Chapter 27
Belanore
The balcony doors were open, allowing the sounds of the city below to drift up to the tower’s top floor.
Gita stood in front of the floor-length mirror and studied her reflection, turning one way and then the other to look at her new royal blue gown.
It was adorned with white and silver beads that made her icy blue eyes almost glow.
She looked down and adjusted the skirt, running her hands along her trim waist and the exposed section of skin at her stomach, then to the top that began right under her breasts. She flicked her long, blue hair back and froze when her gaze locked on One’s reflection in the mirror.
Gita lifted a brow. “An audacious move, entering my room.”
He remained silent as he stared, his expression giving nothing away.
She had chosen him to work at Shaldorn because he never let his emotions rule him.
One was…well, he was exceptional. And unique.
His violent streak rivaled hers. Moreover, he had been loyal and dependable in keeping the workers in line.
Even Two and Three had given him a wide berth—which was saying something.
She thought she knew him. He had never attempted to get into her bed or wrest away control of Shaldorn.
He had known his place and remained in it.
Yet the dynamic between them had shifted since they’d left the stronghold.
She couldn’t name the exact place or time for when the change had happened, but it had.
Her greatest concern was that, somewhere over the weeks, she had gone from being the one in charge to him commanding her.
And she didn’t like it.
Gita turned to face him. One always dressed impeccably.
She had seen him garbed in clothes that bordered on feminine at times, the attire of a warrior at others.
No matter how he dressed, it was done to impress.
She had never been able to figure out his clothing choices.
Today, a tunic in soft gray draped pleasingly over his torso, and charcoal gray trousers encased his trim hips and long legs.
The pieces were simple and unembellished, but the cloth was luxurious.
He had a talent of altering his looks in a blink—with or without clothes. But One’s greatest achievement was the stony face he displayed now. There was no way to tell what he was thinking or why he had come. And that instantly put her on edge.
Their staring challenge continued. Gita might be alone, but she could more than handle herself.
She hadn’t climbed to her lofty position within the Masters’ ranks by being a pretty face.
She had gotten her hands dirty, and she wasn’t above doing it again.
Besides, she hadn’t wasted those years with One.
She had watched him, learned his techniques so she could anticipate his reactions should he ever challenge her.
Minutes ticked by as neither uttered a word nor moved an inch. Had he come to kill her? Gita didn’t think so. If the Masters wanted her dead, they would’ve extinguished her life after Shaldorn, instead of putting her in the tower. They knew how valuable she was. So, what was One’s problem?
She caved first. He would stand there for days if she let this continue. “What do you want?”
“Did you think the Masters wouldn’t find out about Inej?”
Gita rolled her eyes as she laughed. “I took initiative. She’s a human. So what if I sent her to find a Mountain Elf? If she makes it, Manu will never expect her to betray him. He’s a do-gooder who helps others.”
“And Inej was the perfect bait.”
Gita grinned as she drew in a breath and slowly released it. “Admit it. You’re upset I came up with a perfect plan before you.”
“Who is Manu?”
She had been waiting to see if One would ask that. If he hadn’t, it meant he had already known about Manu, and, therefore, had been working against her. She studied him for a long moment before answering. “He helped Ravi and the others at Shaldorn.”
“I didn’t see him. And you never mentioned him.”
“New information came to me.”
One hadn’t so much as blinked yet. “And you believed sending Inej to the Peaks would get you out of the tower?”
“I don’t belong here!” she bellowed, her control snapping at his arrogance. She wasn’t meant to be confined or restrained. If she didn’t get out soon, she would lose her place with the Masters.
One’s purple eyes narrowed slightly.
Gita looked away as she rested her hands on her hips.
How she hated it when her anger got the better of her.
If a male did it, he was strong. She was always labeled as unstable.
Gita had learned to control that part of her years ago.
However, being locked away and forgotten in the damn tower had cracked the facade she had built around herself.
She had to get out. Needed to remind the Masters why she was still relevant.
“My servants were friends. When one of them was taken, I saw a prime opportunity.” She swung her head to One. “You would’ve done the same.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “Perhaps. You disobeyed a direct order, however.”
“If I can get Manu, it won’t matter, and you know it. He was instrumental in helping Yasmin and Ravi bring down Shaldorn. They all deserve to feel the full weight of the Masters’ retribution. My retribution.”
“You sound certain about Manu.”
She preened. Let him wonder where she got the information.
“And if you fail?” he asked.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “No one else has gotten close to any of those on the list.”
“The Masters haven’t changed their minds about letting you out.”
“They will. Wait and see.”
He chuckled. The sound grated on her already frayed nerves. One was handsome and magnetic, but his smile never quite reached his eyes. Few realized that, however, as they were taken in by other parts of him. She had noticed.
She always noticed.
“They will,” Gita insisted. “I’ll take my place and run the new Shaldorn.”
“Indeed.”
It was her turn to narrow her eyes. “You want the position, don’t you?”
“Do I?” he replied in a soft voice.
It immediately made her hackles rise. “Odd how you were at Shaldorn with me, but I’m the only one locked in this fucking tower.”
“Shaldorn was yours. You made that known far and wide. When things went as planned, you got all the credit. It’s only right that when it all went to shite, you took all the blame.”
“Tell me, One, how is it you survived when Two and Three didn’t?”
“Tell me, Gita, how is it you came out alive?” he retorted icily.
Anger erupted in her chest, spewing violence and aggression. Magic was in her palms before she had time to think about it. If she thought she could kill One, she’d end his life right then. It wasn’t time for that, though. Yet. “Get out.”
“This isn’t your home, where you can order me about. This is a safehouse. A place the Masters have placed you. I am your contact to the outside world. Your only contact.”
She sneered at him. “Hardly.”
“Oh, you mean the servants? One was abducted, and you sent the second away. I’ve had to find replacements. I wouldn’t bother talking to them, though. They won’t be able to respond to you. In any way.”
Gita wanted to scream in outrage, but the ice in her veins froze her to the spot.
“You went against the Masters,” One repeated calmly. “How did you think that would go for you?”
“I’m trying to help them,” she declared.
One dropped his arms to his sides. “They were about to release you.”
She jerked back, his words like a slap. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.
He turned on his heel without a word. She stumbled forward a step to follow, her mind refusing to accept what she had heard.
“One? Why didn’t you tell me?” she repeated.
He said nothing as he walked.
“One!”
He opened the door.
“ONE!”
He shut the door, cutting off Gita’s scream, and stood in the hallway, taking a deep, satisfying breath before walking to the lift. She wouldn’t come after him. Even if that’s what she wanted to do. Her fear of the Masters and what they might do kept her inside.
He leaned against the back wall of the lift and closed his eyes as it made its way to the main floor. His body needed rest, but he had another appointment to keep first. Maybe he would be able to find a moment or two to sleep afterward.
The bell dinged, announcing his arrival.
He opened his eyes and straightened before striding into the building’s lobby.
As usual, there was no one in sight, but he always prepared himself, just in case.
He never let his guard down when he wasn’t in his space.
He hadn’t survived this long by being reckless.
He walked for three blocks and crossed two streets before hailing a hack. “Reader Temple,” he bade the driver.
The carriage lurched forward as the horses began walking. He kept the curtains open to allow for airflow. Being inside the carriage was too confining, but it was the quickest way to get through the crowded city. He sat with his hands on his thighs and concentrated on his breathing.
A bead of sweat ran from his temple down his cheek and into the collar of his tunic.
He wanted to shove the door open and jump out, but he didn’t give in to such rash displays of emotion.
Ever. They never served a purpose other than to announce someone’s fears and inadequacies.
And it would also draw attention to him.
Today, he wanted to blend in and not be seen.
That meant he had to endure the horror of the carriage.
It suddenly slowed and then came to a stop.
He drew in a breath and peered out the window.
They were still quite a ways from the temple.
The chilly breeze couldn’t alleviate the stuffiness inside the carriage, making it difficult to breathe.
He yanked at the already open curtains, hoping to cool his heated skin.
He could get out. No one had to know why.
No one would even think twice. But he stayed.
Not because he didn’t want to walk, but because he needed to push at his fear.
He wouldn’t let it be used against him again.
Instead of thinking about the heat or the enclosed space, he went through the Masters’ voices, laying them out in a circle just as they had been in the chamber.
Except this time, he was looking down at them.
He had his suspicions about one of the Wood Elves.
If he were lucky, he would soon learn the male’s identity.
The carriage suddenly lurched forward again. One flexed his fingers on his thighs, the only show of relief he would allow himself. The rest of the ride to the temple went without incident. A steady breeze found its way into the carriage and caressed his heated skin.
By the time he reached his destination, he was as composed as he’d been when he entered the carriage.
He flipped a coin to the driver and looked up the stairs of the building that was sacred to all elves.
It might be the home of the Readers, but it was a place where everyone could connect with the sacred and divine.
The temple’s design symbolized the universe, encompassing both good and evil, as well as the elven experience.
The first time One had visited, he had pondered where he fit in the universe. The answer had come shortly afterward. Knowing didn’t make things easier, however. In many instances, it made it more challenging.
The temple was powerful, not just because of its placement within the city center, but also because of its architecture.
The central tower was a step pyramid supposed to resemble the mystical mountain home of the gods.
Smaller towers were scattered around the grounds.
He headed toward one of the gateways adorned with statues and carvings of the gods.
As a boy, he had been mesmerized by the gateways so much that he had thought to become a sculptor himself.
He made his way to one of the sacred bodies of water used for purification before entering the temple. He did his prayers of absolution and got to his feet to proceed to the main sanctuary.
While various races of elves—and even some humans—were at the temple, the majority of those walking the grounds were Readers in their white clothing. Each Sun Elf Reader had a bag tied to their belts, holding the special rune stones they used to divine answers and see the future.
He slipped between two enormous columns, his gaze scanning the many Readers until he found the one he sought: Savita.