The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (26 page)

Faedra stifled a grin. "Etyran, go get dried
off and have something to eat, we need you and Jocelyn to come with
us."

Jocelyn's eyes lit up at the thought she was
going on another mission.

"What are we doing this time?" Etyran
asked.

"We need to go the library," Faedra
answered.

Etyran screwed up his face. "Huh?"

"I'll explain after you've dried off and had
something to eat."

Etyran wandered past them, through the
kitchen to the laundry and helped himself to a fluffy towel. A
short while later, clothes dried, he wandered back into the dining
room, pulling on his heavy trench coat, a sandwich hanging out of
his mouth. "Okay, I'm ready. What's the plan?" he mumbled around
the sandwich.

"We're going to get the book," Faedra said,
shrugging into a thick winter jacket.

"What?
The
book?" he asked.

"We'll, we're not going to check out
Moby
Dick
," Faedra retorted. She held the ruby staff out in front of
her. "Yes,
The
book. Come on, let's do this."

Faen, Jocelyn and Etyran each wrapped a hand
around the carved wood of the staff.

"Be careful, darling," Henry said, as the red
laser lights started to whiz around the group.

"I will, Dad. We'll be back soon. Love
you."

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Faedra knew they were in the castle even
before her eyes brought the room into focus. It was cold. Bone
chilling cold. Her breath puffed out in a little cloud before
her.

Sadness filled her heart as she quickly
scanned the room. Every surface was coated in ice, every surface
that was, except for the glass-fronted cabinet that contained what
they had come for. The magic that held the book safe also prevented
other magic from having any effect on it. Faedra could see the book
of Anohs nestled on a velvet cushion behind the glass doors.

The group moved towards the cabinet. "It
doesn't look like anyone has been able to get at the book," Faedra
whispered. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone inside the room, but
Faedra would bet some of Zaven's guards were posted beyond the
closed door.

"We have to be quick," Faen said as they got
closer.

Faedra stood in front of the cabinet and
assessed it carefully. Her father had been the only one able to
access it since he took the book over from Elvelynn. Her whole plan
hinged on the hope that the magic would recognize her as the new
ruler of Azran and allow her admission.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered under her
breath as she brought her hands up to the doors. There were no
handles so she let her fingers glide gently over the beautiful
carvings etched out along the wooden frame. The carvings glowed in
their wake. Just as her fingers reached the bottom she heard a soft
click, and the doors cracked open just a hair.

Faedra puffed out a breath. "It worked."
Opening the doors wider, she leaned in and eased her hands around
the book, caressing it as if she were about to pick up a new born
baby. "Let's get you out of here," she whispered to the book.

The door to the room flew open and slammed
against the wall behind them.

"Going so soon?" an icy voice said. "But,
you've only just got here?"

Faedra pulled her hands from the book and
left it on the cushion before whipping around to see the intruder.
She didn't need a PHD to know who had just joined them. She'd
recognize that voice anywhere. Instantly, Faen, Etyran, and Jocelyn
stood in front of her, blocking her view from the Ambassador and
his guards who burst in behind him.

"Why the look of surprise?" Zaven continued
as he sauntered further forward. "Did you seriously think I
wouldn't be waiting for you? I knew you would come for the book,
eventually. I only wonder that it took you this long."

Faedra felt her anger spike. Powers or no
powers, she wanted to tear Zaven's heart out for what he had done.
She pushed her way through her fae protection detail.

"Zaven, you evil son of a..."

"Now, now," Zaven said, holding up a smooth
opaque finger. "Name calling never got anyone anywhere." A sneer
curled his icy lips.

Faedra begged to differ, name calling had
helped her defeat Savu, but now wasn't the time or the place to
prove the Ambassador wrong.

"Now, be a good girl and hand me the book."
Zaven held his hand out and motioned with his fingers for her to
bring him what he desired.

"Over my dead body," Faedra retorted,
cringing inwardly at what she'd just said. She had no powers. He
could quite easily take the book over her dead body, and, probably,
those of her friends if he was so inclined.

The Ambassador gave a nonchalant shrug. "Oh,
well. If you insist." He held his palms up, and in the next second,
Faedra and her friends were being blasted with an icy wind. Shards
of ice were starting to tear at their faces and Faedra wondered if
this is what it would feel like to be sandblasted.

"No!" Faedra screamed, throwing up her hands
defensively to protect her face. As she did, Zaven and his two
guards were hurled across the room and slammed into the opposite
wall.

Faedra's eyes widened as she watched the
three bodies lay dazed and limp on the floor. Her three friends
turned and stared at her, the shock in their expressions mirroring
what must have been plastered all over her own face.

"How did you do that?" Faen asked.

"Do you have your powers back?" Jocelyn
questioned. Hope evident in the young fairy's voice.

Faedra looked down at her palms and tried to
bring forth some energy balls, but there was nothing, she felt no
power, whatsoever. Just as she was about to try something else, she
was distracted by a groan from the other side of the room. Zaven
was pushing himself up. He gave his head a shake before focusing on
the Custodian. There was a flicker of confusion in his eyes as they
slipped from hers to the diamond bracelet still around her wrist.
When he returned his gaze to her, it had been replaced by a
murderous glare.

"I don't know how I did it," Faedra murmured.
"But we don't have time to figure it out right now." She turned
around, reached into the cabinet and grabbed the book of Anohs.
With the book held tightly against her chest in one hand, she
joined the others, wrapping her other hand around the ruby staff.
"Get us out of here!"

Etyran uttered their destination just as
Zaven pushed himself off the floor and was stumbling towards them.
As the red lights encircled the group of friends, Faedra squeezed
her eyes shut as she watched the Ambassador's hand thrust forward.
He was too late. The icy stream that shot forth hit the empty
cabinet left in their wake, shattering the ornate wood into tiny
splinters. His quarry was gone.

Zaven's shriek of fury rang in Faedra's ears
as they materialized back at the cottage.

"Oh, my God! Did you see that?" Faedra cried,
as she opened the door to the cottage and they all filed in. Her
adrenaline was pumping, and it showed in her excited
expression.

"We did see it," Jocelyn said.

"What was that, anyway?" asked Etyran. "Does
this mean you are getting your powers back?"

They pushed through the living room door,
their impassioned conversation continued as they made their way
into the living room.

"I don't know," Faedra said. "I don't seem to
be able to summon anything else. So, where did it come from?"

"Maybe Todmus will be able to shed some light
on it," Faen said.

"Maybe Todmus will be able to shed some light
on what?" Todmus asked, as the group filed into the dining
room.

The crowd gathered in the dining room fell
silent as the excited chattering of the returning party continued.
Faedra placed the book on the table and turned to her small
statured friend.

"Todmus, you should have seen me," Faedra
continued. "Zaven burst in on us just as I was about to get my
hands on the book. He was starting to attack. Shards of ice were
flying at us, so I put my hands up to protect my face. Next thing I
know, Zaven is being thrown against the wall along with his
guards."

Todmus rubbed his chin and eyed the Custodian
with thoughtful consideration.

"I don't seem to be able to use any of my
other powers, though. Do you think they may be coming back?"

Todmus gestured towards Faedra's wrist. "May
I?"

"Sure." Faedra held out her arm. Todmus took
her hand and covered the ice diamond cuff with his other. The
little man closed his eyes. After a moment, his lips pursed. He
opened his eyes and looked up at the Custodian, his expression
grave.

"I am sorry, my child. Your powers are still
trapped within the bracelet."

Faedra's heart sank. "So where did that power
come from?"

Lady Allora pushed her pregnant self up from
one of the dining chairs and waddled over to her husband. "If I may
try something, Faedra?" she said.

"Please, be my guest," Faedra replied.

Allora waddled a bit closer, and, to Faedra's
surprise, put her hands on the Custodian's stomach. Faedra cast a
wary glance to Faen who gave her a barely discernible shrug before
he turned to watch Allora intently.

"Hmm," Allora mumbled, as she placed her
hands on a different spot on Faedra's midriff. A moment later, the
concentration on the diminutive Lady's face was gradually replaced
by an all-consuming smile. Her eyes wandered up to meet Faedra's
wary expression.

"What is it?" Faedra asked.

"It was not
your
power that saved you
from Zaven," Allora stated, her expression serious once again.

Faedra's brow creased. "But, who else’s could
it be?"

Allora paused for a heartbeat before allowing
the smile to creep back across her lips. "Your baby's," she
announced.

Faedra's jaw dropped. She stared disbelieving
at the Lady. "Are you sure?"

Allora nodded. "You are with child, Your
Majesty. I have no doubt."

"But, I don't understand. I wasn't able to
use my power until I was eighteen. How could my baby have a
power?"

"Faedra, your power would have manifested
while you were developing in your mother's womb. Upon your birth,
the power lay dormant until you were old enough to control it and
responsible enough to use it," Allora explained.

Faedra looked up at Faen, whose shell-shocked
expression probably mirrored her own. She swallowed, then said. "I
think I need to sit down."

The entire room lit up with excited rumblings
as Faen scooped his wife up and covered her face with kisses.
"We're going to have a baby!" he cried, twirling her around in his
arms. When he came to a stop, he looked at the gathered crowd.
"We're going to have a baby," he repeated. More excited than Faedra
had ever seen him. "I'm going to be a father!" The room erupted
with cheers and congratulations.

Faedra got caught up in his excitement and
giggled. Jocelyn threw her arms around them both. "I am going to be
Aunt Jocelyn," she squealed.

Faen put Faedra down so she could accept the
hugs her family and friends were anxious to bestow on her.

"Congratulations, mate," Etyran said, shaking
his best friend's hand.

No sooner had Etyran let go of Faen's hand
did his mother swoop on him. "Oh, my darling boy," Janessa cooed.
"I am to be a grandmother at long last." She wrapped her arms
around her son and squeezed him within an inch of his life. When
she eventually let go, it was Rowan's turn. "Congratulations, Son,"
he said slapping Faen on the back.

Faedra was surrounded by her family in a
group hug. Her dad's eyes glistened, Amy and Zoe squealed with joy,
and Nicki and Leo patted her on the back. Faedra looked over to
where Faen was still being accosted by his family, and they smiled
at each other.

Several minutes later, after everyone had had
a chance to congratulate the parents-to-be, Faedra had more
questions.

"I still don't understand," Faedra said to
Todmus and Allora. "How am I able to use a power that doesn't
belong to me?"

"The power may belong to your baby, but at
the moment, your baby is a part of you. Therefore you are able to
utilize her power," Allora answered.

"But when the bracelet absorbed all of my
powers, how come it left my baby's alone?"

"Quite simple," Todmus replied. "Sheer dumb
luck."

Faedra and Faen threw each other a bemused
look before turning it on Todmus.

Todmus smiled. "When Zaven cast the magic
onto the bracelet, he did not know you were pregnant. Magic is very
specific. If he spelled the bracelet to take your powers, it would
not have considered those of your unborn child, as they do not
belong to you."

"Ahh," Faedra and Faen said, acknowledging
the logic behind what Todmus was saying.

"I have to say, though," Todmus continued. "I
would've liked to have seen the look on his face when you threw him
across the room."

Faedra grinned. "It was rather
priceless...before it turned murderous. Then I thought it was
probably best if we left."

Todmus patted Faedra's hand just as Rowan
cleared his throat, prompting them to turn and look at him.

"Your Highness, I do not wish to talk out of
turn, but I believe it would be best if we returned to planning our
counter-attack."

Faedra inwardly sighed at her father-in-law's
propriety. She was getting used to others addressing her formally,
but she was his daughter-in-law, he didn't need to treat her like a
queen. Was he always going to treat her that way? She hoped not.
Faedra drew in a calming breath, smoothed down her shirt and smiled
at him. "Absolutely, Rowan. Please, do continue." Faedra took her
seat at the table and her husband seated himself beside her as
Rowan engaged the group outlining every detail of their plans.