Crowned (Beholder #4)(6)
“Tossing Viktor’s body into the gateway?”
Rowan grinned. “You know that is my first choice.”
“Mine as well.” Sadly, none of the Seers or experts thought that would come to pass. There were simply too many variables: freeing Viktor and then getting him to the right spot at the correct moment. Oh, and then there was the matter of my conscience; I wouldn’t murder someone unless they attacked. No, hybrid magick was a far better route. Which brought us back to finding information.
And indeed, Rowan had another option on that score.
The Martyr’s Comet not only lessened the wards on gateways, it also made it easier for mages to travel between them. There was one world in particular that held some alternative deities who might help.
The world of the trickster gods. I shivered. That was one place I’d no desire to visit.
“In that case, let’s hope our spying mission works.” I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. “I’m ready to begin.”
“I have every faith in you.” Rowan kissed my forehead. “You will do this, Elea.”
My mate seemed to believe my fa?ade of fearlessness, but inside? I kept picturing what had happened to Echo—how her body was torn apart by the wards protecting this very gateway.
It was never a good idea to spy on the gods as a rule.
Perhaps this would be the time my law-breaking tendencies caught up with me.
Chapter Four
A few minutes later, Rowan and I materialized inside Amelia’s laboratory. I shook my head, impressed. No one could cast a faster transport spell than Rowan.
The lab itself looked more cluttered than usual, and that was quite a feat for Amelia and Kade. Both of them couldn’t cast spells, but Rowan and I had gifted them some hybrid power, enabling Kade and Amelia to share energy through their mate bond. That gift still didn’t allow them to cast spells, however. That said, it did empower them to bare their souls to each other, which Kade thought an infinitely better kind of magick.
Most days, Rowan and I invested our time in magick and mage craft, while Kade and Amelia were obsessed with gears and steam. This entire lab was a labyrinth of tables that overflowed with springs, sheet metal, and tools of various kinds. More strips of copper and long bolts hung from the ceiling in an elaborate pulley system. The effect was like being encircled by a clockwork cloud. As a result, I couldn’t see Amelia or Kade, but I did hear the steady clink-clank of metal which told me they were off tinkering somewhere.
I cupped my hand by my mouth. “Amelia? Kade?”
A chorus of clanging noises sounded. “Yow,” cried Amelia. “My head.”
Rowan and I shared a sly look. Amelia was forever forgetting she had hung so many metal items from the ceiling. It was a wonder the girl hadn’t given herself a black eye yet.
“We’ve come to visit,” called Rowan.
“Don’t move, I’ll find you,” replied Kade.
As Rowan’s brother made his way through the lab, the various bits of metal rattled and gonged. The place was huge, and thanks to the pulley system, it changed constantly. Within seconds, Kade appeared from around a tall pile of copper wiring. Like always, Kade reminded me of a smaller version of Rowan: he was tall and broad chested with green eyes and messy brown hair. His worn leathers held the insignia of the personal guard of Genesis Rex.
Kade wrapped Rowan in a deep hug. “Brother. It is good to see you.”
“Good to be seen.” Rowan glanced my way, which was my mate’s way of encouraging Kade to greet me as well.
Kade turned toward me and gave a curt half-bow. “Elea.”
Disappointment weighed heavily in my heart, but I leaned in to my Necromancer training to hide my emotions. I bowed slightly in return. “Kade.”
Sadly, it was always this way between me and Kade. I knew Rowan wanted more. So did I, for that matter. Kade accepted me as his brother’s mate, but he didn’t relish the idea of having me in the royal family. I seemed to trail death and destruction behind me wherever I went.
In that sense, Kade wasn’t wrong. I wouldn’t necessarily want a family member caught up in my supernatural drama, either. Even so, a mate bond couldn’t be denied. Even being physically separated from Rowan started an ache in my heart and bones. There was no going back now.
Amelia was next to appear from behind the curtain of gadgetry. She wore her hair in perfect red ringlets to her shoulders. Kade had made sure she had pink Caster leathers to wear instead of her flouncy gown, which Amelia adored. My friend still reminded me of a living porcelain doll, only this variety was far more ready for battle. Or in Amelia’s case, blowing things up. There was no missing the scorch marks on Amelia’s leathers. My friend had been running explosion tests again.
The moment Amelia laid eyes on me, she bounced on the balls of her feet. “Elea! You got our message.” Before I could reply, my friend had crossed the space between us and pulled me into what I call her dance-hugs. This is where we embraced tightly while shifting our weight from foot to foot. It was all Amelia and completely wonderful.
I was so happy to see my friend it took me a few moments to realize that Amelia had said something about a message. “No, we didn’t get any message from you. Rowan and I came because I spied on the Sire and Lady, and they mentioned your name. I wanted to be sure you’re all right.”