Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

The men still waited beside the door, and upon our return, we were met with appreciative smiles. Helen slipped under one of Torch's welcoming arms and they faced Will and me as we stood with our backs to the door.

"When can we expect you back?" Torch asked us.

"As the sun sets," Will told him as he looked down at me with twinkling eyes. "I have a great deal to show Rose and will need that much time for just a small portion of what your city has to offer."

"Please be careful out there," Helen pleaded as she grasped one of my hands in hers.

I smiled and nodded. "We'll be careful."

And with that promise ringing in my heart Will and I stepped out into the warm early morning sun. A slight chill still clung to the air and made me shiver.

"There are blankets in the carriage," Will promised me as he led me down the steps to our waiting carriage. Raines sat on the box with his eyes facing forward.

I couldn't help but glance at our coachman before stepping inside. "He doesn't talk much, does he? Raines, I mean."

Will joined me on the seat and shut the door behind him. "As little as possible. He lived a very solitary life before I found him."

"And where was that?"

"In a shallow grave."

My jaw dropped open as the carriage lurched forward. I swallowed the lump in my dry throat and blinked at my companion. "W-what was he doing in there?"

"Laying in his eternal slumber, or so his would-be murderers hoped."

I shook off my shock and set a hand atop one of his. "Will, you really need to start at the beginning."

A devilish smile slipped onto his lips. "His end is the beginning of our story. I discovered him on one of my travels outside the borders of my domain. He had owed money to some rather disreputable ‘gentlemen' and when he couldn't pay they sought to use him as a lesson to their other clients."

A little color drained from my face. "So they tried to bury him alive?"

Will shook his head. "No, he was very beaten when I discovered him. It was only through the use of some medicine on me that he was able to cling to life while I carried him back to my home where I tended him until he recovered. He swore fealty to me for my help and has remained a loyal servant since that time."

I leaned back against the carriage seat and stared ahead, my imagination filling in the finer details Will had left out. "That's. . .that's awful."

Will nodded. "The world generally is, but that's why we must make the best of what we're handed and give a hand to those who need it."

"Like digging a guy out of a grave?" I teased.

"If that's what must happen," he returned with a twinkle in his eyes. "Speaking of the musty earth, I was wondering if you would like to see the famous catacombs of Mirum."

I blinked at him. "Is that a usual tourist spot?"

A chuckle emanated from him. "One of the highlights of the ancient city, though I dare say it's because the price of admission is so low anyone can join the tours."

"How low is it?"

"Free."

My eyebrows shot up. "How can they afford to do that?"

"They say they do it for the sake of showing the city's history to travelers and locals alike."

There was something in his voice that caught my attention. "But you don't think that's why they do it."

He stared ahead and pursed his lips. "They are very. . .enthusiastic in their care for the dead. A century ago they were wont to marry off a few of their visitors to those in their care when the magic willed it."

I cocked my head to one side. "Those in their care-" Realization struck and my jaw hit the carriage floor. " The dead people? "

He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. "Unfortunately, yes. It was a rather macabre affair, and the brotherhood wouldn't fret over whether the new bride or groomsman approved of the marriage, or even if they were already married."

"But marrying somebody off to the dead? " I repeated.

Will furrowed his brow as he glanced out the window. "I completely agree, as did the city leaders fifty years ago. They banned the practice."

"So why bring it up?" I asked him.

"While you and Helen were having your discussion, Alex informed me that his connections in the underground had hinted that some matrimonial trouble was brewing in the catacombs."

I lifted an eyebrow. "But is that really something you need to worry about? I mean, why not tell the local authorities and let them handle it?"

He turned his face to me and smiled. "One need always worry about their neighbors' problems lest they become your own, but Alex did tell me that some of the monks ran illicit trade through the city. They may have information to give to us about the Agency."

"What makes you think they'll talk to us?" I wondered.

"We have something they don't have."

I blinked at him. "What's that?"

"You."

My eyes widened and I pointed at myself. "Me? What about me?"

A sly grin stretched across his face. "It's a very little known fact that dragon brides are more apt to be ‘chosen' by the dead to be their betrothed."

My jaw hit the carriage floor. "You-! You're going to marry me off to a corpse?!"

Will burst into laughter, and my ire was somewhat softened by the sound. He got control of himself and shook his head. "Nothing of the sort, but you will make good bait."

Okay, my ire was back. "So let me get this straight. We're going to use me as bait to lure them into doing something illegal and hideous to me, and then we'll blackmail them into telling us what we want to know assuming they know it?"

Will sighed. "Unfortunately, it's our only lead for finding the Agency's exact location."

"Are you sure we shouldn't just tell the police or whatever they have here that there's something going on?" I suggested.

Will reached across and wrapped his hand around one of mine. He captured my eyes in his gentle gaze. "You have nothing to worry about when I'm around."

I pursed my lips but set my other hand over his. "Do you have a leash?"

He blinked at me. "What for?"

"So I can keep you that close to me."

He chuckled as he swept his arm around my waist and drew me close against his side. I blushed at the gentle heat that emanated from him. He leaned in close and brushed his lips against my neck. "We'll never be far again, my bride."

A sensual warmth flared up between my legs and I reluctantly pushed him away. "Not in public."

He grinned. "We are in my private carriage."

"And out in public in it," I countered as I tried to scoot away from him, but he kept a good grip around my waist. "We can hanky-panky later after you've given me in matrimony to a mummy."

Will lifted an eyebrow. "A mummy?"

"It's a shriveled-up corpse wrapped in bandages," I explained.

His eyes lit up with understanding and his smile returned. "I see. If anyone does try to propose, I'll be sure to object at the last moment."

My face drooped. "Before or after I've kissed the groom?"

"Before, if I can."

I snorted. "You'd better, otherwise you'll be kissing mummy, too. I'll make sure of that."

He stared ahead and winced. "Point taken. I'll ensure things don't get out of hand."