Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
MERI
C ormal gives me a smug nod but merely admits, “I do possess a… similar magic. It’s how I accumulated so much power.”
Floored, I can only stare at him as the knowledge hits me. He helped me. Cormal gave me his magic when I was powerless. The ability to mimic. Emotion clogs my throat, and for a second, I can’t speak. All this time I thought him heartless and cruel, but at some point, he shared his magic with me, and to give me a power of that magnitude, he must have cared for me. A lot.
A minute ago, I wasn’t sure remembering the past would change how I feel. Suddenly, I want to know every detail. How we met. What we were to each other. Why he gave me magic. I remember having the ability to mimic other’s powers, but the magic I picked up from others never stayed with me.
What went wrong? Shadowy images from my dreams slide through my mind, but I don’t know what they mean. The only facts I know about that time came from Rivan. Leandra sent me to him to get a rune. Her original intent was to block my magic, but all he could do was limit my ability to wield it.
Slowly, I reveal my thoughts to Cormal, watching his face for any indication I’m right. Satisfaction replaces his intense look, confirming without words Leandra’s involvement. It makes me more determined than ever to remember my dreams. I slide a gaze to the clarity rune on my palm. I wonder if Arden has a spell to enhance it.
Knowing Cormal can’t tell me, I decide to ask him about the magic itself. “Can I mimic any power?”
“Not every power is available for me to grab,” he informs me with a ghost of a smile on his lips. Apparently, telling me about “his” power helps him get around his agreement with Leandra. “The origin of the power is black magic, and it isn’t predictable.”
“Black magic, huh?” I look at him speculatively, then I pull my hand from his and reach down to pick up my sandwich. Taking a huge bite, I chew for a minute while I think. “Is this the same magic that got your sister kidnapped?”
He glances away for a minute. “Yes. Ri′ created it.”
It sounds like he said “Ree.”
“Your sister?” I ask. When he nods, I continue. “Is Ree short for something?”
“Riona,” he tells me. “But we always called her Ri′.”
Taking advantage of his willingness to talk about her, I continue. “She wielded black magic?”
“Better than me,” he admits with a proud smile. “At the time, her magic surpassed mine a hundredfold.” Memories shine in the depths of his eyes, along with profound sadness. “It was her best and worst moment. Creating that power is what led to her disappearance. In her absence, I’ve used it to become more in hopes of finding her.”
More? Including his immortality? The past is opening doors between Cormal and me that I hadn’t expected. I open my mouth to ask him another question, but the knob turns and Madoc walks into the room, wearing clean clothes.
Stopping abruptly, his nostrils flare and a low growl slips from his throat. His eyes swing to the bed, and I realize he’s probably smelling Cormal and me.
Cormal chuckles beside me, and I glare at him before waving a hand to remove the scent of sex.
Madoc’s gaze swivels to lock on me, his stare intense and, shockingly, full of heat. Tension sparks between us. An image of us together on the same bed slips into my mind. His dark tousled hair and muscular, scarred body next to my platinum-blond, petite frame is quite the contrast. Inhaling sharply, I raise an eyebrow at him, wondering if the image is all in my mind or if I accidentally shared it with him like I’ve been doing with Cormal.
It’s not as if I haven’t noticed him. I notice every male around me, and I really appreciate the delicious flavor of them all. I silently laugh, thinking of my guards and how I thought of Neapolitan ice cream when I looked at them.
Madoc is different, though. Powerful, but that doesn’t mean much to me. Anger and revenge swirl in his eyes and the clench of his fists. There’s nothing light about him, which sort of explains why I find myself attracted to him. Dark is catnip to me, and he’s got more than his fair share.
His steel-grey stare never wavers from me.
Cormal growls, “Not fucking happening.”
When we both swing our gazes to him, there’s a huge scowl on his face, but it’s his eyes that worry me. They’re starting to turn black. Guess passion isn’t the only thing that brings the beast to the surface.
The sight of it makes me laugh. “Jealous?”
Madoc snorts. “Settle down, brùid. It’s not as if you could stop me. Besides, she can make up her own mind.”
The utter confidence in his voice is thrilling and a little scary.
I shiver and put down the sandwich. “Moving on from this rather boring conversation. Did you find your friend?”
Madoc shoves a large hand through his messy black hair. “Yes. He’s agreed to do it.”
“Leandra has spies everywhere. You trust he won’t say anything, right?” Cormal questions. “We can’t take a chance she’ll find a way to avoid us.”
A strangled sound emerges from Madoc’s throat as if something caught in it. “He won’t say a word. I swear on my life.” His arrogant eyebrow lifts. “Have you planned our route? I’d like to know where we’re going.”
Cormal’s smirks in defiance. “Not yet. I’ve been preoccupied.” He reaches out and lays a possessive hand on my leg. “Besides, I’m not sure I want you to know until it’s time to leave.”
Madoc shakes his head and his jaw clenches, but he says nothing. Probably because he too trusts no one.
“We lived in a lot of places. Mostly warm spots, but there are a few very cold locations, too. Do you have a parka and gloves?” I ask Madoc.
“Why? I can just regulate my temperature,” Madoc replies with a raised eyebrow.
Ignoring him, I turn toward Cormal. “We’ll need clothes. Can you get those for us?” It’s easier to magically dress in clothes already created instead of conjuring them from scratch because the process takes a lot of magic and is too time consuming. “Also, can you find out what happened to Rivan? I’m worried about him.”
Madoc steps forward before Cormal can answer. “I’ll check on him. Where did you see him last?” He listens as I tell him about the treaties. “The kraken might be the best place to start. I’ll return when I have news.” Long legs eat up the distance to the door, and he’s gone before I can even reply.
Cormal swiftly stands. “I need to check on The Underworld, grab some warmer clothes, and give Kavi some instructions.” He leans down and captures my lips in a swift kiss. “Don’t leave The Abbey. Please.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to check on Solandis and have a chat with Arden.”
Satisfied with my answer, he leaves, and I pick up my phone to text Vargas.
Meri: How is Solandis? Can I come by for a visit?
Vargas: You better come quick. Ever since she woke up, she’s been threatening to make me a eunuch if I don’t let her see you.
Meri: Floor?
Vargas: Fourth floor. Right above yours.
Meri: On my way.
Chuckling, I wave a hand to clean up the dishes and head toward the elevator. When the doors open on the fourth floor, Callyx is standing there.
“Hey, how is she?” I ask him, knowing Solandis will try to pretend everything is fine.
“She’s shaken up by Lorn’s kidnapping. Normally, it would piss her off, but the baby is her biggest concern,” he replies in a harsh tone. “She’s better here, at The Abbey. Safe.”
Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders. “I wish I had never brought him into our lives. Not once did it occur to me that he wasn’t what he portrayed to me—Allandra’s brother and a light Fae.”
“Solandis isn’t sure you would have been able to tell, anyway. Mixed bloods are more difficult to identify as light or dark, and you were just learning how to identify the Fae,” he reveals with a shrug. “I’ve got to leave. Lucifer still has me on the hunt for the monster that escaped.”
“Should we be worried?” I ask. One monster is quite enough.
“We’re not sure. The Devil didn’t leave records of those he incarcerated in The Below. Lucifer only knows he’s missing because he recently counted them,” he tells me. “Oh. Tell Cormal he’s on Lucifer’s shit list. Nobody is supposed to have access to The Below but him.” Turquoise eyes narrow in speculation.
Is that where Cormal sent Lorn? I hope so. I never want to see him again. “I’ll pass it along. Be careful.” Kissing his cheek, I slide past him and down the hall.
Vargas opens the door the second I knock. Kaius’ tall, lean body, chestnut brown hair and light green eyes are gone, and in its place is the old Vargas, with his massively big, stacked muscular body, shaved head, dark complexion, and pitch-black eyes. I don’t know if it’s because he could only wear that face for a limited time or if he wanted to make Solandis feel more at ease. I wish he could stay in this form. It’s so good to see the old him.
“Get in here.” Closing it, he engulfs me in a tight hug. “Thank you.” Emotions clog his throat, making his voice tight.
Embarrassed, I return his hug and ease out of his arms. “Where is she?”
I don’t want to make a big deal out of the whole crown thing, especially when I’m not sure it was ever mine in the first place. Maybe temporarily, like a guardian. I miss being queen, but the light Fae always felt pretentious and self-serving to me.
Strong, thin arms hug me close. “Meri, Meri. What have you done?” Solandis’ turquoise eyes stare at me as two tears roll down her face. “The crown chose you as our queen. Why would you give that up?”
Her face is drawn, and her hand hovers protectively over the slight bump of her stomach. Tension sits in the tightness of her shoulders and lines in her neck, and her eyes shine with both gratitude and guilt.
I refuse to accept the guilt. “Because unlike Nyssa or Leandra, family means more to me than power,” I state firmly, tucking a stray blond hair behind her ear. “Besides, Madoc doesn’t think it was meant to be mine permanently. He thinks I was chosen as a temporary guardian of it.”
A small line appears between her brows. “Why would he say such a thing?”
“It’s his best guess since I never received the connection I was supposed to get,” I explain, revealing his theory. “How are you feeling? Is the baby okay?”
She sniffs. “You’re more like me than Nyssa.” Her hand rubs across the slight bump. “We’re doing good. He or she has been kicking up a storm, but the activity is reassuring.” She doesn’t say the words, but the stress of potentially losing the baby took a toll on her. Walking over to a nearby chair, she curls up in the plump cushions.
I swallow the lump in my throat and smile at her. “Good. We need more fighters in this family.” I slide a glance at Vargas. “What are your plans?”
He walks over and sits on the arm of the chair, then takes Solandis’ hand. “We’re staying here until after the baby is born. It’s safer for Solandis. The fight for the crown will be brutal, and it’s best if she stays hidden.”
I didn’t even think about that, but I guess we eliminated two of the top contenders, and with Solandis here, essentially removed a third from the board. I nod and tell them what I told the crown.
“Madoc says the light Fae crown was imbued with wisdom and foresight. I’m hoping it finds the best candidate to lead the light Fae.”
“Madoc seems to know a lot about the light Fae and our crown,” Solandis murmurs with a hint of worry in her eyes. “Are you sure about him?”
“Honestly, I’m not a hundred percent sure,” I admit with a sigh. “He’s saved my life several times, though. Right now, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I also know Cormal is keeping a close eye on him.”
Lorn wasn’t who I thought him to be. What if Madoc isn’t either? But the last thing I want is for her to worry.
Her eyes full of relief, Solandis darts a glance at Vargas. “Lorn told me Nyssa placed a spell over the people to remove their memories of him and his sister because they knew she had a hand in murdering our father. They only came back once she was gone, hoping they might be able to snag the crown for themselves if it rejected you. When it didn’t, their plans changed.”
That’s why Cormal couldn’t find much information about them until he started digging into the past. “They must have been overjoyed when Leandra showed up to tell them about my dark Fae heritage.” My voice is full of bitterness.
“It would have come out sooner or later,” Solandis states with a wave of her hand. “What are you going to do now?”
“We’re going hunting,” I grimly inform her. “Leandra’s days are numbered. It’s time to finish her once and for all.”