Out of the Mountain (45 page)

“I wouldn’t.” I replied truthfully. I wouldn’t trade what I had discovered in Rowan for anything.

“Well, there you go. You’ve had your cry over an argument and misunderstanding, one of many more to come, I would imagine, with the temperaments you both have, and now it’s time to kiss and make up because tomorrow we have bigger fish to fry.”

“You’re completely right.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” She laughed, and I took a deep breath, feeling better already.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” I muttered when I spotted a picture of her and Luca on her desk in the corner of her room.

“Shoot.”

“What is with you and Luca?” I asked, unsure of how to word it. Her eyes narrowed at me.

“What do you mean?”

“It just seems like maybe there is something more behind your friendship. I didn’t notice at first, but the more I see you two together the more I connect the dots . . . ,” I said thinking of the little exchanges between the two of them that no one else seemed to notice.

“We are just friends,” she said firmly, eyes not meeting mine.

“Sure, but it seems like there is a sort of chemistry between you two . . .”

“Even if there was, nothing will ever come of it. We have known each other since birth, our families are practically intertwined. Our friendship means more than any little attraction could account for. We both know it wouldn’t be worth it,” she said dismissively and I thought that sounded an awful lot like Rowan’s reasoning. I was positive that she had had this conversation with Luca, keeping him firmly in the friend zone.

“If you ever want to talk about it . . . ,” I began, but she cut me off.

“You’ll be the first to know. Now go find your man.” She laughed, and I left to do just that.

I said good-bye to Briony’s grandmother (whose name I found out was actually Persephone, but insisted that I could call her Grandma) and began walking down the road toward the city. It didn’t take long for me to feel someone watching me.

“You can come out, I know you’re there.” I sighed, and Rowan popped out of a row of corn, looking guilty.

“I only wanted to be sure you made it back safely.”

“I know,” I said without stopping as he joined me. Even though my talk with Briony had helped me see things more clearly, my heart still hurt with the sound of his voice, and I fought to keep the tears from falling. I felt stupid, embarrassed, unwanted.

“You must know that none of what you are feeling is true,” he complained, and I flinched.

“Just leave it,” I growled, and he stepped into my path. The sun was setting, it would be dark soon. The sky was a mixture of pinks and oranges. I focused on that instead of the pained look on his face.

“You must know that,” he pleaded, and I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. He groaned, pulling me into a copse of trees.

“Tell me what has made you feel this way.”

“Could you please just let me have my feelings privately?”

“Why are you feeling unwanted?” he growled.

“You told me so!” I hissed, stepping away from him.

“I would never tell such a lie.”

“In so many words you said that I was careless, irrational, and that if you had the choice you wouldn’t have chosen for me to seal the bond. You would have denied me. You didn’t want this.” I gestured between the two of us and harshly swiped the traitorous tears that spilled from my eyes away.

“Vinnie—”

“No, I don’t want to hear your excuses, Rowan. I heard the truth of your words. You meant it when you said those things to me, and let me tell you, the truth does indeed hurt,” I cried, and he growled in frustration before grabbing my arms and forcing me to face him. I froze when I met his eyes, which were glowing yellow in the fading light.

“Yes, it is true that I would have told you no. I would have taken more time to allow you to gather the knowledge you would need, because I was already selfish with you once. You are so young and I am not. I am much older than I appear, and that will be a burden for both of us. The extra time I have had comes with a dark past and enemies I can only hope to shield you from. There is nothing I would not do for you, Vinnie.”

“I could feel your anger, your regret.”

“Emotions are hard for me to explain. I am angry with myself for a lot of things and regret follows me constantly . . . but Vinnie, if I said that I regret allowing you to finish that oath, that would be a lie. You are the most impulsive, intriguing, captivating, intoxicating, alluring, and terrifyingly unexpected twist in the journey of my life and I honestly do not know how I survived before you. I was drowning, slowly but surely, and you saved me. You are my light, my love, and my life, Vinnie.” His voice shook, and I felt his despair, his sorrow. He knelt down in front of me, hands at my waist.

“Please tell me what I must do to make amends for this. I am lost.” He begged. I looked down into his honey-colored eyes, pinched with concern. His tawny hair was coming loose from its tie, and I reach to tuck it behind his ear. When my hand touched him, I couldn’t force myself to remove it. I buried my fingers into his thick locks and finally gave in to what I had wanted to do as soon as I saw him.

I pulled him to me roughly, lips crashing into his, and he immediately responded with a rush of relief and joy, as he placed a hand behind my head and held me firmly to him.

“My heart aches,” he mumbled against my lips, and I couldn’t help the half laugh tinged with a fresh round of tears that came from nowhere.

“Yes, I’m familiar with that feeling.” I sniffled, and he wiped my eyes.

“Why are you crying anew?”

“I don’t even know anymore.” I snorted, and he stood pulling me into his chest.

“The ache in my heart, it’s a good ache,” he said, and I smiled at his words.

“So . . . you don’t always say the wrong things,” I admitted.

“I love you, Vivienne Cosette Reinhold.” I stiffened.

“I don’t even know your full name.” I gasped at the absurdity of it and was gifted with a loud and full laugh from him that had my heart swelling with joy.

“Rowan Alastair Leander,” he said when he realized I was serious.

“Hmm . . .” Vivienne Leander. I blushed at the line of my thoughts, and a smile lit up his face.

“It does have a nice ring to it.” He chuckled. He had actually read my mind.

“Don’t do that!” I complained, and he lifted his hands in surrender.

“I am sorry, but it seems that thoughts of me, much like your dream last night, come through loud and clear. It is quite gratifying for me.” He purred.

“Yeah, well, keep it to yourself,” I replied, mortified, and he chuckled again.

We met Mauve in Council HQ. The palace was in a tizzy, and frustration was clearly pronounced in the purse of her lips.

“How nice of you to finally join us.”

“I was—”

“Save your excuses, girl. We don’t have time for them,” she hissed, and I stiffened, anger flaring.

“
Play nice.”
Rowan’s voice echoed in my mind, and I took a deep breath.

“What do you need of me?” I acquiesced, and she thrust a paper into my hand.

“These are the vows you will be expected to take. Read them and the suggested answers below them. There aren’t as many as there used to be, what with the government being completely changed since a monarch was last crowned.” I scanned the paper and handed it off to Rowan. My attention was solely on Mauve and the dark energy that was surrounding her.

“Is something the matter?” I asked, and she glared at me fully. I returned her look with a blank expression of my own, and she blinked first. I took that as a win.

“I had everything planned out perfectly. I was to perform the ceremony myself . . . ,” she said with sneer on her face.

“What happened?”

“We have an unexpected guest.” I felt fear pulsate from her and had to hide my discomfort.

“There you are, my little light.” I jumped up from my seat and spun, head snapping toward the door with tears of joy instantly filling my eyes.

“Master Liung!” I squealed, jumping into his arms, unable to help myself. This man was like a father to me, the only I had ever known. I hadn’t realized just how much I had missed him, missed them all really. I sniffled into his shirt.

“I am happy to see you as well. The others send their greetings.” He smiled at me, and I drew back remembering what Farran had said about the no-touching rule. I glanced at Rowan and Mauve in turn and saw the shock on their faces at the exchange. Master Liung looked blankly at Mauve before turning a glare on Rowan that was so out of character that I stiffened. Rowan dropped his eyes to the ground, also out of character, and I wondered just what had transpired between them. Then I thought of all that had transpired between us and almost vomited on the floor. That was so not OK.

“I was just telling Vivienne of your unannounced arrival,” Mauve said barely hiding the disdain in her voice.

“Yes, well . . . I am here now, and I do not wish to waste any more time. Vivienne?” He motioned to the open door, and I eagerly followed. Rowan trailed behind us slowly. We walked in silence until we reached my room. I had no idea how he knew which was mine, but knowing things they shouldn’t was normal with the monks.

We entered the room and found Farran waiting inside. His complexion had taken on a green sickly tone, eyes bloodshot and droopy. He waved his hand and I felt a sudden oppression around me, as if being inside a bubble. He dropped to the chair and closed his eyes, his breath heaving.

“Farran?” I yelped, rushing to his side. He looked much worse than when I had seen him only hours ago. I put a hand to his head and felt the heat there. He was burning up, but beyond that he felt almost hollow. The magic that usually spilled from him at all times was now nonexistent.

“There is always a high price to be paid for the use of such magic,” Master Liung said gravely.

“I thought I was the one making the sacrifice for the blood magic? I bear the marks!”

“Child, nothing is as simple as you would wish it to be. You bear the marks of the use of said magic. Farran instrumented the rituals, spent his nights preparing the blades, weaving his blood and magic into them. Blood magic isn’t always dark, but it is meant to be. A much greater toll is paid by those who would use it to help instead of harm.”

“It had to be done, Vivi, and I will pay whatever price comes of it,” Farran rasped, eyes fluttering, a grin trying to lift his mouth.

“I wouldn’t have done it had I known this would happen.”

“Yes, you would have. You would have just tried to bear it on your own, but you couldn’t have. You wouldn’t have been able to prepare one ritual, let alone twelve. I have had many years to hone the gifts my parents gave me. You are only at the beginning of your journey, Vivi.”

“Will he survive this?” I eyed Master Liung, and he didn’t answer immediately.

“I cannot say, but he has a battle of his own coming at the rise of the full moon, and I will help him fight it,” he said, eyes firm in promise to me. I exhaled in relief, hoping that would be enough.

“Is that why you came?” I puzzled. In all my life I had never seen any of the monks venture farther than the valley. Knowing what I did now, though, I was sure that couldn’t be true.

“In part, the official story is that I came to see you crowned,” he replied.

“We have seen things. I came against the wishes of my brothers with the promise that I would not interfere,” he admitted.

“I’m going to die, aren’t I? You came to see me one last time.” I sat on the side of my bed, fear taking over.

“You will not die,” Rowan barked in outrage, and I felt his spill of emotions from beyond his barrier: fear, disbelief, anger. Master Liung turned on him as if just remembering he was there. Rowan stood straighter. I grimaced, preparing for the onslaught.

“You would do well to keep quiet, boy. I find that I have limited patience with you.” Master Liung said, and I flinched. Since when did any of the monks’ patience come with limits?

“Master Liung?” I questioned, and he sighed.

“If what you have seen and felt through Vivienne has made you question me so, I would implore you to look within me as well to ease your mind,” Rowan all but whispered. Silence descended on the room before Master Liung walked to stand in front of Rowan.

“So be it,” he said as he grabbed his arm in a tight grip. A minute passed before Master Liung stepped back and nodded at Rowan.

“None would be worthy, but you will never stop trying to be.” He said it like a threat.

“Never,” Rowan intoned, looking at me solemnly. My heart clenched.

“Well then, now that that is settled, let’s move on to more pressing matters.” Master Liung said, relaxing into the man I knew and loved.

“So I’m not going to die?”

“I cannot tell you your fate, Vivienne. You know that,” he chastised, and I huffed.

“I can, however, state the facts of now.” He grinned mischievously.

“What might those facts be, Master?” I returned his grin.

“Kieran and two other men have entered into the Fae realm as of just moments ago. They have a long and perilous journey ahead of them, and Ambrosine is none too happy with the way their bargain was broken. Something was taken from her, you see.” His eyes got that faraway look, and I itched to reach out and touch him, to know what he was seeing.

“There are many possible futures in play, Vivienne, and only a few have endings that are acceptable. Loss is inevitable in any future, many battles will proceed the war that is to come. You must remain strong, and if your strength falters you must allow others to compensate and help you reach your potential. You are a crucial part of what is to come, your life affects so many others. You must do all that you can to preserve it.” His eyes were sad, pleading.

“Well, I don’t want to die, so I will most certainly try not to.” I snorted, and he eyed me ruefully.

Farran coughed hard and loud, body racking with the force of it. Blood splattered from his lungs.

“Farran!” I cried and his eyes fluttered open.

“Don’t worry, Vivi. When I die, I intend to go down swinging,” he tried to joke, but it fell flat and I hugged him to me.