House of Mages and Raven (Shades of Ruin and Magic #4)

Chapter 7

7

Killian

“ W ho’s the Bride, Lady Moirai? Can you see?” Lilith asked.

“It could be anyone.” I shrugged, appearing indifferent as I tried to throw her and the oracle off the scent.

Moirai glued her blind gaze to me, and I had the distinct feeling that she could see through me. I enhanced my shield, as I did all the time to fend off Lilith’s mind power. But the oracle’s power was vastly different—it could feed on my true, hidden emotions.

Nevertheless, I kept my heartbeat steady, even though I felt chills on my skin, my thoughts troubled by the dark prophecy spat out of the Maiden’s black lips.

Prophecies had never done us any good, and this new piece of intel might cause a witch hunt in the realm. I had a hunch that Barbie would be at the center of it. How could I protect my true mate with my powerful betrothed here, too close to the water, too close to me? She’d counter my every move when it came to defending Barbie. And my little scorpion wasn’t one to lie low, no matter how hard she tried.

Moirai’s gaze snagged on the wall where Pucker hid within. Did she sense the ghost guardian? I’d allowed him to eavesdrop, as he’d proven useful in helping me protect Barbie. As soon as I gave Rock a nod to round up all the candidates, including Barbie, the ghost had taken off to warn her. And now he’d returned to eavesdrop more.

“The Bride is veiled, as powerful as she is,” Moirai drawled. “The Bride is most likely the daughter of Ruin, the only second-generation goddess on Earth. I shall know if she presents herself, and I’ll regain my sight when I look into the eyes of the goddess.”

“Let’s check out every house and shake out the Bride,” Lilith said, a dark, murderous light coating her eyes. My betrothed was willing to take on a goddess to maintain her status as the most powerful woman in the realm.

Barbie had asked me if I was hers before we got interrupted and I had to come down to meet Lilith. The oracle’s warning echoed in my ears. If Moirai was right, then I’d bring harm to Barbie by choosing her now. I swallowed. I could no longer tell her that I was hers. To save her, I’d have to break my heart by breaking hers first.

Lilith sipped her tea and watched me over the rim of the teacup.

I kept a bored, careless expression. I had to believe that Rock wouldn’t bring Barbie here with the rest of the candidates. My tight circle all knew how much Barbie meant to me. Rock, Cami, and Cassius had suspected that Barbie might be my true mate. They’d seen Barbie touch me, the only woman who could get past Lilith’s powerful bond. And should Lilith learn about it, she’d try to kill Barbie on the spot. Not that I would allow it to happen, but the easiest way was not to bring Barbie to the oracle.

As the heir of the house, I could halt the order to summon all the bride candidates to the common room to meet the oracle, but it was better that I showed my opponents I had nothing to hide. I hoped that amid the chaos, no one would pay attention to Barbie not making an appearance.

Soon, the candidates from my house arrived, streaming in front of my betrothed and the oracle. I let out an imperceptible breath of relief when I didn’t see Barbie among them. I could feel her in the house, yet somehow it wasn’t her magical signature. Had my little scorpion learned how to shield herself from me? Was the house helping her, since she was its favorite ever since she’d come?

Her face had paled like white paper, terror in her dual-toned eyes, while she was riding my cock, when Cami had called outside the door, “Queen Lilith brought an oracle, who has been searching for the lost princess, daughter of the God of Ruin.”

Who were you exactly, little scorpion?

I knew she’d hoarded secrets, and I let her keep them. Her deception didn’t bother me, and I was never a dick who demanded anyone reveal their secrets. You had to earn their trust as well as their respect. Neither should be given freely.

“The Bride isn’t here,” Moirai declared, her veil covering her face again.

“Is every candidate from the House of Chaos here?” Lilith asked.

I shrugged. “The candidates aren’t stock animals, and I don’t do headcounts.”

“What about the new girl I mentioned?” Lilith pursued.

Rock pointed his massive finger at some girls in the second row. “There. The oracle saw them already.”

“Which one is Barbie?” Lilith asked.

“Did you see Barbie, Rock?” I asked in a bored tone.

“She probably went on a morning run,” Rock said. “Barbie likes running.”

I contained a laugh. She liked running only when heading toward a feast or racing away from something she didn’t like. My humor vanished as I thought of her being plagued by nightmares. But last night, when she was in my bed, she’d slept peacefully. It’d comforted my dragon that our mate felt safe with us.

“She usually runs for hours,” Rock added.

“We should come back another time,” Moirai offered.

“Let’s wait,” Lilith insisted. “Rock, why don’t you lead a team to hunt down Barbie and bring her here? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have Lady Oracle in the realm, so let’s not waste it. My guards will assist you in your searching effort.”

The lines around Rock’s lips tightened. He did not take orders from anyone except me, though he sometimes humored Barbie by giving in to her demands, which mostly involved raiding the kitchen to get midnight snacks or begging not to go to the early morning class.

Not wanting to offend my betrothed, the werewolf didn’t reply but parked himself by the door and directed the candidates who had come before the oracle to file out.

A piercing alarm went off.

“Fire!” someone shouted, joined by others. “Fire in the house!”

I contained a smile. Pucker was causing trouble by setting off the alarm. He was forever fierce when it came to guarding Barbie.

“This isn’t a drill!” The scream sounded like Pucker’s.

“Order!” Rock barked half-heartedly. “Order, please!”

Then everyone was shouting, some panicked, some excited yet nervous, as they rushed out of the door, then the building, without Rock giving any further orders.

I rose to my feet lazily. “What the hell?”

“The fire started in the boiler room and spread rapidly. Archer is leading a team to try to contain it,” Cassius said, strolling in.

“Escort Queen Lilith to safety,” I ordered him.

Lilith pursed her lips, not liking this turn of events. “Fire doesn’t concern me.”

“Your safety is most important, beloved,” I insisted. “I need to take care of the house emergency, but I’ll feel better if you and Lady Moirai aren’t in harm’s way.”

Cassius moved like a shadowy arrow. A blink, and he was right in front of us. Bowing at Lilith, he gestured for her to let him escort her toward the exit reserved for only myself and my circle while I extracted myself from this engagement.

“I could easily assist you with any house emergency,” Lilith said before I strolled away in the other direction. “But I know how important your independence is to you. I’m stepping back in a show of respect, but I expect you to join me as soon as you take care of your house affair. I’ll be hosting a celebration for officially joining Shades Academy as the sixth house. We shall present a united front.”

I nodded solemnly. “Of course, Queen Lilith.”

“I like you calling me beloved.” She smiled, her lustful gaze caressing me, her power warming the bond between us.

I tried not to shudder, and I thought of Barbie, knowing she was no longer waiting for me in my bed.