Crowned (Beholder #4)(19)

Amelia burst out from the crowd. She was still wearing her pink Caster leathers. Her gaze scanned Kade, Rowan, Jicho, and me. She instantly moved to stand before Jicho, creating a physical barrier between the Seer boy and me.

“Jicho, stay back,” warned Amelia. “She’s a Grand Mistress Necromancer. Don’t let her cast a spell on you.”

My legs turned wobbly beneath me. Clearly, Amelia didn’t know who I was, either. The spell must have registered her as a Caster now. It made sense, considering how she was mated to Kade. It just was a terrible turn of events.

“She won’t hurt us.” Jicho popped his head out from behind Amelia. “I told you, I had a vision. You can’t make her talk about Viktor or his plans. She’s has nothing of value to tell you. You’ll only be torturing and murdering her for nothing. And we need her. I’ve seen it.”

My breath caught. Suddenly, I’d gone from sharing my adventure with Mlinzi and Walinzi to having a nine-year old negotiate for my life. It was almost too much to follow.

Rowan shook his head. “No, Jicho. She’s Viktor’s spy. We must get what information we can.”

Jicho ran over and pulled on his brother’s hand. “Just let her go. She doesn’t know anything that can help us.”

Kade still stared at me as if I were a walking disease. “There’s a guard tower on the other side of the village. It’s well warded. We’ll put her there, talk to her for a bit, and then…Let her go.”

I know what Kade really means. “You still plan to interrogate and kill me.”

Rowan frowned. “You knew me and Kade on sight. Our identities are closely guarded outside the Caster community. You’re definitely a spy, which means you realized the threat of being captured, and yet you walked right into my festival.”

“I’m not a spy, unlike some.” I gave him glare for glare. When it was needed, Rowan was a skilled spymaster for his people. “All I want to do is speak with Jicho and leave, but without being tortured, questioned, or killed. Give me your word that you will do this, and I’ll go to your tower without causing trouble.”

“How do I know I can trust you, Necromancer?” He stared pointedly at my left hand.

“Because I already know I can trust you. You’re a man of your word. Plus, I know you won’t believe this, but I’m your mate.” My voice cracked as I said the word mate.

Amelia shook her head. “Perhaps she’s gone insane, poor thing.”

Rowan still stared at me, but the tension was gone from his neck. I was starting to make him wonder. “Fine. You have my word that you’ll be safe and unharmed. But you will go to the tower without trouble. One misstep and our deal will become forfeit.”

“Agreed.” I didn’t add that no matter what wards Kade thought were in that tower, I could probably break through them easily.

“And you.” Rowan turned to Jicho. “If I catch you anywhere near this spy, I’ll lock you up in the Seer temple for a week. I mean it.”

Jicho folded his skinny arms over his thin chest. “You’re terrible.”

A stricken look crossed Rowan’s face. It was too fast for others to catch, but I knew my mate. I focused on Jicho. “Don’t be too hard on your brother. He only wants to protect you.”

Kade’s mouth twisted into a sneer. “We better be careful with this one. She’s a born manipulator.”

Rowan’s gaze locked with mine. “This one… She’s…” Something in his eyes softened. Was our mate bond still in place? Did he still feel something for me?

I couldn’t help the note of hope in my voice. “Yes? I’m what?”

The gentle look on Rowan’s face melted into a scowl. “You’re nothing to me. Take her to the tower. The one in the northwest quadrant.”

“Northwest?” asked Kade.

“That’s what I ordered,” replied Rowan. “And be sure she has no missteps along the way.”

A light of understanding flashed in Kade’s eyes. “As you command.”

My thoughts ran through everything they’d said. There was some plot afoot about locking me in this particular tower.

Good fortune with that plan. I was still a Grand Mistress Necromancer, and I would escape.

Kade and another half dozen guards stepped forward and walked me toward one of the towers on the outskirts of the village. Sure enough, the wards grew stronger as we approached the structure, but even so, these spells were minor. I’d broken through far worse wards with ease. I could do the same here.

Kade led me up the winding tower steps, opened a small wooden door, and gestured for me to walk inside. I stepped into the small round chamber. It held little more than a pallet stuffed with straw.

“Prepare to stay here for some time,” said Kade. “Rowan may have promised not to hurt you, but I said no such thing. You know how many Caster families were destroyed by your master’s experiments?”

I hugged my elbows. “I do. That’s why I’ve been working to get the Sword of Theodora. Viktor will attack again, and when he does, the man must die. And by getting the Sword, Mlinzi and Walinzi say I’ll learn how to save myself from the prophecy of the Martyr’s Comet. That’s even more reason to defeat Viktor.”

“What a clever manipulator you are. Don’t bother to weave your lies around me. I know the truth. You’re a spy from that fiend. It will be my pleasure to introduce you to a new level of pain.”