Lark (29 page)

             
“Damn,” Grey sighs, his disappointment obvious. “Shall we give it another go?”

             
“Why don't we let Mia practice for a little bit?” Jacoby suggests with a hint of a smile, and I know it's because he gets a sick enjoyment out of watching me torment Grey.

             
“I heard that. You are going to have to practice blocking what you don't want me to hear
,” he smirks at me arrogantly. “
But yes, I do get a sick enjoyment out of it.”

             
Today's training session was immensely satisfying. Regardless of our differences in abilities, Jacoby has been able to teach me to use my magic more effectively than anyone else has. I suppose that makes sense considering we are the only two Spirit users here. 

             
As we make our way back up to the castle to check in with Alberico, Isobel meets us halfway.

             
“Can I talk to you?” Isobel asks, looking only at me.

             
“Of course. What's up?”

             
“Alone?” She warily eyes Jacoby and Grey.

             
“Sure.” Whatever it is that she wants to talk to me about must be serious. “I'll meet you guys in Alberico's throne room, okay?”

Jacoby and Grey can obviously sense that something has really upset Isobel so they say a quick good-bye and head into the castle.

Night has fallen and the deep violet sky glitters with bright stars.

              “I need to tell you something,” she says, scanning the area for anybody that could possibly over hear us. “Remember when I told you about my sister and her husband?”

“Yes, of course,” I nod. “How could I forget?”

“She had a son.”

“Okay? What makes you think that?”

              “I don't know. Maybe I am crazy, but his eyes, they are so familiar. I have been trying to place him for weeks. Ever since that day I first met him.”

             
She is blurting everything out so quickly, like she is overwhelmed with thoughts and cannot bear to keep them inside for one more minute. “Then I had a dream a few nights ago, and there she was. Cordelia. Just like I remembered her. Those vivid, emerald green eyes and long auburn hair. I couldn't believe I hadn't even considered it. But of course, why would I?”

             
“Considered what?” I ask confused.

             
“Jacoby. He is her son. It all makes sense. Of course she had a son. That is why she left Álfheimr. The human she was in love with could never come here, don't you see?”

             
Well, no not really, but then I suddenly remember one of the very first conversations I had with Jacoby...about his parents and then I remember what Isobel said about where Cordelia and her husband’s bodies were found.

             
“They were camping!” I exclaim. “That is why they were in the forest. Jacoby begged his parents to take him camping. Oh my gosh! We have to tell him!”

             
“We can't yet.”

             
Her eyes are fiercely protective and I can't understand why she wouldn't immediately want to go, I don't know, hug her nephew or something.

             
“Why not?”

             
“There is a reason I wanted to talk to you in private first.”

             
“Okay, why?” I ask.

             
“As you know, if Alberico has no heir, the Duke and I are next in line for the throne,” she whispers with downcast eyes.

             
“Yeah, yeah, I know, so what?” I honestly don't have the slightest desire to ever sit on that throne, but I suspect it makes Isobel a little uncomfortable talking to me about it since I
am
Alberico's daughter, and technically would be the heir under different circumstances. I’m pretty sure no Half-blood would ever be allowed to rule the kingdom so the whole thing was moot anyway.

             
“If Cordelia would have stayed here in Álfheimr, she would have been next in line...since she was more powerful...”

             
Then it dawns on me.

A Half-blood child of a Sovereign One.

              Sovereign One.

             
If she had stayed, she might have been Queen. Which means...I was right….

             
“It's not me.” The pieces of the puzzle click in my spinning mind.

Hidden i
n the shadows until the time is right.

             
He spent the majority of his life in the Underworld with the Dark Elves.

             
Oh my freaking God.

             
He
is the one in the prophecy. It's Jacoby.

             
I feel the weight of the world lift off of my shoulders and at the same time my heart constricts in pain, knowing what this means for Jacoby.

             
“We can't possibly know for sure, Mia. It might still be you. But if what I suspect is true, I am not sure if it will be wise to disclose this information to him just yet, you understand?”

             
“What do you mean?”

             
Tears well up in her eyes.

             
“After the prophecy was made public, the Dark Elves began hunting down the families of half-blood children. They were determined to find the one in the prophecy and use any means necessary to sway them to join their side. They would kill the families and raise the Half-bloods themselves. It was a way for them to guarantee the prophecy be fulfilled. I fear that is what happened to Cordelia. How do you think Jacoby would react if he thought that Dugan murdered his family because of him?”

             
It's not hard to imagine how impulsively Jacoby would react, so I immediately agree that we should wait to tell him. Unfortunately, there is one little problem...

             
“I can't lie to him,” I gulp. “He'll know.”

             
“You must try,” she urges me. “Please, just try. We can’t tell him yet. Promise?”

             
“Okay, I promise.”

And I truly hope that it’s a promise I can keep.

I enter Alberico's throne room to find him surrounded by a handful of elves that include Finnegan, Jacoby, and Grey huddled around the mahogany table poring over the various offensive strategies the War Council has suggested. My eyes wander over to the regal throne and the painting of Alberico in his full, kingly glory that adorns the wall behind it. A single throne where there should be two. He was too bound by duty to abandon his kingdom when he fell for a human all those years ago. What would have happened if he would have risked everything, like Cordelia did, to be with the one he loved? How different would my life have been? He has never said so, but my heart tells me he never married because he is still in love with my mother. I wonder what my mom would think about this room? The castle? How would she react if she found out that the tragic love affair that broke her heart so many years ago was a story with more twists and dangerous connotations than she could ever imagine? Will I ever be able to tell her? Will it change the way she feels about Paul?

             
“Ah, Mia, there you are my dear.” Alberico's voice brings me out of my reverie. “How was your training?”

             
“Good.” I attempt to sound enthusiastic. “I'm getting much better at the whole 'mind attack' thing.”

             
“Much better, indeed. I credit your brilliant tutor,”
Jacoby adds in my head and I try to smile in response. He would expect that kind of response from me and I don't want him to be suspicious.

             
“Fantastic!” Alberico beams. He wholeheartedly approves of the idea of Jacoby teaching me how to 'mind attack' as well as our experiments with defending against such attacks. At first I didn't
really
relish the idea of actually hurting anyone, especially if it required me practicing on people that I cared about, but Greyson and Jacoby practically begged me to learn. It was one of the few things they actually agreed on, so how could I possibly deny them this one request? Besides, every time I remember all the things Dugan did to me while I was in the Underworld, well, let's just say I recognize the perks of being able to defend myself thoroughly if I ever need to. 

             
“So what's the game plan?” I step closer to the table to take a look at the plans but make the mistake of looking at Jacoby as I do so.

             
As soon as we make eye contact, I can tell that from his expression that he knows something is wrong.

             
“
What happened?”
I hear his accusation inside my head.

             
“
Nothing,”
I answer him back quickly with my new ability.

             
“You can't lie to me, remember?”
He knowingly taps the side of his forehead indicating that my aura is giving me away. Or perhaps my face. I have never been good at lying.

             
Grey and Alberico are watching our staring match with piqued interest, and I know they are growing suspicious despite the fact that neither of them are aware of our little parlor trick.

             
“
Jacoby, please! Not now
!” I pointedly look at our present company, hoping he catches the hint.

             
“Fine. But don't think for one second I'll forget.”

             
I don't doubt that he will nag me until I give in. How am I going to keep this from him?

             
Alberico clears his throat and I turn my focus towards him.

             
“I think we are going to enter the Underworld and attack one week from tomorrow.”

             
“Next Saturday?” I know that we need to take action soon, but I was hoping to have a little more time to practice and improve. I don’t feel ready yet. But of course, how can you ever truly be ready to face your worst nightmare?

             
I feel like I need to throw up. 

             
“Yes. We feel it would be in the best interest of both our worlds to end this as soon as possible. Preferably before the next new moon,” Alberico answers. “We’ve never taken offensive action before. They won’t be expecting us.”

             
“Mia, everything will be fine. Alberico is right, they won't be expecting us. That is, assuming they haven't somehow infiltrated Álfheimr and are being informed of our plans,” Grey says, glaring at Jacoby. I know that despite the fact that he saved me and has been helping me master my abilities, Grey still doesn't trust him.

             
“Grey. You know Jacoby is on our side.” I stare at him reproachfully.

             
“And you know that I still question whether or not he has your best interest at heart,” he retorts. “As demonstrated today when he persuaded you to leave school without informing me.”

             
Jacoby jumps up ready to retaliate but I put my hand on his chest to stop him.

             
“
No,”
I tell him simply, using mind-speak, and he—surprisingly—backs down so I turn my attention back to Grey.

             
“What has he done that could possibly deserve your disdain?” I ask Grey.

             
With a huff, Grey turns and storms out of the room.

             
“Well, I must say, I don't quite recall a time when there was ever so much angst in my castle,” Alberico chuckles cheerfully.

             
“Yeah, well, it's kinda getting on my nerves. I don't understand what his problem is.”

             
“Don't you?” Alberico asks softly with a knowing look in his eyes.

             
I feel the blood rush to my face but I don't try to deny knowing what Grey's problem is.

             
I haven't forgotten that night in the garden. The way he kissed me so passionately, only to adamantly renounce any possibility of ever being anything more than friends five seconds later. How do you go back to being just friends after a kiss like that? I don't think it's possible. So I guess my relationship with Grey is doomed to be forever awkward.

             
“Do you realize how easy it is to read your thoughts on your face?” Jacoby whispers in my head.

             
A tight-lipped smile is my only response, because I can feel the tears of frustration forming along with the growing pit in my stomach. The last thing I want right now is to do something stupid like cry over a boy.