Chapter 50

“Incoming,” Bethany whispered.

Nova turned to see Bastian and his guard walking down the hall toward them. Her heart began to beat faster from the look he was giving her as he got closer. There was concern on his face and she didn’t understand why, she had been perfectly safe and nowhere near the dark ones. He on the other hand had been running around on the rooftops.

His gaze flicked to Troy. “Am I to understand you want to use Nova to get more information out of their heads?”

Troy looked unphased by his question. “It’s worked before, Scrambles their defenses and allows us to see more.”

Bastian stopped, leaving a few feet between her and him, his dark gaze moved over her. “You’re all right with this plan?”

She nodded, her hand automatically going to the stone around her neck. It was a nervous reaction. “Yes. It’s not the same as my original plan, but you made sure that one didn’t happen.”

His lips quirked, but he didn’t smile. “At least with this one, we are in control.”

Nova wanted to move closer, she couldn’t explain why but was thankful for the pendant that prevented it. She licked her lips, remembering his on hers. “Are we?” her voice rasped.

He did smile this time. “As much as fate allows.”

“Bored,” Daxx said loudly.

Bastian smiled and motioned to the doors. “We can’t have a bored queen, can we?”

Daxx snorted and pulled open the door. “Smart man.”

Nova walked behind as the line of royals filed in and began walking down a corridor. When they rounded the corner, she paused and looked around. The cells were clear walls, with no bars at all. She glanced further down the hall, there were no doors either.

“Alterealm has all the latest gadgets.” She turned to see Bastian standing beside her, keeping the width of the corridor between them.

He gave her a little half-smile, “I’d throw myself at you and beg forgiveness, but as we don’t have the terrifying magic of Capri here, I’m not sure I’d survive it.”

Nova frowned. “Capri?”

Quinton walked between them. “She had to heal him after that touching kiss that almost knocked him on his ass.” He kept walking and then turned and followed the others.

Nova turned back to Bastian, he shrugged. “Worth every millisecond of pain.” He motioned for her to go.

“It hurt you? To come near me?” She wanted to clarify that part.

He shrugged. “I feel quite confident in the magic of your amulet now.”

Nova stopped and watched him go into a large open area where the others all stood.

“Idiot,” Tor mumbled as he moved by her, giving her an obvious wide berth as he did it.

Nova stood near the door, unsure of what was about to happen. Liri and Tor stood as far from her as possible. She touched the pendant again and considered taking it off, then the spirit’s words came back to her, sharing their souls too soon would prevent her from stopping the dark-souled ones. She needed to talk to Bastian about that part.

She looked at the clear walls surrounding them. Being in the wrong realm wasn’t going to help her find who was behind them either.

“Nova.”

She turned to see Kara motioning for her to come over.

“All you need to do is be seen.” She smiled at her and then looked around at the others.

“We should clear out and stand out of sight,” Rafael suggested, “or Kara will pick up every thought from us instead of your traitors.” He glanced at Bastian.

Bastian went over to stand on the other side of Nova. “I’m curious what their thoughts will be if they were to see me as well.”

“Probably, oh shit, we’re done.” Leone smiled.

Bastian grinned. “Perhaps I’ll let them gaze upon my lovely Nova for a moment or two first.”

Nova felt everyone looking at her, she cleared her throat. “I just stand here?”

Kara nodded. “That’s usually all it takes.” She glanced over at Troy. “We’ll let Troy go in and talk to them each time before they see you.”

Troy turned and looked at Bastian. “What do we need?”

Bastian rubbed his hand over his hair and then gave Nova a thoughtful look. “A name, face.” He turned slowly back and looked at the king. “Any information about the tunnels would be helpful.”

“They’re using the tunnels?” Daxx looked unhappy. “Can we just block those off forever?”

“I’m pretty sure they still exist for a reason,” Paisley said. “Utilities probably use them under the city.”

Daxx sighed, “Fine, but I’m really sick of tunnels.”

“The tunnels?” Tor glanced at Bastian.

“Yes.” He gave Nova a soft look before turning away. “One of the keepers before Nova had some sort of altercation with the lawless in the tunnels.”

“There’s access to them from my...” She paused, not sure if it was her home or house. “...place.”

“That’s handy,” Rafael murmured and then turned to look at victor. “We should do some exploring later.”

Victor nodded. “I believe we should.”

“You won’t find the one that controls them beneath the ground,” Crissy said from the corner. Nova hadn’t even seen her there. “They’re underneath, but the one that controls them is somewhere white and shiny.”

“White and shiny?” Chase looked at her for a moment.

“That is definitely not in the tunnels,” Alona said quietly.

“Sounds like home.” Liri looked around. “Pristine and boring white.” She pointed to Bastian. “They painted my quarters cream lace.” She rolled her eyes. “I feel like I’m at the doctor's with it being so colorless now.”

Bastian and Tor exchanged a look.

“What?” Liri glanced from one to the other.

Tor gave her a quick glance before turning to Troy. “The center, where the control station and all of the royals’ quarters are, is very white and clinical.”

“Your traitor is walking around right in front of you?” Daxx looked back at Bastian.

“We suspected as much.” He waved his hand around. “If they have access to records and the elixir, they will have to be at the center building.”

“We can’t hunt anyone down there.” Leone turned to his brother Michael. “We don’t have the authority anymore.”

“Someone should change that,” Bethany added. “If Alterealm was meant to police all the realms from the start, then it never should have been changed.”

“We are almost certain that Arwan is behind that change in our purpose or began the chain of events to cause it.” Victor crossed his arms over his chest.

“You think the mage is behind all the realm’s council that voted to police their own realms?” Michael looked from Victor to Troy.

“It’s entirely possible,” Troy said before he motioned to the wall beside Nova. “Shall we? There are a few minds we need to examine and I’m wondering if we should have another chat with Arwan.”

“We need to have a sit down with the FaTerra princess too.” Bastian watched the others move out of the space, “and see if she found out which of hers knew this was coming.”

“Princess Aireese has a traitor too?” Autumn scowled at Bastian.

“Not a traitor.” Nova wasn’t sure she should interrupt. “Someone that knew what was going to happen and hid,” she briefly looked at Bastian. “Me, so I could help end it at the right time.”

Everyone was silent for a moment until Raegan nodded. “And me, I suppose.”

Nova wasn’t sure of Raegan’s involvement, only knew that until Bastian has seen her, he knew none of what was happening with his own people.

“Maybe.” Nova looked around at a few of the others.

“If all of this—” Quinton waved his hand around. “—has some fae pulling the strings, I’m going to be pissed.”

“We’ll connect with Princess Aireese when we’re finished here.” Troy turned to Bastian. “If that works for you.”

“It does.” Bastian turned to look at Nova. “You’re all right with this?” He moved his hand in front of the wall.

She nodded and then looked at a few of the Alterealm men that lingered near the door. “if I’m not safe here, then we’re in big trouble.