no control over it. Let Ricardo take you to your father and friends.”
I thought of Kale lying motionless, near death, and I hated that she was right. As much as I wanted to stay, I might be more hindrance than help. I caved. “Okay,” I said, defeated.
Lei flew out of the room with the Laniars on her heels. Sinead hugged me, then rushed after them. Arik moved over to me and cupped my face gently in his hands. His eyes held the intensity that always drew me to him.
I swallowed my breath in anticipation. All the sounds around us went silent.
He bent and lightly brushed my lips with a kiss. His lips were soft and oh, so tender. Butterflies swooped and curled inside me, and it felt like the ground disappeared from beneath my feet. He pulled back a little and said, “Regardless of the fact that you’re a royal pain in the arse, I fancy you. Listen to Ricardo and don’t do anything rash.” He gave me another kiss and rushed out the door. My heart twisted in my chest as he disappeared. I touched my mouth and exhaled. He liked me. It was against the laws, but he told me he fancied me. Maybe we had no future, but we had now.
“What a sweet display,” Ricardo said, dragging me out of my haze. “I’m not one for rules or laws, but I’d be careful there. The punishment would be much worse for him than you.”
“Why?” I stared at the door as if I’d see Arik there.
“He’s a leader. He knows better.” Ricardo headed to the window. “Are you ready to fly?”
“Did you say fly?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ricardo gave me a wicked grin, complete with sharp canines. “Well, not exactly fly per se.” His dress shoes clicked across the floor as he sauntered gracefully to the window. “Shall we be on our way?”
“You do realize we’re five stories up, right?”
He beckoned me with his fingers. “Trust me. I won’t drop you.”
I took a deep breath and grabbed his hand.
“We’re going down the side of the building,” he said. “Remove your shield and sword.”
My free hand rested on the hilt of the Chiave. “I can’t leave the sword.”
“You must.”
“I won’t go if I have to leave it.”
He eyed me suspiciously. “Okay. Leave the shield. Put the sword on your back.”
I removed my shield and dropped it on the floor. Then I unstrapped my scabbard and belted it across my chest.
“Ready,” I said.
He gathered me to his side. “Extend your free arm for balance as we go down. Do you understand?”
“Yes—”
Before I added anything else, Ricardo flew out the window with me and ran down the side of the building. We raced down so fast, his legs were a blur.
I dragged my feet against the sandstone wall and held my arm out for balance. It was like a scary drop on an amusement park ride. My heart quickened with the rush of adrenaline. The ground sped toward us. He arched his back and pushed away from the wall with his feet, pulling me with him, our feet aiming for the ground.
“Pull your knees up!” he yelled.
I drew them up right before his feet hit the ground with a loud thwack. “No time to reflect on how magnificent I am,” Ricardo said and headed for the outbuilding.
I stumbled after him on wobbly legs. “That was wicked awesome.”
We rushed along the cobbled streets, screams and cries echoing through the village.
“Stay in the shadows,” he ordered when I stepped into the light of a nearby lamppost.
Dark figures hunched in front of the pale plaster of the outbuilding. When we neared them, the animals looked like seriously buffed Dobermans. I stopped. “What are they?”
“They’re werehounds, but you needn’t fear them. They know you are Gian Bianchi’s great-granddaughter,” Ricardo said, affection icing over Gian’s name. “He is a hero with the Mystiks. He fought for our rights when others turned on us. It is an honor to protect you. Just walk by them. They won’t harm you.”
I smiled nervously at each werehound I passed. A couple of them sniffed me as I went by, their breaths beating against my boots. “How did Conemar’s men get in?” I stepped over a fluffy tail.
He shooed a couple of werehounds out of our way. “With Couve’s High Wizard dead, the protection wards broke. A less powerful wizard made a spotty attempt at bandaging the old wards. The true mystery is: Who let Conemar into Couve earlier today? My bet is on