Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

T he space between realms was just as dark as she remembered. Given Luc’s memory, she looked from side to side as Carter dragged her through. There were no paths, no markers that she could discern. He knew how to lead them all the same.

As they moved through the darkness, Rose tried to feel for anything she could anchor to—magically or otherwise. Luc had seemed so lost in his memory. There had been no light, no path, no way to even know which direction was forward. Her hand gripped tightly to Carter’s scruff, and he pulled her along. Rose was confident she’d have no means of crossing without him.

The space’s emptiness was all-consuming. She let her magic roam as they moved, evaluating the power of this in-between space.

Nothing.

There was nothing here to evaluate.

Rose pricked her own finger with Aurora’s blade as they traveled. The plan was to talk to Cassandra, but they might as well start with the upper hand. She felt the magic of the realm shift as they crossed beyond the veil. Her muscles involuntarily tightened, readying to splash into the icy river.

Preparation didn’t help as her body hit the water. Pins and needles struck her exposed limbs as the frigid water swallowed her. It was somehow colder than she remembered. Not that it would stop the Norden Point from swimming to the shore on the other side.

She flopped on the bank next to the veil cat that was Carter. The sensation of the frigid water, mixed with the magic of Aurora’s dagger, was not something she would get used to. The water magic swept out in broad circles around them, the continuous, raindrop-like plops distorting their location. She took a deep breath and rolled over to check in with him. His feline form’s yellow-green eyes blinked steadily back at her, waiting for her to pull herself together.

“Alright…let’s go,” she said.

“ Aren’t you the leader of the fae court known to wield water?” Luc’s sass was warmth flooding through her veins.

“The cold is distracting,” she replied as she stood and used said magic to wring the water from her clothes. “I actually don’t think I can stop myself from hitting the river when we land. It’s like a required entry point into the realm.”

“But you could…keep the water off you as you swim across?” He chuckled as the words sank below her skin. She could. But she’d like to see him think quickly when the bone-chilling water wrapped around him. She let the sentiment dance back to him, silencing a retort. Then, she focused on the Vesten Point and their next steps.

“So, find her in the castle and make ourselves known?” Rose asked as they walked. The river dumped them in the same location as last time. The familiar city was visible in the distance. They had a walk ahead, but it would be the same as their previous visit. The veil cat growled at her in acknowledgment. She didn’t bother with the compass. Until they were more permanently reunited, it would continue to lead her to Luc.

“Since we know you can’t jump us back to the continent from inside the castle, do you have to stay in veil cat form when we get there?” It was more convenient to be able to speak with him, even if they were supposed to stay silent while under the protection of the dagger. They would be exposing their presence soon enough. They might as well strategize.

“I also think I’ll want to be able to speak for myself,” Carter said, brushing off his clothes with his hands. He’d seamlessly shifted to his fae form.

Rose had expected he’d shift at some point. She was too cautious about his current plan for him to allow her to speak on his behalf.

“It will be more impactful leverage if I can show her the shift when we present ourselves. We might as well see how she reacts to the change,” he said with a shrug.

“You’re not leverage, Carter,” Rose replied. The look he shot her was sympathetic but seemed to label her naive. She didn’t have a chance to argue with him further as they arrived at the city gate and needed to stop talking if they wanted to remain unseen.

The city was much the same. Villagers seemed all too human as they went about their daily tasks. Knowing what she did now, she wondered how full the city should be. Were more spirits supposed to be here but had been taken by the river’s currents? How full was the Veil Lake now?

Rose pricked her and Carter’s fingers again as she let her mind wander. They knew where to go this time. Invisible, they went straight across the drawbridge and into the castle proper. Their best bet was to talk to Cassandra alone. They hoped to find her in the same study Zrak had found her in. This meant they scaled the same staircase they had followed Zrak up on their last visit.

The invisibility of Aurora’s dagger shielded them as they found the stone spiral staircase and slid past the guards standing at the bottom. They made their way up to the large, heavy door. This was where they would have to make themselves known. There was no opening this door and hoping no one noticed. If Cassandra were inside, she’d be alerted to their arrival as soon as they opened it.

Rose and Carter shared a final glance. Carter took the lead as he moved closer to the door. This was his show, as he kept reminding her. He reached for the handle and twisted.

If Carter was set on this, Rose was determined to be there with him. She readied for the worst as he opened the door to Cassandra’s study.

“What do we have here?” Cassandra’s voice was all brisk efficiency. If she was surprised to see the door to her private study open without anyone visible, she didn’t show it.

Rose figured it took a lot to shake Cassandra, given everything she now knew the Lady to have dealt with in ruling her realm. This land beyond the veil was so dependent on others—a refuge for spirits once their time on the continent was done—she was forever reacting to their actions.

At Carter’s nod, Rose let the water magic of Aurora’s blade wash away. The pair became visible as they entered the study.

“That’s a neat trick,” Cassandra mused, her gaze falling momentarily to Rose. “It explains something I hadn’t quite worked out yet about the Suden Point’s mysterious escape.”

“She did not believe I escaped on my own. It was a humbling conversation,” Luc added through their bond.

She wanted to laugh, but now was not the time. They had Cassandra’s attention—well, Rose watched as Cassandra’s brief focus on her faded… It swept toward the Vesten Point like a magnet. This supported Rose’s belief that whatever Carter felt about Cassandra’s magic, she must also feel about his.

Rose stretched her fingers and balled them back into fists. She might as well start this with their requests, and let Carter negotiate with whatever he was willing. “We’re here for the Suden Point,” she said, laying their cards on the table.

The slight nod of Cassandra’s head was the only acknowledgment she’d heard Rose’s words. Her gaze remained fixed on Carter.

“And why should I give him to you?” Cassandra asked. Her gaze finally bothered to turn to Rose.

“You do not need him here.” She was unable to help herself. A pit opened in her stomach as she saw Cassandra’s gaze return to Carter. This was getting uncomfortable, but Carter didn’t seem ready to enter the conversation yet. He stood tall and unflinching against the Lady of the Veil’s stare. His shaggy brown hair fell in waves around his face. His eyes held the yellow-green shine usually reserved for when he was in his veil cat form.

Rose was sure Cassandra noticed.

“You know nothing about what I need, Norden Point. Having him here suits my current purposes,” Cassandra said.

Well, that was concerning. Rose had hoped Luc was an unfortunate bystander in this game. There was no way Cassandra actually needed him. He was a demigod of the continent—his magic should be impacted at least half as much as Aterra’s had been. He couldn’t be useful to her.

Then again, what did Rose know about what Cassandra needed to heal her realm?

“What good is having the Suden Point here? And two gods?” Carter spoke. “We know you’re aware the balance on the continent is in shambles. We know it continues to impact your realm. Work with us to fix it.”

Rose was impressed by how boldly Carter spoke to the Lady of the Veil. His words held a confidence that was usually overlooked because of his quiet demeanor and unwillingness to make eye contact. Carter had a strength all his own.

Growing up a veil cat shifter could not have been an easy thing. Hiding what he was—what he could do—for so long had shaped him. She felt a kinship with him over this, as it was similar to the way she’d had to hide her wind magic. It renewed her focus that, as one of the fae leaders, she didn’t want future generations to carry the burden of hiding a part of themselves.

“The continent’s business is not mine,” Cassandra said, pushing her long white-blonde hair over her shoulder. She stood and moved around her desk, perching on the front corner, her eyes focused solely on Carter. “Your gods have done nothing but take. I should take something from the continent in return.” As she crossed her arms over her chest, a fire shone in the Lady’s eyes. It wasn’t a flame like the Vesten’s, but a rage Rose understood too well. The actions and inactions of the gods had caused catastrophe even in this realm. Cassandra would continue to do what it took to hold this place together.

Carter bristled. Even in his fae form, Rose could tell this was the equivalent of his hackles rising. “It’s easy to blame. We could do the same. None of the Compass Points caused this mess,” he replied. His fingers balled into fists at his side. “We’re trying to make it right.”

Cassandra’s answering laugh was low. The sound was one more appropriate for a bed chamber than a study. Rose suddenly felt out of place in this negotiation, though she couldn’t quite understand why.

“That remains to be seen,” Cassandra replied. “The Suden Point dropped into my realm with your baggage, like it was a dumping ground for things that harm the continent.” That fire flared in her eyes again. “I can’t keep cleaning up your messes.”

“Well, she might have me there.” Luc’s thoughts slipped into Rose’s mind. Yes, Cassandra’s words were valid, but they ignored the intent. The Compass Points were blind to the history between this realm and the continent. They were simply stuck in a no-win situation.

“How could you have known? We only knew Zrak had done it. It didn’t seem unreasonable to…trade one god for another,” Rose replied.

Carter shook his head. “We didn’t mean it like that, and I think you know it.” He raised his hands, gesturing to the realm around them. “This place isn’t so mysterious. It’s an independent realm, to be sure, but its existence is necessarily tied to the continent. You should want to help us.”

Cassandra’s lips twitched in barely masked amusement. “My realm is a mystery to most, Vesten Point. You’d be wise to remember that, lest you give too much away.”

Rose was more than convinced the Lady of the Veil knew to whom she spoke. The how of it and what she wanted from him were the current mysteries. “We hoped you’d be reasonable,” Rose said, trying and failing to break the tension between the Lady of the Veil and the Vesten Point. “Already, you harbored one god. We hoped to make a trade.”

“Reasonable? Was it reasonable that the gods of the continent ignored my warnings? Was it reasonable the Osten god inserted himself into my realm with false ho—” Cassandra cut herself off, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is my realm and the continent remain separate.”

Carter gave Cassandra a doubtful look. “Lying to yourself won’t fix it.” He paused. “Give us back the Suden Point. Keep Aterra here and let Zrak return with us. We’ll restore balance to the continent. It will start to right whatever is wrong with this place.” Carter’s hands gestured back toward the city.

Cassandra pushed herself from her seat on the desk and stood. “What makes you think something is wrong with this place?”

Carter didn’t get to answer as the door opened again, and Zrak walked in.

The Lady of the Veil’s glare would have withered a lesser man. The Osten god barely acknowledged it as he strolled unconcernedly into the room. He sat on the chaise lounge, lying back and putting up his feet.

“You’re not needed here—you may return to being lost, Zrak,” Cassandra said through clenched teeth.

“And miss the fun? I don’t think so.” A smirk curved the Lost God’s mouth. “Please, continue. The least you could do is let me see the fruits of my labor.” His hand flicked as if to usher on the conversation he’d interrupted.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “You overvalue your talents,” she said coolly.

“And you overplay your hand,” Zrak replied just as quickly, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Rose tended to agree with Zrak. Whatever their discussion, the fact that Cassandra let Zrak barge into the room and remain told her all she needed to know. Zrak’s talents, whatever they were, were important—important enough to allow his irreverence.

Cassandra appeared to make an effort to ignore him and focused again on the Vesten Point. “What will you give me for the Suden Point?”

Rose wanted to answer. She wanted to say they would give anything to get the Suden Point back. She held her tongue. Carter said nothing as he leveled his gaze at the Lady of the Veil.

“ Carter knows what he’s doing. ” Luc’s reassurance distracted her long enough for Cassandra to continue speaking.

“Too long, the realm beyond the veil has been considered an afterthought. Too long, we’ve been forgotten and lost.” She gestured to Zrak. “I want only what I was promised for harboring him for hundreds of years.”

“And that is…” Rose couldn’t stop the thought. They had their own assumptions, but she might as well ask if they were being direct. She let the statement hang, waiting for Zrak or Cassandra to fill it in.

Carter swallowed thickly, and Rose knew his next words before they left his mouth. “Me,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. His yellow-green gaze darted back and forth between Cassandra and Zrak. “She was promised me.”