61. Chapter 61
CHAPTER 61
Lucenna
L ucenna taut fingers shook around the crystal orb as she gripped it tight. She was no longer listening to Lucien as he rambled on about all the reasons why she couldn’t contact Everest. Lightning flashed overhead and it may have been partially due to her. The wind picked up, blowing her white hair around her face as she glowered at the view beyond the cliffside.
Exhaling a sharp breath, Lucien linked his hands together on his desk. “Lucenna, I know this is not what you want, but you know how imperative your survival is to the future of Magos. It’s not safe.”
She paced along the edge of the cliff, feeling her frustration climb. “I will be careful and only speak to him, Lucien. Everest would never betray us. I must tell him the truth.”
“No,” his tone hardened. “You don’t.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“Lucenna, come quick!” Keena flitted to her. “Dyna and Cassiel are fighting, and I think it’s serious.”
“What?” She glanced over her shoulder to see Dyna and Cassiel sparring in the woods. But the Valkyrie were with them. Good, they probably needed to work things out this way.
“Keena, they’re fine. Go keep watch if you’re worried.” Lucenna swatted a hand, and the fairy flew away with a huff. She glared at her brother. “I need to know what you are keeping him from me, Lucien, because you have been avoiding the topic since I left. Does Everest know I joined the Liberation?”
Her brother’s expression grew guarded. “Lucenna, simply take me for my word when I tell you we cannot trust him?”
“Why? If you don’t answer me I will find a way to contact him myself.”
Lucien closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at her, the expression on his face made her still. Whatever her brother had to say, he didn’t want to speak the words.
“Lucien?” she whispered, afraid of his answer.
“Ava is no longer with child.”
The strength left Lucenna’s legs, and she dropped on a large boulder. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Her brother’s lilac eyes grew wet and looked away. “She was found at the bottom of main stairs in west wing…”
Lucenna’s chest heaved, and she covered her mouth. “Do you mean…?”
“Ava is alive but only just. Her child did not survive.”
“Oh, Gods.”
Whatever she thought of Ava, to lose her baby was horrible.
“Wait. What does this have to do with Everest?” The expression on his face made her blood run cold. “You cannot possibly think he had anything to do with it?”
“Lucenna, that child would have deposed him as heir apparent to the throne. Removing it would restore his position.”
All obstacles from your path will be removed.
She sucked in a breath, her chest heaving with sharp denial. “Listen to yourself. Everest is kind. He would never?—”
“Everest is a mage ,” Lucien said tightly. “And he is to be the next Archmage. Like all those who came before him, his only goal is power. If you expose yourself to him, he will find you, Lucenna, and he will bring you back to Magos. He is not the person you think he is.”
She continued to shake her head. It can’t be. Not after everything they have been through together. Not after everything they shared.
“We were raised with him, Lucien. He was your closest friend. What you are telling me doesn’t sound like the Everest I knew.”
Lucien leaned back in his seat and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t think we ever knew him at all.”
It simply didn’t make any sense.
“Do you have proof?”
He blinked at her. “What?”
“Do you have proof Everest pushed Ava down the stairs.”
Lucien frowned. “No, but clearly this was intentional. He is the only one who benefits.”
“Out of everyone in the castle, why do you insist he’s the culprit?”
Her bother blinked at her, stumped by the question. He looked away from her and shifted in his chair.
She narrowed her eyes. “You are keeping something from me, Lucien. You have no proof of your claims, yet you refuse to allow me any contact with Everest. What are you hiding?”
Lucien’s mouth pursed into thin line. “You will not contact him, Lucenna. I forbid it. We will not speak of this again.”
With a wave of his hand, the orb cleared. She gaped at it in disbelief. Lucien had never behaved in such a way before, where he strictly commanded her and expected her to obey.
Like a mage would.
Lucenna had the sudden feeling she was oblivious to much more than she realized. The cool orb sat still in her hand, catching the last of the evening light. Well, she was never one for obedience.
Crouching down, she placed the orb on the ground and began to draw runes in the mud with a stick.
“Lucenna?” She ignored Klyde’s approach as she drew a circle around it. “What are you doing, lass?”
“I am breaking my brother’s spell on the orb,” she muttered.
“Why?”
“I need to break his warding spell so I can contact others.” She waved her hand over it and the runes blazed purple.
Klyde paused. “Others or your prince?”
“Yes, I need to speak to Everest. My brother is hiding something from me, and I will find out what it is.” Pressing her fingers together, Lucenna paused, questioning if she should do this.
She couldn’t imagine Everest would ever hurt anyone. Not when she had so many good memories of him. The sweetest one was when she was a little girl.
While chasing butterflies, Lucenna had tripped in the courtyard in Castle Ophyr and skinned her knee. She panicked for getting blood on her dress and cried. But then the Everest appeared like a god against the sun. It was the first time he had spoken to her, but she knew who he was. The prince she was meant to marry. He was older than her, seventeen at the time maybe. Everest smiled at her with his golden amber eyes, as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Laying his hand over her knee, his gentle magic healed her. “I cannot allow anything to harm my future.”
That was the mage she knew.
Lucien was wrong.
Closing her eyes, Lucenna reached out with her Essence and called on Everest.
When she found him, his awareness flooded her mind with familiarity. She opened her eyes as the crystal orb glowed with light. The sphere filled her vision until the world had disappeared, until all she could see was spiraling white smoke. Her heart pounded with anticipation.
She was finally going to see him after four years.
Klyde’s boot rammed into the orb.
She gaped at it in horror as it flew over the cliff and vanished from her sight. Lucenna sprinted to the edge, only to see it drop into the river below.
She whipped around to Klyde in disbelief. “What do you do?”
He stepped back, holding up his hands. “Ah, pardon me. I … slipped.”
“Slipped? You slipped ?” Lucenna shrieked. “That was clearly deliberate, you liar!” She stormed toward and swung her fist. “Have you lost your mind?”
Klyde dodged the punch with a chuckle. “No, but I lost my footing. It’s quite muddy around here. Come away from the cliff’s edge before you slip, too.”
Rain came pouring down only making her more furious. “That orb was the only means I have to communicate with my brother!”
“Oi, calm down, love.”
“I am not your love! And don’t tell me to calm down!” Lucenna beat her fists his chest though she may as well strike a wall. In their struggle, she slipped, and he caught her against him, which only pissing her off more. “Honestly, you are the most infuriating, preposterously arrogant, inept man I’ve ever met!”
Klyde caught her wrists in his solid grasp. “Having encountered the caliber of men from the Magos Empire, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Lucenna had the urge to strangle him but her still hadn’t released her. Purple electricity crackled across her skin. “I should kill you.”
They both watched her magic merely fizzle out when it met his enchanted mercenary coat. Klyde cracked a smile. “I would find that more threatening if it were possible.”
“Would you like to wager that?” She grabbed the blade strapped to his belt, but it vanished from her hold before she could do anything with it.
The blade twirled in Klyde’s hand as he stepped back. “Lass, you know I have scruples against harming women. But I do admit I am at fault here. Allow me to replace your orb.”
“No! That orb can never be replaced. I have put up with your exasperating candor, but this …” Tears sprung to her eyes, and she quickly turned away from him. “That orb belonged to my mother.”
Klyde let out a long breath, softly cursing. When he spoke again, the amusement was gone. “I am so sorry, Lucenna...”
“Why did you do that?”
Because it was no accident. He intentionally kicked the orb.
He sighed again. “I?—”
A loud rumble shook the earth, and she backed into him. He caught her waist.
“Did you feel something?” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Yes, I did.”
“Ugh, pig.” Lucenna elbowed him back.
The rumble came again, and she whipped around to see the trees break away from the hills, and the ground sunk in on itself. Water and mud rushed down like wave. Cries broke out and everyone fled. Cassiel snatched Dyna into the air with the Valkyrie. The elves ran for their horses, rushing Lady Aerina and Raiden to safety. But the elves who tried to cast magic to stop the flashflood, were swept away.
“No,” Klyde breathed. “Tavin.”
He sprinted toward the camp.
“Klyde, wait!” Lucenna ran after him.
It was chaos. Water flooded the camp as everyone ran. A large black wolf landed in a crouch beside her, skidding over the mud.
“Zev!” Lucenna shouted as she ran alongside him. “Find Keena.”
He sprinted off.
She spotted Klyde ahead, quickly strapping on Tavin’s grappling harness. “He’s not here,” he said urgently when she caught up to him. “The horses are gone.”
Lucenna searched the running crowd and pointed. “There!”
Tavin was riding a horse and holding the reins of another as he also desperately searched the chaos.
“Tavin!” Klyde ran for him.
The boy’s face lit up with relief when he saw him. And in a blink, a rogue wave of mud swept him away from view. Before Lucenna could scream, another wave hit them next. She choked on muddy water, blinded and disoriented as she tried to breathe. She fought desperately to kick and flail but the rogue current pulled her beneath the surface. A strong grip on her arm yanked her back up and she coughed violently, sucking in air.
“I got you,” Klyde said, his arm like a vice around her back. “Move with the current?—”
A tree slammed into them. The force tore her from his hold, at the same time pain shot up her arm. She bit back a scream. The wild current took all away toward the cliff, including her.
“Klyde!” she cried, choking on water. She flailed desperately, panic and fear smothering her.
His frightened voice yelled her name. He several feet away, trying to swim toward her. She was too far.
Lucenna’s scream echoed in the sky as she went over the cliff. Klyde leaped after her and caught her with a grunt. He twisted his body and shot grappling hooks out of his harness. They pierced the rock wall and their fall down the ravine halted midway down.
“Hold on.” Klyde slung her onto his back without breaking a stride.
He began to climb down the length of the cliff as the endless deluge poured over them. Lucenna fought to breathe. Her heart pounded wildly, and she dug her nails into him. They were several feet from the rushing river below.
The metal cables snapped.
And they dropped into the icy current below. Klyde didn’t let go. His bruising grip dug into her as waves and debris crashed into them. Branches and rocks sliced at her skin. Lucenna clung to him for her very life, but they were weighed down. Klyde yanked off his harness and grabbed onto her, keeping her head above water. But he was struggling to swim. The current was too strong, and he was growing tired.
“Head to land!” he told her.
She shook her head, tightening her grip on him.
“You can do it, Lucenna. Use your magic or you will drown and so will I!”
“Not without you!”
“I can swim. I’ll make it.”
Arrogant mercenary. The riptide would eventually overpower him, and she was not leaving him behind.
Lucenna wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and shut her eyes tight. She ignored the fact that she had no training in water magic because it was life or death, and she was not going to die here.
Her magic surged at her call, and she threw out her hand with a scream. A purple Essence Blast hurtled them from the water, throwing them up against the boulders lining the shore. Pain throbbed all over her body. She couldn’t move. Klyde dragged himself out, then hauled her up onto the bank. They fell back, breathing heavily.
“You did it…” Klyde rasped. He pulled her to him, holding her so tightly against his chest she could hear his heartbeat racing. Lucenna shut her eyes, her breath trembling. “You did it.”
Klyde laid there for a long moment. He stared blankly at the canopy of trees above them, probably contemplating how close they came to death. Or the last moment he saw Tavin.
“He’s alive,” she whispered.
“The flood hit him head on…”
“Yes, but he lives.”
“How do you know that?”
Lucenna hesitated before sitting up. “When I realized who Tavin’s father was, I was curious to see if he had any magic in his blood.” She looked away from the force of Klyde’s stare.
“And?”
She flinched at his harsh question. “It’s dormant … but it’s there.”
Klyde didn’t speak. She listened to his breaths as his chest expanded with each one until she felt his anger subside. “Can you sense him now?”
“Only that his presence is on this plane, as I know Dyna’s is.”
“Can you track him?”
“Perhaps once I gather my bearings.”
Klyde roughly rubbed his face. “He’s probably alone out there. Who knows where the current took him.”
“You trained Tavin to survive. He traveled across Urn on his own to find us. Have more faith him.”
Klyde nodded. “Aye, you’re right. We won’t be of any use until we sort ourselves first.” He looked her over. “I need to get you warm. Your lips are blue.”
Lucenna noticed then she was uncontrollably trembling. Well, they were soaked through, and the temperature had dropped, but she wasn’t aware of being cold. Likely due to her adrenaline.
“Are wounded?” she said at spotting the many red stains on his shirt. She tried to stand but cried out at the sharp pain shooting through her arm.
“I’m fine.” Klyde made her sit down again. “Your shoulder is dislocated.”
Lucenna whimpered at the sight of her arm hanging at an odd angle. It was suddenly hurting now that she noticed it.
“I need to push it back into the socket.”
“Is that going to hurt?”
His mouth curled in bemusement.
She grimaced. Of course it would. “Perhaps we should wait for Dyna.”
“It will only get worse, lass. Best I do it now.” Klyde studied her for a bit then reached in his coat and brought out a small leather wineskin. He took a drink then offered it to her. “Here, drink this. It will help take the edge off.”
Lucenna accepted it without question, and she took a sip. The ale burned down her throat and flushed her face with warmth. It was no use waiting for Dyna to heal her. She already felt faint, and her arm was throbbing terribly. Klyde raised his brows when she tipped her head back and swallowed down the rest of the ale. It immediately rushed to her head, leaving her woozy.
She wiped her mouth. “I’m ready.”
Klyde shifted to sit next to her. His warm hands took hold of her shoulder and elbow. It was in these moments when she noticed how much he dwarfed her.
Tightening his grip on her arm, he nodded. “Clench your jaw or you’ll bite your tongue.”
Lucenna snapped her teeth shut and closed her eyes. She could feel his breath against her cheek.
“Look at me,” he ordered softly. She tilted her head to look up at him and he was watching her, his eyes as calm as a still sea. “Now breathe.”
Bracing herself, Lucenna inhaled a sharp breath through her nose a second before he shoved her arm in its socket. She screamed through her gritted teeth then slumped against him, breathing rapidly.
Klyde cradled her against his chest, lightly messaging her shoulder joint, encouraging the pain to subside. “It’s over now, lass. You did well.”
He rubbed her back, working heat back into her body. Whenever his fingers brushed her lower back, it bloomed a spark of currents across her skin from her toes to her scalp. She shivered as her mind grew hazy. He was warm. She tucked her cold nose against his throat, and he stiffened.
“You smell nice…” Lucenna mumbled.
He chuckled. “You mean like mud and blood?”
“No … like a winter forest at sea…” Why was she telling him this?
Klyde held her back by her shoulders and widened his eyes as she smiled at him lazily. “Are you all right?”
“I’m grand.” The pain was faint, pushed to the back of her mind. Lucenna blinked at him through her bleary vision, takin in the angles of his face and the moonlight falling over the worried knot between his brows. His wet hair fell in messy waves just past his jaw. Reaching up she stroked feeling the bristles of his stubble. She wondered what he looked like without a beard. “You’re pretty.”
“Ah, erm, well, I suppose I am.” Klyde cleared his throat. Was he blushing? “Lass, you can’t look at me like that. You have me stuttering like a fool.”
She giggled at the befuddled look on his face and said in her best brogue accent. “Aye, lass.”
“I should not have given you the whole thing,” he muttered. “We are in for a night.”
Lucenna laughed again. The cool breeze felt good against her flushed cheeks. “You’re funny, Klyde Morken. Are you always this funny?”
She tried to stand but slipped and fell backward toward the river.
“Oi!” he snatched her wrist and yanked her back to him. “Are you trying to be death of me, woman?”
The question snapped her out of her haze. The last thing she wanted was to be the death of anyone.
Suddenly annoyed by the way he spoke to her, she pushed off his grasp. “Why did you break my orb?”
“Come on.” He moved her away from the bank. “You need to lie down. We should find somewhere to stay for the night.”
“No.” She jerked her arm free then whimpered at the throbbing in her shoulder. “I won’t go anywhere with you until you tell me why.”
Klyde ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. He rubbed his face again. “I couldn’t stand it, all right?”
Lucenna blinked at him. “What?”
“I know he’s the one you want, and one day you’ll go to him, but…” He stepped closer and her pulse quickened. “Some arrogant … infuriating… inept part of me didn’t want to share you with another man. When the orb began to glow, I reacted before I could think. I truly am very sorry about that.”
Lucenna suddenly couldn’t look at him. That quite clearly a confession, if she understood him correctly. But she couldn’t think clearly past her pounding heartbeat. “W-well, that is the most a-absurd thing I ever heard. Fool.”
He chuckled quietly. “Agreed.”
She crossed her arms, heat radiating in her face. “You will acquire me another orb. Made of the finest quality.”
“Of course. Nothing less than perfect.” Lifting her chin, Klyde made her look up at him, sending a spark of currents down her neck. He tilted his head, holding her gaze with a slight smile. “Come, I’ll carry you on my back as we look for a spot to stay tonight. You’ll get nowhere in this state.”
“That sounds like an excuse to carry me,” she mumbled.
One end of his lips curved with a slight smile, but he didn’t deny it. When he looked at her like that, so soft and warm, she hadn’t the will to protest.
Klyde crouched and motioned for her to climb onto his back. Ignoring her blush, Lucenna wrapped her arms around his neck, then hooked her legs around his torso, and he lifted her with ease. Her mind listed all the reasons she shouldn’t allow this, but his steady stride through the trees and the warmth of his broad back soon had her body relaxing against him. It was absurd how easily he made her defenses drop. Her next inhale was filled with his scent, and it occurred to her then, why her glamour continued to fail when she was with him.
Because Klyde made her feel safe.
Gods, she needed to get ahold of herself.
Glowering, Lucenna rested her head on his shoulder. “I could have walked, captain.”
He chuckled and the husky rumble tickled her ear. “With all the ale you drank, you’d only end up on your bonnie arse, love.” Then he added in a murmur so soft she nearly missed it. “I can’t have you falling if it’s not for me.”