The Kingmakers(64)

“Most likely.”

“Is there any way to tell an Undead from a free human?”

“No. It was only the bomb that gave this one away. We were very lucky. If he'd had a knife like Selkirk, it might have been another story.” His voice drifted away into brooding silence.

She knew where his thoughts were taking him. “I will always trust you with my life.”

“I didn't stop Selkirk.” His tone was harsh and angry. The anguish of that moment forever haunted him.

“You're only human,” she remarked simply and kissed him, but Gareth didn't respond to her compliment.

Finally, the last piece of shrapnel was pulled from his mangled back, and Adele hung her head, utter relief spent in a long sigh. “I've gotten them all.”

Gareth shifted onto his hip and reached for her, his hand cupping her flushed cheek. “I couldn't ask for a better surgeon.”

Adele scoffed. Then she pressed him down again and disinfected the wounds with alcohol before stitching the deepest ones. To her amazement, the hole from the first one was already healing over.

Her blood did that. It healed him.

Her hand brushed over the muscles on his back, her fingers fluttering over the deep well-developed curves and the ragged scars. Those scars told the story of how hard they were trying to have a life together. She doubted he could even feel her light touch. But her touch didn't need to be physical. It was how she touched his heart that mattered.

Then something caught her eye. It was a dark mark at the base of his neck. His long hair had covered most of it so she had not noticed it before. It resembled the burn scars that marred his chest and the one that creased his left cheek and jaw in a thick line, the ones she herself had inflicted on him in the Mountains of the Moon.

The mark of geomancy.

“What is this?” she asked, her hand tracing the scar.

He fidgeted. “It's nothing. Just another old injury. It happens in my line of work.”

“No. This wasn't from me. Where did you get it?”

“It is nothing, Adele. Merely an echo.”

“An echo of what? I know of only one other geomancer who can do what I do.” Her eyes focused on the middle of his back, where a small round blackish red mark blazed. It was an injury bestowed by Mamoru when the secret of Greyfriar had been revealed to him, and the man's hatred had overwhelmed him. The wounds were identical.

“Don't jump to conclusions,” Gareth said.

“Am I wrong? Or is this something I did to you, and you didn't tell me?” Her expression turned to one of horror, and a small gasp escaped her lips at the thought.

Turning, he took her in his bare arms. “It wasn't you.” He kissed her, wiping away her fears. But she would not relinquish the matter.

“Then it was Mamoru.”

Gareth was silent.

“It was. He tried to kill you?” Rage was building inside her like a wave.

“He failed. That's all that matters.”

“No, it isn't!” she exclaimed. “He lied to me.”

“Adele, he will not have another opportunity. I will never turn my back on him again.”

“He's a geomancer! He does not have to be near you. He has the same power that I do.”

“Far from it. What you do is completely on another scale, trust me.”

“What did he do?” Adele asked, almost afraid to know.

“It's in the past. Your Anhalt saved me, and he is as good as his word. Someone I trust with my life.” Gareth proceeded to tell Adele what had transpired in the catacombs beneath Alexandria, the night Flay learned his secret.

Adele fumed at the conclusion of his tale. “You mean General Anhalt knew of this? What is the matter with you two? How could you keep this from me?”

“Because you care for Mamoru, and because you need him.”

“Nothing is worth the risk of losing you!”

“And you never will.”

“Gah, you are such a romantic! But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take precautions.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“Make Mamoru realize making a promise to me is nothing to be trifled with.” She gathered her strength and rose to her feet.

“I think that's unwise. You still need him, Adele.”

Fury filled her face as she made for the door. “We'll see who needs whom more.”



Adele entered the dojo with extreme civility, though that was not what consumed her thoughts. Mamoru's head lifted and he smiled at her in surprise, but when she did not return it, he sobered.

“Your Majesty? I did not expect you. What did the doctors say? I rejoice that you appear uninjured.”

“Did you think I wouldn't find out?” Her voice was low and quiet, a desperate attempt to remain calm.

“Find out?”