26. Luke

TWENTY-SIX

Luke

S eth returned in a flap. I’d never seen him so rattled before.

“Get him up!” he barked.

Two human servants released my binds, freeing my neck from the collar thingy. They opened the shackles next, relief kissing my skin.

One of the men asked me to take half a dose of potion.

“Just do it,” Seth commanded, despite me complying anyway.

Two gold bracelets adorned each of my wrists. I lifted them to my face, taking them in for a moment.

“Luke,” he pressed.

“Fine.” Gulping the potion back, I swung my legs off the bed. “What’s happening?”

Seth snapped his fingers, the servants scarpering.

He lit a joint, his hands shaking. “This is unprecedented.”

“What is?”

No response.

Hmmm. I massaged my neck, listening to his labored breathing.

After five nervous drags of his smelly stick, he spoke. “I need you to come with me.”

I sighed. Here we go again. Moved from A to B, kept in the dark, manipulated. I should’ve thrown the half dose at the wall.

“Now.” He clicked his fingers. “Move it. Put those slippers on.”

I did as he asked, playing my part. Mouthing off might get me slapped anyway. Still, I took pleasure in his apprehension.

Stepping into the fluffy slippers, I followed him along a pretty dark corridor, wrapping my arms around myself. God, talk about chilly. He led me into an elevator where Billy waited for us, saying nothing, also rather rattled.

“How are you doing?” Billy wondered.

“Don’t speak to him!” Seth hissed.

Billy didn’t ask again.

I stood as far away from Seth as possible on the ascent, my nose under constant attack from almonds.

The silence continued, save for his impatient finger snaps, until we reached a big conference room with a large oval table, bodies gathered around it.

He left Billy outside.

“Pickles!” I cried in response to the happy sight before me.

Asher jumped to his feet, rushing me. I threw myself at him, amazed my legs still worked under the shock.

“Hey, you.” Asher cocooned me in his embrace. I buried my face in his chest, tears flowing once again.

Sandalwood and comfort, muscles and safety. Back where he should be. Both of us back where we should be. To hell with him knowing about what I did to Finn. He wasn’t to blame.

But he knew… A trace of anger, wrapped in betrayal.

Ugh. Fine. Hugs now, confront the issue later.

“By the gods I’ve missed you,” he said, nuzzling his chin against my crown.

I never wanted to leave this bubble. “Likewise.”

“He’s okay,” Tom said, making a strangled sound.

“Easy there,” Dane said.

I broke away from Asher to check on my friend. He leaned against the stone table, looking rather peaky. Dane fussed over him, his eyes meeting mine, his mouth spreading into a smile.

“Excuse me a second,” I told Asher.

Tom and I collided, him releasing a loud whimper.

I hugged him harder.

“I’ve been so worried,” he whispered, his tears wetting my shoulder.

“I’m sorry I worried you.”

Maren swam up to us, putting her cold arms around us for a group hug.

“It’s great to see your face intact,” the mermaid said gently.

I giggled at her word choices, reaching out to pat her. “Yours, too.”

For a few moments, the balance felt restored. A big reunion, the love in this room a middle finger to any nasty crap waiting in the wings.

Seth slaughtered the jubilation. “Enough of this. Where is she?”

“I think we should all take our seats,” Carissa suggested.

She seemed pretty tired.

We all sat, except Seth, who refused. He stood with a face like a slapped arse, watching the door.

“Why is she even here?” he muttered.

Luna sat opposite me, being creepy, just staring at me. I ignored her, linking my fingers with Asher’s. If she tried anything, he might throw her out the window if I didn’t do it first.

“Hi, I’m Eden.” A woman on the other side of Asher reached over to shake my hand. “Big sister. Pillar of strength. Apparently spurned.”

Asher snorted. “Sorry. Forgot to introduce you.”

“Yes, yes, I’m just the sister.” She gave me a cheeky wink.

I smiled. “Hello. It’s really?—”

A gargoyle in white entered the room, followed by two knights in polished silver armor. She immediately gave me goosebumps, radiating a coldness to make Luna seem like the life and soul of the party.

She immediately went to Seth. To my utter shock, he went on one knee, bowing his head.

I leaned to whisper at Asher. “Is she a queen or something?”

Her head snapped round, making me jump. “Luke Garland. A pleasure to meet you.”

I licked my lips, squirming in my chair. “Nice to, erm, meet you.”

Asher gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Carissa got up from her chair and mirrored Seth.

“They’re bowing to the royal seal,” Asher explained, pointing out the coiled pendant. “If the king’s not around, his official representative wears the seal. We have to kneel to it the first time we encounter it. I’ve already done my part.”

“Arise,” the woman commanded. “Be seated.” She took the empty seat at the head of the table, a panoramic window her backdrop.

A furious Seth sat beside Luna, going to light a joint.

“No smoking,” the woman ordered.

Seth obeyed, putting the smelly stick away.

Was I dreaming? Trapped in some super fun alternate universe where Seth followed orders rather than dishing them out?

The woman looked at me. “I am Weaver Anita, here in the name of King Declan. He wishes to meet you one day soon, but not on this side of the new human year.”

“O-Okay.”

“I will keep this brief so you can return to your lives,” she said, her attention moving to Seth. “From this moment forth, the town of Brinecrest is under special protection. Ember’s attacks will no longer be able to breach the barrier.” She pointed to the green skies outside.

Again, was I dreaming?

“But monster patrols will continue,” Anita added, “and there will be strict border controls in place.” A brief pause. “You, Weaver Seth, are to release Luke Garland from the tower immediately. The king knows of your actions, of your so-called training methods. He is displeased.”

Seth’s mouth dropped open, no words tumbling out.

Anita’s eyes practically drilled into him. “His Majesty wants Luke to live his normal life while undergoing training with the supervision and protection of his bodyguard. It is the best way to serve his mental health, and to serve the rest of us.”

“But I wanted the same for him. I allowed his friends to?—”

“I am not finished.”

Seth’s faced turned purple.

“The king is taking charge of the situation through me. Training will take place at a designated spot at the northwestern edge of town with a chosen team of mote enchanters. Neither you nor your associates will be involved. Focus on your other duties.”

Well, this was an extreme turnaround.

“Where is the spot?” I blurted, seriously bemused.

She didn’t look my way. “The old quarry. It is being fortified as we speak. His majesty has sent many knights and weavers here to support you, Mr. Garland.”

I didn’t know what to say. A thank you didn’t feel like it’d cut it.

Seth bunched his left hand into a fist. “Where is King Declan?”

“Not your concern.”

“How does he know what’s been going on here?” He radiated angry-snake-caught-in-a-trap energy.

Anita didn’t flinch. “Because he has eyes within all his towers across the human world. Nothing goes unnoticed.”

That was slightly unnerving.

“And I am his voice. Now, for other business.”

Seth slammed his fist into the table. The guards standing at the door surged forward to stand behind him.

“Is there a problem here?” Anita asked.

“Yes, there fucking is.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You don’t get to come here barking orders in my town. The king doesn’t get to get hide away and?—”

With a wave of Anita’s hand, the knights dragged Seth out of his chair.

“Release me!” he screamed. “Billy!”

Billy didn’t come and wasn’t outside when a different knight opened the door.

“Remove him from my sight,” Anita said coolly.

“You can’t do this!” he bellowed.

“I already have.” She pointed at Luna. “Leave with him.”

Was this really happening? Was I really watching him kick and scream, Luna trailing meekly behind him?

“King Declan has a lot to answer for!” Seth roared before the door slammed closed.

Wow. Just wow. We all looked at each other, beyond stunned.

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer turd,” Asher mumbled.

Carissa heard him, putting a finger to her lips in response.

Anita looked my way again. “Your power is seductive, am I correct?”

“Y-Yes. But I’m not…I’m not dangerous.” I tried my best to explain the unification of these two parts of me.

“I see. As I said, the best action is to serve the stability of your mental health. Your training and your life will reflect that. But there must be some contingency measures.” She produced a gold bracelet almost entirely covered in emeralds. “This will grant you full access to your skills but will suppress them should you lose control. And it will help you resist any influence the ring might have over you.”

“It doesn’t.” The damn thing was cool, no fires in the gems.

“Just in case.”

Another bracelet, another leash.

Damn.

Couldn’t she see I was fine?

“I am aware of your memory loss and will work to help rectify it. Bear with me, please.”

I guess I had to earn the full trust of these people. Saying I was fine meant nothing. The old adage of actions speaking louder than words never rang truer.

Okay. Time to prove myself.

I slid the bracelet on and felt a brief flush of warmth on my wrist.

The green sky shimmered outside, a patrol flying past the window.

Asher nudged me gently. “You alright?”

“I am.”

Anita nodded. “This is how things should have been from the beginning. The king regrets his inaction. Now we move forward. Your training will begin properly tomorrow at midday.”

I cleared my throat, things beginning to sink in. “I get to live at my lighthouse again?”

“Yes. With Asher. Every training session, you will be provided with an escort and a mote enchanter to ferry you there and back. Also, King Declan has enacted a royal decree for this town to reopen immediately. When you leave here, you will see it in action.”

The revelations just kept on coming.

“But before you go, allow me to tell you this.” Anita paused for a moment. “Ember is human, and an incredibly gifted mote enchanter. One who is meant to destroy the gargoyle race. It is her purpose, the details of which I am not permitted to divulge.”

The silence in this room was palpable, smeared with surprise.

“My goodness,” Carissa breathed.

Anita carried on. “You, Luke, are our savior. Only you can stop her. And Asher is the one to keep you safe in order for you to fulfill your destiny successfully.”

He tensed, slowly turning his head. “Destiny…”

I squeezed his hand, unable to formulate a response.

The chosen, for want of a better term? Seriously? Me? Why?

“I have heard of your unbreakable spirit, Asher,” Anita added. “Of your great fortitude. The stone gods have chosen you for these reasons.”

My hands were clammy, my tongue swelling under this new pressure.

I had to save a whole race.

What. The. Hell.

Carissa ended the next round of bemused silence. “How is this possible? What’s the story behind it?”

Yes. It would be nice to know.

“An investigation is underway into her exact location,” Anita answered. “Mr. Garland’s training is extremely important.” Another beat of silence passed, with so much hidden between the lines.

Why the secrecy? Why not tell us everything if we were resetting?

“One more thing,” Anita said. She paused, her cool facade wavering slightly.

I didn’t like it. Something bad was about to drop.

“Ember murdered Queen Alexandra.”

The collective gasp turned my blood cold.