Chapter 42 Cracks
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CRACKS
ADELINE
“The fuck you say. Taken by whom?” Roane goes down on one knee, face draining of color. “Druna, you’d better start talking.”
“I left Aline here and went out to find him. I thought he might be hunting or watching the herds. He likes that.”
He growls. “Get to the point.”
“Yeah, I was getting there.” She shakes her head. “The centaurs got him.”
“Centaurs!” I gape. “You said they attacked you in the past.”
“And now you’re here, they’re back.” She bares her teeth. “Don’t get all star-eyed. They are horrible creatures.”
“Why would the centaurs grab Talton?” Roane groans and rubs his temples. “What in the hells is going on?”
“He tried to stop them from abducting a group of nymphs,” Ardruna says.
“Talton the gallant hero,” Roane grouses. “What was he thinking?”
“That abducting people isn’t right?” I say.
“He’s a raven. Against centaurs. You have to choose your battles.”
“Or you have to choose to do the right thing, no matter what,” I whisper.
“That’s some pretty rhetoric, but he had no business getting himself into danger.” Roane gets up. “He should have come and told me about it.”
“What could you have done?”
“I’d have gone with him. I may not have all the magic a librarian ought to wield, but at least I don’t hesitate to fight. What more would you expect of me?”
“Nothing,” I whisper. “You’re right. You’re doing all you can.”
He turns to me, brows arching. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“No. It’s the truth.” I lift my chin. “Let’s go get Talton back.”
“You’d come with us?” Ardruna asks.
“Do you have to ask? Of course I’ll go. He’s funny and brave and kind.”
“Yes,” Roane whispers, “he is. But you’re staying, Aline.”
“She has magic,” Ardruna says. “She might be of help.”
Roane frowns. “Magic?”
“I should have kept my leathers on,” I say. “Can you undo the laces at the back of the dress, please?”
Roane walks behind me and puts his warm hands on my back. “If I asked you to stay put, would you do it?”
“Not on your life.”
He starts undoing the laces. “I thought not. And this magic you have? What can it do?”
“You’ll see.”
“If you two are done talking,” Ardruna says, turning around and heading out, “let’s go get our friend back.”
To my surprise, Roane doesn’t rush ahead, as usual. Instead, he walks with me to the nest and waits for me to get dressed. Ardruna follows and I turn my back on them as I step out of the beautiful white dress and pull my leather pants back on.
“We should be on our way!” Ardruna hisses. “What’s with the dress?”
“I gave it to her,” Roane rumbles.
“Is this really the right time to play house?”
“Are you going to hold this against me, too?” he snarls.
“I don’t know, Ro. You’ve been acting weird, snapping at everyone, wanting her gone, and now I find you with her, playing dress up and gazing longingly at one another.”
“Jealous, Druna?”
“I’m not jealous, you stupid boy. I only wish to understand what’s going on in that thick head of yours.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to touch that mess,” he says.
“That I believe. But you can’t run hot and cold all the time. You have to make up your mind about how you feel.”
“About you?”
“About her!”
I’ve been fighting to put my vest on, lace it and secure the belt, but now I go still, in the process of stuffing Olm’s book in its usual place against my breasts.
“She’s our guest, as you have pointed out so many times,” Roane says. “Aren’t you pleased I helped her into a beautiful gown?”
“You’re incorrigible,” Ardruna retorts. “I know you desire her, but stop changing the topic! Can’t we have a serious conversation for once? You won’t even tell me how you and I met—”
“You know how we met.”
“How I entered this world—”
“How am I supposed to know that?” he snaps.
“—and Talton, too. Who is buried in that cemetery where I first saw you? Why is the world cracking in places—?”
“Where?” Roane’s voice drops. “Did you find any new cracks?”
I turn around to look at them because the tension in his voice is sharp like a blade. His handsome face is taut with worry.
“Well, yeah,” Ardruna says. “The centaurs took the way through the mountain pass and it looks worse than ever.”
“Cracks?” I sit on the edge of the nest to pull my shoes on. “Like the ones here?”
“Some parts of the world are crumbling,” Ardruna says.
“It’s nothing,” Roane immediately counters.
“In that case,” I whisper, “why do you look so worried?”
He glares. “What did I say about poking your nose where it doesn’t belong?”
“You can’t keep shutting me out of whatever is going on here,” I tell him.
“Shutting you out? You come and go as you please.” He throws his hands up in the air. “I should be the one complaining about saving your ass all the time.”
“Really?” I glare right back. “Nobody asked you to come save me, for your information.”
“So you say now. You sang a different song when I came to your rescue. Thank you, Roane. You saved our lives, Roane.”
“I never said that,” I snap.
“Well, maybe you should have?” he says, showing me his sharp teeth.
“Oh Gods,” Ardruna groans. “Like children. You really are part of the family now, Aline. I can tell from this stupid discussion between the two of you.”
“… thanks?” I grin at the face Roane pulls. “I’m ready. Shall we?”