He was silent on his way up the stairs, but now that we’re in my study some of the hard expression fades as he takes in my books and maps.
“This is all yours?” he asks. I’m surprised by his grasp of the English language. I’m not sure why, he’s no more American than I am. Time and magic have brought us a both a long way from who we were originally.
“This house and property has belonged to the Guardians for a long time. With the help of others that believe in our mission, we’ve amassed quite a collection of history and documents about the past and future.”
“And your goal is to bring down the Goddess of War? The Queen of Ravens?” he asks, looking over a stack of books. “Your queen?”
“We were created by the gods to watch over her—keep her in line. She is precariously close to crossing it.” I nod to a painting leaning next to the fireplace. It’s one of Bunny’s that depicts the castle in explicit detail. “We are not bound to the Morrigan. Our actual queen is in that castle fighting for her life as well as the freedom of those in two realms. She left us with instructions to bring an army back.”
“And we’re that army,” he says.
“Yes.”
“And your queen. You think she’s still alive?”
“Absolutely. For one, the Morrigan needs her. The other? I can feel her.”
Armin frowns. “How is that?”
“She’s our mate.” I say it clearly so there is no misunderstanding.
“More than you?”
“All of ours.” The hair on the back of my neck pricks with possessiveness.
“The Valkyrie. Who does she belong to?”
“Freya,” I reply. “She’s here on her own mission. A willing and capable soldier.”
He says nothing else on the subject, just walks over and studies the castle. “When do we leave?”
“At dusk.”
He pushes his hands in his pockets. Shoulders at ease. “And you have a plan?”
“That’s why I brought you up here.” I spread a map across the table. Davis gave it to me when we returned from the Otherside. “We’ll make one together.”
24
Morgan
Nevis instantly sinks into the wall, trying to vanish in Casteel’s presence. That move worked for her last time, but Casteel isn’t the Queen’s commander because he’s an idiot. He shuts the door and glances over at her with dark eyes. “Don’t move.”
She slowly nods.
I can’t take my eyes off his arm—the tied shirt covering the stump at the bottom, given to him by Dylan. There’s no doubt he’ll take out his anger on me. I’d narrowly escaped before, but no one is coming to save me this time.
“You have a habit of coming into my room uninvited, Commander,” I say, reaching for a dress on the floor. I quickly slip it over my head. “We’ve just come from the blessing ceremony and my cleansing bath. You know about that, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Then you’re aware of how excited the Queen is about the ceremony tonight—I’m sure you don’t want to interfere with her plans.” Last time, he came in looking to rape me. I ease near the fireplace, reaching for a poker. I grip the iron rod in my hand and hold it in front of me.
His good hand lingers near the sword on his belt and I’m not prepared for what he says next. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“What if I told you I don’t want the ceremony to happen tonight?”