The Paladins (28 page)

“For someone who keeps his business private, that’s quite a few names.” Gideon’s wearing his get-to-the-damn-point face again, so I do. “Tell
her
, idiot. The worst that happens is she rejects you, but what if she doesn’t?” His features set. “Uh huh. See? That’s what scares you most, isn’t it? The worst scenario for you is if she says
yes,
because it means you’ll start off with nothing—together on even ground.”

Tiny flames thread his fingers, highlighting half his face, eclipsing the rest. “You still have money, Cole. You can’t understand.”

But I do. “Have you lost your experience, your instincts? Did your brain blow out your arse when they took your company?” The words pour out and in talking to him, I liberate myself. My volume increases with my conviction because I know him.

He’s me.

“You can’t buy her. Your mistake was thinking you ever could. Raven doesn’t
need
either of us, mate, but she chose you. Use what you’ve learned to your advantage. Sure, you’ll have to earn everything back, be poor,
and
a Maddox at once. The pair of you will struggle together to build your lives and careers like most people do, but so what?”

The question hangs in the air as the fire burns low. His head drops into his palms.

“Guys like us live in the shadow of our fathers. We think money and power is all we are because of who they are.” I lean back on my elbows. “We don’t have to be like them.”

Gideon straightens and faces me. “So, what do I do?”

He’s asking me? He may regret it, because I don’t hold back. “Swallow your pride, and tell her the truth. Then,
don’t
tell her what to do about it. I’ve watched you for years, remember? Making corporate decisions, doing whatever the hell you wanted without answering to anybody, manipulating people to do your bidding.” His mouth opens like he’ll argue but he shuts it again. A minor miracle. “Let Rae make up her own mind from now on.”

His cheeks puff with a held breath. “Okay,” he exhales.

Was that as painful for him to admit as I think it was? I can’t say a word; though I’m pretty sure hell just froze over.

“No, you’re right,” he says. Though I don’t know if it’s to convince himself, or in response to the shite look I must have on my face. His mouth crooks on one side. “I’ll talk to her.”

I nod. “First we have to find her, eh?”

“Both of them. So, let’s kick some ass and get our girls.”

I can’t stop my smile though every muscle in my face hurts.

Gideon 2.0.

Cole

This time when I end up in Rose’s bedroom, I don’t hesitate. Once I feel my feet beneath me, I lunge for her, drawing her into my arms.

Her form coalesces with my touch. “Oh, Cole. It’s been so long. I was really worried.” She fidgets like a frightened bird.

“Shh, I’m here. Everyone’s safe,” I lie.

“When the Draugar came, I thought … ” She lowers her voice to a whisper, “Pan says if I leave the tower, they will kill me. It’s my worst nightmare.”

Her admission echoes Pan’s threat.

Since our dearest Rosamond is unwilling to share. Feed us with your fear. Face the terrors deep within your own minds.

He’s using our fears against us?
Cheap shot, you dirty bastard.

She holds me tighter. “I’m so happy you’re here. I wish you could bring your friends, next time. I want to meet Gideon and Raven.”

“I know. You’ll meet them soon.” I slide my first finger beneath her chin, remembering the crushing loneliness here. Water gurgles nearby. I briefly wonder if a stream runs under the tower.

“I’ve been so curious about them, you know? And, of course, I need to thank Gideon for all he’s done for me. He must be pretty special.” Her words hit a sour note, which must show on my face because she quickly adds, “Oh, gosh and Raven and you, too, of course. Everyone’s been wonderful.”

Her eyes brighten with a smile so sweet, I forget what I was about to say, and my mind takes a different tack. “I’m going to kiss you now, Rose.”

Her breathing accelerates with her
Ooh
. The apples of her cheeks pink, but she doesn’t resist.

As my hands slide down her arms, my heart rate surges. It may have been a while, but I definitely remember this part. I lower my head, brushing my lips against her closed mouth. She’s trembling, so I assume this is a first for her.

She leans into me with a sigh and stumbles a little. We smile against each other, all lips and teeth and bumping noses. I pull her body closer and try again. This time, she responds with less awkwardness. I raise my hand to cup her cheek. Her hands encircle my neck. Nudging her lips apart, I slip my tongue inside. The taste cool and rimy with a bite like January.

Suddenly, Rose fists my shirt with both hands, while her tongue plunders my mouth like a pro. My lids fly open, but arousal soon overcomes surprise. I close my eyes, and match her enthusiasm.

I’m aware of everything and nothing at once. The press of her fingers on my shoulder, her soft hair brushing my skin, thundering heartbeats, mixing breaths heating our faces. When I finally break away, we’re both panting.

Rose steps aside, feet disappearing to mist. She raises the back of her hand to her swollen lips. As she looks away, her lashes create a veil over her eyes, as though she’s keeping secrets. “I guess we got carried away.”

“I guess we did.” Either my Rose is a very fast learner, or that wasn’t her first kiss after all. Not that I care.

She glides to her little chair by the window and sits.

The lure of more snogging lodges firmly at the forefront of my mind, but I take the hint and sit several feet away on her bed. “Rose?”

“Hm.” She pulls her attention from the window and smiles. “Yes, Cole?”

“I met someone here who mentioned a connection to Pan and silver circles. Have you ever heard of them?”

“Silver circles? No, I haven’t.”

Her dismissal is so fast, I’m not sure I have her full attention. “Are you sure? It could be important. Does Pan wear glasses, or own any silver jewelry? The smallest thing could—”

“No.” Her eyes sharpen to something hard and immovable. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She’s so agitated that I suspect her, but of what, I can’t say. Immediately, I feel like a prat for thinking the worst. She could be afraid or simply telling the truth, or both.

As always, the room spins without warning. Pieces of me wear away as my tie to her severs. I curse myself for wasting our last moments on Pan. For making her uneasy, but we really need some answers.

Rose slouches in her chair, expression full of longing. I know it so well, the ache of waiting and wanting.

“Hold on,” I tell her. We’ll be together soon.”

Soon
…

Raven

The sun sinks even as the moon rises. Like two sentinels switching places for guard duty, the change signals the coming of night. I hate The Void under any circumstances, but the dark here is a separate, singular terror.

Forest to the south, nothing but open meadow lies ahead to the north. Even though I came from the wood, I’m tempted to return—ride the trees again and rely on their direction to lead me to my friends. I square my shoulders when a willow bough brushes my arm. She caresses my skin with her leaves, and gives me a little push urging me toward the meadow. Assurance and a strong vibe of confidence accompany her entreaty. Without a better plan, I obey. After all, she helped me at the lake. The trees have been nothing but good.

There’s a gentle slope on the hill to the top of the ridge. My muscles tingle as I jog, pulling energy from the grass below to power me forward.

I sense pain, not mine, but emanating from somewhere nearby. A tiny wail stops me. Panicked, I glance over my shoulder and notice patches of yellowed grass on the path I just trod.
No!
I kneel, placing both palms on the soft ground. A pang of guilt stabs me. Greedy to maintain my stamina, I absorbed too much fuel from the soil and hurt the delicate plants. “Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Armed with new information, I rise. As bad as I feel, there’s nothing to do but continue, though I carefully adjust my intake of nutrients so the life around me thrives. My green friends are generous, their power so potent my head swims. Stronger than any chemical, vitamin, or adrenaline burst, the earth’s energy buzzes within me.

My confidence soars. I’ve totally got this. We can win. Then I hit the crest of the hill, and my feet stop dead.

The hill below harbors more than a dozen, freestanding doors. Surrounded by air, they’re planted in the ground like brightly painted headstones. Tall, wide, short, narrow, the entryways stand alone and vertical, attached to … nothing.

Who put them here? Why?

Curiosity tugs me like a tractor beam. I shuffle down the steep hill, angling for the closest door. Painted bright red, a masterpiece of ornate millwork adorns the top, while carved, wooden roses cascade down the sides, punctuated with twigs and ivy. Birds hide within the sculpted edges. On several leaves, tiny tree frogs bunch as though they’ll jump to life. And then one does.

The door swings open. Cold filters from the entrance, swirling gray mist leaks from the deep black beyond. I step back and meet with a solid barrier. One glance up and I know I’ve been punked.

My mother’s voice whispers a reminder.

“Miss Willow will seem a friend and refuge at first, but do not trust her. She is selfish and unhappy, and will betray you if she can.”

If only I’d remembered an hour ago. Willow branches secure my arms and legs. How the heck did a tree get up the hill? They’re rooted to the ground for crying out loud. No less weird than trees that bend and hand me off to one another, I suppose. I didn’t mind the impossible as long as it helped me.

I plead, and when that gets me nowhere, I swear, and finally fight. The willow ignores me, tightening her cable-like branches until I can’t move. Wasn’t that me trekking up the knoll a minute ago all cocky and thinking I had the whole super-power thing down?
Dummy.

Once more, I jerk my head and beg the willow to let me go, but she won’t listen. I struggle against my bonds, but it’s hopeless. She’s too strong. There are probably smarter choices than hysteria, but I can’t think of one.

“You must bend them all to your will.”

I try, but my concentration sucks. The only one that’s bending is me as the willow shoves me into the cavernous space on the other side of the yawning doorway.

Once again, I’m free falling. Too dark to see, my arms flail searching for anything to cling to and find only dead space. I slam onto hard ground, elbows cracking against an unyielding surface. I cry out as my body bounces and hits again. Blood fills my mouth where I bit my tongue.

Son of a
… I lift my aching head. Shout up the tunnel I fell through, telling the willow exactly what I think of her.

Above, the sun is setting. Here, a cloud slides off the fading moon as the first glimpse of morning light reveals a pretty courtyard. Perfectly manicured hedges run in every direction, dotted in places by shrubbery trained in the shape of objects, a penguin, bear, even an open book. It’s cool, or would be if I saw the botanical creations anywhere else. The courtyard is paved in cobblestones. No wonder my landing hurt.

In the center, a tower made of gleaming white stone rises into the sky.

Rosamond!

There’s a single door at the base painted emerald green with a brass knocker shaped like a bull’s head. A pale flash draws my attention to the lone window three quarters up the structure. I squint and the outline of a face appears, disappears, and pops into view again.

“Hello?” I clamp my lips shut. The urge to speak was impulse and quite possibly stupid. I have no idea if who or what I saw up there is friendly.

“Raven?”

I blink.
What the
… A girl pokes her head all the way out the window. She’s young, about my age, and very pretty. Her blond hair tumbles past the sill. I swear all I can think of is Rapunzel. The thought is laughable, but this is so not the venue for humor.