Illusion: Book Four of the Grimoire Saga (40 page)

Garrett continued when Evelyn didn’t reply. “You will not be hurt or forced to do anything against your will.”—he laughed—“Except to come with me in the first place. That part is mandatory.”

Evelyn frowned. “Fine. One year. And then I go home.”

“Then you go home. I promise. And I expect you’ll hold me to that promise.”

She nodded.

Braeden sighed with relief. Kara’s shoulders trembled beneath his hands—she likely hadn’t forgiven the queen for murdering her vagabonds. Braeden infused another round of soothing energy into her shoulders, and they relaxed a little.

“Shall we adjourn?” Braeden asked.

Gavin stood in answer and walked out the door without a backward glance.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Braeden mumbled.

The Bloods and generals stood, muttering and picking at the remaining food on the platter as they trickled into the hall.

Garrett crossed to Braeden and leaned in. “I will keep an eye on Evelyn in lieu of the spikes. I think making her feel like a prisoner will only worsen the situation.”

“Thank you,” Braeden said.

“Just make sure she brings her Sartori,” Kara said.

Braeden cleared his throat at her direct order.

Garrett simply nodded. “I hope you get a new wrist guard soon, Kara. You’re unpleasant when irritable.”

She didn’t reply.

Braeden squeezed her shoulders. “Time for bed.”

Thirty minutes later, Braeden lay in his old bed, arms around the girl he’d follow to the ends of the world. She’d taken a sleeping aid Stone gave her—some concoction the old man mixed himself. She’d wanted to be calm in her sleep so that she didn’t unconsciously lash out. It made sense, though he hoped she wouldn’t need to use it much longer. Braeden didn’t trust potions.

He slid a lock of hair behind her ear and pulled her close. Flick yawned from a pillow on the nightstand.

“Am I irritable?” Kara asked, words slurring.

Braeden laughed and kissed her cheek. “You’re fine.”

She huffed. “So yes.”

He kissed her cheek again, hoping it would suffice for an answer.

“I’ll apologize when I wake up,” she said each word slurring a little more than the last.

“Good idea.”

“Stone should… vault,” she added, not making a lick of sense.

“Hush and sleep,” Braeden whispered.

“’M-kay,” she muttered.

She wrapped a hand around his waist and sighed, leaning her weight into his torso. The sun peeked through cracks in the curtain, illuminating the room with streams of dust-filled light. Braeden smiled and closed his eyes, ready at last for a well-deserved rest.

Chapter 29

Final Arrangements

A week after Evelyn’s trial, Kara stood with the Bloods and Stone on a ledge deep in a mountain range she’d never visited. Mist hovered about them, blurring the view of the dozens of mountains in every direction. A brilliant sun hovered on the horizon, washing the clouds in shades of yellow and orange. Only a few peaks broke through the fog, their tips coated in layers of snow. Ice frosted the ledge beneath her feet, and she took careful steps across the rock. She shivered and wrapped her coat tighter around her waist.

The ledge ended in a cave, its entrance fastened with makeshift doors the color of the rock around it. They sat open. Inside, candlelight flickered against the crags of the cave. Too many shadows filled the dark space to see much from outside, but soon the Sartoris would be sealed away in a stronghold no one could breach.

Stone had truly outdone himself.

Kara scratched at the new leather cuff on her arm. Its fresh material buckled more securely around her wrist, and the spikes barely caused her any pain. Stone had made it within a day after the last one was destroyed, and she’d remained medicated with his sleeping remedy for most of the time she spent without it. She would still need to master herself—a feat that would likely take a lifetime. The wrist guard served only as a temporary solution, but she was grateful to have her self-control back.

Blood Frine held his stomach, body bent around his hand as he tried to contain himself. Not everyone handled teleportation well, but Kara wanted to save them all time by having Flick teleport them to the cave, rather than staging a week-long expedition. She wished she could have also used this as a means of hiding the cave’s location, but every Blood knew its whereabouts as part of the agreement.

Evelyn stood in front of the group, no spikes around her wrists to keep her in line. Gavin stood in the back, with Aurora and Frine’s son between them. Kara didn’t blame him for wanting to keep as far away from the Ayavelian queen as possible—he was still taking this well, considering the woman he loved had betrayed them all and tried to ransack his home.

Braeden nudged Kara’s side. He smiled, and she smiled back. She took a deep breath—this was it. Flick purred on her shoulder, his tail batting the loose ends of her hair. She crossed her arms and drank in the cool mist, though very little oxygen reached her at this altitude. They couldn’t stay long.

Stone nodded to the open cave. “Go on.”

Kara led the way inside. As expected, candles flickered from small recesses carved into the walls at head height, their light reflecting off the walls and barely illuminating the small space. On the far wall, six vertical sword stands rested on a waist-high ledge. Each frame included only a wooden base that had a small hole drilled into the very end. A twisted rod rose from the back of the frame and ended in a wide piece of wood to support the hilt.

Without prompting, Braeden unbuckled black leather from around his waist and set his Sartori, sheath and all, on the stand. Its dark hilt contrasted with the pale silver stone.

He returned to Kara’s side and nudged her again, crossing his arms in a show of relaxed compliance. She tried to hide her grin.

Aurora placed her silver blade beside Braeden’s, and Gavin settled his beside hers. Only Frine and Evelyn remained.

Frine sighed deeply and removed the blade from around his waist. He lifted it onto the stand slower than everyone else, his hand lingering on the sheath even as he stepped away and returned to the group.

All heads turned toward Evelyn, who lifted her chin in response. She walked forward and hesitated at the final stand. The queen peeked behind her. Kara put her hand on her own sword hilt and tensed, ready to catch the Ayavelian Blood if she tried anything, but Evelyn huffed. She set her blade in its stand and returned to the edge of the group, standing a good five feet from Aurora.

Kara smiled. “Thank you, everyone. Please walk back outside while Stone seals the cave.”

Feet pattered against the rock as everyone filed out. Kara waited, Braeden at her side, to ensure everyone else left first. Only then did she and Braeden join them. Once outside, Stone waved his hands. The stone doors groaned and twitched on their hinges, creaking shut at his command. Their edges fused, sealing until only a smooth wall jutted from the mountain.

He removed something from around his neck—likely the lock he’d used to seal Agneon’s home in the mountains. A twinge of worry wriggled in her gut that, like her grandfather’s home, Stone could unseal the Sartoris at any time. She doubted he would have use for them—they would burn him, after all, if he touched them—but it still sent a wave of unease down her spine. Master or no, he didn’t deserve unconditional trust.

He clapped the lock against the stone and mumbled something Kara couldn’t make out. Blue light scorched the space beneath his hand, shooting out into the air and illuminating the haze with a single, lightning-quick blast.

Stone slipped the lock back around his neck and turned to the group. He nodded, and Kara smiled despite her worry. They’d finally done it—they brought peace to a warring Ourea.

The evening after the Bloods sealed away their Sartoris, Kara sat in the office at her village. She hunched over the desk, hands resting on the Grimoire. She stared at it, guided only by the dull glow of the starlight streaming through the window behind her.

Stone sat in the chair across from her, one foot on his knee. He crossed his arms and stared at her grimoire as well.

They won the war. She killed Deidre. Carden was dead. Niccoli was dead. The kingdoms’ lichgates were open. She would give the Bloods a tour of the village tomorrow. She even managed to get some isen to agree to peace. There was only one matter left to resolve.

“Let’s get this over with, Cedric,” Stone said.

Someone sighed behind Kara.

She spun to see the first Vagabond’s hazy silhouette illuminated by the starlight. His hood covered his face, but his head turned toward her.

She smiled. “You answered to Cedric.”

He nodded. “I think I can accept that name again.”

"About time," Stone said with a huff.

Cedric didn’t respond.

“You need to move on,” Stone said.

“Not yet,” Cedric answered.

“It’s not an option anymore.”

“Of course it is. It’s peaceful now, sure, but what if it doesn’t last? Kara will need me.”

“She’ll do fine.”

“Really, I will,” Kara echoed.

Cedric shook his head. “I need to know this is certain. I’m staying.”

“What makes you think peace is ever certain?” Kara asked.

Stone groaned. “It doesn’t matter. You’re a thousand years overdue for the next life. You need to move on. If you won’t let me extract your soul from the Grimoire, I will burn that damn book if I have to.”

Kara snatched her grimoire and held it to her chest. “Like hell you will.”

Stone waved the thought away. “You know what I meant.”

Sure she did—she believed he’d burn the original Grimoire, and that wasn’t going to happen.

Cedric pulled back his hood. The scar across his cheek glowed white on his wispy face. His eyes settled on the book in her hands. “I didn’t work this hard and wait this long to see everything unravel. I have to be sure.”

“Technically, you wouldn’t see it unravel. You’ll be in the next life,” Stone pointed out.

Cedric’s eyebrows twisted in what Kara assumed to be annoyance. She didn’t blame him, but Stone had a point.

“Even if you leave, I’m not going to be alone,” she pointed out.

“Right, she’s got me,” Stone added.

“And Braeden, Twin, Aurora, Richard, Remy—the list goes on forever. This is a movement, Cedric. It’s not just you and me anymore.”

“I know, but—”

“When, then?” Stone asked.

Cedric crossed his arms. “What?”

“When will she be ready? When will Ourea be forever at peace? Done is better than perfect. If you want happiness, you can’t wait around here anymore.”

Cedric didn’t answer. Kara leaned back in her chair until both men came into view—the ghost and the soul stealer.

Finally, Cedric’s eyes fell to the floor. “I’ve put so much into this. I can’t let it fail.”

“It won’t,” Stone replied.

Cedric sighed and turned to Kara. “You can handle things from here?”

She nodded, but a question popped into her mind. “Will I still have the gifts you gave me when I opened the Grimoire? Will I still be able to see memories?”