Chapter 25 #2
I ducked coming into the doorway, the inn’s ceiling only a few inches above my head.
He settled us near the fire as he retrieved everything Ash needed to heal the old woman.
Brexley joined them upstairs, needing to be near Esmeralda, a.k.a.
Tad, to make sure she would be okay. I knew the weight of what happened tonight would fall down on her later, adding to the burden she already carried.
I wanted to take it away, to carry it for her, and for the first time in my life, I felt helpless because I couldn’t do something.
By the time Ash and Brexley made it back down, Olek had dished up hearty stew and bread, serving Uzvar infused with vodka, which was a Christmas drink in Ukraine. Not usually with alcohol, but I was glad Olek spiked the fuck out of it for us.
“She’s okay?” I spoke to Kovacs, her head nodding as she settled next to me on the sofa.
“Yeah. Tad is still with her, and whatever Ash gave her really helped. She’s sleeping now.” She slumped in relief, her body fully resting against mine. Esmeralda couldn’t counter all the bad that happened earlier, but for this moment, it was enough for her. At least she saved one.
“Can we cut the bullshit now and get to what the fuck happened tonight? Who the hell you two are?” Caden stood up, tossing his dish down on the table, pointing at Ember and Eli. “And when are we going after my father?”
“Calm the fuck down, junior,” I grumbled at Caden, turning my fury to the new duo.
“Let’s start with you two . . . and why the fuck you are hunting my mate?
” I growled, the word slipping out before I could stop it, grinding my back teeth together.
It pissed me off how easily it came off my tongue.
I wasn’t mad that it was true, I just didn’t like everyone knowing my business.
But if the meaning of those words scared them off her any, it was worth it.
The fae world understood the seriousness of the claim. It went beyond soulmate or wife, husband or partner. It was sacred, and if you knew a pair was mated, like the two I was looking at, you knew fucking with one would rain fury down with the other.
Eli’s shoulders lifted, sensing the threat underlying my question, his gaze challenging mine as Ember spoke first.
“There’s not much my father isn’t aware of.
Even if the East is not under his rule, he understands the threat of all these countries vying for power, when governing is no longer the goal but a stepping stone toward dictatorship.
He has spies all over, keeping tabs on what is going on.
” Her eyes danced to Eli, sharing something that went beyond our awareness.
“Fifteen years ago, we learned about this nectar. Then it disappeared. Now it has suddenly shown back up at the same time as Dr. Rapava’s old formula to create super soldiers.
” She leaned her elbows on the table. “It’s no coincidence, and nothing is taken for granted anymore by Lars.
He’s been watching this area for a long time.
The nectar is his biggest concern. We know what it can do.
” She said it as if they knew more than they had seen here.
“It’s equivalent to a treasure of Tuatha Dé Danann, which is honestly the last thing this world needs.
Too much power for anyone to have. It always ends badly. ”
Eli scoffed, rubbing his head at her statement.
I knew the history; they had been around a long time to know that the treasures were real.
Queen Kennedy was on her throne because she killed the previous queen with the Sword of Light, a treasure of Tuatha Dé Danann.
Rumors were that King Lars had found them all and almost lost his throne and his life because he had lost control.
“If put in the wrong hands, the threat is on the world . . . we can’t have that again.” Ember folded her arms.
“What does that mean?” Brex sat up straight, her hip pressing into the very object they were talking about.
“We were sent here to retrieve it. Kill you if you got in the way,” Ember stated, her gaze unapologetic.
I rushed to my feet, the threat falling from my lips without a second thought. “If you get near her, I will gut you and feast on your liver. If you and your puppy here want to get cocky and think you can fight the Wolf, then let’s go.”
Eli rose at my threat, his eyes flashing red.
“Warwick.” Brexley got up, stepping in front of me, her jaw set tight. Her voice was husky and low, probably wishing we could communicate privately. “Stop. I don’t think they’re going to hurt me.”
“You don’t know that,” I murmured, my gaze darting up to the Dark Dweller and Dae.
“I do.” She nipped at her bottom lip and turned back to face Ember. “You sensed my magic. Recognized it. It’s why you didn’t kill me. You couldn’t then, and you won’t now.”
“You sure?” Ember tilted her head.
“Yes,” Brexley replied confidently. “Because you feel the same. We share magic.”
Ember took a breath, her head shaking. “How is it possible? How do you have some of my powers? I mean, they’re mine. I can feel it.”
“What?” Eli and the entire room bounced from Ember to Brexley. “What do you mean, your powers? That’s not possible.”
“Actually, it is.” A deep woman’s voice came from the stairs.
A pair of slippers flopped down the steps, only three bunny ears and two eyes between the two.
Esmeralda’s tiny form moved slowly down the steps, her body stiff, but she was not in charge.
All I saw were the mannerisms and demeanor of the druid taking over.
“In this case, anyway.” She gripped the railing, taking the last steps into the living room slowly, just like the old man.
“You should be resting.” Rosie reached out to her, helping.
“Don’t worry, dear. She is.” Esmeralda winked at her, taking her hand, letting Rosie help her walk into the living space. “She will be back to her feisty, grumpy self soon, I’m sure.”
“Tad.” Brexley went over, hugging them. “Thank you so much for helping her.”
“Of course, my girl. Her journey, like yours, is far from over. She is also too stubborn and crotchety to die.”
Brexley let out a huffed laugh, both of them smiling knowingly.
Tad shuffled farther into the room near the fire. “It’s hell to get old and be so chilled to the bone all the time,” he grumbled, shaking his head and perching on a chair.
“What did you mean it was possible for her to have my magic?” Ember returned us to the conversation.
“You might want to sit down, girl.” He patted the seat next to him for Ember. “This story really begins the night of the Fae War, which you had a significant part in, if I recall.”
Ember glanced at Eli, her head tipping down. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Ash, can you look in your bag for me? I think I left something in there.” Tad motioned to the backpack he took off near the door. Nothing was in it except for snacks, clothes, and an empty container of mushrooms, which Bitzy had finished within an hour of our journey.
His brow wrinkled, but he snatched up the bag, his mouth dropping open as he looked inside.
“How . . . ?” Shock widened his eyes as he pulled out a heavy book from what appeared to be an empty sack. “How did you do this?”
“Holy shit!” Brexley moved quickly to the table next to Ash, my ass right behind, pressing into her. “That’s the fae book. But . . .” She peered back at Tad.
The power of the book pulsed in the air.
Centuries of life stuffed the pages. Fae books were rare, and I never had the opportunity or reason to hold one.
Ash was the first person I knew who had one, but it never came up until Kovacs.
Still, I had no connection or desire to pick one up.
Let’s say I was never a kid who read much.
I learned hands-on in the streets, but tonight I felt this strange pull, and I leaned closer to Kovacs, peering over her shoulder at it.
“Warwick Farkas . . .” A whisper brushed across my mind, a buzz in my ear, a deep voice feeling older than time itself, imprinting and disappearing so quickly I felt like I had imagined it.
“I thought I lost it?” Ash, still dumbfounded, peered at the book, then at Tad.
“Dear boy, you can never lose a fae book. It goes where it wants to. You should feel lucky it chose to stay with you so long, though I think it knew in time you would return to its family.”
“Family?” Ember’s brows cinched together.
“To you.” Tad patted her hand. “And by default, her too.” He nodded at Brexley.
“I’m confused.” Ember glanced around, Eli at her side. “I don’t have a sister or other relations. That I would know.”
“Not a blood relation per se, but she’s in your family line just the same.” Tad motioned for Ash to set the book on the table, opening it up. Energy pulsated in the air, my head swaying at the intensity.
“I don’t understand.” Ember shook her head.
“Here.” Tad grabbed Ember’s hand, hovering it over the book, nodding to Brexley to do the same. “I think it will be easier to show than tell . . .”
He pressed their hands down on the pages. Energy crackled, pushing through Brexley’s body and into mine.
“Brexley Kovacs,” the old crackly voice spoke. “The girl who challenges nature’s laws, and the man she brought back to life. Ember Brycin, the girl who broke nature’s laws for the man who should not have lived.”
There was a pop, and I felt myself fall. Tumble and rolling, scenes from history flashed by so fast that I had to shut my eyes to avoid getting sick. The flicker took me back to the days I was put in the hole, where my senses were blasted and tortured, along with my body.
Everything stopped, and my lids slowly opened.
A deep, twisted knot braided through my stomach, taking every sensation I had twenty years ago.