Chapter 7 Luciana
LUCIANA
I read the letter in my hand as Kara looked over my shoulder.
Nico had told us of their conversation with the Aquatic Kings, of their plan to spread the news of Lennox’s kidnapping, but reading Luka’s words—even if this didn’t help us get to Lennox—it would surely light a fire under her kingdom.
Luka’s words were passionate, they conveyed how much he loved Lennox and how badly he wanted to get her back.
But the words were also sharp—they painted a cruel picture of the Panateia, of Adreona—how they took advantage of our selfless High Queen’s love for her sister—her love for others, for all of her people.
It made it clear Luka would spare no lives who were associated with her kidnapping.
The Aquatic Kings had sent out their own statement along with Luka’s, and my mother followed suit—both declaring their support of Luka in getting Lennox back on her throne and taking down the Panateia. Soon, all of Lethenia would know about Lennox’s captivity.
I only hoped these letters would spur more courts—anyone, to join in our mission.
“I hope this helps us find her faster—that someone has a clue as to where she is,” Kara mussed as she continued to read, resting her chin on my shoulder.
“About that…I was talking with Caterina—I think I have a plan.” I had brought Kara to stay with me for a few days in Arcadia while the males were staying in the Aquatic Court.
I wouldn’t risk leaving her alone. If we managed to get Lennox back and something had happened to Kara—Lennox would gut us all.
“What is it?”
“When I was having dinner with her the other night, she mentioned a story she had been told as a youngling, where a witch was able to track her ex-lover.” I left out the part where the witch was tracking him to kill him for leaving her. “The witch was able to follow her lover, even as he moved.”
“A live tracking spell?”
I nodded. “If we could somehow manage to link that kind of spell with Lennox—”
“We could track her even when they change locations,” Kara finished for me.
“Caterina encouraged me to look into the story—see if I could find the spell associated with it…”
“Let me guess.” Kara plopped in the chair across from me. “You found the spell, but it’s not just any spell, is it?”
“It’s an Ichor magic spell.”
Kara let out a harsh breath. “Okay, so that’s not ideal, but if it brings us to Lennox that’s a risk we need to take.” She met my gaze. “What are we waiting for?”
“That’s the thing.” I pulled the book from my bag, flipping to the page with the tracking spell. “The spell requires a sacrifice.”
“Well, shit.” Kara’s face paled.
“But I have a plan.”
“This is stupid, we should go back, we’ll find another way to get to Lennox,” Kara muttered as she paced back and forth in the alley.
“Kara.” I placed a hand on each of her shoulders. “If this works, we could have Lennox back tomorrow. I’m doing this.” She huffed a breath, causing the lock of blonde hair in front of her face to move.
“I’m trying my best to channel my inner Lennox, but it’s harder than you’d think.” Her shoulders shrank. We’d spent so much time worrying about Luka in Lennox’s disappearance, but I hadn’t thought to check on Kara—I was so focused on trying to get Lennox back—
“I’m the reason she was taken—she gave herself up for me. If we don’t get her back—”
I tightened my hold on her shoulders. “We will get her back, Kara. I promise you. There was nothing you could have done to stop Lennox from choosing you over herself.”
“I know but—”
“Feeling guilty isn’t going to help get her back.” My voice was firm. I understood her guilt, but we couldn’t dwell in this now. “Use your feelings to help get her back. Use them to fuel your vengeance.”
“I’m not you and Lennox. It isn’t a switch I can flip, Luce.”
“Well at least try, okay? Because I can’t do this without you.”
“Is everything ready?” she asked after a moment.
I looked over her shoulder at where my materials were gathered, ready for the spell. “Let’s do this.”
Kara followed me to the mouth of the alley, once we were sure no one was around, we sliced our daggers across our wrists, letting our blood trail behind us as we walked back down the alley.
“What now?”
“Now we wait.” I stifled my bleeding with a clean towel. “This is Cel Nox, it won’t be long before a Dhampir smells our blood.”
It took longer than I had anticipated, Kara was ready to give up when we heard the familiar growl of the Dhampir, only a moment before two red eyes glowed at us from the dark street. I rose from my crouch, stepping into the light.
The Dhampir pounced, clamoring down the alley on four feet, its claws grating along the alley as it ran for me, drool flying from its fangs as it leaped through the air.
Its shriek reverberated through the alley as it fell to the ground, Kara’s arrow embedded in its side.
Kara’s vines snaked around the Dhampir’s hands and feet, binding them together and rendering the beast immobile.
“Quick,” I directed Kara as we approached the creature.
Each of us took a side, dragging the Dhampir and placing it over the symbols I had drawn on the ground of the ally with my blood.
The Dhampir struggled against its restraints, growling and snapping its jaws.
I hadn’t seen one so inhuman looking—this one looked more animal than fae.
Hopefully, the spell would still work.
I wasted no time sprinkling my concoction over its body, kneeling beside it as I closed my eyes and began chanting.
The magic pushed and pulsed at my fingertips, but I didn’t let any of it out, not yet. Without opening my eyes, I reached for the dagger at my side, letting my magic guide my movements as I closed both hands over the pommel, the magic directing me toward the body of the Dhampir.
I continued to chant, the magic pulsing against my skin now, it felt like if I didn’t release it, I would burn.
Now.
The voice in my mind demanded.
I screamed, my eyes remaining closed as I released the blade.
Warm blood splattered across my face and chest, but I didn’t stop chanting.
I felt my magic moving from my hands into the blade.
I opened my eyes, my hands were still wrapped around the blade, which was now embedded in the Dhampir’s heart.
The area surrounding the dagger glowed with magic, illuminating the dark alley in golden light.
I pulled the dagger from the Dhampir’s body, its heart came with it, the dagger clear through the middle.
I let the heart slide off the blade into my hand.
Black blood oozed from my palm and down my arm as I shifted, bringing it over the map laid out on the ground.
I squeezed the lump of muscle, letting the blood drip over the map until I had formed the symbol for Ichor magic, a five-pointed star with a triangle through it.
I muttered the final lines of the spell under my breath, watching as the blood on the map moved, the lines shifting until they formed one dot, that dot moving until it stopped at the far southern border of the Twilight Court.
If the magic worked correctly, the bead of blood would leave a trail everywhere the Panateia moved, giving us a live tracker of Lennox’s location.
“It worked,” Kara murmured from behind me.
“It did,” I breathed, my chest still rising and falling rapidly. I had done it. I had final fucking done it.
Kara gasped. “Your hand.”
I looked down at my blood-stained hands, letting the Dhampir’s heart fall to the ground with a squelch.
The veins in my hand had turned black, stopping over my left wrist.
“What is that?” Kara prodded.
“You know how all the stories always said there was a consequence to using Ichor magic?” I swallowed, running a finger over one of the black, pulsing veins. “I think I’ll find out soon what that consequence is.”