11
“If I get my hands on that little weasel, I am going to wring his neck,” Tess said as we traveled through the cobblestone streets behind Liss, walking to our new and secluded safe house.
“I am going to do a hell of a lot more than that,” Nik threatened from behind me.
I turned to meet his gaze, which bordered on murderous. I desperately hoped we never ran into Tyr again, for his own sake. I had no idea Tyr had been a part of the resistance, whether his intentions were true or not, but he had given me up to Donika at the first opportunity.
I understood Kenna thinking it had to be Tyr who betrayed the safe house locations, but Isaac insisted that all the newer locations had been established after Tyr had led to my capture.
We traveled deeper and deeper into the heart of Prins, and I was unfamiliar with this part of the city. There were no wide streets, all the walkways were narrow and crisscrossed between the buildings as if they were street blocks. There were no Juliet balconies or vendors on these streets. They were all humble townhomes with small windows, one on top of the other.
We approached a townhome that had the bricks painted an unassuming tan color. The large wooden door had a window in it that was covered by thick iron grates. There were windows on each side of the door, and a set of stone steps leading up to it.
“This is it?” Puck asked from behind us, “I was hoping for a hidden door situation, like the last safe house.”
“Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the best thing,” Liss replied as she ascended the small set of steps and turned back to Puck with a glance that said she thought he was being awfully childish. “But just in case…this door is spelled, obviously.”
“I’ll take it,” Puck conceded with a laugh as we followed Liss inside.
Isaac wasn’t exaggerating when he said this safe house was smaller. The door opened directly into a small kitchen that barely had the necessary appliances to cook for ourselves. Beyond that, there was a living room with a small wooden table that sat four off to the left, a single leather couch and coffee table to the right. The back wall held a staircase with narrow, rickety steps that lead up to the bedrooms.
“She won’t come searching for you here,” Liss said as she crossed her arms, taking in the cottage-like townhome. “There are no neighbors. Those homes also belong to us.”
“Thank you, Liss.” I squeezed her shoulder gently as I passed.
Liss had done a lot for us, and without her, I might never have been able to escape the Stormvault.
“Zion should be on his way any day now. I will send word when he arrives. In the meantime, keep a low profile. Don’t leave the safe house unless it is to go to the training field. We have to be safe as we gather intelligence.”
“I understand.” I nodded, hoping the bedrooms would be comfortable if we were going to be cooped up here together. I dreaded the idea of being stuck in such close quarters with Nik, but I would try to avoid him at all costs.
“Speaking of training, when will we get started?” I asked, anxious to touch my magic again, but nervous at the same time.
“You’ll start with Isaac tomorrow, and Warrick, too.”
“Who is Warrick?” Tess asked, throwing herself down on the leather couch as a cloud of dust burst forth from it.
She sputtered and coughed, waving her hand in the air.
“It’s been a long time since anyone has been here,” Liss laughed as Tess continued to wave her hand to dispel it. “Warrick is the sword master. He will train you with the blade. I figured you wouldn’t want to train with Nik, seeing as you haven’t spoken more than two words to each other.”
I met Nik’s gaze across the room and his expression was unreadable. Was he hoping to have continued our training we had started back in the mortal realm? I didn’t trust him, and I didn’t want him to think that I did. I wanted to stay as far away from him as possible, especially where blades were involved.
“Thank you,” I told Liss with a tight smile.
Liss went back to the hidden safe house to speak with Isaac, leaving the four of us alone. Tess and I went upstairs to claim bedrooms, desperately hoping there were more than two rooms. I loved Tess, but I was craving some space to myself.
To my surprise, the townhome was much cleaner and cozier on the top level, with four bedrooms, each with their own washrooms. The rooms might be small, but they had canopy beds, polished furniture, and warm fireplaces.
I took the bedroom at the end of the hall, farthest from the staircase. The linens on the canopy were black and moody, with walnut dressing furniture and a window that overlooked the cobblestone streets below.
I glanced around, thinking of the best possible place to hide the grimoire, and decided on behind the dresser. I pulled it away from the wall, realizing it was much heavier than it appeared. It squeaked against the floor, and I managed to wedge the grimoire behind it before pushing it back into place. I didn’t know any concealment spells, so this would have to do for now.
As I pushed it back into place and brushed my hands off on my jeans, I caught a shock of blond hair out of the corner of my eye. I jumped back, startled as Nik raised his hand to knock on the open doorway.
“I didn’t mean to startle you…” he started, his other hand hidden behind his back.
“It’s ok, I was just surprised, that’s all. I’m a little on edge,” I replied with a tight smile.
“I can only imagine.” He stepped into the room, his boots heavy against the hardwood floors. “I know you might not want to train with me, or have anything to do with me at all, but I have something for you.”
My brow furrowed in confusion. “What is it?”
He pulled his hand from behind his back, and in his palm was the most beautiful dagger I had ever seen…not that I had seen that many daggers.
The blade was polished silver with intricate metal designs on the handle, a beautiful golden gem set in the hilt. It was small and light, easy to wield for someone with not a lot of strength, but plenty of speed.
“Small, but deadly. Kind of like someone else I know…” Nik swallowed hard as he met my gaze, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “I had this made for you.”
“When?” I asked, my voice small as I reached out for the dagger.
My skin lightly brushed against his as I clasped my hand around the hilt, sending a shock of energy up my spine.
“When you were in the Stormvault. I never had any doubt that you would get out, and that when you did, you would need this.”
The dagger was incredibly lightweight and small enough to carry easily on my thigh. I turned it over in my hand, testing the weight of it in my palm.
Nik had this made…specifically for me. A lump formed in my throat and I tried my hardest to swallow it back down. I didn’t want to feel any type of emotion towards the dagger, but I had to admit it felt like it cut right through the shield I was trying so hard to keep in place.
I met his gaze, and a soft smile creased his lips.
“Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.” He shrugged, burying his hands in his jean pockets. Almost as if he were…nervous. “You know, every good blade needs a name.”
“Does this one have a name?” I asked, running my finger carefully along the blade.
“I was thinking…Stormslayer. Like its wielder.” The corner of his lip turned up as if he wanted to smirk, but he stopped himself, his eyes on his boots.
“Stormslayer. I like it.” I nodded, my eyes on the blade. I could feel his gaze fall on me and I swallowed hard, heat filling my core. “And the golden gem…” I said, running my fingers delicately across it, “it looks like flames.”
“It does. Just make sure to use the pointy end,” he replied.
I reluctantly met his gaze, where I found an unreadable expression.
“I will,” I replied with a soft smile.
My throat was thick with emotion as our eyes remained locked a moment too long. He had been thinking of me the entire time. He had planned my escape with Puck, Liss, and Zion, and he had this weapon forged specially for me.
Not for a second thinking I would be stuck down in the Stormvault forever.
Or dead.
I had accused him of not caring, of bringing me straight into Donika’s clutches and forgetting all about me. Of lying to me and betraying me in the worst way imaginable, only to leave me down in the Stormvault to rot.
But I wasn’t sure if that was true anymore…and I wasn’t ready to admit that to myself…and face the alternative.