Chapter 19

I glanced to see the women were looking as confused as I was. I felt less like an outsider. I turned back to the man with the glasses, he vibrated where he stood, like he’d had way too much coffee. “You lost me at blood key.”

He pushed his glasses up and nodded his head quickly. “It’s quite brilliant, the concept.” He paused when Troy gave him a look of censure. “Al-although, very much illegal.”

“What is it for?” I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall.

“We don’t know yet. We’re still running tests, but as it’s a key…” He nodded again. “It will open something.”

“Whose blood is it?” Daxx looked as impressed with his vague answer as I was.

“We’re testing that right now.” He tucked his hands into his pockets, then pulled them right back out to adjust his glasses once more.

“Could it be to bypass the throne room doors?” Paisley asked looking up from her phone.

“It’s possible, although that means it would have to be the blood of the royals in it—” He held up his hand. “I must go.” He rushed from the room.

Everyone was silent, as we stared at the door he’d all but run out.

“Science geeks.” Rafael muttered, shaking his head.

“Well, that was—” Troy glanced to his twin.

“Energetic.” Chase finished.

“Perhaps we could hear what Clairee and Romulus have discovered.” Victor suggested.

“At least they’re not vibrating like they’re on caffeine overload.” Quinton rubbed the back of his neck.

“I fear we’re not going to like the conclusions.” Troy said, then turned and went over to lean against the desk beside his twin.

“Why?” Paisley looked at Romulus.

“I can’t break the ward without having the blood used to make it.” Romulus said solemnly.

“How do we find out whose blood it is?” Alona inquired.

“We’re working on that.” Romulus answered, pushing his greasy hair back as he glanced to Clairee. “Even if we find the answer, I have no doubt that there will be a ward hidden to combat royal blood,” he sighed, “actually, I’m about ninety-eight percent certain there will be.”

“So, even if you know whose blood the ward is bound to, we won’t be able to get in because of another ward?” Michael clarified.

Both Clairee and Romulus nodded.

“What is it about that plant that made us sick?” Crissy asked with a worried look.

“That is complicated, but easier to work around.” Clairee said.

“But we’ll be able to go in?” Leone turned in his chair to look at them.

“Not right away. No.” Clairee said looking nervous.

“What do you mean?” Arius straightened in his chair.

“It is going to have to be deactivated, the spell and the herb dust must dissipate before any with an ability can go in safely.” She answered quickly.

“Which bring us back to the problems with the ward.” Romulus finished.

“Are you saying we’re screwed?” Daxx put her hands on the table and glared at them.

“Not entirely.” Romulus glanced to Clairee again.

She rubbed her hands down her arms. “If we’re able to figure out the blood key, it will still take someone with no ability and no royal blood in their system to go in and take down the wards to clear the spell.” She motioned to Romulus, “which means this person can’t be any skilled person from either of our factions.”

Quinton blew out a breath so loud it sounded like he was in pain. “How risky is it for someone that doesn’t know what they’re doing?” He motioned between them, “with no magical training?”

Clairee sighed. “It will be quite risky. One misstep—” She didn’t finish.

“But you can teach this person?” Beth asked.

“Even if they do break through,” Troy glanced to Chase, “we don’t know what is on the other side of that door.”

Leone shrugged. “So, we teach one of the guards—”

Romulus shook his head. “This warding, if it’s as complex as I fear, will have a fail-safe, or will backlash. Someone large,” he motioned to Sith, “would be an easy target for the secondary spell.”

Emil looked to Troy, then Chase. “I feel like we’re backpedalling here.”

“Does this blood key override the throne room to bypass it, allowing only those with royal blood to open it?” Michael crossed his arms and waited for an answer.

“That would be the logical explanation.” Clairee nodded.

“Or,” Romulus looked around the room at everyone, “it has a dual purpose, to get through the new ward and break the royal one.”

“If it is dual purpose, I’d be willing to bet Eunice’s blood was used.” Michael’s blue eyes connected with mine.

I nodded. “She’s arrogant enough to do that.”

Romulus frowned. “I doubt we have any Hubert blood samples on file. They’ve been in hiding for many millenniums. We’ll need a sample.”

“That won’t be a problem.” Arius said. “Paisley and I can take care of that.”

Paisley nodded. “I’d love to freeze her so you can jab her with a needle.”

Arius smirked.

Chase chuckled. “Aside from that entertainment,” he looked back to Clairee, “who do we need you to start training, to rid this spell that made everyone ill?”

Clairee looked from one king to the other, then she stared at the floor. “They’d have to have no abilities, and no royal blood in their system.” She glanced to Victor. “Which leave out any of the guards sworn by a blood oath.” His eyebrows raised, she continued. “They’ll have to be agile and fast on their feet in case of backlash.”

“Trained for combat wouldn’t hurt, depending on what is on the other side of that door.” Romulus added.

“Yes, that, too.” Clairee agreed.

“That leaves out everyone here.” Rafael said.

I shook my head. “Not all of us.”

Michael’s head snapped around, he glared at me.

I looked to Victor. “I can do it.” I motioned to Clairee. “If they’re able to teach me what I need to know.”

He studied me for a moment, giving Michael a quick glance before nodding his head and turning to the twin kings. “It would ensure someone we trust gets inside.”

Both kings looked at Michael.

He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

“Michael, we have to get in.” Rafael said slowly. “Autumn won’t walk us into a trap.”

Michael scowled at him. “And if something goes wrong?”

“We get her out.” Victor answered.

Michael shook his head again. “There has to be someone else.”

Leone blew out a breath. “Who? Who do we know we can trust aside from those in this room?”

“Personal guards.” Troy shrugged, “but they’ve taken a blood oath—they may not have ingested royal blood, but we can’t be certain it wouldn’t be sensed somehow.”

Rafael shrugged. “Autumn can do it.”

“It wasn’t a question of her being able.” Michael said in a low tone. “But, should she? We don’t know what lies in wait for us.”

I straightened from the table. “Then be there to watch my back.”

He turned his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out as he studied me for several seconds, while clenching his jaw.

Stepping away from the table, I went over and stood in front of him. “I can do this. Let me.” I motioned to Emil, “so no other woman has to suffer as your niece has.”

Michael’s eyes held mine, I could see the battles taking place inside.

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone held their breath waiting.

He spun and pointed to Clairee and Romulus. “You train her for every possible contingency and you train another person for backup. If anything happens to her, it’s your lives if I can’t get to her.” Michael turned on his heel and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Well, that went better than I’d imagined.” Troy said quietly.

“I anticipated bloodied faces, at the very least.” Chase nodded.

Daxx gave her mate a curious look. “You two knew about this?”

Troy shrugged.

“Not entirely.” Chase said giving Alona a wary look. “We were going to suggest Autumn, then she volunteered.”

I turned to Clairee. “How much time will it take? To show me what I need to know.”

She brushed her hair back from her face. “A few days, we have some ideas for cheats to get it done.”

I nodded. “Normally, I’m not into cheating, but if it gets us inside there.” I glanced to Victor, who inclined his head. “I’ll do it.”

Romulus motioned to the door. “We have much to do.”

Clairee nodded. “Meet us at the temple in the morning and we’ll get started.”

“I’ll be there.” I didn’t know where the temple was, but Woods probably did.

“I’m going to monitor the cameras.” Quinton stood up. He gave me a quick nod and left.

Arius got up. “I’m going to see if the science techs want Eunice’s blood.” He looked at me. “I called the lab; they just need yours to check.”

My eyes widened. I’d forgotten I might have a sister.

“Check her for?” Victor asked.

“To see if she’s Paisley’s sister.” Crissy grinned at him. “It was a long time ago, but I think they’re the light and dark sisters from my head.”

Victor looked from me to Paisley. “There is a resemblance.”

“What is this?” Chase moved away from the desk. “We may have another Roan in the family?”

Alona smirked.

“Has anyone informed his elderness?” Chase looked to Arius.

“Not yet, brother. We’ll wait for the facts, then tell him.” Arius looked amused.

“I insist on being there when you do.” Chase smiled at me.

I shrugged. “Whatever makes you happy.”

He pointed to me. “Yes. I like you. Smart answer.”

Alona stood up and took his hand. “That smart choice would be the two of us going to get some sleep.”

Chase gave her a soft look, then pulled her close. “I doubt I’ll be able to, while waiting for news, but if you’re tired, beloved, we will retire.” He grinned at me and held his hand to his ear like he was holding a phone. “Be sure to call and let me know as soon as you do.”

I nodded as Alona pulled him from the room. “That wasn’t weird at all.” I mumbled.

Leone and Rafael both got up. “We have to get to work on the planning, we’re meeting Ira in the yard.” Leone looked to Victor.

Victor kissed the top of Crissy’s head. “I have a few ideas there.”

Troy looked to Daxx. “Want to sit in on this?”

Daxx looked surprised and got up quickly. “Yes.”

Emil nodded. “I’ll tag along.”

“Beth and I are going to go to the practice room to work on some new moves.” Paisley motioned to the door.

“Gods, that’s just what we need, a scarier tag-team move.” Leone winked at Beth.

“I’m going to my tower.” Crissy grabbed her pack, then looked at me. “Want to come sit in my tower? The stars are peaceful.”

Normally stargazing wasn’t my thing, but my mind was spinning faster than a roundhouse kick. I might have a sister, and other relatives—and I’d just volunteered to break a spell and blood ward… peaceful stars might be just what I needed.