Home > Noble (Night of the Dark Fae #3)(7)

Noble (Night of the Dark Fae #3)(7)
Author: Angela J. Ford

Maeve bit her bottom lip, longing for a touch from him, something other than words, an action, a gesture that would encourage her. She shook her head. “It went all wrong down there.” She recalled the fae Underground, being chained up as the ceremony began. “I wasn’t fast enough. The dark fae have the Crown of Erinyes, and worse, the Dragon Queen is free. Imer, she’s coming.”

Imer’s face paled and his hands dropped to his side. “You cannot blame yourself.” He moved toward her.

“But, I do,” she replied, frowning.

“And yet, you are here, because although you try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders you cannot. War was always coming and now that we stand on the brink of it, everything will change.”

He didn’t stop walking until he was right before her. His knuckle brushed her chin and a shiver of arousal touched every inch of her skin. She took a deep breath before she met his eyes, deep blue with the golden flecks. A reminder of why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place broke the fog of her thoughts. It wasn’t simply because of the way he made her feel, although that was part of it, but also the way he encouraged her, reminding her she wasn’t a lost soul and the past was behind her.

“Imer.” She touched his wrist, intending to explain but he tilted his head and gave it a slight shake.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” he told her. “Much has happened in the last few months and it is normal to question everything, especially as alliances form. I have my own motives, but I would have you know that I am on your side.”

Then he leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. The kiss was slow, sweet, and full of promise. Before Maeve could react, he pulled away and strode out of the room.

Maeve stood stock still, the kiss burning on her lips. She wanted to stand there and bask in it. But a moment later the woman returned.

 

 

7

 

 

Powerful Rulers

 

 

After a bath and a warm meal, Maeve returned to the infirmary. The woman had relayed a message. The mages of the tower desired to speak with her, but they would allow her to rest for another day. Maeve took advantage of the time to sleep, although her fingers tapped with anticipation. To her regret, she did not see Imer again nor have any other visitors; it seemed they wanted her to spend some time in solitude, recovering from her flight.

But when she went to the door, she could hear murmurs, whispered voices, hasty footsteps. As Imer had mentioned, they were gathering. Alliances would be chosen and they would march.

On the morning of her second day there, she dressed in her shift, pulled on a belt with her sword in it and left the infirmary in search of answers. She’d barely set foot outside the door when a voice called out, “You must be Maeve.”

She turned, and a woman strode toward her, the same one who’d pulled the helmet off her head when she landed. She was taller than Maeve and her appearance was striking. The woman smiled and her amethyst eyes lit up. She had a heart-shaped face with a small pointed nose, almond-shaped eyes, and curly black hair that complimented her brown skin. Her hips swayed when she walked and she wore a sleeveless blue gown which almost swept the floor. The scent of raw magic filled the air, and Maeve had a feeling the woman was both powerful and dangerous. She could be her best ally, or worst nightmare.

“I’m Willow,” she said, extending a hand.

Maeve hesitated and then took Willow’s hand. Willow. Ingram and Imer had mentioned a woman named Willow, and Maeve saw the resemblance. She had the same features and coloring as the people of the grove.

“Welcome to Imperia.” Willow pressed Maeve’s hand.

Maeve had the distinct sensation the woman was reading her, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it. “Imperia?” she repeated. The word felt beautiful on her tongue.

Willow let go of her. “The city of mages. We heard about your quest to find the seven shards and reform the Crown of Erinyes.” Admiration filled her voice. “You succeeded, and we are grateful.”

Maeve cocked her head and alarm bells rang within her. “We?”

Willow smiled. “We are mages who serve at the pleasure of the wizard. The gathering is soon, and there are many who would like to meet you, but first I would like to introduce you to the wizard. Follow me.”

Willow walked down the hall, and Maeve had no choice but to follow her. This time when questions swirled through her mind, she was sure that she’d have answers. Soon.

The tower she walked through was magnificent, open and airy with the light scent of herbs. It was clean, calm, and even though footsteps echoed off the stone floor, it did not have a harsh ring to it. Eyes wide, Maeve slowed down to take it all in. Rich tapestries hung on the walls and when they moved up a spiraling staircase, the smell of ink and old parchment hung in the air. They passed others, men and woman who nodded at them, a few with pointed ears, dressed in armor. A slender youth dashed down the stairs, almost running into them, his mouth open as he stared, then set off again.

Imperia. Maeve thought of the word again, and a longing began in her heart. So long she’d run, calling no place home. At times she’d desired one, but it seemed best to stay on the move. She was used to running away, but now she understood it was because of her past, because of what had happened when she was a child. And now she’d found people like her, with power, those who were looked upon for their special abilities and fought over by those with power. Except, there seemed to be no malicious intent here. When the war ended, would this be her home?

But she was getting ahead of herself. She had yet to meet the wizard.

Willow led Maeve up to the top of the tower to a set of double doors. Without knocking, she lay her hands flat on the doors and pushed. They swung inward and Maeve gasped. She was at the top of the tower in a grand hall covered with multi-colored prisms. She blinked against the array of colors, struggling to determine where to look. The colors faded and her heart pounded in anticipation as a man whirled toward them, eyebrows raised to see who dared interrupt him. He carried a thick book in his hands and stood at the window, reading the text. His expression warmed as he lay eyes on Willow, and Maeve wasn’t surprised. She crossed her arms as she examined the room, looking for the wizard, for the man who strode toward them couldn’t be him. He had a youthful appearance with black hair, a trimmed mustache but no beard. Maeve studied him, and he returned her stare with eyes deep and magnetic that gave away nothing.

“Thank you, Willow.” He held her gaze, a soft smile playing around the corners of his mouth.

Maeve pressed her lips together and drew a sharp breath as she realized, nay, was she wrong? This was the wizard?

“I am Jacq the wizard,” he introduced himself. “Welcome to Imperia. We heard of your deeds and are pleased you have joined us.”

Maeve’s eyes darted from Willow to Jacq. Both of them had a faint glow about their bodies, a spark of magic. She sensed their power, just standing there, and recalled the words the guardians had spoken to her. She was supposed to return to the city of mages to lead, but they already had leaders with far more power than her. She wanted to ask them why she was there, but she was the one who’d fallen out of the sky, she was the one who needed their help.

Jacq paused, but Maeve could not think of anything to say to him, so he went on. “Will you tell us what happened? When the shards were reformed into a crown?”

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