And on top of all of that, all I could really focus on was what the star dragon had told Vadoma, what the dark man in shadows had told me, and the fact that I had never even considered that one day, Ryan would die and I would remain here, trapped in a body that wouldn’t age as normal given the magic that coursed through my veins.
All in all, not the best week I’d ever had.
And I didn’t know what to do about it.
I lay beside Ryan in the dark, his hand clutched in mine as he whispered in my ear. He said, “We’ll figure it out, okay? I promise you we’ll figure it out. You’re not going to lose me. Not now. Not ever.”
We both knew that no one could make promises like that, but I let him make them anyway.
“How do we even know she’s telling the truth?” I asked him.
“Could she be making this up?”
I shrugged. “Anything is possible.”
“Do you think she is?”
And I hesitated, which was answer enough.
He sighed and leaned over to kiss my bare shoulder. “You know I’ll follow you in whatever you decide.”
And I knew that. Of course I did. The thought scared the hell out of me. Because I couldn’t get the image out of my head of him as a young man, or him as an old man, in death upon that cold slab of stone, eyes closed, heart stopped, sword atop his chest.
And if I was a little rougher that night when we fucked, he didn’t say a single thing about it.
“YOU CAN’T ignore us forever,” Morgan said when we were next in the labs. “Honestly, Sam. It’s getting ridiculous.”
I ignored him, focusing instead on my Grimoire. It was my job as a wizard’s apprentice, after all. And there had to be some secret, something I hadn’t yet thought of so that Ryan and I would never have to be apart. Romantic, yes, and ultimately foolish, but I wanted to explore every avenue I could.
“He’s behaving like a child,” Randall said from his chair in front of the fire. “I don’t know why we thought he’d be mature about this. There’s enough evidence to the contrary.”
I had to grind my teeth together to choke back any response while writing.
“Not helping,” Morgan said.
“And you’re coddling again,” Randall said, grunting as he massaged his knee. “I’ve told you time after time that you handle the boy with kid gloves. Maybe it’s time the gloves come off and he be given a proper spanking.”
Which… okay. That was an image I really didn’t need in my head.
“It’s a lot to take in for anyone,” Morgan said. “To find out you have some prophecy hanging over your head.”
Yeah, and that maybe everyone in this room aside from myself knew about it.
Randall snorted. “Back in my day, we didn’t let things like prophecies knock us on our asses. We actually listened to what they were about and faced them head-on rather than mope around like a little bitch.”
I was going to turn so many things of his into penises.
“And I suppose there’s the feeling that he thinks we lied to him,” Morgan said. “Like I lied to him.”
Bingo.
“Of course he would think that,” Randall said. “Because he’s selfish. He doesn’t think of anyone but himself. He can’t possibly see anything as being for the greater good. Can you imagine having to tell an eleven-year-old boy that one day, he’ll be facing a potentially insurmountable obstacle? Even now, I don’t think he has the faculties to grasp the extent of it. And it’s not lying, per se. It was more of an omission of the truth.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Morgan said with a sigh. “I couldn’t have actually told a child that his grandmother he’d never met had told me of his birth beforehand and that he would be responsible for a great many things.”
“Why, that way would just lay madness,” Randall said wryly. “Could you imagine the ego involved in hearing such a thing? Granted, he obviously didn’t need that to have an ego. Maybe that Lady Tina had a point. Sam might just need to be knocked down a few—”
“She did not have a point, oh my gods,” I exclaimed shrilly. “Are you insane? She was created for nothing but the sole purpose of waging war against me, and I will see her vanquished on the battlefield with her blood squelching between my fingers, mark my words.”
Randall and Morgan gaped at me.
“I went to a very dark place,” I said. “I admit that freely. And I don’t feel sorry about it at all.”
“Told you it would work,” Randall said to Morgan. “Just had to get him riled up is all. He’s so predictable.”
“You manipulated me!”
“Gods, maybe I liked it better when he wasn’t talking,” Randall said. “It all has to do with the volume. It’s either nothing or too much. There’s no in between with him.”
“You can’t hide from this, Sam,” Morgan said lightly. “I know you want to, I know that your first instinct is to try and ignore it until it all goes away, but you can’t do that now.”
“How do you know that?” I asked, refusing to look up from my Grimoire. “Maybe I’m just—”
“I know you,” Morgan said. “As well as anyone does. I have watched you grow up from a little boy to the man you are today. I have seen your successes. I have witnessed your failures. So, yes. I know you. And I know how you think, Sam. And I know your first instinct is to push this away.”
He had me there, and all of us in the room knew it. I didn’t know what kind of relationship Morgan and Randall had when it was just the two of them, if it’d been any different when Randall had been Morgan’s mentor, however long ago that’d been. I didn’t know why I hadn’t worked up the courage to ask about them yet, not sure if the bond between a mentor and his charge was meant to be private. I didn’t tell Gary or Tiggy or Ryan everything that Morgan and I talked about, and they didn’t ask. They knew a wizard was meant to have his secrets and so far hadn’t yet put me in a place where I had to lie to them. Lying was different than withholding the truth, or at least that’s what I told myself. I hadn’t told anyone what the Great White had said the first time Vadoma had whammied me. I hadn’t told anyone everything that had happened the second time, either.
I really needed to stop getting whammied by my grandma.
And Dad was right. That phrasing was terrible.
“Okay,” I said begrudgingly. “Maybe there was a small chance I was considering trying to ignore the whole… destiny thing until it went away. But that doesn’t mean that we still can’t do that, right? If we all collectively agreed that it doesn’t exist, then no big deal. We’ll forget it ever happened and go on with our lives like nothing changed. Maybe start a bowling league. I don’t know.”
“Until this dark man comes,” Randall said.
I glared at him, because of course he’d have to bring that part up. “So you believe her now? What happened to her fortune-telling being a scam?”
He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. “You believed it. The moment you came to in the field, you believed. Whatever you saw, whatever she showed you, it scared the hell out of you. That’s enough to make me believe that being cautious is better than being dismissive. You can’t hide your head in the sand without expecting your ass to get burned.”
I didn’t want to admit that he had a point, so I said nothing.
“We need to be prudent about this, Sam,” Morgan said. “If there is any truth to the matter.”
“And you don’t think that it’s just Vadoma having ulterior motives?” I asked. “She obviously made plans for me with Ruv that Ryan disrupted. How do we know this isn’t all just a ploy to bring me back to the homestead? I would make a terrible gypsy. I hate bracelets, and I don’t like the desert.”
“Anything is possible,” Morgan said slowly. “Which is why we have to tread carefully here. If there is any validity to what she’s saying, we need to be prepared.”
“Then who is this dark man?” I asked.
And they hesitated.
They didn’t wa
nt me to see it. I almost didn’t see it. It was a split-second thing, a darting glance shared between the two of them that anyone else would have missed. But I knew them. I knew Morgan. I had spent years by his side, studying under him and studying him. I knew when he would withhold the truth, for the most part. I knew that he tried not to lie to me, even if he felt it was for my own good. Secrets between a wizard and his charge were far and few between, and never if it meant one or the other would be in danger.
So I knew when he opened his mouth to respond that whatever came out would be a lie.
“We can’t be sure,” Morgan said. “He could be some nameless Dark rising through the ranks, as we’ve said.”
“Or an outsider who has somehow taken control,” Randall said.
“An outsider,” I repeated. “You think an outsider will gather the Darks and they would willingly follow.”
They looked relieved at the thought that I had swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I was almost insulted at how naïve they thought me to be. “We need to explore every possibility,” Randall said. And then he frowned. “Isn’t there still a Dark or two in the dungeon that haven’t been sent out to the prisons yet?”
“Wan,” Morgan said thoughtfully. “Wan the Dark Hunter. He’s still here. Interrogating him didn’t get much information after the attack on Castle Lockes. He was to be transported at the end of the year. I suppose another attempt could be made. To find out what he knows.”
“I suppose I could—”
“No,” I said. “I don’t think you will.”
They paused.
“What was that, boy?” Randall asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“You’ve tried already,” I said. “Nothing came from it. Maybe it’s better to go into it with a fresh pair of eyes.”
“Really,” Randall said. “And just who do you suggest we use as a fresh pair of eyes?”
“WAN, IS it?” Gary asked. “Wan the Dark Hunter?”
“Yes,” Wan said, sitting back in his chair, shackles rustling on his arms and legs.
“Can I just call you Wan?”
“I suppose.”
“Good. Can I get you anything? A cup of water? A hot towel?”
“Really,” Randall said. “This was your plan.”
“Admittedly, it might have sounded better in my head,” I said.
We stood outside the interrogation room, watching through an enchanted window where we could see in but the occupants of the room couldn’t see out. Wan the Dark Hunter, handsome fellow that he was, was chained to a thick wooden chair, a small table separating him and his interrogators.
And what fearsome interrogators they were! Even I was suitably impressed, and everyone knew it took a lot to impress me. Tiggy stood near the back of the room, slightly hunched over so his head didn’t hit the ceiling, massive arms crossed over his considerable chest. He was frowning, and even though I knew it meant he was concentrating on the task at hand, to most everyone else, it looked as if he was contemplating the best way to proceed with a murderous rampage.
Gary, for his part, had decided that the best interrogating ensemble included having his hooves painted a deep purple, with matching streaks through his mane. His eyelashes looked impossibly long, fluttering in a lovely manner every time he blinked. He had a black scarf tied around his neck, black eyeliner under his eyes, and black silk woven through his tail. “I’m a Gothic princess,” he’d whispered to me as we’d made our way down to the dungeon. “He’ll cave in seconds. And it’s also my look of mourning for my relationship with your step-dragon-father. That bastard. I hope he’s suffering.”
I hadn’t even bothered to respond to any of that. I’d learned a long time ago that it’s best never to question a unicorn, given that it usually ended in sparkles or threats of Gore City up in here.
Wan didn’t look intimidated. If anything, he was coolly amused, sitting back in the chair, legs spread out in front of him in a cocky fashion. I wondered if Gary was going to murder him before the day was out. Anything seemed possible.
“Are you comfortable?” Gary asked, voice sticky sweet. “A blanket, perhaps.”
“I’m good,” Wan said, reaching up to stroke the goatee on his face like a smarmy villain. Given that he was a smarmy villain, I wasn’t surprised. I still hadn’t forgiven him for interrupting Ryan’s confession of eternal love to my face and soul on the day the Darks had attempted foolishly to attack Castle Lockes. I had advocated to have him tarred and feathered, but then Ryan had given me this really great fingerblast and I forgot all about it.
Until now.
“His skin should be melted from his bones,” I grumbled to no one in particular.
“Oh boy,” Ryan said, standing at my side, shoulders brushing mine. “Here we go again. Do I need to do that one thing?”
“He’s talking about sexing me up,” I said to Randall and Morgan. “In case you didn’t know.”
A dungeon guard behind us started choking.
“We know,” Morgan said. “Everyone knows.”
“Good,” I said. I leaned over and kissed Ryan on the cheek. “Thanks, but I’ll have to take a rain check. On the sexing. Because we’re trying to be serious right now. Not everything is about butt play, babe.”
He was blushing. I wanted to devour him whole. “You didn’t have to say it like that,” he muttered, glancing back at the guard.
I rolled my eyes. “Like your underlings don’t know that you get laid on the reg. They probably tell stories about how you finally were able to land all of this.”
“It’s good to know his ego’s still intact after the protest,” Randall said.
Yes. That. I was going to have to deal with that. Sooner rather than later. I wondered if it was too gauche to call Tina out for a duel. Did people still duel over things? I’d never been invited to one, so I didn’t know. That made me a little sad. Because maybe people hadn’t invited me to duels because they didn’t like me, just like Tina said. Fine. Whatever. I’d have my own duel and not invite them either! Perfectly mature response.
“What we were talking about again?” I asked. “I was too busy thinking of ways to murder—I mean, feed homeless kittens.”
Morgan and Randall sighed in unison.
“So, Wan,” Gary said. “Do you know why we’re here?”
Wan shrugged. “Not exactly.”
Gary nodded sympathetically. “Of course. How could you? Having been locked up all this time.”
“Ask him if he poops in buckets,” I muttered, even though Gary couldn’t hear me.
“Am I being transferred?” Wan asked.
“Am I being transferred,” Gary said, pacing in front of the table. “That’s what you’re asking me.”
“Yes?”
“Was that a question? Because it sounded like a question.”
“I don’t know?”
“You. Don’t. Know.” Gary stopped pacing. “What do you know?”
“What?” Wan asked, sounding confused. “Listen, I don’t—”
“No,” Gary snarled suddenly, stomping his hoof on the floor. “You listen.”
“Eep,” Wan squeaked.
“I’m a loose cannon,” Gary said, baring his teeth. “Everyone down at the precinct says so. Loose Cannon Goth Princess Gary they call me.”
“Oh no,” I moaned. “He’s role-playing again. Whose idea was this?”
“Yours,” Randall said. Like an asshole.
“Loose Cannon Goth—” Wan started.
“Did I say you could call me that?” Gary roared, spittle flying from his lips. “My husband just left me because he couldn’t handle being the spouse of a cop. Do you think I have any fucks left to give?”
“No!” Wan said shrilly. “No fucks!”
“You’re godsdamned right I don’t,” Gary said. “And if you think I’m bad, you just wait until my partner gets ahold of you.”
Tiggy let out a low rumble.
“You remember him, don’t you?” Gary whispered as he leaned
forward, his face inches from Wan’s. “He’s the one that made sure Lartin was spread evenly along the cave wall.”
Wan’s eyes were wide.
“Spread him like butter,” Tiggy agreed. “Bloody, bloody butter.”
“So badass,” I whispered fervently to Ryan. “I know them.”
“I know you do,” Ryan said, patting me on the shoulder.
“Do you want to be Tiggy’s bloody butter?” Gary asked.
“No!” Wan said, looking like he was starting to cower.
“Then you’ll tell me what I want to know?”
“Yes!”
“Good,” Gary said. “I only have one question for you. And you’re gonna be my good boy and answer it, aren’t you.”
“Such a good boy!”
“I know you are. You ready?”
“Yes,” Wan whimpered.
Gary leaned forward and whispered, “Who is the dark man in shadows?”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Wan said, and he was visibly trembling. I’d never seen him like that before. Not even at the battle in the throne room. He’d struck me as fearless, or so close that it didn’t matter if he wasn’t.
“I do,” Gary said, lip curling. “Tell me.”
Wan shook his head. “I’ve never met him. I’ve never even seen him. But I heard the stories, okay? There’s nothing you can do to stop it. The fact that you already know of his existence means it’s already begun. You won’t be able to—”
I felt it first. Out of all the magic—the half-giant and the unicorn, the two powerful wizards, the inherent magic in Ryan as he was the cornerstone—I felt it first. It was just a brush along my skin, like a caress, fingers trailing along my arm.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
I frowned. “That’s—”
Wan sat straight up, the fear leaving him as if it’d never been there at all. He looked loose, relaxed. He had a small smile on his face. He drummed his fingers along the tabletop as if he were playing a song on a piano. He shook his head and sighed. “You would think,” he said, voice deeper than I’d ever heard it before, “you wouldn’t send a horse to do a man’s job.”