Page 60 of Beyond Her Sight

“There’s my knight in shining armor,” Desmond’s joke had her choking out a breathless laugh as relief caused her knees to shake. She dropped to the ground next to them and used her daggers to cut their bindings. Everett stole her into his arms first, his worried eyes tracing over her features. She cupped his cheek and poured healing magic into him, healing the cut on his lip. She wiped the blood away and felt the vise-like grip around her heart ease a bit.

“Are you okay?” They both asked each other at the same time.

“I’m fine,” Everett said. “I asked Hans to hit me. I thought you could use the pain to help locate us quicker.”

“I told him it was a stupid idea,” Desmond said. “And then the mountain started shaking.”

Claire winced. “I lost control. Malcolm helped me get it back.”

“We felt it,” Desmond said, pressing his chest to Claire’s back and helping settle her further. “You did great, little knight. What do you say, let's get out of here?”

“I’d say that sounds great.”

They stood and Claire’s knees were still shaky so Everett kept an arm around her waist. Malcolm took up the rear as Desmond took point with his magic forming glowing orbs in his hands.

“Our turn to be the knights now,” Desmond said with a smile. “They didn’t even blindfold us when they took us down here so we’ll have you out of here in no time.”

Claire rolled her eyes but let them take the lead. Her body felt like it had been put through the ringer today. She was going to have to keep a closer eye on her magic and make sure it was grounded at all times. She couldn’t risk losing control and hurting anyone she loved.

24

After a long night of tossing and turning, Desmond took one look at her tangled hair and bloodshot eyes and declared today was a library day. Malcolm and Everett wholeheartedly agreed with him after they got back from their morning training. Claire just blearily nodded at them, her brain still not fully functioning after yesterday. Nightmares about her Triad and friends being taken by a faceless person had Claire feeling like she had spent all night with her muscles clenched.

She was achy and sore and worried. Worried about her magic, about the Council, about deciphering the clues in time, about everything really. She felt like she was in a fog and she didn’t protest as Desmond bundled her into comfy clothes and swept her in his arms to carry her to Roderick’s office and library.

He deposited her carefully on the couch and Everett and Malcolm entered a few minutes later, having raided the dining hall for breakfast if their arms were any indication. Everett had Puck balanced on one shoulder as he placed the food down on the low side table. Puck swiped a roll with one of his paws and then curled up on Claire’s feet. Malcolm handed her a hot chocolate and Claire sipped on it letting the warm sugary drink seep into her bones and wake up her brain.

When she felt more awake, she took in the room. Her men had banked up the fire in the stone fireplace despite the early fall morning sunlight coming in from the stained glass windows. Everett and Desmond were seated in the chairs flanking the low couch Claire was sitting on. Both had books in their laps and breakfast in their hands. Malcolm leaned forward from his spot next to Claire and filled a small plate. Leaning back, he shuffled them so she was leaning back against him and placed the plate in her lap,a silent demand for her to eat.

If it was any other day without all of the Council’s threats, the scene in front of her would have been peaceful. Now it was a reminder of what Claire couldn’t lose. She picked up a piece of bread and tore a chunk off of it, forcing herself to focus. She would eat a bit and then join Desmond and Everett in their reading. Maybe she could find more among her mother’s journals that would help her control her magic so she could protect everyone she cared about and continue to enjoy scenes like this one.

Claire had just finished her hot chocolate and had cracked open a book from Desmond’s stack when Roderick entered the office.

“Oh good, you are all here,” Roderick said. He leaned against the arm of the chair that Desmond had settled in and folded his arms.

“You missed dinner last night,” Malcolm observed when Roderick didn’t speak. Claire frowned, she was so out of it last night she didn’t even realize Roderick and Mara hadn’t been in attendance.

Roderick nodded and rubbed a hand over his face. “The Council was here till late. I didn’t think it was prudent for them to mingle with the rest of the clan so we took dinner in the office.”

“That bad, huh?” Desmond cracked a smile.

“Not great. Vanya and Maxios tried arguing that you all needed to be at the Capital. Then they tried pulling the-all-Triads-were-being-recalled-to-the-Capital-in-case-of-war card but that would mean the Council would have to formally announce they are at war and with who? As far as anyone else in the Realm is aware, the Fae and Elves haven’t been seen since the Great War. How could there be a war with no opponent?”

“Regardless,” Roderick paused. “Your mother and I are worried. They pressed longer than was polite or diplomatic. Arran also picked up on it if his short answers were any indication. But anyways, that’s not what I came to talk to you about. Arran passed me a message as he was leaving. Your mother and I tried to make sense of it but didn’t have much luck. Maybe with your other experiences you’ll be able to make sense of it.”

Roderick passed a piece of paper to Desmond who unfolded it. Desmond went to read it but Roderick clasped a hand on his shoulder.

“Wait until I leave the room. Right now it’s probably safer the less I know as Clan Leader. Just in case the Council demands I appear before them.”

Claire felt that familiar pang of guilt. Roderick and Mara were risking a lot offering Claire hospitality here and standing up to the Council for them. The least they could do was keep them out of anything additional.

“Thank you for letting us know,” Claire smiled at Roderick, trying to convey her regret and gratitude. “We will let you know if anything we find directly impacts the Clan.”

“Thank you, Claire,” Roderick nodded. “I would appreciate that.” The way he spoke to her was a Clan Leader addressing a Queen and Claire felt the weight of the responsibility of not letting anything happen to the Dragon clans who helped her fall on her shoulders. So many people to protect when this all exploded.

Roderick turned to leave the office and paused. “One more thing. I don’t know if it would come to fruition but the way Vanya and Maxios were talking, the Council is making a grab for more power and authority than they have ever had. They were talking about punishments and executions for anyone who doesn’t fall in line.”

“They don’t have that kind of power though,” Malcolm’s chest rumbled behind her. “The Council is just supposed to be a representative body. They can make recommendations for punishment but the territory leaders are the ones with the final say.”

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