In the Wake of the Wicked (Veridian Empire #1)

63. Rose

63

Rose

I stared at the spot Arowyn disappeared from. I understood why she did it—making friends in this tournament was a risk, knowing you’d have to face them in the end. But it didn’t make it hurt any less.

Lark hunched over Alaric, checking his pulse and repositioning him so he was flat on the ground.

“Come on,” I said. “We have to keep going.”

She looked up at me. “And leave him like this? I’m still the head architect. The challengers are my responsibility.”

“This whole thing is your responsibility, Lark!” I threw out a hand in frustration. “And look where that’s gotten us. If you want to stay down here with him, then fine. But I have a trial to beat. One I’m only in because you put me here.”

Lark kneaded her forehead with her knuckles. “Fine. When we get back to the capital, I can always have someone check on him.”

I stayed quiet. I didn’t want to say it, but I had a feeling if Lark was in here with us, her days of commanding others were over.

We walked deeper into the tunnels and came across another fork. “Do you know how to get out of here?” I asked.

“I oversaw the creation of the trial, but didn’t work as closely on this section. It’s a labyrinth.” She cleared her throat. “I have a…basic idea of its structure.”

I hummed. Her hesitancy didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but it was better than what I could offer.

We heard a shout in the distance. Lark and I glanced at each other, equal looks of trepidation on our features. I scratched my ear. “So, we should probably?—”

“Let’s go,” she said, picking up the pace as we headed toward the sounds of distress.

“Right,” I mumbled to myself. “Let’s go after the strange shouts.”

As we grew closer, shadows appeared on the ground ahead of us from around the corner—what looked like two figures darting at one another, their muffled words becoming clearer.

That’s when I heard it. Him .

“I don’t want to hurt you, Illusionist.”

That low voice, one that soothed me to sleep, that sent shivers down my spine when brushed against my ear…

“Leo,” I whispered, pressing a hand to my lips.

“What?” Lark barked. “How could he possibly be here?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. But he said ‘Illusionist’…Callum must be with him.” Blood roared in my ears. I broke into a sprint with Lark on my heels. Turning the corner, I saw them—Leo in his black pants with his white dress shirt rolled up his sleeves, formal jacket torn on the floor behind him; and Callum in a midnight blue suit, one of his sleeves ripped off at the shoulder and wrapped around his thigh. Dark liquid seeped from beneath the fabric, as if he’d been wounded. His eyes narrowed in a look of furious concentration. Leo’s henbane rings glowed with signs of a recent spell. The air was thick with his magic and the scent of smoke and herbs.

They both turned when Lark and I burst onto the scene.

“Leo, watch out!” I cried as Callum shifted his hands to create some invisible illusion that made Leo dive to the side. I charged toward Callum, anger simmering under my skin. He took one look at his three opponents, shot me a smirk, and took off in the other direction toward a three-way split in the tunnel. An enormous brick wall appeared in his wake, causing me to skid to a halt.

Groaning in frustration, I swiped my hand through the air, finding the wall to be an illusion— of course —but he’d already gotten away. I couldn’t tell which of the three paths he’d taken.

“Coward!” I called, my voice echoing down the tunnel.

“Rose,” Leo murmured behind me. I turned back to him, crossing the distance and throwing myself into his arms.

“How are you here?” I cried out. He wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the third trial. First Lark, now Leo.

Something was very wrong.

“I don’t know,” he said. “After we disappeared from the ballroom, I woke up down here. I thought it was Gayl finally making his move against me until I found Callum.”

“We’re in the middle of the third trial,” Lark said. “The emperor has taken control. I don’t know why you or I are down here, but it can’t mean anything good. The magic for the challengers to be transported requires their blood, which we have, and the emperor had easy access to mine, as well. But how could he have magicked you , Leo?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps there are medical records from my birth at the palace.” He took my hand and faced Lark. “How do we get out of this?”

Lark’s features were grim. “This is merely the first part. There’s more to come.” With that ominous warning, she turned on her heel and went in the same direction Callum had disappeared. “I can’t be certain the emperor didn’t change the trial, but follow me and I’ll try to get us out alive.”

We walked for what felt like hours but what I imagined was no more than thirty minutes. Signs of other challengers appeared as we passed—the carcass of a large wolf, probably one of the obstacles Lark spoke of, lay on its side when we entered one tunnel. Scraps of fabric from a navy cloak littered another. Crushed vines, a shredded tie, chunks of fur, and puddles of blood graced various parts of the path.

I wondered where Nox was, if he had gotten out yet or was still trapped here. Or worse. I flinched at the thought, and Leo squeezed my hand, pausing for a moment and pulling me aside.

I instantly burrowed into him. It was second nature at this point, the way my body craved his nearness. I wanted to stay there forever, locked against his hard chest, the feel of his arms comforting me even in the face of such uncertainty.

“It’s going to be alright,” he said softly, kissing the top of my head. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Rose.”

I squeezed him harder. “Right back at you.”

He backed away and tipped my chin with his thumb and forefinger. Reaching up, I placed a gentle kiss on his lips, only to have Lark’s impatient cough bring us back to the present. Leo winked at me and laced his fingers through mine as we followed after her.

The moment of peace was short-lived, however, when Lark’s soft cry of “No,” floated back to us.

“What is it?” I asked, watching as Lark sank to her knees.

And then I saw it.

A body.

Hurrying to Lark, I felt a spark of recognition at the woman at our feet, but couldn’t place where I’d seen her. Lark obviously knew who it was. Silent tears tracked down her dark cheeks. I crouched beside her and put a hand on her back.

“Who is she?” I asked quietly.

Lark wiped a hand over her face. “One of my architects. Salome.” She stretched a shaking arm out and closed the lids of the female’s eyes. “A friend.”

I took in the sight of Salome’s still body and the large gash in the center of her chest. It looked like a knife wound. Her slight frame and dark hair seemed more and more familiar the longer I stared, and then it hit me—she’d been in attendance at the challenger’s feast, and she’d been the one to come tell Lark about Callista’s death.

“I’m so sorry, Lark,” I said.

“I tried to stop him,” a brusque voice said from a few steps in front of us. I tensed as the air seemed to bend and fracture, and suddenly, Horace stepped into our line of sight, still in his Royal Guard uniform.

“ Horace ?” Leo exclaimed.

“Fates, is anyone not down here?” I asked.

Lark sucked in a breath. “You tried to stop who ?”

“Vincent.”

Lark cursed and stormed to her feet.

“I’m sorry, but—who is Vincent?” I asked. “And where did you come from, Horace?” So many questions circled in my mind, I wasn’t sure what to focus on. How was any of this happening? I felt like any time I managed to get my head above water, another surprise dragged me back under.

“Vincent is the other architect. He, Salome, and I have worked closely on the Decemvirate for the last five years,” Lark said, her tone icy as slivers of shadows began to twist around her body. “You’re sure it was him?”

Horace nodded gravely. “Woke up in darkness. Had no idea what was going on and wandered around with an invisibility illusion until I heard fighting. Came across the two of them”—he gestured to the body—“arguing, and when I tried to stop them, he stabbed her, blinded me with his Lightbender magic, and ran.”

“Why would he do this?” Lark hissed, and I could see her fury give way to heartache. I couldn’t imagine working in such close quarters with someone for five years, only to learn they’d committed the most violent act of betrayal.

“I think he’s been in Gayl’s pocket the entire time,” Horace said. “Heard him say something about needing to do what he’d instructed.”

“That bastard,” Lark spat, her shadows licking at the ground .

“I’m sorry, Lark,” Leo echoed my earlier sentiments, gripping her by the shoulder. “We’ll find him and make him pay, if that’s what you want. Both Vincent and Gayl.”

She nodded tightly, her jaw flexing as she fixed her features into their normal composure. With a sniff, she straightened her shoulders, looking at me and gesturing down to Salome’s body. “You should see if she has anything useful.”

I bent low and rummaged carefully through Salome’s personal belongings, finding a small metal tin in the pocket of her thick skirt. When I opened it, the scent of dried flowers hit me. An Alchemist. I’d have to take inventory of what was in here later, but it had to be better than relying on blood magic.

“I found her herbs,” I said, tucking it into the lining of my tights. “No other weapons.”

In silence, Lark led us through the tunnels, her steps taking on new vigor as she marched. Despite my aggravation toward her and the part she played in these trials, my heart hurt for her. For the calm detachment she felt the need to carry, for this role she’d been proudly given and now wore as a battle scar. Her entire purpose over the last half decade was now stripped away and left her just as confused, just as scared as the rest of us.

Leo and I fell behind. His hand brushed against the tears and rips in my long sleeves. “What happened?” he asked quietly, fingering the cuts on my skin, trailing upward to the small lacerations on my neck and cheeks.

“I woke up locked in a wooden box. I had to blast my way out.”

He snorted. “Of course you did.”

“The box sort of…exploded,” I said sheepishly. “Cut up my neck and arms. I’m okay, though. It doesn’t hurt too bad. I was going for an unlocking spell, but…well, I didn’t bring my charms with me to the ball.”

I glanced up at him and found him searching my hands. He spotted the gash on my thumb. As we walked, he took my hand in his and lifted it to his lips, softly kissing the wound. That simple action opened up the well of guilt inside of me .

Taking a deep breath, I said, “I know you don’t like it when I use blood magic?—”

“You did what you had to do, Rose.”

“—but I didn’t know what else to do. And again, when Alaric attacked me—” I paused, registering his words. “Wait, you’re not upset?”

A growl vibrated from deep in Leo’s chest, his eyes sharpening as he stopped mid-walk. “Alaric did what ? Where is he?”

His anger sent a thrill through me. “Unconscious.”

Those black eyes darkened in satisfaction, swallowing me, making my blood heat. “Good.” His stare lingered over my various cuts and bruises. “You don’t have to worry about my reaction to your magic. I trust you, Rose. I know if you use it, there must be a good reason. I only want you to be careful. Remember the consequences.” He brushed a thumb against my bottom lip. “I’m not going anywhere just because we have a disagreement. Do you believe me?”

I mulled over his admission, letting it collect my residual guilt and squash it beneath his tenderness. It felt…good, learning how to release these defenses I’d had all my life. Learning how to let someone choose me. I’d never had anyone to call my own before.

“I’ve already chosen to love you, Rose Wolff. Beyond sense, beyond reason. There is no part of you I do not choose.”

He wasn’t going anywhere.

He was mine.

“I believe you,” I whispered. “And, Leo, about what you said at the ball. I?—”

“Rose! Leo! We’re here.” Lark’s voice echoed down the tunnel. She and Horace had disappeared around a corner as Leo and I talked. He gave me a small smile and led me after them, my words forgotten as we rounded the bend.

The narrow tunnels opened to a circular cavern the size of a small house, with rocky formations jutting from the ceiling and floor. Torches were fastened to the walls every few feet, illuminating the space. More strips of the same navy garment I’d seen earlier were caught on the sharp edges. Clumps of dirt were strewn about on the far side of the wall, as if the area had been disturbed by movement.

“Is this the exit?” I asked.

Lark nodded grimly. “Somewhere in here. We have to find it. This labyrinth was Salome’s project.” Her voice broke on the name. “I signed off on the plan, but she was the expert with the details.”

I sighed. “I suppose it was too much to hope for there to be an arrow pointing to the door.”

Horace slowly circled the cave. There were two tunnel entrances leading to it—the one we had come from, and one directly across from it on the opposite side. I crept closer to the second one, squinting to see in the dark. There were no torches or sconces lining this path. Shadows seemed to stretch and broaden as I neared the entrance, summoning me with tendrils like fingers. I thought I heard something moving deep inside…

“You know,” Horace said with a grunt. “This looks like an arena.”

“For what?” Leo asked.

“A fight.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan,” Lark countered.

I huffed out a bitter laugh as my feet guided me closer to the second tunnel. “I don’t think much of anything is going to plan , Lark.”

Lark growled angrily in response. I turned to shoot her a look when the growling sounded from behind me again.

It wasn’t Lark.

Everything happened in slow motion.

Lark’s eyes widened as she reached for me, her shadows lashing. Horace unsheathed the sword at his side as Leo’s lips parted and took the shape of my name, but I couldn’t hear him.

Hot air tore at my back.

Something furry circled my wrist, yanking me away from the tunnel. Leo was at my side in an instant. He shoved me against the wall, using his body to shield me .

Out of the second tunnel came a raging, roaring beast. A cross between a lion and a bear, its paws were twice the size of my face, its canines as large as a sword. It shook its enormous mane and rose up on its back legs with a growl. Rounded ears skimmed the ceiling. It landed with a boom, shaking the entire cave.

“What are we supposed to do?” I asked Leo frantically.

“ You need to get out. Go back the way we came.”

“I’m not leaving all of you down here.”

His jaw twitched. “So stubborn,” he said, then crashed his lips to mine.

He kissed me for strength. For courage. And I took the same, my heart pounding faster, my body filling with resolve. He released me and pushed off the wall. The usual small, dark lock of hair fell across his forehead as he brought his palms together with a crash, his henbane and amaranth rings crackling with magic.

A smirk crossed my lips. “Show off.”

“Want to join me?”

I glanced at Horace and Lark, who were already wielding their magic against the beast, and then eyed the cave walls. “One of us needs to figure out how to get out of here.” The creature roared again, wiping the smirk from my face. I imagined those teeth ripping through Leo, shredding him, claws sinking into his skin.

Before I could stop him, he nodded, gave me a quick, “Be careful,” and took off after the beast to join Horace and Lark in the fight.

They were a sight to behold. I’d never seen the Sentinels in action, but I could tell they’d been about more than espionage and secret meetings over the years. The three of them moved in synchrony. Horace distracted the enemy with illusions and slashes of his sword while Lark manipulated her shadows into weapons, dangerous spears of darkness that pierced through the thick, golden hide, then disappeared to reform. Even from the wall, I could see Leo’s lips moving with silent spells. Force fields emerged before his companions right as the creature pounced.

The air was saturated with shadows and firelight, the cloying scent of magic and the sting of its power pressing into my chest.

I shook away the mixture of dread and awe, sharpening my focus on finding an exit. Working my way down the edges of the cave as fast as I could, I ran my fingers along the bottom and then up, tracing every dip and crevice I saw. Hoping for any sign of a hidden doorway or hollow wall. Some sort of enchantment or magical trap that would trigger an opening.

Anything .

Lark cried out, and I swung my head around to see the beast’s jaws clenched around the long antler in her hand, almost tearing her arm off. She let go and the creature jerked the weapon with so much force that it went flying at the wall to its left side.

I expected the antler to clatter against rock.

Instead, it disappeared.

The other three were too distracted to notice, but something tugged at my mind. The creature wasn’t moving. It stayed in place, fighting Lark, Horace, and Leo while keeping within a few paces of its position, right beside the spot the antler flew through. Almost as if it was guarding something.

I had to get closer.

Reaching into the lining of my tights for Salome’s tin of herbs, I hastily flipped open the lid and dug around the familiar petals and roots and leaves. A shaky exhale left my lips when I spotted what I needed. Hellebore and amaranth. An invisibility charm.

I pinched the two together and placed them on my tongue. “ Vellus ,” I whispered. My chest tightened with the spell. When the pressure released, I crept forward into the fray.

At first, it was alarmingly easy. Neither the creature nor my friends were aware of my presence, which allowed me to move across the cave quickly and quietly. I stayed low to the ground and out of sight behind the beast’s back.

Until it took a blow to the neck and reared upward, its tail swiping through the air.

It hit me with the strength of a wooden rod, knocking the breath from my lungs as I soared into the wall behind me. My spine hit the rock first, then my head, and my spell broke.

White spots danced in my vision. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see with the pain shooting down every nerve in my body. I slumped to the ground and gripped my head in my hands, trying to stop the hammering in my temples.

The beast must have felt me, for he suddenly turned and sniffed the air. Its round, black eyes locked on me. I cursed, wincing as I got back to my feet.

I caught Leo’s eye and shouted his name. “Draw it away from the wall!” I cried, gesturing at the wall to the creature’s left. My head was still foggy and pounding, but I could heal myself later. I had to get us out of here.

Leo instantly obeyed. Working as one, he, Lark, and Horace got the beast’s attention. Lark’s shadow whips latched onto its snout and pulled. With an angry snarl, it faced them again, leaving me a clear path to the wall.

I struggled toward it and staggered as I knelt to pick up a large stone. Drawing near, I threw the rock at the same wall, holding my breath when it sailed through the air…

And vanished.

A smile broke across my tired face.

“It’s this way!” I shouted to the others. “Through the wall! You need to keep it away long enough to get over here.”

“Through the wall ?” Leo asked, his hands raised, prepared to cast another spell.

“I’ll hold it off,” Horace grunted. “You two— go .”

He didn’t leave Leo or Lark any time to protest. Faster than I thought possible for the burly guard, he sprinted away from the others, the creature’s eyes following him and whatever illusion he was no doubt creating. It let out a thunderous howl, its paws clawing at something I couldn’t see.

Leo rushed to my side. “What did you find?”

“Look,” I said, tossing another rock and watching as it faded behind the dirt.

I stepped forward, only for Leo to put an arm around my waist. “Wait, Rose. Let me go first to make sure it’s safe.”

Pulling out of his grip, I turned to face him. “This trial isn’t about safety, monkey boy. Just trust me.”

Then I spread my arms wide and fell backward into the void.