words flew from him. There was a strange tightening sensation around my chest, almost like something was pressing on my lungs, and then it released.
He stared back at me grimly. “It’s done. You’re free to go.”
A wicked smile curled on my lips. “Perfect.”