Chapter 10
BAUER ESTATE, PRESERVATION DOMAIN, ASTRUM FOREST
Twelve days. I need to get that stupid voice in my head to shut up. It’s not helping my anxiety.
Lucas made us waste a whole twenty-four hours to meticulously plan the Bauer estate break-in.
The only good thing about his frustratingly slow process is that it gives his rings more time to heal.
Before departing, he practiced until utterly confident that his curse-breaking skills were back to normal, though attempting to duel still makes them spark and sputter out.
He insisted I draw and redraw the floor plans, then go over every smell that the wards emitted when they sizzled away.
Like I could remember if it was a mild or acrid sulfur after seven years.
I was sure that was going to be the worst part, but then he did the unthinkable.
He made us travel to weaver territory by train.
I will admit privately—because I refuse to give Lucas the satisfaction—that the speed at which he was able to obtain quality forged work permits for us to cross the boundary harassment-free was impressive. Even the Archweaver stamp was convincing.
Weavers and humans may not like each other, but weavers sure as fuck aren’t going to do menial tasks themselves.
Human housekeepers, cooks, groundskeepers, and tradesmen use the crystal-powered, high-speed engine daily to travel to the various domains for the high-paying work the weaver households offer.
Despite their usefulness, it would never be enough to permit humans to reside within the Astrum Forest. Oh no, that would be a bridge too far.
And magicians? Would never be allowed as far as the boarding platform, making Lucas’ ability to blend in at the train station a true testament to his skills.
Regardless, I argued that the most powerful weaver families, like the Bauers, have ancient estates that are infused with so much magic that they’re essentially sentient.
There is no need for humans in those homes, so we might as well use one of the several public circle platforms within the various domains to cross.
It would be easy enough to do it from Monument Park’s platform and would turn hours of nerve-wracking border crossing into minutes.
But Lucas was adamant that it would be too obvious.
I might be able to wear my disguise and pass off my arrival to any weaver bystanders, but Lucas could never.
It would make his lack of a Soul Thread blatantly obvious, even to weavers who cannot peer within a heart like I can.
Despite his sound logic, I slumped mutinously in my seat during the entire train ride, the ends of my disguise’s short hair tickling my brows.
Now we’re hiding deep in the forest surrounding the Bauer estate, ready to execute Lucas’ plans.
The moon is out in all its glory and adds a touch of silvery light through the black branches, but it’s not enough to see more than a few feet ahead.
If it wasn’t for the muscle memory of navigating this forest, I’d be crippled by the surrounding darkness.
Leaving the shop was more difficult than I anticipated, my knuckles turning white on the doorknob until I peeled my hand away one finger at a time, my back blocking Lucas’ view of my struggle.
He doesn’t need to worry about my steadily increasing corruption symptoms. I have Jinx for that.
The task ahead of us, the familiarity of the forest, has eased some of that panic, but not all.
I rub my arms, my skin prickling and my body tense under all the open wilderness.
Our steps are silent under the power of Lucas’ small arsenal of charms. A branch breaks soundlessly under my boot and I swallow back the surge of bile with a shudder.
It’s as if I am a specter, haunting this forest. My heart thunders, my chest too tight.
This isn’t real. I’m still in my basement.
The spider book is feasting on me. I am hallucinating from its venom. This is all false.
Run. I need to run!
Something hot brushes against the back of my hand and I gasp, whipping my head to the side to discover the source. A silver shaft of moonlight catches Lucas’ newly acquired flat cap and I exhale.
This is real. Magic is why I cannot hear my steps. I am with Lucas. I am safe.
But it’s not enough. With every other step, the cycle of heart-racing paranoia begins.
I keep our hands close so my index finger can graze his knuckles as a reminder of his presence.
Then Lucas flexes his hand in response to my next touch.
Our fingers hook in a brief moment of connection.
My tight chest releases when his heat sizzles away the cold, prickling unease, and a full breath expands my lungs.
Lucas’ fingers twine with mine and his silent comfort grounds me, giving me the strength to continue forward and the focus to keep my thoughts from journeying to dark places.
My eyes burn and I blink away the sensation, my hand tight on his in a bruising grip.
We’re getting close. Lucas asks in a hushed voice, “Are you sure we can’t try one tiny museum break-in? Just the tip, if you will.”
The corners of my lips lift and my grip relaxes. I reply just as quietly, “I’m sure the sphinx guarding the Bauers’ personal museum would love to hear this logic. Please, have at it.”
Lucas releases my hand to better lift some low-hanging branches out of our way.
He switches tactics in his crusade to convince me to raid the Bauers’ museum.
“Hear me out. Say that I’m Vincentius with an impenetrable museum of rare and powerful magical artifacts.
Wouldn’t it make sense to move the amulet to it after my son and his girlfriend nearly damaged it during a vigorous cunnilingus session? ”
A laugh escapes me as I duck under the branch he holds up. “Maybe, but it’s worth checking the hidden library first. At least I have an idea of how to get into that.”
“Fair enough.” He follows and readjusts his cap, causing my hand to miss his when I reach for his comforting touch again.
My thoughts swirl, everything that could and will go wrong flooding me. I swallow, nerves gluing my feet in place. “It’s occurred to me that we’re about to break into the office of one of the most powerful weavers alive and a Council of Weavers member.”
He pauses beside me to smirk. “I know. Exhilarating, isn’t it? Let me know if you change your mind about the museum. If anyone could pull off a high stakes heist half-assed, it’s us.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes. “I wish I had your bottomless confidence.”
“Eh. It’ll be fine.” His shoulder bumps mine. “If we get caught, use some of your abundant feminine wiles.”
I snort, shoving him back and stepping forward to keep pace when he resumes our walk. “Yeah, something tells me that won’t be as effective a second time.”
“I meant with Vincentius.”
I gag. “Gross, Lucas. I’ve fucked his son.”
“Maybe I can seduce him then. I’ve got plenty of daddy issues.” Lucas tosses back a flirtatious smile. “You think the Bauers are open-minded?”
I refuse to allow the disturbing visual to take root in my mind. “Sorry to crush your dreams, but Vincentius has always held a deep affection towards his wife. Never a mistress whispered about at all.” I give Lucas a dark smile. “Or maybe Rossana discreetly killed them all.”
Our conversation comes to an abrupt halt when my sinuses begin to tingle. Then buzz. I grab Lucas’ bicep and force him to a stop.
The Bauer wards are so powerful that they threaten to break into the physical world.
The hum in the air leaves behind a metallic taste and my mouth goes dry.
I release Lucas to wave my hand before the magic.
Ancient, it curls around me like a wary serpent, hissing and distrustful.
I try to draw back but it touches my magic before I can.
I gasp, eyes wide. My arm goes numb and a flicker of panic seizes my heart. I should tell Lucas to run, save himself, but then, a warm shiver of recognition stills my tongue.
I don’t dare breathe. Throwing caution to the wind, I swirl my arms in a practiced sequence, hissing an old, almost forgotten rune’s name. The magic disentangles from my essence and bows into an arched doorway. I grab Lucas’ hand, push him across first, then step through.
The wards seal shut behind us.
Lucas eyes the perimeter, the moonlight reflecting in them. “Nifty trick.”
It was no trick. My heart hammers in a nearly painful rhythm, my throat tightening. It was a password given to me years ago when I couldn’t bear to stay within the walls of my childhood home. This place was my haven, a shelter from a harsh father.
I turn, eyes trained on the not-too-distant estate, the long rooftop spires glinting in the moonlight.
Something I wish was dead sprouts in my heart.
Tiny, delicate roots push through the hardened exterior to touch something soft.
I shiver, body tightening. Without another word, I reach for Lucas and pull him forward.
Rows and rows of gardens lie before us, some meticulously manicured, others wild and thick with magics.
A healthy population of sprites and pixies inhabit the Bauer grounds.
They flicker and bob like oversized fireflies through the foliage.
Yellows, pinks, and oranges all dance together beneath the moonlight. Utterly breathtaking to watch.
Lucas and I move like wraiths within the gardens, hands held tightly to keep from separating.
Our charms keep all the creatures oblivious to our presence.
My fingers brush against the benches, haunted by ghosts of Rossana and Viola laughing, while Emilia, Valen, and I played games in the hedges.
Alasdair used to follow me on those occasions, but quickly stopped when I would hide that ugly bear he used to drag around everywhere in the thorn bushes.