“Let’s just forget about it. Even if it was summoning, it’s not as if anything can come of it. I’m bound by the fourth-”
Dear Ancients.
“No,” I whisper.
The fourth term. The term that was put in place by the Leviathans
and bound by Zander. The term in which he claimed my actions and agreed to my non-use of magic, however impossible I may think it is.
But Zander is no longer of this Old World.
“Keane…”
Keane shakes his head, “I know what you’re wondering, but I don’t have an answer. I don’t know what his death means for the fourth term. I’ll have to speak to McQuoid, or perhaps Golem. Someone who knows more than I do about the magic that binds the Council.”
“We can consider it later,” he wraps me into his hold, “truly, Alexis, we will figure it out.”
I nod into his chest, “I know.”
“Good,” he kisses the top of my head, “because I have news for you…”
Keane leans down slowly, his voice caressing my ear. “We leave tomorrow.”
I turn to him sharply with my heart nearly jumping out of my chest.
Is he referencing what I think he is?
“We leave tomorrow for Gaumond,” he grins.
“But what about everything going on?” I shake my head, “I’m not sure this is the right moment for you to leave Bardot, Keane.”
Keane’s eyes find mine in serious understanding, though his grin still remains.
“Desmond is going to assist in our departure. We will ride swiftly and under cover. The Castle will not know of our leave, ofmyleave, until we reach Gaumond.”
“Keane,”I frown.
This really isn’t the time for him to take off. He still has yet to properly grieve for his father, and his family will no doubt expect him to remain in the capitol with them. He already has Lords here, all of them clamoring to Castle Bardot as they wait for his transition. Not to mention the delegations from the other Kingdoms who will be arriving over the next fortnight in anticipation of his coronation.
“I need this, Alexis,” he says calmly, “I need you.”
His brown eyes search mine, arms gripping me tighter in his hold as I battle with the request. I need him just as bad, but…
“I don’t know,” I sigh.
Keane brings a hand up to my chin, tipping it forward as he looks down at me in silence. His brown eyes burn into mine with an intense fire that takes my breath away, and I understand, now, the truth of his words. Hedoesneed me. And I need to give him everything he wants to hear, everything heneedsto hear, so that the two of us can properly move forward together.
“Perhaps it will be good to get away from the castle for a bit…” I reason.
“It will,” he nods.
I take a deep breath and stare into his strong gaze, letting that fire consume me. “We leave tomorrow for Gaumond.”
CHAPTER XXI
QUEEN
“Can they not see us?” I whisper in bewilderment.
