CHAPTER 17 #2
“All I’m saying is that you should have told us that dagger had the potential for terrible side effects.
” Sera’s voice was low, but quietly furious.
“Dante said it drained Alex of all his energy. He could barely walk by the end. I don’t want to think you did it on purpose, some cruel, twisted faerie bargain, but I just don’t know with you anymore. ”
Someone swore under their breath. Dani watched Finneas Hawthorne step into view.
“Okay, first? It’s a magical artifact. I thought you and your brother had like, a basic understanding of how they worked since you were begging me to provide you with one.”
“So you’re saying this is Alex’s fault?” Sera glared. “My brother is missing and very possibly dead and you’re really going to go with mansplaining?”
Finneas sighed, running a hand through his disheveled blond hair.
“So… fae artifacts draw a little bit of energy every time you use them. I suppose it’s rather like when we travel between realms or when vampires scatter form.
I feel wretched for what happened. Truly, I do.
It honestly didn’t occur to me that it would be too much for you or your brother to use one.
You’re royalty. Your blood is incredibly strong. ”
“Not strong enough, apparently. Lara Cavalieri shot Dani. She would have died if Alex hadn’t given her blood. He was exhausted. I should have gone in his place, but he wanted me to stay with her in case there were complications. This is my fault.”
Dani covered her mouth and fought back a sob.
“I didn’t know,” Finneas said, voice softer. “Has there been any word?”
When Sera shook her head, swiping at her eyes, he started to touch her shoulder.
“Don’t.” She took a step back. “Sorry. It’s just… you know that I could hurt you. And I’ve been really shaky ever since this happened. It’s been hard controlling it.”
“You can’t hurt me, Sera,” he said quietly.
She started to answer, then noticed Dani standing in the hall. “You’re awake.” Hurrying over, she took her wrist and checked her pulse. “You probably shouldn’t be out of bed.”
“I feel fine.”
Finneas smirked. “Nice fangs, by the way.”
Sera shot him an exasperated look. “Do you have to flirt with everything female with legs?”
“I wasn’t, actually.” He raised an eyebrow. “Interesting that it seems to bother you, though.”
Sera’s cheeks darkened ever so slightly, her eyes narrowing.
“Any word on Ava?” Dani asked.
“She’s here,” Sera said. “Evan picked her up from the room where she was staying with Nadine. They’re sleeping in the next room.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Lara never had her?”
“She was with Nadine the entire time. Apparently, Nadine contacted Lara, told her about the mating marks, and said she could get you back to the apartment at a prearranged time for the right price.”
“I was so stupid. Evan kept telling me she couldn’t be trusted.
She wanted to kick her out. I said we needed to give her more time for Ava’s sake.
” Dani hesitated, the sick, shaky fear of how close she’d almost come to dying making her suddenly queasy.
“And I think, when I had to make the decision to go to the auction house, when I saw how easily you could get lost down that path towards blood addiction and never come back, every time I heard Evan say we should give up, go no contact—”
“You imagined her saying the same things to Ava about you one day,” Sera finished quietly. “I’m so sorry, Dani. Not only for how terrible the last few weeks have been for you, but because I know that despite everything else she’s done, Nadine was like a mother to you and Evan once.”
Needing to change the subject, she said, “Do you think I’m strong enough to dematerialize now? Dante said Lara was searching for me. I don’t want to put you or my sisters in danger.”
“I still think we should go.” Sera turned to where Finneas leaned against the wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. “Alex knew where this location was. Chances are, he’s talked by now.”
Dani pressed a hand to her throat, asking the question she’d been dreading. “Have we heard anything?”
She just needed to know Alex was alive. Anything else, they could survive.
Please, she prayed. Please let him be okay.
“Nothing that we’ve heard,” Sera said gently. “Obviously, I know this won’t make you feel any better, and I’m sick with worry, too, but I don’t think he’s in immediate danger.”
“I can’t feel him anymore.” Dani traced the mark at her wrist. “It’s like he’s gone silent through our bond.”
“That could be from the shackles,” Finneas said mildly. “They drain your magic.”
“Alex is too important for our father to risk hurting him,” Sera continued. “The Cavalieris want Lara on the throne. For that, they need Alex alive.”
“And that gives us time to figure out how to rescue him.”
“Exactly.” Sera turned to Finneas. “You’re sure the glamour will mask this location from outsiders?”
“As of right now, it’s undiscoverable by anyone but the six of us who are currently here.”
“You’re certain there’s no way around it?”
“Wards and glamours can be broken, of course, but in this case, they would both need to know our precise location and have one of our kind working for them who could break through a glamour I cast.”
“Whatever dark fae sold them the shackles couldn’t do that?” Sera raised an eyebrow.
“They might try.” Finneas shrugged. “But the dagger I gave you easily broke through their spell, even when wielded by someone who wasn’t faerie. I wouldn’t lose sleep over this.”
“Forgive me if I don’t exactly trust fae magic right now.”
He laughed softly. “You called me, Serafina. And you’re welcome, by the way.” He pushed away from the wall. “I should get back. My team will be meeting about the events of earlier tonight and I expect my presence is long overdue.”
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here in the middle of a snowstorm, especially when you have your own set of problems.” Sera rubbed her arms. “And I know you could have simply left us to sort out our own political problems and allowed Lara and her father to claim the throne.”
“I’m not sure that particular outcome is in either of our best interests.” His lips curved into the barest of smiles. “You have my number. Text if you need anything.”
He disappeared a moment later, gone back to the fae realm.
Dani raised an eyebrow. “Remind me again why you didn’t want to marry him?”
“Don’t start.” Sera shot her a look. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I could use a cup of tea.”
They went to the kitchen. Dani began filling the kettle. Sera took out mugs and a jar of loose tea from the cupboard.
“What happened with the raid on the research facility?” Dani asked while they leaned against the counter, waiting for the kettle to boil.
“It was an ambush.” Sera pressed her lips together. “Eight of our people were captured. Most of the fae managed to pass back to their realm in time, but Finneas said four are still missing. They’re presumed to be prisoners as well.”
“You think they knew we were coming?”
“I’m sure of it. Isabella betrayed us. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Now even more of our people are being held as hostages and I have no idea how we’re going to get them out.”
“There has to be a way into the castle.” The kettle began to steam. Grabbing a hot pad, Dani poured the water into the mugs.
“The reports we’re getting are saying the Cavalieris have brought in two hundred guards to occupy the castle. The wards are another problem. My father will have surely revoked permission for me and Dante to enter.”
“How does that work exactly? I thought the fae set the wards.”
“They set the wards initially, but obviously they don’t want to be called out to tweak the magic every time we want to add a cook to payroll.
They’re blood wards, in the most basic sense.
You need to add a drop of a person’s blood to the ward stone in the king’s chamber, which is located at the center of the castle, to give them permission to enter or revoke it.
Anyone who’s given permission to enter also has a vial of their blood kept in case the king later decides to revoke their right to cross the wards. ”
“But the fae can lift the wards?”
“They were the ones who cast them in the first place. We don’t have that sort of magic. It was part of the treaty we signed, agreeing to the first ceasefire between the fae, the vampire sectors and the wolves.”
“Then Finneas might be willing to lift the wards on the castle.” Hope rose in Dani’s chest. “Don’t you think he would, if it would mean we could get to Alex and the fae prisoners they’re holding at the same time?”
“He would have to take it up with the rest of the members of his council. And even if we could get the fae to lift the wards they’ve set, we would still be massively outgunned by the two hundred guards loyal to Cavalieri who are waiting for us inside.
I’m confident there’s a way in, but it will take time and careful planning. ”
“I can’t just sit around and do nothing.” Dani took a sip of her tea and grimaced. “Not while I know Alex is being held against his will.”
“We’ll find him. I’m not giving up. But don’t forget, you’ll have to stay in seclusion for at least a month while your body adjusts to craving blood. We can’t let you out on the street until the worst of it passes and you’re better in control.” She frowned. “Is your tea not good?”
“It tastes off. I still feel a little sick to my stomach.”
“That’s normal. You’ve been through a major trauma. Why don’t you try to get some sleep, and in the morning, we’ll have you feed again. Hopefully by then, we’ll know more.”
Too exhausted to argue, Dani let Sera give her a pair of nausea tablets and a glass of water. But as she crawled back beneath the covers, listening to the snow falling softly against the windows outside, it was a long time before she was able to drift off to sleep.
“Where did you leave her?”
Alexander slumped forward where he was tied to one of the chairs in his bedroom.