Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles #2)(99)

He didn’t say instead of terrorizing you, but I knew we were both thinking it.

“We can’t change that now.”

“No, we can’t. I’ve been patient with you. I’ve stretched the limits of even my eternal patience. I see now that the mortal must be taken out of the equation.”

As Matthew had said. In a tone like ice, I said, “If you hurt Jack, whatever this is between us will end. Do you want us to be enemies once more?” My claws began to turn.

He noticed, scowling. “No, I do not.”

“You should feel grateful toward him. If it weren’t for Jack, I would’ve been captured by the Lovers, tortured and killed.” Saying this out loud only cemented my decision to go to him. He’d saved my life; I owed him a conversation.

“If you have feelings for him, fight them,” Aric commanded me. “By going to him, you’d be stoking them once more. Don’t you understand? He can find another woman—I cannot. If you choose him, you’ll be consigning me to a hellish fate. As you’ve done again and again. No, this will be even worse, because I’ve had a greater glimpse of what I’ll be missing.”

“I just want to talk to him. I’m leaving this weekend,” I said in an unwavering voice.

“No, you will not.” His arrogant demeanor back in place, he said, “Understand me, I’m not surrendering the one woman who was born for me alone. Not to a human, not to anyone.”

“You can’t keep me here against my will any longer. What are you going to do? Put that cuff back on me?”

“I regret that—”

I held up my hand to stop him. “I understand why you did it. But I won’t be a prisoner anymore.”

He snatched up his shirt, threading his arms into the sleeves. “You say you keep your promises now? You made a vow before gods to be my wife. In this life, you will keep your promises to me—before you ever honor one to him!”

“You can’t stop me from leaving. I have my powers back. I earned my powers back.”

With a cruel curve of his lips, he said, “You promised never to harm me, Empress. Know that you’ll have to kill me before I would ever let you go.”

As he strode out the door, I said, “And know that you’ll have to put that cilice on me to keep me prisoner again.”

Alone, I called for Matthew.

—Empress lived today.—

Was there doubt on that score?

—A battle that fraught. So many tree limbs. Eddies.—

His way of saying he couldn’t always see the thousands of ways a fate could unfold. You still sound upset, Matthew. Confused. Too much so? I need to talk to Jack. If I leave this place, can you get me back to you?

—The Fool guides your way. . . .—





45

DAY 369 A.F.

Lark was asleep in her new room, looking so young, with her mammal sleep pile dozing in the bed all around her.

Two days ago, the medic had given her an air cast for her broken forearm, another for her snapped ankle, and a sling for her busted collarbone. Then he’d confined her to bed rest.

The wolves healed apace with her, presently laid out in front of the room’s fireplace. Since Cyclops couldn’t yet manage the stairs, he remained down here with his pack. Her on-the-mend falcon nested in a nearby laundry basket.

I was worried about leaving Lark behind when I departed. Somehow that little punk had become my friend.

Good, bad, good.

Weren’t we all? Jack, me, Aric.

He’d been avoiding me, as if it pained him to look at me. He didn’t even share meals with me. Despite my driving need to talk to Jack, I pined for Aric.

On my way back from yesterday’s visit with Lark, I’d run into him.

“How does Fauna fare?”

“She’s getting better.”

With a nod, he’d turned to walk away.

“That’s it?” I’d called. “How much longer are we going to do this? We have to talk about what happened.”

With a harsh laugh, he’d turned to me. “It’s very simple. I want you, you want another, and I’m owed a wife.” Struggling to regain his composure, he said in a rougher voice, “If our situation were reversed, you would never let me go either.”

I’d fallen silent, unable to deny that. Then I’d stared after him as he left me.

The strain in the manor was almost worse than when Ogen had been jonesing for offerings. Aric’s thoughts must be in utter turmoil, because his training had intensified more than ever before. The last time he’d been like this, I’d felt like I was watching a berserker. Now?

A bomb sequence ticking down.

—Empress!— Matthew called.

I’m here. I pulled Lark’s comforter up to her chin, then crossed to the fireplace to add a log for her and the animals. The temperatures continued to drop, the winds whipping. My turret would sway in the worst of them. But now’s not a good time, Matthew. Have a lot on my mind. Too much, and most of it centered on Aric.

—Please, Empress! PLEASE!—

I stilled at his panicked tone. What is it?

—They’ve taken him. Set a trap. Can’t see his future! Didn’t know. They have him.— Slow down. Who has who?

—Duke and Duchess Most Perverse. JACK.—