Page 26 of The Rowan
16
ARDEN
Two days. Theron practically tied me to Valerian’s bed for two entire days. I might have felt weak the first day, but by the second, I was fine. Convincing the stubborn Fae was another story. Fallon finally came to my rescue and told Theron I was completely healed. As soon as Theron agreed to let me out, I fled back to my hotel.
When I step off the elevator, I immediately hear my magical alarm blaring. It’s an intruder alert, set to notify me of danger before I get close to my room. Slipping down the hall, I peek my head around the corner until I can see my hotel room. Light spills into the hallway. The intruder shattered my wards and left the door standing wide open. Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I shoot a quick text to Theron.
Arden: Someone broke into my hotel room. Can you send someone to back me up?
Theron: …
Theron: We’re on our way. Do NOT go in there by yourself. Go to the roof. Valerian is flying to you and will be there in a minute.
Arden: I won’t enter the room, but I’m not moving from this spot. If anyone steps out of that room, I want to see who it is.
Theron: Why can’t you do as you’re told?
Arden: Because I’m not a child. Stop distracting me. I’ll see you soon.
I study the wards. They’re shredded, as if the intruders weren’t the least bit concerned with any alarms. I glance at the edges and notice they’re still sparking magic, which means the intruders are still inside or we barely missed them. It also means they’re powerful. Those wards were some of my strongest.
A soft click sounds behind me, and Valerian steps into the hallway. His black hair is windblown, and his amber eyes glow fiercely. He seems a little pissed—okay, a lot pissed—and I shiver. I haven’t seen this side of him yet, but now I can see why grown demons shake in their shoes at the sight of him.
“Nobody’s come out yet,” I inform him. “I’m guessing they’re not here anymore, but we didn’t miss them by much.” Pointing at the frayed edges of my wards, I show him the little magical sparks which indicate a recent disruption.
He pulls me back from the corner and steps in front of me. “Watch for Theron and the others. I’m going to see if anyone’s in there.”
I snort. “Not without me.”
Valerian folds his arms and stares at me. He doesn’t say a word, just gives me this fierce face. As if that’s going to make me capitulate.
With a quiet chuckle, I cross my arms and match his stance. “You know I grew up with Vargas Karth as my guardian, right? Lucifer’s executioner. The one that makes all the other demons wet their pants with one scowl. I became immune to hard stares and fierce frowns by the time I was six. Now, are we going in there together, or am I going in alone?”
Valerian sighs loudly in frustration. “Lass, try to stay behind me, okay? Dragons have much better armor than witches.” He waits for my agreement, then motions for me to follow. Keeping the wall at our back, we slide around to the edge of the corner to my hotel room door. He stops and listens intently. Indicating he doesn’t hear anyone, he peeks around the doorframe.
That’s when I smell it—witch magic. There’s a trap waiting for us. I quickly yank him back, pull up my shield and wrap it tightly around us. The spell releases, but it dissolves as soon as it hits my barrier, which tells me its intent to kill was weak. Confused, I pull the surrounding air into my lungs. It tastes of witch magic, but with a subtle hint of Fae. I know this person. Fury burns through me.
Once it’s safe, I lower my shield, and we step into the room. It’s completely trashed. They slashed the bed, ripped up the carpet, shattered the mirrors. Was the intruder searching for something? Too bad for them, I keep nothing but clothes in my hotel. I lock my important items in my vault, which is located in a pocket dimension and only accessible by Solandis and me.
Theron, Fallon, Astor, and Daire arrive a second later, their eyes assessing me from head to toe, relief and fury fighting for dominance in their expressions. Once they’ve reassured themselves, they spread out in the room.
“Upon entering, we triggered a spell, which my shield countered. But I was able to pick up the witch’s signature. You and I met her at Witchwood, Theron. Amelie Von Dietrich.” I stop and let Theron absorb this new information. “When we met her the other night, something kept teasing at my senses, but I couldn’t quite grasp it. But her spell gave it away. She’s part Fae, isn’t she?”
Theron squats to pick up a bottle of my perfume from the floor and sets it on the dresser. “Yes, from an old family, based on what I could tell. Although, it’s faint, maybe several generations ago. Probably how they originally became masters of illusion and glamour. I don’t understand why she would attack you.”
“I don’t know. She seemed unnerved at the meet and greet the other night. Probably because you were with me.” I roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension. “Another puzzle to solve. But I can trace this one to the source. I assume you’ll want to be there?”
“Yes,” Theron confirms. “And Astor, too. Like yourself, glamour is ineffective on him.”
Shit. I’m still unnerved by the vision of him stabbing me and could use some distance. Which is precisely why Theron asked him to come along, as if I can’t see through his little smoke screen. “Really?” I glance at Astor for confirmation.
With an absent nod, he explains, “The shadows permeate anything, real or not real. What do you want to take with you? I’ll make sure they don’t have any nasty surprises.”
“Nothing, just burn it all. It’ll be easier for me to get new clothes. I’ll get more sent to my new place,” I reply. No clothes and homeless. Great. My uneasiness with Astor takes a backseat to the rest of the crazy in my life. “Of course, now I need to find a new place.”
Fallon interjects, “You’ll stay with us. We can protect you better at The Abbey.”
I glance at each one to see their reaction, but it’s unanimous. Relief pours through me. Trying to work, protect myself from assassins, learn about my witch heritage, and keep up with my training is wearing me down. Moving into The Abbey would make life a lot easier.
