Page 58 of Urban Gladiator

My woman had courage in spades. And she was mine, even though I couldn’t claim her or be with her. As I was hers, forever and always.

And we entered through a tunnel that took us beneath the city proper. It led straight to the castle. Once we reached the castle, I told her, “I need you to be as quiet as possible, no matter what you see. We need to sneak you into my wing and bedroom before anyone else sees.”

“I have a spell for that.”

I glanced at her. “You do?”

“Of course. Give me a moment.” She raised her arms, eyes closed, her mouth mumbling words quietly. When she lifted her gaze, she murmured, “We’re good. No one should see us. But that means you need to be extra careful. Just because they can’t see us doesn’t mean they won’t walk right into us.”

“Noted.” But we didn’t need to worry. We didn’t spot a soul on our trek to my wing and room.

Once we were there, after Ember climbed off my back, I shifted. Then trod into my closet for a fresh change of clothes. When I emerged, it was to find Ember looking at the prints on my wall.

“I need to head into my office and check on the preparations I made for you. Then I need to locate my father.”

“And what should I do?” She wrapped her arms around her midsection, glancing around my room, looking lost and uncertain. Sometimes I forgot she was only twenty-two.

“Stay in my room. I’ll have Bixby bring you food and a change of clothes. Please don’t leave the room, not even cloaked with a spell. It’s far too dangerous.”

“I won’t. You’ll be careful?”

“The soul of discretion.” Which was a lie, and we both knew it. The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours were going to be crucial.

I strode over and kissed her deeply, imparting my love and desire. Needing her taste on my lips to give me the strength to see this plan through to the bitter end.

24

Rowan

On my way to my office, I ran into Bixby. It was still a shock seeing him corporeal. My woman had done that, given him more life. I knew he and Lara were making a go of it, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

“Sir, you’ve returned.” Bixby glanced around the hall, then leaned in and asked in whispered tones, “And the witch?”

Glancing around to make sure no one else was around or within hearing distance, I said, “She’s in my room. I need you to keep it quiet and not tell anyone else, not even Lara. I don’t want her presence announced. But I need you to get her a change of clothes and feed her.”

“And what about you?” Bixby frowned.

“I’ll be in my office, and I don’t want to be disturbed until I’m finished. The work I need to get accomplished is too important.”

He nodded in understanding and then winced. “I’m to inform you that the king has ordered me to report back to him the moment you return.”

My father could be such an ass. Bixby was my servant, not his, and he had no right to order Bixby about. It wouldn’t matter soon, anyhow. “I’m not asking you to defy the king, just to delay mentioning my return. Once I have the work I need to accomplish finished today, I’ll go see my father. But not until then. If you could find out where he’ll be in, say, three hours, I would be eternally grateful.”

“It will be done, sir.” Bixby nodded as I entered my office.

The next two hours I spent combing through my emails. The task force I had in the factory in the outside world had come through in spades. Everything was arranged for Ember. The head of operations would meet her once she was on the other side. He would drive her to the house I purchased for her. And in that house was everything she would need. Passport, banking information, and birth certificate, along with instructions for her to read that included contact phone numbers if she got into trouble. And my email so she could stay in touch and tell me about her day.

It was the only way we could talk. Our cell service wouldn’t accept calls from the outside world. So it was the only way I’d know what was going on in her life.

I shook my head; I didn’t have time for moroseness. There would be a shitload of time once she was gone. Until then, I had more than my fair share of tasks before me.

Ember

Curious, I explored Rowan’s bedroom. I wanted to know everything about this man. I knew the way he laughed and the way he looked right before he was going to pounce. I’d begun to know his fascinating mind and how it worked. He had such a mantle of responsibility and was honorable to a fault.

I hated how much he had come to matter to me in such a short time. He’d forever changed me. Opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. I never knew I could love someone this much. I mean, I adored Iris. But she was my sister, my partner in crime throughout life.

But Rowan was the unexpected gift I never expected to receive.

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