“What else can she do?” Nikolai asked, getting up from the floor.
“I’m not sure. The channeling is a new skill she’s never exhibited before.” Darvaak smoothed the tops of his linen pants. “And she seems to be gaining power as she becomes aware, sort of like a child acquiring speech. You should be careful, Slayer, she very well might be able to kick your ass.” He turned his attention to Aleksi. “What did you need of me?”
She sat on the sofa next to him. “I need you to fold to the kings’ battle again.”
“I’ve told you there is a blank space where they would have been fighting. It has been, for all practical purposes, erased.”
“Someone was there. The light elves strongly believe that the sorcerer who erased it had to have been there. Please go look for anyone who might have been close by. Go well before the battle and see if there is a person hiding in the forest.”
“You know my price for this, yes?”
Aleksandra stared at her hands in her lap. “I don’t have that much money.”
He stood. “Then I’m afraid I have to decline your request.” His phone rang, and he glanced at the screen. “Excuse me for a moment, please.”
Aleksandra moved to her brother by the bar and brushed the hair from his face. “You need to smooth this out with her. The Time Folder is right. She can’t be just set loose to zap people at will. She should be trained. And if she’s the Uniter, we need her.”
Even if she wasn’t the Uniter, Nikolai needed her. Seeing her had crystallized it. He had to get her back. He would earn her. Somehow, he would show her he was trustworthy and deserving of her. First, he had to get her to talk to him.
Darvaak’s voice was just a low murmur from where he stood in the back corner of the room. His eyes were closed as the carried on the conversation.
“Fydor is planning something big,” Aleksi said. “I don’t know what it is, but the leaders of almost every faction have met with him at least once. Even the light elves.”
“And Mother?” He leaned on the bar, trying to look more relaxed than he felt, knowing he’d misjudged his mother all these years.
“She hasn’t left her rooms in over two weeks.”
Nikolai closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was his fault. His father had only been ashes for a month when she wed his uncle. And now Fydor had Aleksandra, too. It was as if there were a vise around his heart. He had to find a way to stop Fydor—to end this war, and Nikolai was certain the key to his uncle’s defeat had just locked herself in the Time Folder’s bathroom.
“He allows you to roam freely? Surely he doesn’t know you’re here.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m a skilled actress. He believes I enjoy his…attention. And the guard he assigned to me is easily bribed to remain in my chambers when I teleport. I’m nothing but a vain, materialistic woman out shopping right now, you see. I will return with dozens of packages, many of which will be for the guard’s mistress.”
That explained where her money had gone. His stomach churned with worry. Fydor was not one to tamper with. If he found out, he’d… Nikolai didn’t even want to think about what Fydor would do. He should never have turned the throne over to him. He should never have trusted him. His grief over his father’s death had clouded his reason. “Please be careful.”
Darvaak shoved his phone in his back pocket. “Three squads, one of tree elves, one of vampires, and one of shifters have attacked three of my properties. It appears your uncle has deduced my involvement with you.” He walked to the center of the room. “Which of you will teleport me to the scene of the king’s battle? It appears I need to evaluate it for my own interests. Four of my human employees were killed. One was a child. I will waive the fee. Take me there.”
Aleksandra strode to him. “There is a kill order on Niki. I’ll take you. Besides, he needs to smooth the feathers of his angry little ex-human.”
“I wish you luck,” he said to Nik. “You might be safer taking me, kill order or no. Elena’s very hurt. Be gentle. Think, Slayer. This may be your last chance with her. Cord or no cord, neither of you will fare well if it ends badly.”
Aleksi winked and put her hands on the Time Folder’s neck. “In other words, little brother, don’t fuck it up.”
Elena splashed cold water on her face. The tear-induced splotchiness was even more dramatic than when she’d been human. “Oh, how lovely. Your hideous pink blotches bring out the creepy red hue of your eyes,” she said to her reflection.
Aleksandra was Nik’s sister. How had she missed that?
She hadn’t. There was no indication they were siblings. This wasn’t her fault. None of this was her fault. But in all fairness, it wasn’t his fault either. He had never said he and Aleksandra were lovers. She had jumped to that conclusion.
The knock on the door made her jump. She didn’t answer.