32. Golden Light
GOLDEN LIGHT
Alex
Rage boiled within me from the moment I’d slammed Rothbart against the ground.
Waiting for Irene outside the bloody museum had been sheer torture, and when our bond had strained with her fear, I’d hurt myself trying to break through the invisible barrier blocking my entry into the tunnel.
My arms, shoulders, and forehead had bled, and the blood had mingled with my tears.
I’d never been more frightened in all my life.
But then a rush of energy had flowed through the bond, so pure and powerful that I’d shaken, and I’d known she was fine. As I’d let it guide me, I’d reached another entrance we knew nothing about—Graves wasn’t as good at tracking as he thought—and caught the bastard.
And Rothbart would be dead if he hadn’t mentioned Odette.
The sorcerer had the power to curse people and turn them into birds. He might indeed have cursed Odette. He might have told the truth. The chance was low, though.
I was sure the bloody bastard was playing us, and if Darius hadn’t intervened, I would have killed Rothbart without regret.
A turmoil of emotions made me nervous as Darius, Myrtha, Irene, and I were riding in the carriage to Raven Hall.
Since I couldn’t enter the tunnel, Darius was injured, and Irene was quite shaken, I’d sent my footman to fetch Knight and his werewolves and waited for them to join us and recover Morquen.
The fairy had been found in the middle of a tunnel and carried out, half-dazed, completely incoherent.
So much for being a witness. Another servant had been sent to the fairies, to ask them to come to Raven Hall.
We’d waited for Knight to arrive in a state of excitement and fear, barely speaking, too worried about keeping Rothbart in chains. I was glad we’d caught him, but we hadn’t killed him, and he’d proved to be resourceful.
Chained and weak after I’d drunk from him, Rothbart was travelling with the werewolves in a wagon reinforced with iron. Iron drained the energy out of a sorcerer without being lethal. There wasn’t a chance he would free himself.
Meanwhile Irene, Darius, Myrtha, and I were heading to Raven Hall in a carriage.
I held Irene by the waist, caressing her back and arms, needing her closeness. “What did he do to you? You were scared.”
She pressed my palm against her cheek. “I reached a room where his minions were playing cards. He told his men they were free to do what they wanted with me—”
“What?” My wrath was so intense the carriage shook. The tassels of the velvet curtains swung back and forth. “That filthy bastard. I’m going to kill him, and I’m going to enjoy it.”
“Alex, not yet.” Darius exhaled, a hand on his chest as Myrtha finished bandaging his abdomen. I wasn’t sure how many wounds he’d sustained. “Let’s wait. If he told the truth, then Odette would die if we killed him.”
“What happened to you?” I asked.
He licked his cracked lips. “The tunnel we entered collapsed. Whether it was Rothbart’s fault or an accident, I wouldn’t know. I got injured by bricks and sharp wood, and an iron bar stabbed me. The pain was unbearable, and by the time we met Irene, I’d lost a lot of blood.”
His magic had to be low. Iron was his weakness as well. He didn’t react to the contact with iron as Rothbart had done, but the metal bothered him.
Myrtha fiddled with her gloves dirty with blood.
“He saved my life. That’s why he got injured.
I didn’t listen to him when he said he’d heard a strange noise from the ceiling and that he’d wanted to go back.
I dismissed his concerns and carried on.
Then the ceiling cracked and collapsed, and he rushed to protect me, and… ” She sobbed.
Admitting that she’d made a mistake and that Darius had saved her had to cost every ounce of her pride, considering how determined she’d always been to show she didn’t need anyone.
“You would have done the same for me.” Darius gave her a pointed look.
No, Myrtha wouldn’t have risked her life to save a man.
She took a box of sweets out of her bag. “Brandy balls for you. They’ll help you regain your magic more quickly, will they not?”
“What can we do for you, mate?” I covered him with my coat.
He winced. “Not much. I just need to rest and eat. Since the wound was inflicted by iron, my healing power will take a while to work, but I’ll live.”
Irene laced her fingers through mine. “How do you feel, knowing your sister is alive?”
“I don’t believe a word Rothbart said. I expect an ambush. But in the unlikely event she is alive, I…” I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I pondered the possibility. “I would be overwhelmed with joy.”
Darius leant against the wall, munching a brandy ball. “If she’s alive but cursed, we’ll find a way to free her.”
That was Darius. He never let life crush his hopes.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “I hadn’t realised how important your optimism is in my life until now. You’re always present when I need you, and you always have a hopeful word. Thank you, my friend.”
His gaze became suspiciously shiny. “Someone has to balance your foul character and pessimism. That’s why I always borrow money from you. You’re so easily discouraged you never expect to have it back.”
I laughed and hugged him, glad the contact didn’t bother me. It wasn’t as pleasant as holding Irene, but the fear didn’t rise.
He patted my back. “Don’t squeeze me too hard.”
When we stopped at Raven Hall, yards from the front gate, the golden light from the fairies twinkled in the darkness and lit the ugly fog and its snakes.
I had to admit I was glad Esmeralda had answered my call for help. The fairies might not be good fighters, but they knew how to deal with dark magic on a practical level.
The wagon carrying Rothbart rolled to a stop, and instant tension went through me.
My fangs descended of their own accord, urging me to drink his blood.
Right before I’d turned into a vampire, he’d beaten me, causing the transformation to be more painful than it was supposed to be. And my fear of touching had begun.
I’d thought about killing him for years, and now I couldn’t. But if Odette was alive, then I would gladly wait to kill him.
Esmeralda raised her arms, and the golden light intensified. The warm golden brightness lit the garden as if it were day.
As she and her fairies advanced towards the entrance of the mansion, the snakes recoiled, and the fog withdrew, lurking away from us.
Carrying Darius, I followed the fairies, walking in a golden tunnel of light.
“I have to say, your muscles are indeed strong,” Darius said, wincing. “Even your fingers.”
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment. You’re holding me too tightly.” He curled up his upper lip.
“Sorry, mate.” I nodded at the golden light. “Impressive, innit?”
“It’s beautiful.” Irene gazed around. “The golden light works perfectly to keep the fog at bay.”
“The fairies are excellent at chasing away the darkness,” I said.
He huffed. “Cheap trick. If I were well, I would… No. That’s fairy magic. It’s different. It’s ancient and comes from the fairies’ immortal souls. Yes, it’s impressive.”
I clicked my tongue. “You truly must be unwell if you’re admitting someone else’s magic is impressive.”
Knight came forth as two werewolves carried a half-unconscious Rothbart. His eyelids kept drooping, and he would collapse if the werewolves weren’t holding him up.
Morquen staggered onwards as well, dirty with mud and with his suit wrinkled beyond redemption.
At the entrance, Esmeralda studied Rothbart for a long moment, tilting her head right and left.
“What is she feeling?” I whispered to Irene.
“Sadness and shock,” she said. “I think she didn’t expect us to be right.”
“Lord Rothbart is alive.” Esmeralda’s voice lacked its usual melodious tone as she watched him being taken away.
I didn’t comment and tell her that she’d been the only one who hadn’t believed us.
She faced me, her hands trembling. “Do not underestimate him.”
I gritted my teeth. “We won’t.”
If anything, she’d underestimated him.
“I was present when Danvers, the necromancer Duke of the Wraith Court, and Rothbart were killed.” She wrung her hands for a moment before regaining her composure. “I don’t know how Rothbart survived.”
“The necromancer must have taught him a trick or two,” I said, going up the stairs to Darius’s bedroom.
I laid him in the bed, and Myrtha was immediately by his side.
“I’m going to prepare a tray for you.” She seemed about to take Darius’s hand but stopped. “I’ll be back soon.” She hurried out of the room, her dirty, ripped gown fluttering around her legs.
“Thank you.” Darius dropped onto the pillow with a groan.
Esmeralda entered, brightening the room. Literally. “How are you, Mr. Strange?”
He flashed a cheeky grin. “I’m the most powerful mage in the kingdom. A shallow wound won’t harm me.”
A small crease appeared between her dark eyebrows. “Surely, you’re joking, Mr. Strange. I don’t doubt your prowess as a wizard, but Lord Morquen is without a doubt the most powerful mage in the kingdom.”
A muscle in Darius’s jaw ticked. “I beg to differ. Lord Morquen can’t read De Mirabilibus Mundi.” He pulled the darn book out of his pocket and flourished it. “For me, it’s a piece of cake.”
Esmeralda’s gaze turned keen. “Indeed.”
“Perhaps we should let Mr. Strange rest,” Irene said, covering Darius. “We can leave the debate for another time.”
“Of course. My fairies and I shall retire.” Esmeralda nodded at one of her fairies. A moment later, the fairies came in, carrying globes radiating golden light. “These are for you. They’ll help you keep this nasty fog at bay while you find a solution.”
When the fairies released the globes, they floated in the air and cast warm light like little suns.
I gave her a bow of my head. “Thank you.”
Her mouth twitched. “That doesn’t mean I’m happy about the way you’re managing the Dark Court.
But Rothbart isn’t exclusively your problem.
He’s a danger to all of us. Before we resume our discussion on the rogue at large, I’ll give you the time to set things in order.
” She gave a disgusted look at the snakes smacking against the golden light.
“So generous of you.” I didn’t expect anything different from her, but she’d helped us.
The moment the fairies left, Darius scoffed. “Lord Morquen the most powerful mage? In which fairy tale? Rothbart knocked him out cold in a heartbeat.”
“Don’t get agitated,” Irene said. “Think about getting better.”
“Here I am.” Myrtha came in with a tray filled with Darius’s favourite sweets and sandwiches. “What did I miss? Oh, right. Tea.” She poured a cup of tea and added several sugars.
“The duchess thinks Morquen is stronger than I.” He popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth. “My arse. That vapid fairy would throw up his internal organs if he tried to read my book.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Myrtha nodded.
I gave him a pat on the shoulder. “I must see if Rothbart has been secured.”
He waved. “By all means.”
I kissed Irene. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
I was heading to the dungeon to see how Rothbart was faring when Cara stopped me.
She was still incredibly pale with gaunt cheeks and bloodless lips. But she didn’t say anything.
“Yes?” I was impatient and eager to go to Rothbart’s cell. “Did you stop me to talk or to annoy me?”
She squeezed my hand, and the gesture was surprisingly warm. “I just wanted to say thank you,” she said before blushing and rushing upstairs.