“You have no idea.” Ysander tossed a glance behind him and stared directly at my father. “I still owe you one. I haven’t forgotten.”
Lord Cato chuckled softly. “You made it so easy to find your Resting place. I’m not that easy to find during mine. But you’re more than welcome to try.” He cocked his head of black hair, snow whipping his face. Little white flakes stuck to his curling eyelashes. “Wait. That’s right. You have been trying and have failed every time. Better luck next time.”
A root snagged my foot, wiping the smirk off my face. I stumbled over it but kept my footing. I looked back as I walked, studying the root’s placement. It looked natural enough and didn’t move or disappear. My previous thoughts weren’t coming to fruition. I’d merely been lax in my vigilance.
Time to pay better attention.
I huffed and looked forward again.
Lord Belshazzar scowled down at me.
I bared my fangs back. Then closed my mouth.
It was enough of a warning tossed at him.
I’d already figured it out. He didn’t need to remind me. I would be attentive from now on.
Our march turned uphill. A steep hill.
I used my bags—which were starting to get too heavy—as walking sticks. I shoved them down into the snow and then operated them as leverage to keep me on my feet. My fingers were practically frozen, but I didn’t stop until we crested the hill, not losing my visual on the Original druid.
Our group of powerful figures halted.
The three druids turned around to face us, but our eyes were stuck on the enormous brick castle standing tall in the distance. No lights were on inside, leaving the broken windows dark, and the structure itself leaned to the left as if it might tumble over at any moment. Vampires knew these castles existed and what towns they were in, but no one had ever viewed them before. We saw this one because the Original druid allowed it.
Master Niallan chuckled at our expressions. “It’s more than it looks like. Don’t let that worry your opulent asses.” He tilted his head toward the decrepit castle. “See that mound of rocks there?”
My attention zeroed in on the stones in front of the building where large rocks formed into an archway. “Let me guess. That’s how you really enter your stronghold?”
His blond head nodded, and his lips lifted into an amused grin. “The Arch of Sight is how you enter.”
Lord Otto asked, “What does that mean? Arch of Sight?”
Vicious flakes of snow battered our bodies while the Original druid stood silent, debating his answer.
We didn’t move. The druid could stand there all night long, and we wouldn’t move until he gave us an answer.
Master Niallan eventually explained, “The Arch of Sight will not physically harm you, though you may not enjoy it. It shows truth about yourself. Your free will is not affected.”
Lord Pippin questioned, “Nothing more than that? It’s just a mind-trip?”
“It shows truth. There is no mind-trip about it.”
My brows furrowed. “Do all druids go through the Arch of Sight to enter your stronghold?”
He nodded, unrepentant. “Yes.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. His tone was furious. “No wonder your people are so fucked in the head. They go to a place of sanctuary, where they should be protected, but are met with cruelty before they’re allowed to enter?” His blue eyes lashed the druid. He spoke with vehemence shaking his tone—the first time I’d truly ever seen him livid. “That shit won’t fly if you’re crowned king of my people. Don’t even think of trying your tactics with them. I will fucking crush you.”
Master Niallan’s green eyes twinkled. “Promises. Promises. I think I heard that one a long time ago, and, yet, here I still stand.” His blond brows lifted at the lord’s narrowed gaze. “Are you coming with me or not?”
Lord Belshazzar took a large step forward and placed his face right in front of that of the druid. His lips curved up at the edges when the Original druid flinched. The lord stated quietly, “The promise I gave you long ago, and the promise I gave you just now are two separate promises. I am nothing but a patient man. You will pay for your crimes, all in due time.”
The Original druid smiled. It was malicious and harsh. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. And in the meantime, you will continue to grieve for your former life. I do enjoy watching you suffer, Lord Belshazzar.”
I held my breath. If a fight were ever to start…
We all held our collective breath.
Unexpectedly, Lord Belshazzar barked out a laugh. Right in the Original druid’s face. Rich and deep, full-bodied. He simply kept laughing like the druid’s words were the funniest thing he’d ever heard in his life.
He laughed. And laughed. And laughed.
I stared and wondered if he’d lost it. Truly. My brows puckered in worry. It wouldn’t do to have the most powerful vampire in the world lose his shit right now. I placed my luggage down, and stated quietly, “Lord Belshazzar, maybe we should take a break before we go in. The last few days have been exhausting—”
The lord lifted one of his bags in my direction, cutting me off, even while he continued to snicker in the druid’s face, his blue eyes never leaving a scowling green gaze. In his deep voice, he sputtered, “Master Niallan, do you really think I’ve been suffering all this time? If you do, you haven’t been paying attention. I mean, goddamn, your ego still astounds me. I fucking love my life.”
All right. He wasn’t losing his shit.
With relief, I lifted my heavy bags back up.
The Original druid took a step aside and clenched his jaw. “Unless you like standing out in this snow, then I suggest you continue to follow me.” He turned on his heel and marched down the other side of the hill.
Ysander and Devin tossed Lord Belshazzar a vile glance, and then both men followed after their ruler, their feet moving carefully through the snow.
“Well, that was fun.” Lord Otto snorted. His shoulder brushed mine as he passed, walking in the druids’ footprints for an easier trek. He called over his shoulder, “I’m sure he’d love to leave us behind now, so we should probably hurry.”
I put my feet into motion—because that was true.
We had to walk faster now. The Original druid wasn’t wasting any time heading for the Arch of Sight. His long legs walked at a fast clip, seemingly unbothered by the snow. The man didn’t even look back once to see if any of us had lost view of him. He probably hoped we would so we’d concede to his great power—all to make himself feel better after that verbal smack-down.
The Arch of Sight rose higher into the air the closer we traveled. It was much taller than it had appeared from the hill. The top reaches of the arch were at least four stories high.
I dropped my bags when we halted in front of it.
Those fuckers were heavy now.
“Bring too many shoes, your majesty?” Ysander chirped. “I’ll carry one for you. If you ask nicely.”
“Fuck you.” He wasn’t touching my bags.
“That’s a no,” Devin said. “Hey, maybe she wants to go through the Arch of Sight first? How about that, instead, your majesty?”
I eyed the archway. There was nothing else around it or behind it except for the snow. It looked very innocent.
“That’s a fuck you, too.” I waved a frozen finger at the asshole duo. “You go first. We’ll follow after you.”
“No, Lord Belshazzar goes first.” Master Niallan turned his impressive green eyes on the lord. “There’s nothing to it, and no physical harm will befall you. Just walk right under the arch.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. “No physical harm?”
“None. I give you my word.”
“Like your word means shit to me.”
Master Niallan shrugged his shoulders. “It’s the only way in.”
Lord Belshazzar raised his blue eyes to the top of the arch, and then back down to the snow behind it. He cracked his neck and moved forward, his gait determined as he stalked through the shooting snowflakes. One by one, his steps took him closer. The Overlord passed underneath it, stopped and looked around, and then turned to wait for us.