mythean arcana 06 - master of fate (16 page)

“In fifty years, it’ll be converted.” For now, it was their way in.

“Your brother works here?”

“Aye. It’s one of the only places strong enough to contain a direct link to the aether.” Warlocks were so powerful because they could take their power directly from the aether in unlimited quantities. Most Mytheans’ souls drew magic from the aether, but in limited quantities. Malcolm could open a channel to the aether and siphon immense amounts of power directly from it. The channels were unstable, but there was so much magic at the university that it helped contain them. “Come on—he uses the other side of the basement for his workspace. I’ll tell you what to say.”

“He can’t see you? Is he going to try to kill me on sight? Warlocks share no love for soulceresses.”

“True,” a smooth voice said from the darkness. “But I’m also not an idiot. You have my brother there, don’t you? Invisible in his timewalker form, I imagine. But he must trust you if he’s brought you here.”

Aurora had jumped in surprise, but a small grin pulled at Felix’s mouth. Leaving Aurora in 1661 to seek out his brother had resulted in incredible tragedy for them both—and he’d change it if he could—but it was done and he couldn’t regret saving his brother from the clutches of another, far more ancient warlock. Malcolm had never said what had happened, but he’d been changed. As Felix had been changed by the Seer. Upon his release, Malcolm had set up shop in the university.

“I’m with Felix,” Aurora said. “We’ve come from the twenty-first century. You’re right. You can’t see him because he’s timewalking. I have no idea why you can see me.”

Malcolm stepped into the glow formed by Aurora’s ball of light. He was tall and lean, his dark hair a sleek black that blended with the dark behind him. His golden eyes glowed in the light. “A few species can be seen. Soulceresses, for one.”

Aurora stiffened.

“Don’t worry,” Malcolm said. “I know that everyone and their cousin is hunting your kind right now, but I don’t give a damn what you are.”

Because he knew what it was like to be hated for what he was. And unlike other Mytheans, he had an unending stream of power from the aether. Aurora couldn’t suck him dry; therefore, she didn’t scare him.

“Thanks,” Aurora said. “Though I suppose I shouldn’t thank you for not being an asshole.”

Malcolm laughed, then his gaze turned serious. “You’re a dangerous sort, though. That, I can tell. And I like it. What year did you come from?”

“Twenty-fifteen.”

Malcolm whistled. “Where is my brother?”

“Behind me,” Aurora said, then stepped aside.

A smile spread across Malcolm’s face. “I just saw you last week, brother. You were headed off to Norway.”

Of course. Another trip to try to find Aurora. He would fail.

“How is the future treating you?” Malcolm asked.

The question hit him in the gut. He could tell his brother what happened. That in ten years he’d be captured by the Seer and tortured until his mind cracked and he lost part of his soul. 

Through Aurora, he could relay what would happen to him. His brother had nursed him back to health after he’d escaped the Seer. Malcolm could save his young self from the torture that would come at the Seer’s hand. 

His racing mind stilled. Then what would happen to Aurora? If the Seer didn’t have him to torture and ultimately fail with, would she find someone else who would reveal Aurora’s location? The past as he knew it had been harsh to Aurora, but if she were found by the Seer, it would be far harsher.

He wouldn’t wish that on her.
Never.
He’d maintained his silence all those years under the Seer’s brutal hand, despite the fact that he’d had an idea where Aurora might be, and he wouldn’t risk her safety now. Not even to save himself. It had been his decision in the past and it would remain so today, no matter how close he stood to changing it.

Whatever his future was shaping up to be, he wanted to see it.

His gaze found Malcolm’s, which had unerringly found his despite his inability to see him. Perhaps his brother’s wolf sensed his own. “The future has treated me well.”

Aurora’s gaze snapped to his, confused at his lie, but she relayed the message. 

“Good,” Malcolm said. “Come back to my workroom and tell me what you need.”

They followed him through the dark basement hallway to the door at the end. Light glowed from within. The space was sparsely decorated save for several tables and a chair at a comfortable desk. Magical artifacts and rune stones were scattered over the tables and shelves. But what caught Felix’s gaze—as it did every time—was the great glowing white light in the corner. The channel to the aether. The light gave his brother’s face a sinister cast. Had he not trusted him implicitly, he would have questioned following him into what was clearly a lair. 

“We need to know how to get me back to the present,” Aurora said. “Felix can go on his own, but he can’t take me with him. He says you’re the most powerful Mythean he knows and that you might know the answer.”

“He’s right. I am. As for getting back to your present? Not an easy task.”

“But possible?”

“Yes. Possible. Not easy, but possible. But first, you do realize what your ability to talk to me means?”

Aurora frowned. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

“Felix can travel into the past—and bring you with him in some cases—but you can
change
the past. You have the ability to interact, which a timewalker doesn’t. Together, you can change the course of time. It’s a rare combination. I don’t want to see my little brother get into trouble with it.”

“Shit,” Aurora breathed. “I mean, I wondered if I could alter things by saying something or doing something, but to have it confirmed...”

Felix had realized it as soon as the mortal man on the road had spoken to Aurora. He’d just hoped they could avoid it. Though timewalkers could visit the past, the idea that they could not—should not—interact with it was vital to their cultural lore.

“Obviously, you shouldn’t,” Malcolm said. “I like to twist fate to my own ends just as much as the next Mythean, but even for me, this would be a bad idea.”

Aurora sighed. “I know. Not even to change my shitty fate.”

Felix caught her gaze and she shrugged, then said quietly, “Life is better now. To change it would risk that. And it would certainly crush Esha. She’d never have a chance to fall in love with Warren.”

Malcolm looked away and Felix’s heart stuttered. She was so strong. Despite all the bad in her life, she too wouldn’t change it to avoid hurting another. He wanted to reach for her hand, but didn’t.

“So, how do I get back to my present?” Aurora asked, clearly desperate to change the subject.

Malcolm looked back at her. “It’s simple. Power comes from the soul. It’s the power of Felix’s timewalker soul that allows him to walk through time. You must link your soul to his to travel with him. Not all Mytheans could do it, but you’re lucky you’re a soulceress. Manipulating souls is your game, is it not?”

“Yes. And I’m damn good at it. But that’s no light matter,” she said. “I’d wondered if this might be the answer, but I’d not wanted to really consider it.”

The breath whooshed out of Felix’s lungs. “Is it permanent?” he asked her.

“It can be. But usually, no. It fades. Or one party can break the bond. It just needs to last long enough for you to travel.”

“Or?”

“Or we’re stuck in the aether. It’s why I didn’t suggest it at first. It’s a last-ditch option. Getting stuck in the aether...” She shuddered at the thought of what he’d learned was her worst nightmare.

“It will no’ happen,” Felix told her. “Before we return to the future, we should check out the area around the portal for clues. I still have no idea what’s going on with it. But it’s nearly dark. We’ll have to do it in the morning. Let Malcolm know we’ll be staying in my old tower tonight.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Stay at his old place? That intrigued her. She relayed Felix’s message to Malcolm.

“Excellent idea. No one will bother you in the tower.”

“The tower? You mean the one at the edge of campus where you put the outcasts?”

“Outcasts? That’s what it’s used for in the future?”

“Yes. I live there now.”

“It’s the same. Ideal if you’re lying low. And I’m sure you can put a protection spell on it.”

“Oh, I can.” She sure as hell had done it in the twenty-first century.

“Good luck with getting back to the future,” Malcolm said before turning his gaze toward Felix. “I’m glad that fate has been kind to you, brother.”

Kind? Fate hadn’t been kind to Felix, but he’d lied to his brother. He was a good man, to save him from the worry.

Felix said to Aurora, “We’ll aetherwalk to the tower to avoid people.” 

He reached out for her, though he had to know that she knew how to get to the tower. He’d heard her say she lived there now. Was he saving her the power expenditure of aetherwalking, or did he simply want to touch her? 

She didn’t care. She walked into his arms.

Seconds later, they stood in her old tower flat. It was
much
older now. 

“Wow,” she said as she stepped out of his arms. “This is way different.” No modern kitchen, electricity, or flat-screen TV. It was strange to think that they’d lived in the same place, though it was so different.

He glanced around as if it were unfamiliar. There were two chairs in front of the cold hearth. The kitchen was just a counter against the wall holding a stone basin, a table in front of it. The wall that bisected the octagonal tower was still there and the bedroom was behind it, as in modern day. The main door to the stairs that led downward was the same. Mouse turned herself into smoke and walked through it.

Mouse knew where she was despite the change. She loved hunting in the woods outside.

Aurora turned to Felix. He stood by the window, his tall form cast in the fading evening light. He’d taken off his jacket and was rolling up his sleeves, revealing the corded strength of his forearms. His hands were big, with veins standing out on the backs and a light dusting of dark hair.

The sight of them made her knees weak. But now he was incapable of touch.

She wanted him anyway, even if it could only be short term because of her problems. There was no way she’d poke his demons by touching him, however. She cared too much for that.

But maybe she could make him touch her. He’d kissed her in the forest and made her mind ignite. Clearly, he wasn’t totally opposed to touching her.

“I’m filthy,” she said. “I’m going to take a bath.”

Felix’s entire body tightened at her words. Aurora waved a hand at the hearth and the logs within burst into flame.

“The smoke.” His voice came out rough.

“Magical fire. No smoke. No one will see that we’re here.” She waved her hand, palm down, at the fire and a large bathtub full of steaming water appeared in front of it. At the same time, the woolen kirtle she’d been wearing disappeared and her modern clothes returned. She stripped off her jacket, shirt, and trousers before he could move.

Honestly, he wasn’t interested in moving. He wanted to see this. She turned from him and leaned over to dip her hand in the water. The way her white cotton panties stretched over her arse made his mouth water. He wanted to grip the round globes and squeeze, then pull the strip of cotton down and bury his face between her thighs.

He’d never gotten to taste her. 

Now, as she tugged the fabric down, it was all he could think of doing. She leaned over to tug the cotton from around her ankles and he caught a flash of pink between her thighs.

His cock throbbed unbearably and the blood roared in his head. He clenched his fists and watched her unclip her bra. 

Was she putting on a show? It sure as hell seemed like it when she pulled the tie from her hair. The thick golden locks fell around her shoulders, gleaming in the light. His fingertips ached to feel their silky smoothness, to wrap her hair around his fists.

She walked around the tub until she faced him. His gaze traced the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, and the curve of her hips until it settled on the golden thatch between her thighs. His mouth watered.