Chapter 15

15

S he’d reacted to me. I could still trace the lingering arousal in the air. And that brawny werewolf had definitely squeezed Mari’s so-called lover’s thigh.

Highly suspicious.

I bit back a smirk as I unfurled the map I’d spent the past ten years making. “This is everything I know about the Sky Castle,” I said, smoothing the parchment over the table and pinning the corners down with multi-colored river stones. There was a communal gasp, and I looked over to find the three of them leaning forward with matching expressions of awe.

“Jack, this is beautiful,” Mariana breathed, climbing off the bed to get a closer look.

I tried not to preen. “I’ve had a few years to work on it.”

“Still.” She traced the carefully inked staircase up to the room we were currently in. “Home base,” she read out loud. “Purple berries are safe to eat, blue ones give you diarrhea.” I grimaced—that had not been a fun experiment. “Fish seem more intelligent than those in the river room. Bat-like creatures will eat you alive if you try to sleep outside at night. Safe during the day. Best source of clean drinking water. Water from rivers and streams is rough on the stomach.”

She looked up, tapping the little sketch I’d made of the old stone well. “You forgot to add the clever little frog. He should definitely be included, maybe stretched out over here on the ledge?”

She’d been to the well and met Ollie already? Damn. I’d been settled in this room for weeks before he deigned to show his face and several more on top of that before I realized he was smarter than your average amphibian. Then again, this was Mariana we were talking about. Anyone would be drawn to her, wildlife included.

A muffled snicker startled me into the realization that I’d spaced out. Heat swept the back of my neck as I ran a hand through my newly-trimmed hair. “Sorry. I’ve, uh, kind of gotten used to more of an internal dialogue these days. One clever frog coming right up.” I grabbed a charcoal pencil and bent over the map. A few quick scratches over the parchment and the shape of a frog appeared, dangling on the edge of the well’s bucket. “Ollie has a tendency to get involved anytime I’m drawing water,” I explained, making his eyes extra wide while they looked up beseechingly—like a child begging for treats.

“Ollie, huh?”

The pencil’s tip skidded off to the side in a messy streak when Mariana leaned in closer, the intoxicating scent of lilac whispering past my nose and sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my groin. I’d forgotten she always smelled like them, even if she’d argue otherwise. I was the only one who’d ever noticed, and I’d loved that. Like a flower blooming just for me. Her gaze flicked my way, and I held it, heart pounding as my mouth formed a soft smile. After all these years, she still smelled the same.

Like she was mine.

Her pupils dilated briefly before her expression shuttered, and she turned back to the map.

My smile fell, replaced by an aching chill that filled my entire chest, and I leaned over the table, tapping my finger on the other rooms I’d explored. “This here’s the river room. Plenty of fish to catch during the day, but not too much else. Same creatures at night as we have here, plus some ominous shadows lurking below the water’s surface that I’ve made a point not to get a closer look at.”

“That means no late night skinny dipping, Mari, ” Tenebris joked, making Calum chuckle beside him.

I tried to laugh, but it came out strangled as the image of dripping curls and glistening, freckled skin filled my mind. I flushed, shifting my stance and praying no one else noticed my embarrassing reaction. Ten years trapped alone in the castle had practically reverted me back to virgin status. My hand was getting tired of doing all the work.

“This room,” I continued in a gruff voice, “is the farmland. Mostly unused, although I’ve managed to maintain a small garden.”

Mariana gestured toward the upper rooms, which were devoid of both imagery and annotation. “What about these rooms up here?”

I grimaced. “I haven’t managed to get there yet. Gregar’s presence in the foyer makes exploring the upper rooms too risky.” That, and my lack of blood sources made me avoid long sprints up the stairwell. If I were at full vampire capacity, I’d be far more inclined to go for it.

“That’s exactly what we should do, then,” Mariana stated. “All we need is a way out of the castle, since Abuela’s second bean should re-open the barrier. One of these other rooms could have an exit. Preferably one that isn’t guarded by a gigantic shadow monster.”

“Maybe,” I replied doubtfully. “But the only way to reach the other rooms is via the staircase. Which is guarded by a gigantic shadow monster.”

Mariana waved my concerns away. “Please. We’ve got a vampire, a werewolf, and a vamp-were hybrid witch. I’m sure we can manage to slip past a single baddie. He didn’t seem all that fast.”

He’s fast enough when you’re a vampire who hasn’t fed on anything but weak animal blood for the past ten years. Not that I was planning to admit I couldn’t keep up. “What about Tentacles? I wouldn’t think you’d want to leave your new lover behind.”

“ Tenebris is more of a negotiations kind of guy,” Mariana retorted. “Extremely charismatic when the situation calls for it…”

“Charisma for days ,” Tenebris chimed in.

“…and I’m sure he’ll be fine waiting here by himself while we scout things out.”

“Wait—you’re leaving me here alone?” Tenebris squeaked, his previous swagger vanishing in a blink. “With the flesh-eating bats?”

I didn’t even try to hide my smirk.

“I can stay with Ten while the two of you scout for an exit,” Calum suggested. He glanced briefly between Mari and me, and I got the feeling he could be a much-needed ally when it came to winning Mariana back. Not only did he seem to have some poorly-hidden feelings for Tenebris, his protective glowering had ceased after the truth of my so-called abandonment came out. He even felt—dare I say—friendly. And frankly, I’d take all the help I could get.

“It’s a plan, then,” I said before anyone could offer an alternative suggestion. “Mari and I will scout the other rooms and report back when we’re done.” And I’d find a way to keep up with her if it killed me.

One of Mari’s little fangs poked out as she worried her bottom lip, a habit of hers I’d often teased her about. Mostly because I found her mini-vamp fangs to be ridiculously adorable. And sensitive. Gods, the noises she’d make when I ran my tongue over their tips…

“There’s something else we should probably consider,” Mariana murmured, her face scrunched up in thought.

I swallowed, forcing my own thoughts from the gutter. “What’s that?”

“Well, this castle has obviously fallen under some kind of curse, right? One most likely cast around the time the storm barrier first set in, cutting this place off from the rest of the forest and potentially eliminating an entire species of giants.”

“Potentially?” Calum interjected. “Do you think the giants could still be alive after all these years?”

Mariana shrugged. “I have no idea. But what I do know are curses. And the number one rule of any curse is that there’s always a way for it to be broken.” She frowned. “Only, that usually requires an understanding of the curse itself. Such as how it was cast and why.” She arched a brow in my direction. “I don’t suppose you’ve stumbled across any insights while living here?”

“No, I…” I didn’t know anything. Hadn’t tried to know. After I realized the front door was well and truly locked, my sole focus had turned to survival and hopefully finding another way out. Without the aid of magic, I wouldn’t have had much luck breaking the curse even if I had made any pertinent discoveries. But now Mariana was here, and Mariana had magic.

Magic that could break the curse.

Magic that could actually free us from this place.

Threads of hope stretched through my chest, knitting together in a growing ball of excitement while the others’ seeming lack of concern over being trapped in this place finally began to make sense. They weren’t just faking bravado, they truly believed they’d find a way out. I might actually see my home again. My family .

Feelings I’d stubbornly kept at bay until now washed over me in a tsunami of hope and pain and everything in between. This is really happening.

Mariana’s fingers gently brushed my jaw. “There are other ways of dealing with the curse,” she continued, her voice notably softer in the hushed room. “Assuming we can’t determine its origin. The magic is a little trickier to work, but if we could get our hands on some kind of magical artifact, it’s possible I could draw the curse out of the castle and contain it inside the object.” She glanced up at me, her gaze warily searching my face. No doubt worried I was going to completely break down and start sobbing. “Do you, um, know of anything like that? Jack?”

I cleared my throat, unsuccessfully attempting to smooth the roughness from my voice. “Not off the top of my head, but I know someone who might—Harp.”

“The enchanted instrument who moonlights as a stylist?” Tenebris asked.

“That’s the one.”

“Ooh, I can’t wait to meet her,” he crowed.

I blinked away the last of my would-be tears before throwing him a patronizing look. “Aw, sorry little buddy, but the ballroom is a bit far for you. Best stick to the plan and stay here where your babysitter can keep an eye on you.”

“Yikes. Someone’s cranky after not getting laid in over a decade,” Tenebris replied, raking his gaze up and down my person with exaggerated pity.

“Fuck you, Tentacles.”

He barked a laugh, one leg slowly crossing over the other. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d rather take a stroll with the night wings, ass?—”

“Enough,” Mariana interrupted. She gave us each a long, hard look. “It’s been a long day, and we’re all feeling a little on edge, so let’s just go to sleep. You can pick your bickering back up tomorrow once we’re rested.” She nudged Tenebris’s side. “Now move. You’re sleeping on the floor.”

“What?” Tenebris pouted. “But I thought we were gonna snuggle.”

Mariana flipped him the bird. “Snuggle this.”

I chuckled, happily settling onto the hard-packed dirt floor while Calum shifted over to make room for Tenebris. Oh yeah. Those two are most definitely not together.

Which meant I still had a chance.