Maxon (23 page)

“The news is all over Antrum,” explains Pip. “Everyone's in a panic. Our environment is very delicate, Your Eminence. If Zephyr makes good on this threat, we won't last long.”

My mouth thins to an angry line.
This has gone far enough.
I've lived in fear of Zephyr for years. I won't allow him to terrify the thrax as well. “Is that what you came to tell me?”

“No, Your Eminence. I've another message for you. Telling you about Zephyr wasn't part of my orders.” He shifts his weight from foot to foot. “It just slipped out. I hope you're not angry.”

“I'm fine. In fact, I'm glad you told me.” I extend my hand, palm upwards. “Now give me your message and you can take off.”

Pip quickly sets the envelope in my hand and then races away like his life depended on it. Hell, with the threat from Zephyr, maybe it does.

I close the front door and tear open the message. The note is written in Fisk's confident script.

Dearest Lianna, I've gotten news that Zephyr is attacking Antrum. It's no longer a secure place for you. I've found you a new safe house. Let's meet at Charybdis and discuss how to lead our realm safely away from Zephyr's threat. I'll bring the Kristalli of Water. There's no time to lose; please meet me as soon as you can. —Fisk

I stare at the words. My insides coil with worry. Zephyr is attacking and Antrum's at risk. Can I trust Fisk? I pace the room and sort through the facts. Fisk risked everything to save Maxon and me at Silas's lair. Plus, Fisk trained me for years, placing his life on the line the entire time.

Maybe we've had issues, but any way I look at things, my final view is always the same: I can trust him.

And my role is to follow the elemental way. We hide from other creatures and care for nature. We don't seal off realms and murder entire populations. As monarkki, my job is to prevent this threat; Maxon's is to protect his people.

My gaze falls on the front door. I should go. Still, my soul screams that it's wrong for me to leave.

Screw elemental roles and royal obligations.
Maxon and I make a great team. We'll figure this out together, right?

I turn toward the bedroom. Maybe I should just get back into bed. A quick nap can work wonders, not to mention buy time until Maxon returns. I take a few steps toward the bedroom door. From the outer hallway, a wave of worried chatter freezes me in my tracks.

“He'll cut off our air,” says an older woman's voice.

“I hear the Wastelands are already suffering,” answers another.

“We need to get to a Pulpitum. Run!”

An anxious shiver twists down my back. If I make the wrong call here, all these people could die.

It feels like ages pass as I stand in place, my mind locked between thoughts of the Kristalli and Maxon's warm arms.

Crap. I have no idea what to do.

Maxon

I rush through the door to my chambers, my heart pounding up a storm in my chest. Walker's right behind me. I wave at him over my shoulder.

“Wait here, all right?” I ask.

“Sure thing.”

Walker bounces a bit on his heels, making his ghouls robes sway. He's dying to race through the South Wing and search for Lianna with me. But she could still be in bed, all naked and with that satisfied grin on her mouth. Some stuff Walker doesn't need to see. Ever.

I rush toward my bedroom. Sure, I'm moving at preternatural speeds. Still, it feels like forever crawls by until I can get down the hallway and pull open my door. My skin chills over with shock.

Lianna's not here.

My heart kicks harder in my chest. She's got to be somewhere in my chambers.

Taking off like a shot, I race through halls and passages, calling out Lianna's name like a madman. There's no sign of her anywhere. I end up in the library. A small envelope sits on the bar, right beside my favorite whiskey. I rip it open.

Maxon, I can't stay here and put your people at risk. Please get the word to Zephyr that I'm gone so he'll call off his attack. I've left with all the Kristalli and will be in touch when I can. –Lianna.

“Someplace safe? Someplace safe!” Part of me knows I'm screaming like a madman. I don't give a fuck. Lianna's safest place is with me, period.

I've got to find her before she gets too far.

I stride over to the enchanted painting. “Get me Transfer Central.”

The brushstrokes on the world map reform into the familiar image of Diana. She's pale and pretty, with long brown hair and freckles. Normally, she gets all blushy when I summon her. Today, her mismatched eyes are wide with panic.

“I was hoping you'd contact us,” Diana says quickly. “Are you here to stop Zephyr? Everyone says he'll cut off our air.”

“He won't,” I say in a firm voice.

Diana exhales a shaky breath. “Thank heavens.”

“Did anyone named Lianna ask for transfer to the surface?”

“One minute.” Diana starts flipping through piles of paper and leather-bound logbooks. “No one passed through by that name.”

“How about the Monarkki of Water?”

Her voice lowers to a hush. “The goddess?”

“That's the one, yeah.”

“She left for Pulpitum X. It just got reopened; I figured it was safe.”

“Pulpitum X. That's Purgatory.” Some of the weight of worry lifts from my shoulders. My grandparents run Purgatory, and they're big believers in inter-realm alliances. If Lianna steps off that Pulpitum, she's going to have a reception party waiting. Grandma Cam isn't going to let her run off after Zephyr without some explanation and protection.

“Do you want me to prep your transfer to Purgatory?” asks Diana.

I rub my neck, lost in thought. Something about this doesn't add up. Lianna's too smart to run off to Purgatory if she's in trouble. She's got to know that a new monarkki is bound to grab a lot of attention.

No, there must be something else going on.

“Diana, is there a record of her arrival?”

“Why wouldn't there be?”

“Humor me.”

Diana flips through some more log books. Then, she tears through additional piles of paper. I know her answer before she says it. “There's no record of her arriving.” Diana's mismatched eyes grow large with worry. “Do you think she fell off the platform?”

That kind of thing happens sometimes, and it always ends badly. But that's when a thrax is involved. As an elemental, Lianna's a different story.

“She's fine,” I say quickly.

“Where did she go?”

I'm tempted to explain that she probably changed into mist form and went wherever the hell she wanted. Traveling that way will make it a lot harder to track her, which was exactly what she planned.

“Have Ty run a magical trace on her. Send the news to me at the Queen Emeritus's command center. Over and out.” I wave my arm and the painting returns to its usual map image.

For a long time, I can only stand in the library. At first, my body feels numb with shock. Then the real hurt settles in.

A week ago, I didn't know if I had a heart. Now, the damned thing's shattered.

I could kick myself for being such a dumbass. Why did I go talk to G and leave Lianna alone? I should have known Zephyr would try something. I pound my fist into a nearby table. The thing smashes in two.
Damn it!
If I hadn't been such a lovesick fool, I'd never have dressed up to see G and gush about my new girlfriend.

Rage and fear battle it out in my heart. Trashing the table felt pretty good, so my tail slices a nearby club chair in half. That feels even better. After that, things get a little crazy. I tear through a few more tables and couches, then I go to town on the wet bar. Bottle after bottle gets chucked against the wall.

Finally, my soul calms enough to start thinking clearly again. First thing I notice is Walker standing in the doorway. He surveys the trashed library.

“I would've done the same thing,” he says.

Some of the tension melts from my body. Walker always knows the right thing to say. Turning on my heel, I head toward the door.

“Where are you off to?” asks Walker.

“Visiting G in her new command center,” I reply. “If anything happens, she'll be the first to know.”

And once I know where Lianna is, I'm heading to her side
. Doesn't matter what enemy she faces. Doesn't matter the obstacles along the way. Screw it all. Nothing's more important than Lianna. I see that now. She's the world to me.

I'm getting her back.

Lianna

I pace around Charybdis, the dry sand crunching beneath my feet. Above me, the full moon casts long shadows across the desert floor. Any shift in the darkness quickly grabs my attention.

Is that a burst of blue mist? Has Fisk finally arrived?

But there's been no mist. No Fisk. And no question that I'm going nutso with worry.

Fisk should've arrived already, especially since I was late to begin with. It took me extra time—and some creative use of thrax transfer platforms—but on my way here, I stopped off in the underground caves of Charybdis. I found the stone chamber where I'd recently been trapped, and that's where I stashed the Kristalli of Fire and Earth.

A satisfied smile rounds my lips. Out of all the places Zephyr will look for the stones, the depths of Charybdis should be last on his list.

More minutes pass, and my throat constricts with fear. By now, Zephyr must know that I've left Antrum. He could show up at any second.

Don't worry. You know how to escape Zephyr. You did it for years.

At last, a blue haze forms to my left. The mist quickly takes the shape of Fisk. He's out of his general's uniform and back to cargo pants and a black Henley. His pale features are unreadable.

“Fisk.” I offer him a shaky smile. “Thanks for your message.”

“Everything would've been easier if you'd visited the Water Palace
alone
.”

Here it comes.
Where our conversation goes to hell.

“Maxon isn't going anywhere. You need to get used to that idea.”

“I'm trying.” A muscle ticks along Fisk's jawline. Tension thickens the air.

“Try harder. Remember Esau? You and I both know he's not the only one who's suffering. How many are dying right now because I'm not wearing my crown?”

Fisk stares at his combat boots. “This isn't easy for me. The Valta have their concerns. They don't want a monarkki like Zephyr.”

“And are you worried that I'll rule like Zephyr?” I step closer. “Tell me Fisk. Honestly.”

He scrubs his hands over his face. “No, I'm not concerned about that.”

“Then, why's the coronation on hold? It'll do more than enable me to heal, you know. I'll stand a better chance against Zephyr once I'm connected to the power of my people. Waiting for my coronation only helps our enemy.”

“I know that. Believe me.”

“Then, what are we doing here?”

“Honestly?” Fisk exhales a puff of breath. “We're trying to get past how I lost it at the Water Palace.” He forces a laugh. “I guess it never occurred to me that you'd find someone else. I went a little crazy.”

“A little?”

“A copious amount.” He meets my gaze, his sea green eyes glimmering in the moonlight. “Since then, I've had time to think things through. The truth is this. I want you to be happy, Lianna. That's what love really is, right? Wanting someone else's happiness more than your own.”

My heart lightens a little bit. Not a ton, but this Fisk is a definite improvement. He's much better than the nutjob version that I met before. Now, I need to check if the new Fisk has actions to back up these nice words.

“What about my Kristalli, Fisk? What about the Valta?”

“I want to set things right.” Fisk pats his hip pocket. “I brought your Kristalli.”

“Thank you, Fisk.” A weight of worry lifts from my shoulders.

At last, we're getting somewhere.

“And I can assemble the Valta whenever you want. They're ready to hold your crowning ceremony.”

“They are?” My breath catches. This is too good to be real.

“It took a little convincing, but they've all agreed to acknowledge you.”

“Wow.” My eyes sting with tears of pure joy. After so much hard work, I can finally be crowned. “Thanks again.”

“Please don't say that.”

An uneasy feeling creeps up my back. It's the prickle of awareness that says someone's watching us.

“Let's go to the Water Palace. The sooner I'm crowned, the better.”

Fisk steps away. “One more thing, please.”

I open my mouth, ready to yell my ass off if I have to.
We need to move.
Then I meet Fisk's gaze. His eyes look empty and haunted. A pang of guilt tightens my torso.

He's trying. And hurting.
“Sure, Fisk. What's up?”

“I know Zephyr is attacking Antrum. You can't go back there. I found a place to keep you secure.” He offers me a half smile. “So, what do you say? Are we off to a new safe house?”

“I don't know. This is too dangerous. Our people need you. I can't put both of us at risk. I'll find somewhere to hide out.”

“Our people need you far more than they need me. My job is to protect you, Lianna. Please, go to the new safe house with me.”

I stare at my boots. Based on Fisk's note, I knew this conversation was coming. However, it's one thing to contemplate placing someone you care about in a new level of danger. It's another thing to drag him headlong into the abyss.

Fisk steps closer. “I can't stand by without knowing you're safe. Please.”

And there's that haunted look again. I'm such a goner.

“All right, Fisk. Lead on.”

“Thank you, Lianna.”

I'm about to follow when a harsh wind kicks up, blotting out the stars.