Page 103 of Tell No Tales
Fanidra laughed. "Practical to a fault. I have no argument with you, nor with Emperor Hugo. It's been a long time since I've been on a ship, but I think I can scrounge up a crew to take the academy ruffians to Aquarion. Would that be service enough to our emperor?"
"More than enough," Yvette said. "Thank you."
Fanidra continued to study Vadim's back as he kneeled before Klaus. Vadim pushed his hair out of his eyes as an excuse to touch him. Klaus was warm, and he was awake, but Vadim didn't trust it. Coryn had reached for Klaus with Fanidra's power … and failed. Vadim couldn't explain it, but he certainly wouldn't stick around for it to happen again.
"She will find another death weaver," Fanidra said. "When she does, you'd better hope she can't collect on our contracts."
Nothing was set in stone, but Vadim liked their odds, for once. With Klaus's power, he saw another symbol of balance on the floor beneath the throne.
The sound of breaking glass startled Fanidra into action. "Run. I'll see if they'll still follow my commands."
"There's another way out," Vadim said. "You can't stop them alone."
Vadim motioned for Ray and Roy to grab Trin and Hugo. Then, he lifted Klaus in a bridal carry.
"I can walk," Klaus protested.
"I'll need you to run in a minute," Vadim said, pulling him closer and kissing his temple. "Let me hold you for now."
Klaus wrapped his arms around Vadim's neck and kissed him hard, snagging his lip with a sharp tooth. Vadim didn't mind the pain. They were both alive. That was all that mattered.
∞∞∞
Klaus
With his seeker's sight, Klaus saw another balance symbol in the throne room, beneath the throne itself."There's something here."He hoped it was another tunnel, but he didn't know for sure.
"Balance."Vadim refused to put him down, instead carrying him to the throne and weaving an equal amount of life and death. The throne scraped along the stone beneath it, exposing a set of stairs leading down into the darkness.
Nola and Yvette shoved the twins toward the opening. Fanidra followed. Once everyone was below, Vadim moved the throne back into place behind them. The sound of crunching bones reverberated in the tight space as the undead who'd tried to follow them lost fingers and toes for their efforts.
"Find us on Aquarion," Nola said to Fanidra when they came to the large tunnel beneath the city. She pointed down a dark tunnel. "Docks are that way. Captain Quiller ofSooty Splinedocks here in the winter. Despite the name, she's a fast merchant ship. They're not pirates, but they can evade the navy well enough."
While they worked out more details, Vadim set Klaus on his feet, pressed him back against the wall, and kissed him. The inside of his mouth still tasted like dirt, but Vadim didn't seem to mind.
When they came up for air, the others were already out of sight around a corner. Only Fanidra's aura was still visible ahead of them. A torch flared to life in her hand, and she dashed off in the direction Nola had pointed.
Klaus shivered at the sheer number of undead above them in the throne room. "Coryn must have been keeping them in the palace," he said as he and Vadim ran to catch up with Nola.
"We'll have to ask Hugo about them when he wakes." Through their bond, Klaus sensed Vadim's fear."If he wakes. He will wake, aye?"
"Yes,"Klaus answered. "Stop worrying."
They caught up with Nola just as the creeping sensation of the watchtower spell made Klaus shiver.
"Those spells are so old," Vadim whispered to Nola. "I doubt anyone in the palace remembers they exist."
"Let's hope Fanidra is telling the truth," Yvette said. "She knows too many secrets."
"She didn't attack us," Vadim said. "That's a good sign."
"She knew she wouldn't win," Yvette countered. "Coryn used Fanidra's power to attack Klaus, and she couldn't even bring him down. You two are bonded. She's no match for you."
"Bonded?" Vadim scoffed. "You mean like Efren and Niall?"
"What would you call it?" Nola asked.
"We call it bonded." Yvette grinned at Nola. Nola held out her hand, and they entwined their fingers, swinging their arms between them.
