Maeron rushed into the chapel, trailed by a man and a woman in purple cloaks. “They can help.”
Callan lifted Davina into his arms and stood. In one swift move, he jumped to the floor with the grace of a jungle cat. He placed Davina on the cushioned bench and smoothed back her hair.
Davina snarled as the woman approached.
“No, sister. She’s here to help you. Let her.”
“Don’t let her bite you or she’ll infect you too,” I warned.
Davina thrashed under the prince’s grip as the man and woman used their magic to pull the poison to the surface. Red lines were replaced by beads of grayish-black as they extracted the poison from Davina’s veins. The young vampire began to relax.
“She should heal quickly now,” the woman said.
Callan looked at me, his eyes a soft haze of green. “Thank you.”
I left the chapel and ran straight to the Circus. If I was going to take on a druid with the Elemental Stone in the midst of a celestial event, I was going to need backup.
“The druid’s going old school. I like it.” Kami said, once I updated the other knights. “Except for the whole killing people part. That’s bad.”
“We know when,” Minka said. “Do we know where?”
“If he’s planning a major ritual, he’s going to need the right kind of space,” Neera said.
“A clear pathway to the heavens,” Kami agreed. “Maybe they’ll go to the top of the Gherkin. Maybe that’s why he was there before, to scope out the area.”
My mind worked through everything I’d learned, including a few nuggets of wisdom from someone writing her thesis on the function of space and rituals in ancient Britannia.
Much importance was placed on the right location. Proximity to the heavens was often a crucial factor.
Bingo. “I think I know.”
“Tell me.”
I whipped around, shocked to see Prince Callan in the Pavilion. He observed us with a murderous glint in his eyes.
“How did you get in here?” Minka demanded.
He snarled. “Do you know who I am?”
“You didn’t hurt Treena, did you?” I asked.
He shifted his gaze to me. “What kind of monster do you think I am?”
I relaxed slightly. “Why are you here?”
“You said you needed me alive to help you.” He spread his arms wide. “Here I am. I’m going to kill the druid, but first I’ll make him regret his choices.”
I didn’t doubt it. Even though his anger wasn’t directed at me, I was terrified.
“The highest point,” I said. “That’s where the ritual will be.”
Ione shot me a quizzical look. “Tower Hill?”
“No. The highest point in all of Britannia City. Westerham Heights.” Thank you, Lucy.
“Everybody suit up,” Kami ordered.
Minka winced. “Everybody? Someone should stay here in case…”
I placed both hands on her desk. “Let me explain the situation. If the druid manages to access the full power of the stone, he will become the most powerful practitioner of elemental magic in the world. He will be able to melt every building in this city with you in it. He will be able to command the Thames and flatten every hill that stands in his way.”
“Let her stay,” Briar said softly. “If it’s as bad as you say, we’ll need to leave someone behind who knows the full story.” She looked at Callan. “It has to be a knight.”
The vampire didn’t argue.
Minka looked helplessly at the prince. “What about the royal army?”
“House Lewis needs to keep this quiet for political reasons,” Callan said. “If our guards run riot over Westerham Heights, word will get back to our enemies.”
“I’ll get my bow from the armory,” Neera said.
“Grab mine too,” Ione called.
Stevie cracked her knuckles. “I think this druid will look just right with a sword through the belly.”
Callan’s gaze swept the room of enthusiastic knights. “You’re a violent lot, aren’t you?” He tugged my elbow and pulled me closer. “Davina is safe, you know. That was the job. You don’t have to do this.”
I couldn’t tell him about fears related to the stone—or to him.
I also couldn’t lie.
“The queen asked for the stone.”
“So she did.”
I yanked away my elbow. “So I’m doing this.”
His green eyes locked on mine and I felt a pulse of energy travel down my spine. “You don’t have to wait until we’ve survived to ask me out, you know. Now is as good a time as any.”
I recoiled. “You think I want to ask you out?”
“It’s a natural response to imminent death. You fear you won’t survive and you want something to keep you going in your darkest moment.”
I snorted. “And you think a date with you would be enough to pull me from the jaws of death?”
He simply stared back at me with an amused grin.
My mouth opened and closed. I started toward the armory. A cache of weapons would keep me focused on the night’s objective, one that did not involve a date with a vampire.
Callan followed me into the armory and whistled. “You have quite the inventory.”
Swords. Daggers. Crossbows. Even a few pistols.
“How many knights are in your banner?”
“Seven.”
“And you need all these?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes they get lost. Or broken.” Or both.
“Excellent quality. Your friend—Lann, was it?” He touched the blade of the nearest sword. “If it’s a reservation you’re worried about, I’m a prince. I have clout.”
“We’re back on this again? I am not asking you out.”
“No?”
I shook my head adamantly.
“Hmm. Then what is it?”
How did I recover from this?
“Now it’s my turn.”
I blinked. “For what?”
“I have a question.”
“No, I won’t go to dinner with you.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Fine, but it’s not my question.”
I cast him a sidelong glance. “It isn’t?”
“What’s your favorite dessert?”
My favorite dessert? We were about to take on a group of druids with a powerful magical artifact and he wanted to know about my sweet tooth?
“Chocolate.” I paused. “With cherries.”
He gave a nod of approval. “Decadent.”
“You?”
“I don’t care for dessert.”
I reached for an extra dagger. “Liar. Everybody likes dessert, even if it’s just cheese and apple.”