Feeding and being fed on were quite common among our kind, but if one didn’t trust another, there was an instinctual reaction that couldn’t be hidden—a physical one. Emil showed no signs of such. He didn’t pull away. He didn’t tense or even make a sound. Emil trusted me. Irrevocably. And I wasn’t sure what I’d done to earn that.
As I drank, bits and pieces of images formed in my mind. Thick, dark green trees. The smell of freshly tilled soil and sawdust. Memories. This was one of Emil’s. I heard his teasing laugh as I saw a girl with long, dark braids that reached her waist, and skin the color of the night-blooming roses the Maiden sought in the evenings. I recognized her at once.
It was Vonetta—Kieran’s sister. Why the fuck would Emil be thinking of her right now? Well, the answer was an obvious one.
I grinned against Emil’s wrist. Man, he really did have a death wish.
Several more moments passed before I forced myself to withdraw. I lifted my head, chasing away a lone drop of blood that had dampened my lip as my eyes found Emil’s. I raised a brow and grinned. His jaw locked as he glanced at Kieran. My grin spread.
“That’s not enough,” Kieran began.
“It was.” I offered my other hand to Kieran. “See for yourself.”
He folded his fingers around my wrist, his thumb pressing into my pulse. Being that Emil was like me, one of the elemental bloodlines that could be traced back to the first Atlantians created by the gods, his blood was pure and powerful. Already, my skin felt warmer. The faint fogginess clouding my mind was gone. My heart rate had slowed.
Kieran dragged in an audible breath of relief.
“Are you sure?” Emil’s gaze searched mine. “If you need more, I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure.” I squeezed his hand once more before letting go. “Thank you again.”
“You know, I can stay.” Emil began rolling down his sleeve. “Keep a low profile while doing some sightseeing. No one will even know I’m here.”
“I thought you said you weren’t impressed with the city.”
“I’m willing to hang around and see if a longer look will change my mind,” he said.
I smiled, knowing that Emil, like all of us, had no real desire to spend time in any place controlled by the Blood Crown. He offered so he could be available in case I needed to feed again. Hopefully, that wouldn’t be necessary. Elemental Atlantians could go for long periods without feeding if we remained uninjured and kept ourselves well-fed through typical mortal means.
“I appreciate the offer, but there is something else I must ask of you. Another favor,” I said, shifting my weight. The growing tension seizing my muscles had also faded. “I would like for you to return to Atlantia and Evaemon.”
Emil’s head tilted as Arden listened. “I assume there is a more detailed purpose behind this request.”
“There is. I would like for you to keep an eye on Alastir.”
Surprise flickered across Emil’s face. “Are you suspicious of him?”
“No. I’ve known Alastir since I was a babe. He’s like a second yet more demanding father,” I said, earning a snort from Kieran. “But the very last thing we need is for him to discover what I’m planning.”
“At the very least, we need to delay his knowledge,” Kieran added. “Alastir has eyes and ears everywhere. He’s bound to find out.”
“So, you want me to run interference?” Emil surmised, and I nodded. “I can do that.” He glanced over at Arden, who was nosing a fallen leaf as if it were a pit viper. “Out of curiosity, why do we want to keep Alastir in the dark for as long as possible?”
“Alastir wants war. Possibly more so than even my father. If he learns of my plans to take the Maiden, he will want to use her to strike back at the Blood Crown.”
Just as my father would.
Emil turned his attention back to me. “And how does that differ from what you are doing?”
“I don’t plan to kill her,” I stated flatly. “And that is exactly what they would do.”
The Atlantian said nothing for several moments. “Well, I hope your plan doesn’t turn out to be what you expect of them. Truly.”
“As do I,” I said. The unease I’d felt the other morning while training with Vikter returned, plopping its ass on my chest, now too cold and heavy for having just fed.
Wishing Emil and Arden safe travels back to Atlantia, we parted ways. Kieran returned to the city, where Jansen had set him up with somewhat private lodging in a small apartment over one of the various workshops. And I, well, I made my way back to the Red Pearl, picking up enough speed that I was free of the Grove within seconds. Moving too fast for mortal eyes to track, I forced myself to slow once I reached the alley outside the Red Pearl. My heart began pounding, and it had nothing to do with physical exertion.
I climbed the back steps, taking three at a time to reach the hall outside the chamber. I’d only been gone an hour, if that, but before I reached the door, I already knew. Still, I had to check. I pushed the door open, finding only her lingering sweet scent. The room was empty.
The Maiden hadn’t waited.
HUNTED
The bitter surge of disappointment upon the Maiden’s broken promise quickly gave way to one of concern as I stared at the rumpled bed.
Her not being here meant she was out there somewhere, on the too-often-vicious streets, by herself, at a time of night when those often up to no good roamed. The kind of people who preyed upon the weak and helpless.
But the Maiden wasn’t exactly helpless. A wry grin twisted my lips. She carried a dagger—a wolven-bone and bloodstone dagger, no less—and handled it in such a way that backed up her claim that she knew how to use it.
Still, I stalked forward. Grasping a fistful of the blanket, I lifted it and inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet and earthy scent. Honeydew. Dropping the cover, I turned and left the Red Pearl. Outside, I scanned the dimly lit streets, quiet except for the muted hum of laughter and bawdy shouts coming from inside the numerous businesses.
She could be anywhere if she left the Red Pearl immediately upon my departure. I lifted my gaze to the distant glow of lights radiating from the numerous windows of Castle Teerman. The streets didn’t get safer the closer one got to the castle.
They actually got more dangerous because mortals no longer populated the areas. The closer to the castle you got, the closer you were to the Ascended, and after sunset, they would be moving about freely.
With her traveling dressed not as the Maiden but as a commoner, I doubted any Ascended would hesitate before helping themselves.
Anger took root in my gut, but I wasn’t exactly sure who it was meant for. The Maiden for foolishly endangering her life? The Ascended, who were truly to blame? Or myself for not ensuring she stayed put until she could be safely returned?
The Maiden was entirely too valuable to lose to a bloodthirsty Ascended.
Crossing the street, I headed for the bridges and pathways that cut through the portion of Wisher’s Grove that had been thinned out and used as a park by the most privileged of Masadonia. The entire Upper Ward surrounding Radiant Row, the homes, shops, and the park, were brimming with activity, my sensitive ears picking up on the distant sounds of carriage wheels and chatter. It struck me halfway there, bringing me to a complete stop.