Chapter Six #2
“The royal knights and guards have the prince surrounded,” Draven added. “No one will be getting through their defenses. But you were also attacked that day.”
Reign tipped his head and did a fluttery movement into a theatrical bow. The guy was a total ham. “So we’ve come to assist.”
“What are you proposing?” Briar adjusted his glasses.
“To take him somewhere the mercenary won’t be able to find him.” Reign regarded me with a humored glint in his eyes. “I’m here to grant your wish, darlin’. I suggest you get dressed and pack a bag.”
“M-My wish?” Damn him and his flirty self. He didn’t affect me nearly as much as my men did, but being the object of his charm still got me flustered. “Where are we going?”
“To a place you said you wanted to see.” He tilted his head and smized so well he would’ve put all the Top Models from my old world to shame. “We’re taking you to the Tower.”
***
“I don’t trust him,” Maddox said, one hand on my lower back and the other on his sword. The cool night air had me pressing closer to his side. “I say he’s the traitor who helped the mercenary escape.”
“Gods, you’re an ass.” Rowan led us through a wooded area beyond the castle grounds. “Just because a man smiles at your muffin, you accuse him of treason.”
“Sounds like enough of a reason to me,” Maddox mumbled under his breath.
I gently bumped him. “Behave.”
“I’ll behave only if Reign does. One more flirty stare and I’m gutting him.”
“Now, Captain, that’s not very noble of you,” Briar said from my other side. “What if Reign winds up being Evan’s next mate? Two more are on the way, you know.”
I had told them what Lupin said about me having seven lovers, each of whom would play a pivotal role in my destiny. Surprisingly enough, they’d taken the news well. Their only concern was the newcomers treating me well.
“I need no reminder, physician. Two more men to protect Evan is reassuring.” Maddox scowled. “But I protest against one of them being the flirtatious spy.”
I snorted and grabbed his bicep. “No worries, big guy. I don’t think Reign is one of them.”
“How can you be sure?” Callum asked. He walked behind me, keeping watch of our surroundings from the rear. Lake was with us too but stayed out of sight, just in case we encountered knights patrolling the woods.
“Just a feeling,” I answered. “With each of you, I felt a deep connection. Like something was tugging in my chest and trying to pull us together. I don’t have that with Reign. I also don’t smell him.”
“I remember you mentioning that.” Briar nodded. “We each have a scent unique to you. I’m magnolia blossoms, yes? Fitting. I used to love sitting beneath the tree outside my childhood home. It brought me peace.”
Warmth settled over my heart. That explained the reason behind his scent. I’d never known it before.
“My scent is vanilla bean?” Callum asked.
“Yep. Mixed with freshly baked bread.” I grinned at him over my shoulder. “I told you that you were a cinnamon roll.”
He flashed his dimple.
We continued forward. That deep in the woods, the moonlight scarcely reached us, showing only through wider breaks between tree branches. It made it all too easy for my imagination to run wild. Every rustled leaf was the mercenary about to pounce. Every snapped twig was him trailing behind us.
Reign and Draven had gone ahead of us to prepare for our arrival. Captain Remy had approved of Reign’s plan; however, they hadn’t anticipated all of my men insisting on coming with me. But there was no way any of them would let me go anywhere without them.
“Do you think Lake will be safe in the Tower?” I asked. “They won’t try to hurt him or anything, will they?”
“The pup will be fine,” Rowan responded. “Captain Remy and the others already know about him.”
“And they’re okay with it?”
“Aye. The Secret Order doesn’t abide by the same ideals as others in Bremloc.
We have our own code. Condemning a demi-wolf who’s done nothing wrong is against what we stand for.
” Rowan veered to the left, passing beneath an archway of two trees sloped toward each other.
“Besides, if anyone did try to hurt the pup, they’d have to go through me. And none of them have a death wish.”
My heart lifted into my throat. He and Lake really had grown close. So much so that Rowan would kill for him without a second thought.
The branches and dense foliage thinned before we stepped out into an open field bathed in moonlight.
Iridescent flowers sprouted from the grass, their leaves glowing a pale blue.
A small pond sat off to the right, and more fluorescent flowers grew along the bank.
Even the grass seemed to hold an air of enchantment, faintly shimmering.
A weeping willow swayed in the evening breeze, a distant musical hum sounding as the long branches danced. Flickers of light gleamed off it, like it was made of twinkling stars.
“Wow.” I took it all in, feeling like I’d been dropped into a sci-fi fantasy movie. “Where are we?”
“A place of great arcane power,” Briar said in an awed tone. “I can sense the rivers of mana flowing beneath us. I’ve heard stories but have never seen it with my own eyes.”
“Specs is spot-on.” Rowan glanced around the clearing. “Not many people are allowed here. It’s sort of sacred ground.”
Callum looked at the grass beneath his feet, and I laughed. He was too cute.
“It can’t be too sacred if you’re allowed here, thief,” Maddox said.
Rowan rolled his eyes. “The Order of Magi oversees this area. The Tower lies beyond it.”
“Order of Magi?” I asked. “Is that the king’s unit of mages?”
“Yes,” Briar answered. “The mages specialize in combat-related magic and use gems to create powerful amulets, staffs, and rings that aid in their spell work. Many of those gems come from Exalos.”
“Exalos. The city of shiny things.” I did another sweep of the field. Something near the weeping willow caught my eye. A dark figure stood at least seven feet tall. Eeriness seeped into my bones the longer I stared. I got the feeling they were staring right back at me. “Um. Who’s that?”
“The Guardian of the Willow.” Rowan grabbed my wrist and continued forward.
“Oh my. Is it really?” Curiosity rang in Briar’s tone. “How extraordinary.”
“What do they do?” I asked. “Guard the tree?”
“Among other things.” Briar turned his head as we walked to keep looking at them.
“The willow is the center of arcane energy and the source of power for the mages. For all magic wielders, really. All the rivers of mana tunneling beneath us meet at that point. The Guardian is charged with protecting the tree and striking down anyone who ventures too close.”
“And here you are, trying to be their next victim by letting your curious nature get the better of you.” Maddox grabbed the back of Briar’s shirt and tugged him along with us. “Come on, physician.”
“You brute.” Briar scoffed. “I was merely looking.”
As we reached the trees on the other side of the field, I glanced back at the willow. The Guardian had turned to watch us leave. No face I could see; just a black mass. “Well, that’s not terrifying at all.”
“Maybe they want a muffin,” Callum said.
I snorted a laugh.
The next section of woods was less dense than earlier, allowing us to pass through with ease. A minute or so later, we came to a tall stone structure. Vines curved up the sides, and it rose so high I couldn’t even see the top.
“So the Tower is… a literal tower. Cool.” I craned my neck to peer up at it. Red symbols glowed on several of the stones. “What are those?”
“Protective warding,” Rowan answered. “It’s why Reign suggested bringing you here. With those? No one can enter uninvited, even if they have teleportation magic. I can’t even get in with my shadows.”
The wooden door at the bottom creaked open. Sounded like the entrance to an old crypt.
“Welcome to our humble abode,” Reign said from the other side. “The demi-wolf can join us now as well. It’s safe here.”
“Thank you.” I turned toward the surrounding darkness, searching for my wolf. “Lake?”
There was a glimmer of silver hair before he stepped from the trees, his fluffy ears lowered and shoulders tense. Meeting new people made him anxious.
“Come on, pup.” Rowan neared him and bumped Lake’s arm with his fist. “If any of them bite, you can bite them back.”
Lake responded by whacking Rowan with his tail. But his tense shoulders relaxed, and as they made their way toward us, I caught him smiling. Our redhead’s presence visibly put him at ease.
My chin wobbled. My sweet men.
We then followed Reign inside the Tower.
The ground level was bigger than I’d expected, though it left a lot to be desired, holding the bare minimum in terms of seating and comforts of home.
Humble indeed. And in dire need of a good scrubbing.
Cobwebs dangled in the corners, dust covered the shelves and cabinets, and a musky stench lingered in the air.
A narrow stone staircase rose to the far right, curving up out of sight.
“It’s… nice?”
“He says with a questioning tone,” Rowan said, amused. “Tell us how you really feel, little treasure.”
“Well, the interior matches the outside. Dark and mysterious.” That mystery being how long had passed since the place was cleaned. “I’ll withhold full judgment until I see the kitchen. You do have one, right?”
“Aye, we do.” More amused than before, Rowan tipped his head to the left. “It’s that way.”
Five steps forward put me in view of it… and what I saw would haunt my dreams for years to come.
“You can’t be serious.” I lifted both hands to my face as I took in the horror, equally stunned and disgusted. I’d seen abandoned buildings with cleaner kitchens. “When was it last used? A century ago?”
“No. I made tea earlier this afternoon.” Reign rested his hands on his hips, seeming awfully proud of himself. “And a sandwich.”