Legendary (35 page)

One by one the others filed into the kitchen. Sabine came in and took over the cooking. The purple-haired Pixie was terribly efficient and ran her kitchen like a drill sergeant. She’d even scolded Merlin a few nights earlier when he’d almost ruined dessert.

“Lia and I are going to take the morning off,” Wade announced. “Honestly, we all could use a break.”

Percy, Owen, and even Galahad voiced their agreement.

“I think that would be wise,” Merlin said, surprising the group.

“Then I suggest we make use of that great pool Merlin has!” Owen said, smiling brightly.

Not long after breakfast, Aliana took a seat on one of the deck chairs, her laptop in hand. For this Southern belle, the sunny day was just a bit too cold for swimming. Wade and Percy roped the guys into an overly aggressive game of water volleyball. Aliana burst out laughing when even Merlin joined the fun, using magic to screw with Owen’s serve. Who knew the stoic Druid had a playful side?

She finally started sorting the pictures from Avalon while she tried to figure out the best way to approach Arthur about her plan. Looking up again, she watched the water cascade down his body as he pulled himself out of the pool. She couldn’t take her eyes off the king as he dried himself off and walked toward her, nodding toward her laptop.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“I’m going through the photos I told you about from Avalon.” She shut her laptop and set it aside. “Arthur, can I talk to you about something?”

“Anything.”

“I was thinking. We’ve all been training for two weeks without a break from each other or this place.” She paused, watching his reaction, and he nodded for her to continue. “Well, I’m supposed to have a meeting with a potential client tomorrow in London and…”

“Aliana…”

“No, Arthur, hear me out please. I was thinking we all could go into the city. Percy and Owen can come with me while Merlin and Lancelot show you and Galahad more of the city. You can search for Leyon. My dreams all show him there. And I can send Wade to get some more of my clothes from my home.” She bit the inside of her cheek as Arthur took a seat next to her.

He looked skeptical. “What has Merlin said about this venture?”

“I haven’t asked him yet, but last time I suggested leaving the grounds he said it was a bad idea,” she admitted, not wanting to lie to Arthur. “I’ll be plenty protected with Percy and Owen, and I think we’ll have a better chance of finding Sir Leyon in the city.”

The king shook his head. “I am inclined to agree with Merlin. Morgana and Mordrid have been too silent. Even J’alel reported there have been no sightings anywhere.”

“You’ve talked to J’alel?” Why hadn’t anyone told her?

“He came to us a few days ago. We thought it best to not disturb your training.” His eyes flicked over her hurt expression. “I can see that was a mistake.”

Aliana bit her cheek again, holding back some choice words. What was important now was getting to London. Yelling at Arthur wouldn’t help to accomplish that, but maybe laying on the guilt would. “Honestly, I need a break from all of this. I need to do something
normal
. All of this isn’t my life like it is yours.”

“If I agree to this, how do you propose we find Sir Leyon?”

Aliana shifted, trying not to get too excited. “I know where he was in my last dream. You guys can start there while I go to my meeting.” The trick with Arthur, she’d learned, was to push just a bit and lay on a dose of guilt or big eyes.

“I have two conditions,” he said, caving.

Got ya,
she thought, trying to contain her smile.

“Lancelot and Wade go with you.” Aliana tried to object, but Arthur cut her off. “Lancelot will not give in to you as Owen and Percy would.”

Busted.

“You will have one hour to meet with this person, and then you
will
meet us back at the hotel. And I should not have to tell you that Lord Daggerhorne, Lancelot, and Wade are to never leave your side.”

“Agreed.” She smiled.

“What’s agreed?” Merlin asked as he and Galahad toweled themselves off. Aliana’s mouth went dry.

“Aliana has proposed a trip to the city tomorrow.” Both guys eyed her, surprised. Well, with Merlin it was more of a glare.

“Is that wise, my king?” Galahad asked.

“If we take protective measures and remain vigilant, yes, I think this a good idea.” Arthur called the others from the pool and told them the plans. Lancelot didn’t appear particularly happy, but he didn’t object.

The rest of the day passed in a marathon of action movies and Pixie-made pizza. It was almost midnight when Aliana finally crawled into bed, slipping into another dream of Leyon.

They were in a maze with towering bush walls and vines.

“Where are you?” he asked. “You said they needed me.” His Scottish accent was faint.

“I’m here!” She summoned her magic. “We’re coming to the city.”

The dream faded before she knew if he’d heard her. She groaned as the bright sun hit her face. Rolling out of bed, she showered and dressed in a pair of brown jeans and a long, bright pink tube top. For the first time that week, she sat down and took the time to apply makeup, even going so far as to give her eyes a pink, smoky look. Slipping on a pair of golden gladiator wedges, she took a second to admire her handiwork.

“I see this is a casual meeting,” Dagg said as she walked into the room, pinning part of her hair up with a gold clip.

“Great thing about my job—no dress code.” She reached into her closet and pulled out a white, cropped jacket. “Better?”

“Wow, Aliana, you look smashing!” Owen said when she joined the knights on the pebbled driveway.

“Thanks.” She checked her camera case to make sure she had the lenses she’d need.

“I do not think this wise. I have an ill feeling,” Galahad whispered from behind her.

She turned and smiled. “My meeting won’t take more than an hour, and I’ll do as Arthur said and keep the guys with me. You have the chance to find Leyon and complete the knights.”

He frowned.

“Everything will be fine.” She gave him a small smile and climbed into the back of Lancelot’s car.

When they arrived at the edge of the city, Lancelot drove to the Covent Garden district while Merlin veered his car in a different direction to go to another part of the city. Lancelot’s car stopped outside a beautiful, old, brick house with black gates.

“Who are you meeting?” the knight asked.

“Her name is Vivian Farris. She called me with her proposal a few weeks ago, before any of this happened. She’s from old money and wants a fantasy portrait.”

A petite, redheaded girl greeted them in the foyer. “She’s waiting for you out back, Miss Fagan.” The guys moved to follow, but the girl stopped them. “I’m sorry, but Miss Farris’s orders are clear. Only Miss Fagan is to meet her. You will have to wait here.”

Lancelot shot Aliana a hard look. Holding back a groan, she told the girl they were her assistants and that she needed them. She had promised Arthur, after all.

“She won’t be happy,” the girl whined, seeming nervous. “Very well.” Silently, she led them out back to a tall garden maze.

“What do you think, Miss Fagan?”

Aliana and the knights turned toward the light, airy voice. Vivian was medium height with a woman’s soft curves. Her shoulder-length, blond ringlets complemented her dark brown eyes. She wore a short, black and red dress with a pair of studded kitten heels. No one would have suspected the girl was only eighteen.

“I think it’s brilliant,” Aliana said, feeling a spark of jealousy at Vivian’s effortless beauty. Lancelot and Wade had yet to look anywhere else but at her.

“Wonderful!” the girl said, breaking the boys from her spell. “I want to take you to the heart of the maze. I’d like that to be the location for what’s to be done.” She led them through the vine-covered archway.

“What’s at the center?” Wade asked, following the two ladies.

“A statue of the goddess Hera, but I would like to show Aliana first. You gentlemen can remain here.” Her voice was airy but her words firm. She was clearly used to getting her way.

“We are her assistants. We go where she does,” Lancelot said in a bored voice.

Aliana didn’t argue. If she didn’t follow Arthur’s orders, they’d never give her any freedom again.

“Very well,” Vivian said, turning her back and leading them deeper into the maze. They soon reached the center courtyard. It was small but beautiful. Everything was centered around the statue of the Greek goddess.

“What were your thoughts?” Aliana asked, taking in the different angles and light.

“I was thinking this is where I would put an end to the Destined One.” Vivian shoved Aliana forward to her knees.

“Aliana!” Lancelot and Wade jumped to defend her, but Vivian shot out her hand, blasting them back with magic.

“Sir Lancelot, always so gallant.”

Aliana got to her feet, searching for a way past Vivian, but the blonde’s magic pulsed through the air, keeping Aliana still.

“Morgana?” Lancelot asked, his eyes wide, just as Wade also seemed to recognize her.

“Who else?” The air around the witch shimmered with ice blue magic, morphing her appearance. Her hair was now a darker blond, her eyes a raging hazel, and her nose just a tad too big for her face. She was striking, but the hatred and evil rolling off her was terrible.

“And the brave Sir Gawain, too. Or is it Wade now? I believe that’s the name your sister has been crying out since my black knights took her.”

“What? You’re lying!” Wade roared, trying to attack, but he was blocked from reentering the center.

“Wade, help me, please!” Lacy’s terror-filled cries stained the air.

“Lacy!” he cried, looking around frantically. “Where is she, you witch?”

Aliana had never seen such hatred and outrage in her best friend.

“Oh dear, what to do? Save your sister or the Destined One? Choices, choices,” Morgana taunted with a wicked laugh.

“Let her go!” Aliana ordered. “She has nothing to do with this!” Her magic rose inside her, diffusing some of the surrounding power.

“I’ll make the choice for you, then.” Vines shot out of the walls, sealing off the entrance to the heart of the maze.

Aliana heard Lancelot and Wade trying to rip through the vines as Dagg leaped from her wrist.

“Where is Lacy?” Aliana demanded, finally able to move as Morgana pulled back her power.

Dagg hovered at Aliana’s side, waiting to attack. Lacy cried out again.

“Damn you, Morgana!” Wade cried out.

“Go save Lacy! Dagg and I can handle this!” Aliana yelled through the greenery.

“No, Aliana!” Lancelot protested.

“Go! You can’t help me, but you can help Lacy. Go!” she ordered.

Morgana cackled as the guys left. “How amusing! The Destined One fancies herself a hero. Do you really think you and your
pet
can stop me? I’ve walked this earth for over a millennium. I control magic stronger than any you could ever hope to.”

“We’ll just have to see.” Aliana slid into a fighting stance, her hands raised. If Merlin and Dagg were right about her odd, unpredictable magic, she just might have an advantage over Morgana.

“Very well.” Morgana twisted her hand, and a blue ball of flame leaped in her palm. “Let’s see how you like this.” The witch forced the ball at Aliana.

Throwing up her arm, Aliana’s shield of light appeared. The fire hit it and fizzled.

“I see Merlin is up to his old tricks. Did he tell you that he trained me in magic as well? Let’s see if he taught you how to fight this.” Morgana shot a stream of solid magic straight at her, but the moment it hit her shield, power shot through Aliana’s veins like wildfire.

Using the magic to boost her speed, Aliana leaped at Morgana, throwing a series of punches and kicks at the witch. Morgana was caught off guard, but only for a split second and managed to avoid most of the rapid attacks.

“A fighter! This’ll be more entertaining than I thought,” Morgana taunted, throwing a few of her own punches. She was an alarmingly superior fighter, yet Aliana got the uneasy feeling that Morgana was toying with her.

Aliana struggled to keep up as the witch mixed magic attacks with her strikes. But Aliana’s magic lent its own strength, letting her hit harder than usual as they traded blows. “Entertain this!” she screamed, landing a side kick to Morgana’s face, her heel cutting into the perfect skin.

“Enough of this child’s play! It’s time I showed you who is the superior sorceress,” Morgana hissed, eyeing the blood on her fingers. She shot another bolt of magic, but Aliana blocked it with her shield.

Dagg swooped down, using his magic fire to attack.

“Pest, I’ll be rid of you!” Vines shot out at Dagg, but the Dragon burned them all to ash. That turned out to be all the distraction Morgana needed. She let loose another gust of magic, hitting Dagg before Aliana could scream out a warning.