Spy Glass

28

UNFORTUNATELY, THE VOICE WAS GALEN’S.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Walsh demanded.

“Taking over your little family.” He whipped out a knife and before anyone could even blink, he stabbed it into Walsh’s throat.

Blood gushed and I reached to help him, but Galen ordered me to stop. None of the guards moved a muscle.

“Any objections?” Galen asked everyone.

Walsh’s family stood there in silence, watching their leader die. A few nodded as if they witnessed justice. The Minister and his wife gaped with horror.

“I—”

“Be quiet,” Galen said to me.

No one else objected.

Galen motioned to Devlen to drag Walsh’s body to the side. Devlen kept a neutral demeanor as he carried out the orders.

Galen knelt next to me. “Please continue with the service,” he said to the Minister.

Nancee clutched her husband’s arm in a death grip. He opened his mouth and closed it, searching the crowd for anyone who was upset by the murder.

“Please continue,” Galen said again.

I marveled at how fast Heath recovered. Although he rattled off the vows in a rush. Galen allowed me to speak again and my mouth betrayed me, saying all the right things at the right time. In a matter of minutes I was married to Galen. No revolt. No rescue. Nothing but the creepy fog.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I hoped to get a moment alone with Devlen, but Galen kept me close to him. At the end of the night, Walsh’s body was thrown onto the fire without ceremony. A couple of the clan members added wood to the bonfire, stabbing the branches into the flames as if they could pierce his heart.

At the end of the evening, Galen escorted the Minister and his wife to the guest cottage. I stayed behind them, but through our connection I felt him draw magic, seeking the couple’s emotions. Fear, horror and the desire to keep something from Galen reached us. I sensed Galen planning to interrogate them with his drugs, but for now he tugged at their emotions. Drawing magic from me, Galen erased the horror and fear over Walsh’s murder from their minds and replaced them with fondness and joy for the happy couple, masking the bad memories.

They said good-night with wide smiles. When their door closed, Galen looked pleased with himself.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

“I knew I could control a person’s emotions, but I never had enough power to do it. With your added magic, I have more than enough strength.”

My head spun with how much havoc he could cause with his new ability. I bumped against him.

“I feel dizzy,” I told him when he shot me a nasty glare.

“That’s what you get for not eating.”

We swung by the kitchen. The woman cleaning the counters stopped and prepared a snack of bread and cheese for us. I avoided the cheese, but ate a big portion of the bread, taking my time, delaying the inevitable. Galen ate absently.

“How long were you planning to assassinate Walsh?” I asked.

“Not long after I met him. His little kingdom was just too tempting. Black diamonds, pearls and an in-house workforce that’s not going to cry foul about anything. Not a squawk from them when I murdered their leader in front of their eyes.”

True. No love lost over Walsh’s demise. Not even his guards. “Did you bribe his bodyguards?”

“Oh yeah. Devlen’s been working on them since he arrived. That man has a golden tongue.”

I bit my lip, dredging up memories of long ago when Devlen had twisted my words. When I had wanted to sink my switchblade into his heart.

Galen laughed. “Do you hate him more than me?” he asked.

“No.”

“Good.” Then Galen added, “You already know I hold all the power. And tonight the Bloodrose Clan has realized the power had shifted to me. Three against one. Quinn’s magic is minor, and Walsh wouldn’t let me increase the boy’s strength with blood.” Galen ripped off a piece of bread. “Worked out in my favor, and now I can turn him into another slave.” That was not going to happen. Not while I lived and breathed.

Galen watched me with amusement. “You haven’t asked the big question.”

“Maybe I don’t want to hear the answer,” I said.

“Doesn’t matter what you want. Not anymore. Ask me why I married you.”

No choice. I repeated the question.

“You were mine in all ways but one. And the thought of you sleeping with Walsh galled me. I don’t like to share. Now you’re legally joined to me.” Galen stood. “Come.”

I followed him to a cottage near the office building. The fog obscured most of the compound. We encountered no one, and the moist air dampened any sounds.

Dread slowed my steps and I lingered outside, peering into the dark fog. At this time, I would welcome a distraction. Perhaps a backup plan would be put into action. Something must have gone wrong during the bonfire. Surely, Devlen didn’t plan for me to marry Galen.

“Opal, come here now,” Galen called.

Despite my mind’s frantic screams, my body complied. He had lit a lantern and waited for me in his bedroom in the back. Galen lounged on the bed, but he sat up as soon as I entered.

“I can taste your fear. It’s an unexpected addition to the excitement. Don’t you agree?”

“No.”

“Doesn’t matter anyway. Take off your dress,” he said.

I peeled it off.

“I thought you were supposed to be naked underneath.”

“I wasn’t comfortable,” I said. I wore a sleeveless shirt and white short pants. A knife, compliments of Mother, was tucked into my waistband.

“What were you planning to do with that weapon?”

“I was hoping an opportunity to use it on Walsh would present itself on our wedding night.”

Galen laughed. “You’re full of surprises.” But then he stopped abruptly. He clutched his guts as his face paled. “Did you poison me?”

“No. How many clams did you eat?”

He blanched, turning green. “Don’t talk about food.” Galen groaned and curled into a ball. Sweat dampened his clothes.

I suspected his food had been spiked with beach root. If the clan members planned to revolt while he was incapacitated, I shouldn’t be close enough to hear Galen’s commands. I moved to leave, but Galen ordered me to stay in the cottage. At least he was too sick to do anything besides shiver and moan all night.

The gray fog still clung to the compound in the morning. Galen felt better, but he dropped into an exhausted sleep. I had spent the night on the couch in the living area.

When a soft knock sounded, I rushed to open the door before another knock could wake Galen. Even when sound asleep, Galen could rouse in an instant. In that regard, he reminded me of Valek.

His guards had taken up position next to the door, but Devlen waited.

“Where’s Galen?” he asked.

The bodyguards seemed interested in the answer, so I crossed my arms and frowned at Devlen. “Sleeping.”

“He asked me to report to him this morning.”

“You’ll have to come back later. He had a strenuous night.”

The guards chuckled, but Devlen pushed his way inside. “I’ll check for myself.”

He peeked into the bedroom then pulled the divider between the rooms closed. He returned to the guards. “He’s fine. I’ll wait here until he wakes.”

This time the guards leered as Devlen shut the door. He leaned against it as if he would collapse without its support. Wearing the same clothes as yesterday, he gazed at me as if I might explode. Deep lines of weariness marked his face. His hollow bleary eyes a sign that he hadn’t slept.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stop Galen from killing Walsh and marrying you,” he whispered. “Did he…have time….” He averted his gaze. “…have time to…”

“To rape me?”

He flinched as if I had slapped him.

“Why couldn’t you stop the wedding?” I asked, keeping my voice low despite my desire to scream at him. “Was it part of your plan for me…for him to consummate the marriage?”

“No.” He slid to the floor and dropped his head into his hands. With pure misery in his voice, he said, “He was supposed to get sick.”

Regret immediately bloomed in my chest. I knelt next to him. “Nothing happened. He did get sick.”

He gathered me into his arms and held me close. “Thank fate.”

“What’s been going on?” I asked.

“I can’t tell you.”

Gritting my teeth to keep from yelling at him, I tried another question. “Why did you let him kill Walsh and marry me?”

“A tactical decision.”

And then I knew. His answer was classic Valek. Last night was all part of a grander scheme that I knew nothing about. Which kept everyone safer except for the clues I’d already put together.

“What can I do?” I asked.

Devlen closed his eyes for a moment. “When the fog burns off, keep Galen busy.”

“You’re not serious. Are you?”

“I am. It’s critical that he is distracted when the fog lifts.”

“The fog…Kade’s here.”

He wouldn’t say anything. I understood, but for sand’s sake it was so frustrating. I had already guessed Valek and Kade were nearby. “Why doesn’t someone just assassinate Galen? Valek could—”

Devlen covered my mouth with his hand. “Don’t speculate out loud. I know this is difficult for you. Waiting and trusting others are not your best qualities.” He whispered in my ear. “There has been some discussion over Galen’s death. We’re worried his demise would also cause yours.”

I shook my head, planning to argue, but he continued. “Your and Galen’s blood are mixed. Your souls are intertwined. If one of you dies, we believe the other will, as well.”

“Yelena—”

“She won’t return a soul to a dead body.”

“Oh.”

“I can’t exist without you, so killing Galen is not an option. I would rather lose you to the Stormdancer than lose you to the sky.”

“But what about Curare—”

“Please. Stop. Trust us to have considered all the angles. Just keep Galen busy.”

“How distracted do you need him?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“It would be best if he wasn’t walking around the compound until nightfall. Going between buildings is okay as long as he’s busy with a specific task.”

“You do understand the longer I stay with him, the greater the chance he’ll force me to consummate the wedding.” It needed to be said. Although stating my fears out loud didn’t alleviate them one bit.

He squeezed me tight. “I’m painfully aware of the danger. This would be an ideal time to use that clever brain of yours. You have gotten out of more difficult situations than this.”

But I hadn’t been bound to a sick bastard. I buried the doubts deep and promised to try. I nuzzled his neck, inhaling Devlen’s distinctive scent. My connection to Devlen seemed stronger despite Galen’s hold. Just like my glass animals, I felt his song deep inside me. A desire to repeat yesterday’s liaison flushed through me.

I lifted my head and he turned as if he read my mind. We kissed and I moved so I straddled his lap. I ceased worrying about my situation and was just satisfied to be with him.

Eventually, Devlen broke off. “Too dangerous.”

He was right, but I didn’t have to like it. When he left, all warmth fled my body. I shivered and planned different ways to distract Galen. If I was lucky, he would sleep all day.

I wasn’t lucky. Galen woke when the sun burned through the fog. Grumpy and irritable, he ordered me to fetch him something to eat with a specific request to make sure the food came from a container that served everyone. I hustled to the dining room, trying not to search the faces of the clan members I passed. If I spotted a disguise, I could endanger the person, who would most likely be a good friend or a relative.

Without the fog, the entire compound was visible. Sunlight sparked from the blue-green waters of the sea. We were a few days into the hot season—my favorite time of the year. Kade and I had promised to visit his parents and we were going to return to Booruby, as well.

My heart ached when I thought of Kade. I still cared for him, but the fire had died.

By the time I returned to Galen’s cottage, he had washed and dressed. He ate without saying a word, then ordered me to follow him to Walsh’s office.

“Until I’m certain the Bloodroses won’t do anything stupid, you’re to stay with me at all times unless I say otherwise,” Galen said.

Quinn’s sister jumped a foot when we entered. I feared she would go into labor, but she pulled it together and helped Galen find Walsh’s files and important documents. More armed guards stopped by, reporting on the evening’s patrol and on a few minor incidents.

Devlen arrived a couple hours later. He had changed into fresh clothes. Ignoring me, he said, “You were right, Galen. No problems. The Bloodroses have accepted your leadership.”

“We’ll keep things as is for now, but once they’re comfortable, we can start implementing our changes,” Galen said.

“What should I do next?”

“Take a contingent and sweep the coast. Make sure no one is hiding in the rocks. Damn fog is a pirate’s best friend. And then find the woman who worked in the kitchen last night. She put something in my cheese to make me sick. Pepper and salt her and put her out to dry in a very public location.”

Devlen nodded and left. I hoped for the poor woman’s sake he didn’t follow all of Galen’s orders.

“Opal,” Galen said, jerking me from my thoughts. “Tell Penny to fetch the Minister and his wife. I want to speak with them before they leave.”

Happy for a break, I hurried to the outer reception area where Penny worked and relayed Galen’s message.

She stood, but instead of dashing off, she inclined her head as if she wanted me to follow her. I couldn’t go far, but she stopped near a file cabinet. Opening the bottom drawer, she withdrew a small package.

“Master Walsh told me to give this to you if anything happened to him,” Penny whispered.

“What is it?” I asked.

“No idea, but don’t let Galen know about it.”

“I’ll try.”

Penny put her hand on my shoulder, comforting me. “You can endure. I pretended I was lying with my boyfriend when Walsh ordered me to his bed.” Then she hurried to run her errand.

Her concern touched me. I let the guilt over not recognizing the horrors going on here consume me for a moment before I used it to motivate me. I glanced at the office door. It was ajar, but Galen couldn’t see me. Unwrapping the package, I uncovered two syringes filled with blood and a note. I pocketed the note and rewrapped the gifts from Walsh, returning them to the drawer. Hoping I would have a chance to read the letter later, I returned to my post.

Penny soon arrived with Minister Heath and Nancee in tow. They smiled at Galen and inquired about Walsh.

“We hope his illness isn’t serious,” the Minister said. “We’re honored to be here. This is the first time he invited us to officiate a wedding.”

Nancee beamed at us. “You two must be a special couple.”

“We are,” Galen said.

The Minister flourished papers for us to sign. Nancee brought them to Galen first, pointing out where to write his signature. She gestured me over, then handed me the pen.

The air in the room clung to me like a thick syrup. My lungs strained to breathe. Nancee’s short fingernail marked the proper spot. Her nails had been cut short and lacked polish. For a well-dressed woman who had spent time arranging her hair in a neat style and putting on makeup, her hands didn’t match. Then I spotted the scar along her index finger. One of my worries floated off my back, but it was immediately replaced with a different concern.

“Sign it Opal Bloodrose,” Galen said.

I scrawled the name under Galen’s.

Nancee marked the papers and handed one set to Galen. “For your records. We’ll send the other to the Bloodgood capital, Vein Ravine.”

As they made small talk, Galen drew power, seeking their deeper emotions. The ones they hid under the polite small talk.

I moved between Galen and the couple. “It’s getting late. If you plan to be home before dark, you should go soon.”

Galen kept his smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “They’re welcome to stay as long as they’d like. I was about to offer them some refreshments.”

Heath thanked Galen. “Opal’s right. We should go.” He tsked. “The heating season’s foggy weather just won’t quit, putting a crimp in travel.”

We did the polite goodbyes.

“I’ll escort you out.” Then I said to Galen, “I’ll be back. Okay?”

Outmaneuvered, Galen’s grin strained as he agreed.

The three of us kept silent until we were far enough away not to be overheard.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked them. When they acted offended and confused, I cut in. “Valek did another excellent job with your disguises, but you can’t fool me anymore. I saw Eve’s scar. The one I gave her the last time we did knife defense.”

“Ah, hell,” Nic said. He pulled a silver coin from his pocket and gave it to his partner.

“Always a pleasure taking your money,” Eve said.

“We don’t have time for this,” I said.

“We followed Devlen,” Nic said. “Along with that big Ixian.”

Ari was here, too. I didn’t know if I should be glad or scared. “Leave now. Galen’s suspicious of you.”

But Nic wouldn’t budge. He engulfed me in a hug, squeezing the breath from me. Then he rested his hands on my shoulders and peered at me in concern. “How are you holding up?”

I stifled the desire to punch him. “Better now that I know I’m not legally married to Galen, but if I’m forced to reveal your identities and harm you then I’ll be sick. Go, so I don’t have to. Please.”

“Okay, okay. Settle down. We’ll leave. Our job’s finished anyway,” Nic said. He hugged me again and Eve squeezed my hand.

“Stay strong,” she said.

I watched them cross to the stables, wishing Nic was a better liar. The big lug had no intention of leaving. I wanted to cry and cheer at the same time.

Before I reached Galen’s office, I read the note from Walsh. He suspected Galen would attempt to take control of the family. Even in his warped mind, Walsh loved them and didn’t wish to see them subjected to Galen’s harsh leadership. Explaining what was in those syringes, Walsh hoped I would aid his family. I tore the letter into small pieces and threw them in the trash.

When I returned to the office, Galen didn’t wait to unleash his anger over my little trick. “You are to remain silent unless I ask you a question or give you permission to speak. You’ve been taking advantage of my inattention to details. I’m going to rectify that right now.” He read from a list he had written.

My loopholes disappeared with each command. All but two and I clung to them. They were all I had to keep me from giving up.

He slammed the paper down on the desk. “I’ve been too nice to you. I don’t think you really understand how nice.” Galen stood. “Don’t move.”

My mind yelled to run away, but my feet remained planted.

He approached me and slid his hands under my shirt, fondling my breasts. I bit my tongue, hoping the pain would distract me.

“I can feel you’re repulsed and afraid,” he said. “I order you to relax and enjoy my touch.”

Heat spread across my body, igniting desire.

“Better or worse?” he asked.

“Worse.”

“Now do you understand how nice I’ve been?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I think it’s time to consummate our nuptials. You will get pleasure from everything I do to you even if it hurts. Consider it a wedding gift.” He yanked my shirt off.

I shivered in delight as he ran his hands over my back and again when he finished undressing me. A distant corner of my mind recognized the horror and humiliation, but I was powerless.

A knock sounded before Galen could do more. Thank fate! Irritated, he strode to the door and opened it a crack.

“This better be important,” he said.

Devlen’s voice replied, too low for me to discern his words.

Galen glanced at me. “Get dressed.”

More than happy to oblige, I pulled my clothes on in record time. Galen swung the door wide and returned to his desk.

Devlen entered, leading a dozen guards.

“Show Opal what you caught on your fishing trip,” Galen said.

The guards parted, revealing two figures wrapped in null shield jackets.