Chapter Twenty
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Outside the castle in the courtyard driveway, James waited for them next to an SUV, still dressed in his work suit.
“James, what are you doing here?” Scarlett asked. “I thought you were in meetings all day.”
“Did she say yes?” he asked Brayden as he approached.
Brayden kissed Scarlett’s cheek. “She did.”
“Phew. Glad to hear I didn’t take the afternoon off for a wedding that isn’t going ahead.” His grin was mischievous. “Brayden called me right after you left the guildhall and asked if I could skip the rest of the workday for his wedding. Of course I said yes.”
She smiled at him bashfully. “We’re obviously doing this so he can come back to Soleil with me, but thank you for coming. It’s nice you’ll be there.”
“We are in love, for the record,” grumbled Brayden, and Scarlett bit her lip and sighed.
James slapped him on the back before pulling her into a hug. “Of course you’re in love. Look at you two. So sweet.” He let Scarlett go and winked at her before making his way to the driver’s seat.
As James drove into Clair de Lune’s city center, Scarlett peered out of her window.
She wanted to see the city, but she was too distracted to focus on much as they drove down an old-fashioned street.
She barely registered the quaint little shops with signs hanging from the twisted metal awnings, her mind consumed as she evaluated every possible way this visa marriage could blow up in her face.
He might hate Soleil. He might tire of long-distance. He could grow to resent me more and more for refusing to stay. He might decide he wants someone who doesn’t get harassed by the press every time they step outside…
Scarlett blinked as her thoughts returned to the first task at hand—speaking to the bureau.
There was so much going on she could hardly keep it all straight.
“I don’t think we should incriminate Laylani when we speak to the bureau agents.
I don’t want to accuse her until we have enough to lock her up. Do you all agree?”
“Seems reasonable,” said Lachlan.
“Yes, I’m fine with that,” said Beni. “I want her to be punished, but it’s okay if we have to wait.”
Manon spoke up from the back seat. “Makes sense if you want to keep things cordial. You could also tell them I arranged the trip with your consent, given they don’t know I was ill. Might be less suspicious than saying Beni whisked us both away. No offense, Beni.”
He waved his hand dismissively. “I know how awesome I am. You don’t have to tell them.”
Scarlett flashed him a grin. “I know how awesome you are too.” She turned to Brayden, who was sitting next to her.
“Oh, by the way, I know someone in Soleil who might be a good bodyguard.” Through his window she caught a glimpse of an enormous fountain, with a celestial-themed set of sculptures stretching high into the sky.
“Who are you thinking of?” asked Lachlan.
“Her name’s Cass,” said Scarlett. “I really like her, although I’m not sure how I’d contact her.
She saved me the night the police raided a black-market boxing match she was running.
She seemed strong. Well-connected. And most importantly, she believes in dropping the border, so I know she’s pro-magic.
Oh, and she’s not from Soleil. I couldn’t place her accent, but she’s definitely not from Clair or Evory either.
She might be looking for work. I heard the boxing matches have stopped since they were raided. ”
“Any idea what kind of magic she has?” asked Lachlan.
Scarlett recalled something Cass had said that night. “It’ll take them a while to get the lights back on.”
“She turned the lights out in the whole place incredibly fast. Not sure if it was magic or not.”
“Could be a nocturna,” said Brayden, sounding intrigued.
“What’s a nocturna?” asked Scarlett. She’d wondered about the meaning of the word when Brayden used it earlier.
“A nocturna can hide themselves and others in the shadows,” said Brayden. “Sometimes they can eliminate light. I’ve read about people with a nocturna valor sucking up candlelight, electricity, anything illuminating. They can also light things up again.”
“That sounds incredible,” said Scarlett. “Can they hide themselves the same way you disappear, Lachlan?”
“No. Their bodies can’t destabilize,” he said.
“Then again, I can’t hide other people the way a nocturna can.
There are only a couple of them in Soleil.
Cass… Could that be short for Cassidy? I know a Cassidy Darwish from Zahara who went to the Soleil Military Academy on one of those rare student visas.
Her father is a general in the Zaharan military. ”
Zahara was a dry desert country on the far eastern side of the continent of Hieratia. Scarlett had read it was hot as hell except for the strip of land nearest to the ocean, but she didn’t know a lot beyond that.
“Her full name could be Cassidy,” she said.
“Even if they’re not the same person, a military-trained nocturna would be a great bodyguard if she’s willing. Shall I inquire with her father to see if we can get her contact information?”
“That would be great,” said Scarlett.
“Leave it with me,” said Lachlan.
Who knew it was that easy to pinpoint someone based on their magical ability?
“Lachlan is very well-connected,” said Nori.
“Beni, did your friends ever explain valors to you?” asked Manon.
“Yes,” said Beni. “I talked to Tommy and Patrick about it for, like, an hour. They both think they’re going to get a physica valor, and I think that’s what I might be too. They said it means you’re usually good at video games.”
“What’s a physica?”
“Tommy’s dad is a physica for the army. That’s probably where Beni and his friends got the idea. They’re often mechanical engineers or physicists. I can see how they’d be good at video games,” said Lachlan, sounding amused.
Everyone fell silent as the white dome of Parliament appeared before them, and James pulled into a parking spot.
Scarlett climbed out of the SUV and looked up at the impressive facade of Clair de Lune’s parliament.
Four enormous white columns framed a massive ornate doorway.
Two soldiers stood at attention, guarding the entrance, and they both saluted Lachlan as he led their group through the doors into the lobby.
With a wave of farewell, James and Brayden cut across the lobby toward the registrar’s office.
“This way,” said Lachlan, leading the rest of them upstairs.
Scarlett read the plaques on the doors as they passed. “Bureau of Veterans Affairs” read one. Another read “Ministry of Education.”
Lachlan opened a door with a plaque that read “Clair de Lune Intelligence Agency.”
The clerk at the front desk looked up as they entered and stood as soon as he clocked who it was. “Good morning, General Maddox. How can I help?”
“An incident cropped up this morning with Soleil.” He gestured to Scarlett and Beni.
“These two have been reported as kidnapped, when they’re actually just visiting Clair de Lune with their grandmother.
Can you please tell whoever is in charge this morning that we need to speak with Soleil law enforcement as soon as possible? ”
“Yes, sir. Right away.” The clerk disappeared through a door.
A handful of minutes later, he reappeared.
“I’ll take you through the veritas now.”
Through the doorway, a gray stone archway stood a few feet in front of them. Golden dust with a greenish tint shone under it. The clerk walked straight through the arch without hesitation. Lachlan made to follow him, but Scarlett put her hand on his arm.
“What’s a veritas? Is it that archway?” she asked.
“Yes. If you’re not telling the truth about why you’re here, it won’t let you pass through it.”
“Will it reject me for being a Soleil peer?” asked Scarlett.
The corner of Lachlan’s mouth turned upward. “Not unless all this business was an elaborate ruse to get into our intelligence office and steal Clair de Lune secrets for Soleil.”
Scarlett shook her head fervently.
Lachlan put his hand up. “That was a joke. Are either of you spies?”
“No,” said Beni and Scarlett in unison.
“Then you’ll be fine. Through the veritas you go.” He walked through the archway without another word.
Scarlett took several tentative steps forward.
Under the archway, the colorful dust swirled around her, but she didn’t feel it on her skin.
Beni followed after her, smiling slightly at the shimmering dust as he stepped through it.
They hurried to catch up with Lachlan and the clerk, who were already halfway down the long hallway.
“There are mirrors to all the countries on the continent in these rooms,” said Lachlan as they followed behind the clerk.
“These ones are used for law enforcement exclusively. Parliament has their own set downstairs for legislative business. This is common knowledge in Clair de Lune, by the way. Soleil has a similar setup, but I know they aren’t open about it.
It’s probably best not to mention the mirror connecting Clair de Lune to Soleil once you’re back home. ”
Scarlett huffed out a laugh. “I’m no stranger to keeping mirrors a secret. Thanks for explaining.”
The clerk knocked on an office door to announce their arrival. A man in a wrinkled black suit came out of the office.
“General Maddox.” The two men shook hands, and then he turned to Scarlett and Beni. “I’m Agent McClean.”
Lachlan briefed him on the situation, and Agent McClean waved them all inside.
His office contained a desk facing the mirror to Soleil and a couple of chairs.
In the mirror, there was a woman working at her own desk.
She looked up from her computer as they entered, and her eyes widened as she took in Scarlett and Beni.
“That’s Agent Thorn in the mirror. You can go ahead and explain your situation to her,” said Agent McClean. He took a seat at his desk.
Scarlett approached the mirror, with Beni at her side. “I’m Lady Scarlett Heroux. This is my brother, Beni.”
“Of course, Lady Heroux. I know who you are,” said the agent. “And Beaufort, isn’t it?”
“That’s my legal name. I go by Beni.”
“No matter. Wait just a minute—I’ll go find the agent assigned to your case.”
Minutes later, two agents appeared in the Soleil side of the mirror.
“Lady Heroux, Beaufort,” said the second agent—a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair. “I’m Agent Ward. Thank you for making contact.”
“Of course,” said Scarlett. “I came as soon as I saw the news. I had no idea my stepmother was under the impression I was abducted.”
“Please tell us what happened from your perspective,” said Agent Ward.
Beni and Scarlett stood shoulder to shoulder in front of Agent Ward as Scarlett spoke.
“My brother, Beaufort Heroux, and my grandmother, Manon Bedivere, were both concerned for my health. With my consent, Manon arranged for the three of us to travel to Clair de Lune for medical care in the home of our family friends, the Maddoxes.” Scarlett looked back at Lachlan, who waved at Agent Ward.
“My grandmother was born here, so we’re able to travel between countries,” said Scarlett.
“Admittedly, we left without informing my stepmother of our plans, which I now see was a misstep.”
“That’s much less nefarious than what your stepmother told me yesterday. Beaufort, you don’t have a Clair de Lune visa as far as we’re aware. Is that correct?”
“No, I don’t,” said Beni.
“He’s my legal heir,” said Scarlett. “I believe I have guardianship rights that extend to shared citizenship. Apologies if I misunderstood the limits of guardianship. The paperwork was filed before I was… incapacitated.”
Agent Ward’s shoulders relaxed. “If that’s the case, you’re in the clear. I’ll contact the courts to ensure everything is in order with your guardianship paperwork. When are you both planning on returning to Soleil?”
“As soon as possible.” Scarlett looked questioningly at Lachlan and Manon. “When do you think we can get a train?” She didn’t know how long it would take to produce the marriage certificate.
Lachlan stepped forward. “Tomorrow afternoon, I’d wager.”
“I’ll let Lady Laylani know to expect you tomorrow,” said Agent Ward.
One day stood between Scarlett and Laylani. She grinned as she pictured the look she’d see on Laylani’s face when she walked through the door. She couldn’t wait to make her pay.
But first she had to bind herself to Brayden. She wanted to bind herself to him. Her heartbeat became fast and uneven as she considered what was next. Now that the bureau was dealt with, it was time to marry her best friend.