Chapter 13
“What do you mean, it's gone?” Ariel looked at the librarian, trying to comprehend exactly what had happened.
“The graveyard you are looking for no longer exists,” the librarian repeated. “It was cleared to make the canal.”
“What happened to the bodies?” she practically demanded. “Those are people. You can't just move them.”
The librarian raised an eyebrow. “Are you looking for a relative?”
“Sure, if that makes it easier,” Ariel practically threw up her hands in frustration. She was not having luck with this search, and it bothered her because she was not a person who failed. The first grave that she had been through had been robbed. The second coffin was empty, but she found evidence to suggest that the mortician at the time was quite crooked and often buried empty coffins, selling the bodies to the local medical college instead. Now, her third and final hope was apparently for naught.
“I'm sorry, Miss. There's no evidence,” the librarian replied. “The bodies buried in that graveyard were poor workers, and they mostly disposed of them in the ocean. They didn't treat them with respect, and now they are impossible to trace.”
“Did they keep any records of their work, at least?” she asked. “Perhaps spots where they found bodies?”
The librarian raised an eyebrow.
“No,” she said flatly. Ariel practically slammed her head into the desk. She knew that it wasn't the librarian's fault, but she desperately wanted it to be, just to be able to blame someone.
“Thanks for nothing,” she said, spinning on her heel. That was it; it was over.
Come and get me, she texted Nicholas once she was standing outside. His text came back almost instantly.
Where are you?
She texted him her coordinates, expecting him to tell her to finish up what she was doing and meet him at the nearest vortex. But instead, his reply was quite different.
Get there as soon as you can, he said. You need to be back.
Her heart sunk at that message.
Why? Is it Alexander?
Yes, came the instant reply, and her heart skipped a beat.
The vortex was nearly an hour's drive away, and she took a taxi that cost her an arm and a leg. But she didn't mind paying the three-figure fee with her credit card, knowing it was much less than the cost of her heart.
She only had to take one look at Nicholas' face when she got there to see it was bad. He was pale and drawn, looking like he hadn't slept all night.
“Please tell me we still have time,” she said. “I shouldn't go to him, not if things are that precarious.”
“Sister,” he said, softly, “if you are in the palace, across the hall, you aren't going to hurt him. And, if things get much worse, it won't matter.”
She took his hand, bracing herself.
“Let's go,” she said, her heart hammering.
She hadn't thought that it would ever come to this. When she walked down the aisle to Alexander all those years ago, it had been a deal; a convenience. None of this should have mattered. They weren't even ever supposed to see each other again. And yet, here they were, over ten years later, rushing to each other's side.
She barely felt the whoosh of magic as they hit the chamber floor. Ariel fell heavily because she wasn't trying to be graceful or ready.
Cole was waiting for them, looking equally as tired as his brother.
“Well?” he asked, hoping for an answer.
“Inconclusive,” she snapped. “One's broken into, one was likely sold, and one was likely thrown into an ocean when they were poor. Or all three bodies have become new again. There's nothing to suggest either way, Cole, so we're back where we started.”
“God damn it,” Cole growled. “But what do you think?”
“I can't think one way or another,” she said. “Everything about this case has been one way or another. Does she remember, or is he telling her? Is she guessing? Are the bodies gone because of magic, or because of logic? Can I not feel magic on her because it's different, or because it's not there? I don't know whether she can transcend death, or whether anyone can....” she stopped when she realized she was crying. Her voice was cracking, and the heavy tears rolled down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to control herself. “Did you figure out who those wolves were?”
“No,” Cole replied. “Either they were the original kings, or they were Father, reincarnated. Unless they show up again and again, I suspect we will never know.”
“So, what do we do now?” Ariel asked. “Can I see him?”
“You can see him,” Cole said. “But, probably not for very long.”
“God, this is my fault,” she said, and Nicholas squeezed her shoulder.
“This is not your fault,” he said. “This is the fault of those who you chose to disassociate yourself with, for good reason. He knew the dangers of marrying a carapace, and he did it anyway. You can't blame yourself.”
“I'll consider forgiveness if he lives,” Ariel replied. “Or if he dies and returns to me. Please, take me to him.”
They started down the hallway, Ariel's heels clicking as they moved faster than they ever had. She was trying to remain dignified, but it wasn't easy.
“If he dies,” she said, suddenly, “the line of succession changes.”
“Precious,” Nicholas said. “You will always be a dragon princess. You married him, and it made you an equal heir. His death will not change that for you.”
“I'm not concerned about myself,” she answered. “Your line will be one weaker.”
“That it will,” Nicholas replied, softly. “And my daughter will be one step closer to a throne that is dangerous and has nearly killed each of us.”
“I wonder if Father felt the same way for us,” Cole said, softly. “He was not one for compassion, nor empathy, but did he think about the burden we would inherit?”
The words hit Nicholas like a shot. “Are you suggesting that's why he's returning? To force us out and drag us away? That this is his roundabout way of saying I love you?”
“I don't know what I'm suggesting,” Cole admitted. “I don't know what is going on anymore.”
They stopped outside the medical bay. Ariel tensed at the lack of magic she felt inside. Peaking around the corner, she found Alexander flat on his back, a position he never slept in. He looked dead already, had it not been for his chest rising and falling.
She let out a tiny squeak, and to her relief, he opened his eyes. They were clouded and a pale yellow, which indicated a lack of magic.
“I'm going to stay right here,” Ariel said, standing as close as she dared on the other side of the room. “I don't want to get close.”
Alexander raised one shaky hand, reaching out to her, and she shook her hand.
“Alexander, don't,” she said. “As much as I want to, I don't want to hurt you.”
“Go to him,” Cole give her a little push. “It's okay.”
She squeaked at him. “It's okay, or it won't make a difference anymore?”
“Go to him,” Cole repeated. She couldn't resist temptation anymore, moving toward the bed. She took his hand, and Alexander closed his eyes, reveling in her touch.
His brothers only stayed long enough to make sure that he was all right. His chest continued to rise and fall, and they exited, leaving the husband and wife alone, save for the beeping of the machines and a bustling medic.
“What did you find?” he asked, licking his dry lips. She looked around for a moment before she found a water glass.
In the process of helping him sit up, she spoke. “I don't know,” she admitted. “On one hand, everything is explainable. All three of her graves were empty, but it doesn't have to be logical. It could just as easily have been magic. I don't know.”
He took two sips of water before pushing it away, watching her eyes.
“What do you want to believe?”
Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“I want to believe it,” she said. “If you vanish into the Other, you may or may not come back. And even if you do, we aren't sure if you stay. But if reincarnation is real and you can come back, I'd find you again and again. It seems so eternal.”
He gave her brief smile. “Do you think that's what Spencer is doing?”
“What?” she asked.
“Wanting to believe?” he asked. “Wanting to believe so badly that he makes it true? I have always believed that, and now, I think we understand his position.”
“God,” she closed her eyes, “we were just supposed to have hot sex, and that was going to be it.”
“That was never it,” he reached a hand to her face. “I know you thought that in the beginning, but I always knew it was going to be something more. I knew I just had to wait it out.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“You knew I'd love you?”
“Ah ha, so you do love me,” he teased her softly.
She blushed bright red. “Never something I thought I'd say in my life. But I'll say it if you promise to take the secret to the grave.”
“That I will do,” he said. “But I may bring it back.”
She perched onto the edge of the bed, knowing that the clock was ticking down the minutes that she could be there. “I hope so,” she said.
“Ariel.” She turned around to find her sister-in-law, Rosa, standing there. “You're back.”
“I am,” Ariel said, getting up to give her a hug. “How are you?”
“I'm all right,” Rosa said. “Alexander? Any better today?”
“Perhaps a tad,” he said, glancing at his wife. “But that could be the change in attendance”
“Such a romantic,” Rosa rolled her eyes. “Ariel, I love you, but I need you to leave.”
“I know,” Ariel said, and then stopped. “What? Why? Are you trying something?”
“Halloway magic is the oldest and most powerful magic,” Rosa reminded her. “And it grants dragons immortality, if you remember.”
“I do,” Ariel answered, looking between the two of them. “But I understand you needed a full life force of Halloway magic.”
“In the case of Cole, it's only half,” Rosa shrugged. “I don't know if this will work, but I'm trying to give him as much magic as I can stand each day. It might make a difference.”
“Please,” Ariel said. “Try anything. I'll go away, so I don't disrupt the process. Call me if anything changes.”
“Ariel.” Alexander reached his hand out, not quite ready for her to leave. “A kiss, my love.”
She obliged without a word, leaning down to place her lips on his. They had kissed thousands of times over the years, and she always enjoyed it. This time, though, she tried to remember every aspect of it. How he responded; how it felt; how they knew when to nip. She was far too aware of the fact that it may be the last time she ever kissed him in this lifetime.