Page 18 of Capricorn Blessed

Kenric looks at the door. “Should we knock?” he asks.

“Guess it’s best to be polite,” I say, grabbing the larger knocker and banging it on the door.

The thump echoes through the space beyond. I step back and wait to see what will happen.

“Oh well, looks like no one’s home. Guess we should head back to the car,” says Izzy, turning to leave.

The doors slowly swing inward, revealing an entryway that would have been grand a long time ago. The floors are white marble, with streaks of gray running through it. Two large wooden staircases are in opposite corners, leading up to higher floors. A fireplace of at least twenty feet tall is on one wall, once upon a time warming the space and welcoming guests. Electric torches that look like they could be from when the castle was built sit every ten feet along the wall in sconces covered in cobwebs.

“Well, it’s not breaking and entering if the door opened itself, right? It’s just entering?” I ask with a strained laugh, taking a tentative step forward.

The floor creaks, and I reach back, grabbing the handle of the rapier. When nothing else happens, I release my grip and walk a few steps forward. Looking back, the other three are still standing in the doorway, staring at me.

“Seriously?” I say. “Come on! The quicker we get in here and check, the quicker we can get out.”

Kenric enters next, moving up to stand next to me, followed by Dennis.

“Don’t leave me out here alone!” Izzy hisses before scurrying in and tucking herself between Kenric and Dennis.

I snicker before turning and moving down the hall. There are four closed doors on one side and three on the other. Each doorknob is coated in dust, like it hasn’t been turned in months. A swinging door, set between the staircases a small window, allows us to see through to a kitchen. Moving closer to the door, I notice an area of empty space in the dust on the door.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, switching on the flashlight to see better.

“Is that a handprint?” Kenric asks leaning closer.

“That’s my guess,” I say. “It looks like someone has been using the kitchen recently, unlike the rest of these rooms. What are these rooms, anyway?”

“Best I can remember, a sitting room, a library, a ballroom... Mostly places you would host other people in,” answers Kenric. “I think they were full of books, instruments, and crafts. Things to show what life was like.”

“And upstairs?” I ask.

“Those were the private rooms. Bedrooms, the nursery, the Lord’s office. They had cases of clothes, jewelry, and children’s activities for people to see.”

“Jewelry?” says Dennis. “Like maybe a locket with an onyx stone?”

Kenric reaches up and runs a hand through his hair, thinking. “It’s possible. I didn’t pay much attention to the girls’ or women’s rooms. But if it’s here, then one of those rooms would be my guess.”

“Then up we go,” I say, moving to the closest staircase and starting to climb.

As I near the top, the feeling of being watched returns. I reach back, grabbing my sword, and slowly, silently sliding it from its scabbard.

The landing creaks as I step onto the second floor. Freezing, I listen to see if anything will respond. A minute later, when nothing has come out to get us, I continue lowering the rapier to my side. Kenric, Izzy, and Dennis follow. We stay close to the wall, hoping any more creaking boards are in the middle. Ahead, the doors on both sides of the hall are closed, but none of the knobs have dust on them.

“Any guesses on which door?” I whisper to Kenric. “We could keep going up, but my gut says we’re close.”

Kenric’s eyes swing up and down the hall before he shrugs. “It’s been years. We could split up and check the rooms.”

I grimace, looking at Dennis and Izzy.

“Don’t worry,” she whispers. “My panther and I can protect him.” She tips her head at Dennis. “Or you can, but I feel like this is a time my senses will be better than your fae senses.” Looking at Kenric, she adds, “You can watch each other’s backs.”

I hate to leave my mate, but Izzy is right. Her animal can increase her speed and hearing, and she has wicked sharp claws if she needs to fight. I can sense some magic on Kenric, but I have no idea what he is capable of and don’t want to risk a mate or my best friend. Keeping him with me is my only option.

“We’ll take the left. You two take the right,” I tell them. I meet each person’s eyes, waiting for them to nod their agreement.

I move to the first door, checking that Kenric is ready, before twisting the knob and swinging the door inward.

We stand shoulder to shoulder, scanning the room. We don’t see anyone hiding, so we step inside.

---