Page 245 of The Spider Queen
“You want to dress in drag? You really do surprise me.”
He curled an arm around me and tucked me into his side. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“I’m still unclear about what you want me to do while wearing these heels.” I flashed him a saucy grin.
Thane suddenly stopped walking and set down the cage. He turned me toward him. “This. Right here.”
“What?”
His hands slid up my arms, and even through the leather jacket I could feel his heat, his touch. It blasted through me, reminding me of our link.
“Never worry that I’ll be bored with you. Not even after a hundred years, or a thousand.”
“Why? Why do you say that with such confidence?”
His fingers trailed up to sink into my hair. “If it was just physical, it would burn out over time. But with your humor—and your ability to make me laugh—I know I’ll never be bored.”
I squeezed his wrist in affection. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Thane leaned down to kiss me. It was quick, over before it started. He took my hand again, grasped the cage, and we continued through the hallway. Instead of heading toward the throne room, we veered down another hallway and came to a door with an ornate lintel.
“The bridge is behind this door?” I asked.
“This is just the first.” He dropped my hand to place his on the door. His handprint flashed silver, and then there was the unmistakable sound of a lock opening.
The door slid open, just like the door of our bedroom. Silver clouds of mist and white smoke curled through the doorway, reaching out to us.
Thane looked at me. “Ready for another adventure?”
“My life isn’t in danger this time, right?”
“Right.”
“Then lead me into the unknown. I’m ready.”
We stepped through the doorway. The door glided shut behind us, barricading us in. I thought for sure it would be cold, but when the mist and smoke grazed my skin, I felt nothing at all.
“Is it real?” My voice seemed to echo and vibrate through the space that had no walls, no confinements.
“Is what real?” he asked as he led me farther inside.
“The mist?”
“It’s real. But magic is magic. Things aren’t always what they seem. Remember?”
I thought back to Queen Aisling’s words. “How was Xan able to fool everyone into thinking he was Guardian. Is there another way to get to the bridge, or is this the only entrance?”
“Only the Guardian and progeny of the Guardian can access the bridge. Because Xan was my father’s son, he could get to the bridge. With the power from the mage, not only was Xan using illusion spells to conceal his identity, but he was able to divert all the evil souls to Heaven.”
We came to a slab of stone, and Thane pressed his hand to it. Again, it flared—red this time—and then slid open. Our feet parted the mist and smoke to reveal white cobblestone. Our footsteps were silent.
It feels weird to talk now.
Why?
This feels too—I don’t know—important. I’m on hallowed ground.
Technically it’s a hallowed bridge.
