Heritage: Book Three of the Grimoire Saga (21 page)

He kissed her jaw. “Does anyone know you’re here?”

“Nope. Flick and I took the back entrance.”

“There’s a back entrance?”

Flick squeaked. He stood on the bed, nothing but a walking ball of fur. His ears shot up in what Braeden figured was a welcome, and the little creature trotted toward the pillows. Kara shifted in Braeden’s grip, readjusting her satchel.

He cradled her head in his hand. “I’m happy to see you, but what are you doing here? There’s no telling what the Bloods will do when they see you.”

“I know, but we’re re-assimilating. All the vagabonds are going back to their kingdoms. I’m here to talk sense into the Bloods. And you, apparently. What was with the moody entrance? I heard you shuffling down the hallway.”

He shook his head and nuzzled her neck. He didn’t want to answer.

She leaned back a little. “Braeden, is something wrong?”

“The Bloods are still in charge. Of course something’s wrong.”

“Don’t think like that. We’ll work it out, whatever it is. When is the next time you all meet?”

He smiled and held her cheek in his palm. She grinned and ran a finger along his stubble. She was too forgiving. He didn’t want a repeat of the last time she trusted these people. He couldn’t let them put her in chains again or carve her up with a knife like the now-dead Aislynn did once already. He wouldn’t risk it.

He kissed her jaw line and trailed toward her ear. “I’m not letting you back in one of those council meetings.”

She laughed. “Be serious, Braeden. I have a lot to tell you before then. When is it?”

He leaned in until their noses touched. Her soft skin brushed his. Desire poured through him.

“Who said I was joking?” he said in a low tone.

Her breath caught in her throat. She grinned, but didn’t reply. Her eyes darted toward his lips before she caught his eye again.

“Try to stop me,” she said.

He laughed. “You don’t think I could do it?”

She kissed his nose. “No.”

He grabbed her around the waist and launched them both onto the bed. She squealed in surprise but quickly exploded into laughter. Braeden grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the comforter, but her smile melted away the serious frown he was trying to keep on his face. He couldn’t help himself. He grinned and kissed her again.

“I let you do that,” she said.

“Sure you did.”

“Did so.”

He kissed her ear. “Whatever you say.”

She laughed. “Fine, you get that one. But I do need you to be serious for a second. Are we going to discuss our game plan, or do you need a demonstration of what I can do?”

“I like the demonstration option.”

“Your call, but it would probably tear your bed apart.”

Braeden’s eyebrows shot upward. He laughed. “I’m game.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Kara’s cheeks burned red.

“What the Bloods did you mean, then?” he asked.

Though he tightened his hold on her wrists, she twisted her shoulder and slipped out of his grip. She bolted upright, and Braeden suppressed a smirk. She apparently learned quite a lot in her training.

Her eyes shot to the floor. “It’s just—I—that didn’t come out right at all.”

“No, but I really don’t mind the option. Let’s give it a shot.”

She laughed again and smacked his shoulder. “I just meant I don’t have very good control. It’s something I’ve been working on. There’s a lot of power to manage now.”

Braeden’s smile faded. “How are you doing?”

“I’m all right. It was pretty bad in the beginning. I lit my desk on fire.”

Braeden stifled a laugh. “I’m sorry, Kara.”

She shrugged. “Stone fixed it somehow. He loves that desk.”

“Where is he?”

“With Twin, Richard, and Garrett.”

“I’m glad those two are well. But Garrett’s back?”

“Yeah. Long story. He and Stone want to kill each other, so I’m keeping them apart. Stone’s going to build—” Kara snapped her mouth closed and caught Braeden’s eye.

He frowned. “Build what?”

“I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

He wrapped his hands around her waist. “Might as well tell me when I’m distracted, then.”

She laughed and leaned in. “Tease.”

“You like it.”

“I do.”

Braeden tensed at the words. With a rush of panic, he remembered the stolen journal and the question he’d been dying to ask her. Seeing her flushed every thought from his mind, but this was his chance. He could finally ask her if she would be his forever.

He opened his mouth to push the matter of whatever Stone was building, but the words died on his tongue. He wanted to ask her to be his forever right then, but a small voice in the back of his mind tugged on him to stop. Now wasn’t the time. She had other things on her plate. She’d just spent over a month training. She was distracted with the upcoming council. He should wait.

Another, tinier voice mumbled something about the fear she would say no. He silenced it quickly.

“What have you been up to?” she asked.

“Trouble.”

She laughed. “Which Blood did you piss off this time?”

“All of them, probably.”

She whistled. “That takes skill, my love.”

A flurry of nerves rushed through him like a blizzard. He might be a prince with a natural propensity for murder, but he could get used to his new pet name.

“What did you do?” she asked.

He sighed. This would take a while.

In the hour before the council meeting, Braeden managed to fill Kara in on most of what happened in her absence. He mentioned Aislynn’s death and skimmed over the highlights of his training with Aurora. He explained everything from the princess’s progress to his fight with her father’s daru, though he left out the bits about wanting to murder the entire Kirelm race. He outlined his basic plans for the attack on the Stele and what he learned while scouting the kingdom’s black forests.

Kara, in turn, filled him in on her training and time spent in her grandfather’s cottage. She explained the vagabonds’ plan and described Garrett’s arrival. Braeden hoped he would get a chance to talk to Garrett at some point to find out who helped write his stolen journal.

Flick curled up on one of Braeden’s pillows, purring in his sleep while Braeden and Kara settled on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her as he spoke, and she rested her head on his chest. He never wanted to let her go. If he had his way, he wouldn’t. Considering Kara’s new power, though, he wouldn’t get his way much anymore.

Kara snuggled close. “I’m proud of you, you know.”

“For what?”

“Helping Aurora. She needed someone to empower her and believe in her. I’m proud of how you forgave her and risked everything to help her even when she didn’t deserve that kindness from you.”

Braeden smiled. “Thank you.”

She hummed into his neck. For a while, neither spoke. Braeden savored the tickle of her breath on his collarbone. Her pulse thumped along, amplified by her proximity. The impulse to flip her over and pin her to the mattress again burned through him like fire, but he restrained himself. He estimated they had about five or ten minutes before the council meeting began. As much as he would love to skip it, he couldn’t risk the Bloods discovering Kara if they barged into his room to find out why he missed the meeting.

“What do you plan to say to the Bloods?” he asked.

“You’ll see. All I need is a way in.”

“There are these great things called doors.”

She jabbed his side. He laughed and ran a hand through her hair.

Her finger trailed along his chest as she continued. “I need to make a show of force. Something to get their attention.”

“Do I get to know what this show is?”

“It’s a surprise. I think you’ll like it.”

He smiled. “Fine. So how are you getting in?”

“I want to teleport. I just need to know which room you’re using.”

“It’s the row of windows above the throne room. It’s hard to miss if you’re outside.”

Kara hummed again in what he assumed was acknowledgment. Braden glanced down to find her eyes out of focus as she stared across the room.

“I should go,” she said.

He held her tighter. “It can wait a few more minutes.”

She kissed his cheek. “Hopefully this will go well, and I’ll get to stay. Then we can have some quiet time together without interruptions or strategy.”

“You’re not capable of having a conversation without strategizing about something.”

She laughed and rolled off the other side of the bed but didn’t deny it. With a few tugs at her shirt, she straightened her clothes. Flick jumped onto her shoulder and purred.

She winked at Braeden. “See you soon, handsome.”

Flick chirped. A loud
crack
broke through the room. Braeden flinched even though he’d expected the noise. When he opened his eyes, Kara was gone.

He sighed and pushed off the bed. He might as well head for the council meeting, too. His feet carried him to the meeting room as his thoughts wandered. This might not be a good idea. This might backfire. He should have probably stopped her and sent her back to the village, but he enjoyed her company too much to try. Besides, he couldn’t convince her to go back if her vagabonds had re-assimilated. He cringed. Risky move on their part.

A few stairwells later, he arrived at the assembly room and pushed open the door. A twenty-person table filled the chamber, and windows lined three of the four walls. Evelyn and Gavin sat on opposite sides, with Frine leaning back in a chair a few seats down. No one seemed willing to sit near anyone else.

All three royals glared at him the moment he stepped in. The doors swung shut behind him, and he longed to head back to his room. Instead, he nodded in a forced welcome and took the seat closest to the exit.

Evelyn grimaced. “Where do I even begin?”

“Are you going to chide me like an old woman?” Braeden asked.

The Ayavelian’s hands tightened into fists. “Don’t be rude. I have every right to be furious. A Blood left our alliance because of your idiocy!”

“Then it wasn’t a very strong alliance, was it?”

Gavin slammed a fist on the table. “You had no right!”

“I had every right to train the princess, as did Aurora have the right to learn. She lost a wing, Gavin. She’s terrified of—”

“That’s not your concern,” Frine snapped.

Braeden tensed. “I may be Stelian, but I’m apparently not as heartless as you.”

Frine, Evelyn, and Gavin all yelled various obscenities at once. They shouted over each other, none of their words making sense in the din. Braeden could only understand the anger and hatred in their voices. He leaned back and folded his arms against his chest.

These were Ourea’s rulers. These idiots. Ridiculous.

A chill swept into the room. Braeden exhaled, and a plume of breath hung in the air. The cacophony of shouts faded, and each Blood eyed his or her breath as well. Evelyn shivered.

Red flames burst to life in a ten-foot high circle around the table. Fire licked the walls. Waves of heat swam through the air, distorting the windows beyond. Here and there, purple sparks leapt through the crackling fire as it reached for the ceiling.

A massive
crack
boomed through the air like thunder. Everyone flinched. Boots landed hard on the table. Kara appeared out of thin air, arms folded as she stared at Evelyn. A floral breeze swept by, laced with the sharp sting of pine leaves. Gavin cursed under his breath.

Flick pinned his ears against his head and bared his teeth from his perch on her shoulder before he scampered down her arm and into the satchel slung over her back. Kara’s blond hair swept around her face in the hot breeze radiating off the fires. She glowered, silent and focused on the Ayavelian Blood. Flames darted around her like the seat of a throne.

Braeden leaned back in his chair. Desire burned in his gut and splintered down his legs. Talk about a show of force. She commanded the room. No one spoke. No one moved. All anyone could do was gape at her raw power and beauty. He’d never wanted anyone more in his life.