“Which is true. Although sometimes it takes a little while for the magic to unwind after the mage is dead. You still might have destroyed Bedlam.”
Lincoln taps his very yummy lips with his pointer finger. For the record, I’m still adjusting to the idea of sexy time on the sand getting cancelled.
Focus, Myla.
“We need to ensure Bedlam is dead,” says Lincoln.
“Agreed.” I dig my boot heels into the sand and think things through. “When it comes to magical power, nothing can touch the rings of Eden. We need to find the remaining three bands. If Bedlam is dead, then those rings will confirm he’s gone. And if Bedlam’s alive, then the other bands are the only magical weapons strong enough to destroy him.”
Lincoln nods, his eyes lost in thought. “Three rings remaining, one for each Eden. The stewards are the best place to start.”
“The Garden of Eden burned down ages ago. Adam died and Eve vanished. Do you know anything about the other Edens?”
“The stewards for the Ark of Eden are Noah and his daughter, Norah. There’s been no word on them, either. And I’m not even sure what the Ether of Eden looks like, let alone how to access it. All I know are the names of the stewards, Grace and Victoria.
There’s probably more information if we really dig into it.
Finding out about the Edens hasn’t ever been a priority before.”
“So we need to hit the royal library. All the best books and scrolls are in there.”
“Ah, no.”
“The ghoul archives, then? Maybe Walker can get us into the Dark Lands.” The Dark lands are the realm of ghoul kind, and Walker is my honorary older brother.
“No again.”
I make my ick face. “You can’t mean we visit Earth for information? They suck.” I narrow my eyes. “Hey, now. You’re toying with me, aren’t you?”
My guy winks. “Only a little.”
And since two can play at whatever game this is , I lean in and kiss Lincoln’s face off. As our tongues slide and tease, I wonder how I could ever have questioned my feelings for Lincoln.
Angelic conspiracy? Bah.
Bedlam’s manipulation claims? Kiss my quasi ass, you diseased potato head freak.
Lincoln pulls me closer against him. That’s when I make my move.
Stepping away, I turn and saunter toward the Pulpitum. To humans, it will look like I walked right into a rock and disappeared.
Although I’m not gone yet.
Before I vanish, I swing around while unzipping my dragonscale battle suit at the neckline. Once Lincoln’s mouth drops open, I know I’m winning.
So I step inside.
It’s a mega exit, if I do say so myself.
9
Lincoln
Desire heats my blood. Myla just unzipped the front of her dragonscale fighting suit. Now my black body armor pulls in uncomfortable ways.
Once again, Myla proves that two can play at the anticipation game.
And what a lovely game it is.
I step into the boulder. One moment, I’m out in the desert. The next, I’m inside a round stone room. The space is rather simple, what with its curved walls and torches. The only unusual decoration is a large metal disc that sits at the center of the floor. That’s where the transport magic happens.
Myla leans against a segment of curved wall. “I’m forgetting something, aren’t I?”
She’s talking about the fact that we aren’t having sex on the desert right now. “In a word, yes .”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
I shoot her the side eye. “If things were reversed, would you let me off the hook?”
“Sha. Never.”
“Then how about we make this a bet?”
“You don’t think I’ll figure it out, do you?”
“In another word, no .”
“Then yes , let’s make it a bet. I wager I’ll remember everything without requesting any help.”
“Perfect.” This is an ongoing game that Myla and I play. When we bet on a topic, the loser must grant one kiss at any time and place of the winner’s choosing. Things rarely end with kissing.
Myla steps into the center of the room. “Activating standard station. Queen Myla Lewis.”
A grid of white laser beams crosses the Pulpitum floor, performing a body scan on both of us.
A woman’s voice echoes through the chamber. “Identity confirmed.
Glad you’re returning home, your Majesties.”
“Thanks, uh…” Myla winces. Names are not her forte. “Mary?”
“Leandra.”
“Wow, I was way wrong. So.” Myla smacks her lips. “We royals have that big thing coming up.”
I step up beside Myla on the platform. “Fishing for clues?” I whisper.
Myla holds her thumb and forefinger a centimeter apart. “Only a little bit,” she retorts. “And as long as I don’t outright ask, I still win.”
“What did you say?” asks Leandra.
“I was just thinking about our big day ,” states Myla.
“So impressive,” sighs Leandra.
“Right,” confirms Myla. “And that’s because it is…”
“The talk of Antrum!” cries Leandra. We can’t see the speaker since this is audio only, but I’ve no doubt that Leandra is fanning her self with her hands at this point.
For my part, I take to biting my knuckles to keep from laughing.
This is really too much. I whisper once more to Myla. “If you ask a direct question, you lose.”
“I don’t need to ask anything directly. Not me. Nope.” Myla purses her lips in a silent whistle while looking around the Pulpitum chamber. “Fuck it. I’m asking.”
I can’t help but chuckle.
“Hey, Leandra!” calls Myla.
“Yes, your Majesty?”
“Come on, just tell me what the big deal is all about. It’s been a busy day and I forgot.”
“Your yard sale,” replies Leandra.
Myla buckles her knees slightly while staring up at the ceiling.
“Ooooooooooh, the yaaaaaaaaard sale.”
My wife receives all sorts of gifts. Some are useful. Most are not. We’ve been piling them onto the front yard. It’s gotten so crowded, there’s no room for Maxon to play. Tomorrow morning, we’re having an exclusive yard sale for friends, family and select dignitaries. Although the big event begins at dawn, we—and by this I mean Myla—haven’t gone through the items yet. There may be things we wish to keep.
All of which is why we must return home tonight. It’s a lot of stuff to go through. Not to mention the fact that we’re keeping our babysitter waiting.
“There’s one good thing about tomorrow,” says Myla. “Everyone will be there, from our parents to Walker. We can ask them all about Bedlam and the signet rings of Eden. We’re bound to get a tidbit or two of good info—”
“So you know,” interrupts Leandra. “Our thrax diplomat to Purgatory is attending the sale tomorrow. I have a request in for any item that you’ve placed in your mouth. I’ll even take old dental floss.”
“Okay,” says Myla. “Eew.”
“Unless you have something you’d like to give me now,” adds Leandra hopefully.