A Soul For Chaos (The Soulbearer Trilogy) (28 page)

Her eyes burned, but not from smoke. She squeezed his hand. “We made it.”

The Mage Primus loomed over them. “Praise Ivis, they’re both alive.” He lifted Dev up. “Help me get them out of the way. We need to get that fire out before the whole Conclave burns to the ground.”

Someone helped her to her feet and dragged her down the hall, following Arano and Dev. The shouts for more water faded behind her. Time blurred, and the next thing she knew, she was entering the Mage Primus’s chambers. A wave of suffocating magic surrounded her as she passed through the doorway, making her knees buckle. A pair of sturdy hands supported her and led her to a chair. She looked up to thank the person who’d helped her and saw the worried frown of the Mage Secundus.

“Are you hurt, my dear?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Help Dev first.”

“I have him.” Arano leaned over his son, his magic humming in the air. Relief relaxed his tight features as Dev began to stir on the sofa. “That should do for now.”

Arden steadied herself in the chair. “Will he be alright?”

Arano rubbed his hands, still watching his son. “He should be.”

The Mage Secundus pushed a cup into her hands. “Drink this. It’ll help you recover faster.”

“That’s enough for now.” The Mage Primus moved to the door. “We need to investigate this fire before the clues disappear.”

The Mage Secundus gave her a smile and followed Arano out the door.

The beating of her heart filled the silence that followed. She crept toward Dev, needing to reassure herself he was still alive after their brush with death. Sweat had carved lines into the soot caking his cheeks. His eyes were closed, and his breath moved at the slow, steady pace of someone lost in sleep. She brushed back his hair, noting how the tips were singed black, and offered a quick thanks to both the Lady Moon and Loku for their guidance.

Dev opened one eye. “You should be resting.”

She ignored the gruff edge to his voice and continued combing the snarls out with her fingers. “You’re going to need a haircut.”

He gave his one-note laugh and stared at the ceiling. “That’s the least of my worries.”

She curled her knees under her and sat beside the sofa, continuing to play with his hair. Yes, there were more important things to worry about. Something had felt very odd about the fireballs, and yet vaguely familiar, too. She couldn’t forget the shock that jolted her just before they appeared. “Do you think it was the same person behind the attack?”

“Yes.”

And once again, Dev had been there to rescue her. Her chest tightened. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

 Dev heaved a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling. “Forget about it.”

Her cheeks grew warm. Had she finally pushed him too far? She withdrew her hands into her lap. She’d jumped to the worst conclusion without hearing his version of the events, without asking her heart if there was any truth to it. “What really happened with Minius?”

He rolled his head toward her. “If I told you, would you accuse me of lying?”

Her heart flinched from the acid of his words. “Let me listen first.”

Another one note laugh. “That would be refreshing.”

He turned back to the ceiling. His lips trembled as he said, “I am responsible for his death, you know. I’ve never denied that. It’s why I accepted my punishment.” He paused before adding, “I asked to be punished.”

A lump formed in her throat, making it hard to swallow. He carried so much pain in his voice, on his face. But there was something more—a sense of surrender that made her want to shake him. After several agonizing moments passed, she prompted him to continue, “I’m still waiting to hear what happened.”

His gaze flickered over her, and the corner of his mouth rose. “Are you certain you want to know the truth?”

She nodded. “No more secrets, no more lies. I can’t trust someone who isn’t honest with me.”

His smile faded. “Minius was my best friend. Growing up, we were as close as two boys could be. As we got older, we made a game out of challenging each other. It got to the point where neither one of us would back down from a competition, and we both liked winning.

“One day, he made a bet with me that he could reach the top of Mt. Kyros before I could. I took him up on it, thinking it would be like our previous wagers.” His fingers curled into his palm. “But it wasn’t.”

His eyelids twitched, and his breath quickened. “Minius moved ahead first, but he was always quick out of the gate. I wasn’t worried because I knew I could catch up with him in the end. The first trap caught me by surprise, though.”

“Trap?” Suddenly, this story seemed to be taking a more sinister tone. This was more than just a bet between two friends.

“Yes. I narrowly missed getting swept down the mountain when I tripped a magical snare and set off an avalanche.”

“But why would Minius stoop to something like that if he was your best friend?”

His fist tightened, and he closed his eyes for a breath. “I didn’t tell you what the prize was. There was a girl that Minius fancied. She was a friend of ours, someone we both flirted with, but I never had any serious intentions toward her. Minius stated that if he won, she was his. I knew she didn’t return his affections and agreed to the bet only because I wanted him to stop obsessing over her.” Bitter laughter poured from his mouth. “I should’ve never underestimated how much he wanted her.”

“So this bet was over a woman you didn’t care about?”

“Stupid, I know, but that was over a century ago.” He gave her wry grin. “I’ve gained enough wisdom over the years to not risk my life over something unless it’s important to me.”

Her heart fluttered, and her cheeks flushed. She was important to him. “So then what happened?”

“My guard was up after the first trap, and I managed to bypass the next two. I was closing in on him as we neared the top. When I passed him, he jumped on me and wrestled me to the ground. The minutes that followed were a blur, but the next thing I remember, we’re sliding toward the edge of the mountain. I stopped myself by grabbing a tree and reached out for him.” His voice broke, and his fist uncurled. “His fingers slipped from my grasp, and all I remember was hearing his scream.”

Arden wound her fingers through his, hoping to anchor him in the present before he drifted too far away in the painful memories of his past. “That doesn’t sound like murder to me.”

“I never said I murdered him. But I might as well have. I should’ve known he was willing to do anything to win when I came across the traps. I should’ve just let him win. Instead, my pride got the best of me, and he died because of it.”

“You can’t take responsibility for his mistakes, Dev.”

“But I did.” He ran his free hand along her cheek. “You’re the first person I’ve told this story to, you know. No one asked me to tell my story. They all assumed the worst. Sazi looked into my soul when I was brought before the Mage’s Council and declared it was free from Minius’s bloodstain, but I couldn’t dismiss his death so easily. I asked them to punish me.”

“And so you became the Soulbearer’s Protector.” She ran her thumb over the top of his hand, wondering why the Lady Moon twisted his fate that day. If she hadn’t, then Arden would’ve never known Dev.

“Now you know the truth.” He tried to pull his hand back, but she pressed it against her cheek, holding it there.

“And I’m grateful you trusted me with it.”

His brows drew together. “Aren’t you going to fly off the handle now and threaten to run away?”

She grinned and shook her head. “Sorry, but you’re going to have to do something much worse to be rid of me.”

“Then give me a few minutes, and I’m sure I’ll do something to offend you.” But he made no effort to remove his hands from hers. They stayed that way, staring into each other’s eyes until the barked commands of the Mage Primus interrupted them.

“I want a report of every person who came in and out of the Conclave today, and I want it now,” he said as he opened the door.

The Mage Quintus nodded disappeared down the hallway.

Arano slammed the door behind him and marched to his desk. “I’ve never come across such gall in all my days in the Conclave.”

Dev sat up. “What do you mean?”

“The Conclave is supposed to be the safest place in the Empire. Our magics block any spells from outside, and they’re supposed to block any malicious spells from inside as well.”

Arden rose and sat next to Dev, her hand still laced with his. “Those fireballs came from someone in the Conclave?”

“As far as I can tell, yes. The trail disappeared before I could pinpoint exactly where they were cast from, but the disruption they left in their wake was easy enough to spot. Someone managed to tear through our defenses, and I’m damn well going to find out who it is and bring them before the Mage’s Council.” He poured the contents of the decanter by his desk into a glass and quickly quaffed it.

“It’s the same person as the other attacks.” Dev leaned forward, exposing the raw, pink skin left from the burns on his back. “I recognized the signature.”

Arano poured another drink. “I can’t think of anyone more powerful than me, and it would take someone like that to break the defensive spells.”

“Someone like a god,” Loku added.

Arden sat up straighter. The chaos god had been relatively silent through all this, so when he spoke, she listened. “You weren’t behind it, were you?”

“Don’t be silly, my little Soulbearer. Why would I give someone an opportunity to attack you? This has Nelos written all over it.”

She wondered if Dev and his father agreed. “Do you think another deity could’ve attacked the protective spells?”

They exchanged worried glances, and she had her answer.

Arano cleared his throat. “It would take someone with god-like powers to disrupt the spells that have encased the Conclave for centuries. These spells required the entire Mage’s Council to cast for three straight days when they were placed.”

Dev tensed, his grip tightening around her hand. “And how long will it take you to repair it?”

“I can’t say.”

If she wanted them to be honest with her, then she needed to open the conversation. “Loku thinks Nelos is behind the attacks.”

Dev started to speak, but Arano silenced him by waving his hand. “What I say here will not leave this room—understand?” He waited until she nodded before continuing, “There is perhaps some reason to believe a follower of Nelos is behind the attacks, but we have no proof. And until we do, I’d like to avoid a holy war against his followers.”

“More like he’s too chicken to take them on,” Loku said. “Perhaps I should I have a little talk with the Mage Primus.”

A rush of magic flowed through her, seizing control of her muscles. Her pulse jumped. She retaliated with her own magic, shoving Loku back to the furthest recesses of her mind. “Behave, or so help me, I’ll contain you again.”

Dev watched her intently, a muscle rippling along his jaw. “Do you need some help?”

She shook her head, still focusing on keeping Loku in line. “He just wants to be heard, that’s all. He’s insisted from the beginning that Nelos was behind the attacks, and he’s getting frustrated.”

“Because I know I’m right, and you stupid mortals are too scared to admit it.”

She closed her eyes, her strength already sapped from the day’s events. “I’m trying my best to convince them. Please don’t do anything to make them doubt me. Or worse, throw me in mithral handcuffs.”

“Fine, but we need to work harder. Nelos got too close this time. If he tries again, he might succeed. No place is safe for you until we stop him.”

She nodded and opened her eyes to find both Dev and his father watching her. She forced a weary smile on her face. “I’m fine—really. He’s just worried about my safety, that’s all.”

“As we all are,” Arano replied. “I’m going to have to report this incident to the Empress. In the meantime, I want the two of you to stay here until we know more about the attack. This is the safest corner of the Conclave.”

The Mage Primus left the room with the same purposeful stride he entered with. The blue glow of magic shimmered across the room when he closed the door, signaling that he’d sealed them in.

Arden looked down and realized Dev was still holding her hand. Her stomach flopped, and she squirmed. “I guess I’ll need to find some more clothes,” she said, trying to fill the silence. “All mine burned up in the room.”

“Including the dress you wore for the Empress?”

“Fortunately, yes.”

“A pity. I liked that dress on you.” His eyes darkened with that strange emotion that always sent her heart flying when she saw it. “I suppose we’ll have to get a new one.”

“Maybe something a little less revealing.”

“If you feel that way.” The hunger in his gaze told her he felt just the opposite.

“Be careful what you wish for, Dev.” She leaned closer until her lips were a breath away from his. “You may open the door to all kinds of trouble.”

“I’ve known that from the moment I met you.” He smiled and released her hand as he rose from the sofa. “My father is right—this is the safest place you can be for the moment. I’ll sleep here tonight, and you and Cinder can have the bedroom.”

She wasn’t going to let him change the subject that easily. Something had changed between them. He’d held her hand the entire time his father was here instead of trying to cover up his affection for her. Maybe I’m actually breaking down his armor.

“I told you to be patient,” Loku said.

She stood and took his hand again. “I’d feel much safer if you stayed by my side.”

He glanced at the bedroom, then at her. “You know I’m bound by my duty, Arden.”

“Yes, and I’m not asking you to do anything contrary to it.”

The worried set of his mouth told her he disagreed.

“Just stay with me tonight.” She pulled him toward the bedroom. “We both could use some rest after the fire, and I want to know you’ll be close if I need you.”

His shoulders dropped as though he’d given up trying to fight her. A minute later, he was lying next to her in the bed, his arm around her shoulders.

She snuggled deeper into his arms, the smell of smoke still clinging to his clothes and reminding her how close she’d come to losing him. He flinched under her, reminding her of the raw skin she’d glimpsed from the holes burned into his clothes. She released the last trickle of magic she had to ease his pain and finish healing him. “I never thanked you for shielding me from that fireball.”