Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“Are you going back to Santiago?” Felicity asked, her voice concerned again.

“Not yet.”

“Then where are you going?”

Kat shrugged. “Oh, it’s a surprise.” She prayed for forgiveness for the lie. “We’re going to enjoy a few more days of holiday.”

“Kat,” her mom said, “your studies—”

“Don’t worry, Mom.” She crossed her fingers behind her back. “I’m studying.”

This was it. She’d never see them again. Tears threatened to well up in her eyes, but she pushed them back. She wasn’t going to let the last image her parents had of her be one of her sobbing. Instead, she smiled for them.

“I love you,” she said one last time.

She couldn’t look back as she made her way down the garden path.

Lann waited by the car, his expression concerned. When she reached him, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed the top of her head.

“We have to go, sweetheart.”

He helped her into the car and secured her safety belt before taking the wheel. A few blocks down the road, he pulled over onto the curb.

She looked at him in surprise. “What’s going on?”

“Before we go anywhere, you’re going to tell me what Gideon said.”

Chapter 12

Kat looked at the time on the dashboard display. “We’re going to be late for the flight. The pilot said—”

“Do you think I’m a fool? The only reason I didn’t take his head off was because you were with your parents. That doesn’t mean I won’t hunt him down.”

She took a shaky breath. “Just drive. I’ll talk. Or do you want us to miss our flight?”

He put the car into gear and pulled off. “Start talking, Katherine.”

“His name is agent Richardson. He’s with the FBI.”

“Go on,” he said tightly.

“He said you’re a killer involved in dark magic.”

He uttered a cold laugh. “Nothing new. What else?”

“He knows your nickname is Weatherman.” At this, he frowned. “He also said you’re using me.”

“How exactly am I using you?” he asked without taking his eyes off the road.

She hesitated, biting her lip.

He slammed the steering wheel, making her jump. “What lies did that bastard tell you? What am I using you for?”

“For breeding,” she said softly.

“What?” He glanced at her, his expression confused.

“He said our meeting wasn’t by chance, but that you had it all planned, that my scholarship was only to get me to Santiago, that my medical records were accessed, and that something in them convinced you that I was good breeding material.”

His knuckles turned white around the wheel. “Do you believe all of this?”

“No.”

She didn’t believe Lann could’ve done what Richardson had said. Lann would never have sought her out to make her pregnant, knowing her fate would be death.

The tight set of his shoulders relaxed marginally. “I’m sorry you had to endure that. On the fucking day of your wish—” He paused. “On the day of visiting your parents.” He shot her a sideways glance. “What about them?”

“My parents? I told them not to worry, that Richardson was mistaken.”

He fell quiet.

“Lann?”

“What is it, krasavitsa?”

“He wanted me to call him. He gave me a number.”

He clenched his jaw. “Good. I’ll need that number to get answers to a few questions of my own.”

“I was going to tell you everything when we got home,” she said.

“I would’ve found out anyway.”

She didn’t ask how. She was too tired. All she wanted, was to go home. With shock, she realized she hadn’t pictured the castle or her old apartment, but the monastery. She’d never go back there, ever again. She turned her head toward the window, hiding the emotions constricting her chest.

When they arrived at the castle, Joss and Clelia welcomed them at the door.

“How’s security?” Lann asked the minute he’d stepped over the threshold.

Joss frowned. “Good.”

“Satellites clear?”

“We run checks on them every hour. There’s no way any of them can be hijacked.”

Resting his hands on his hips, he hung his head. “Perimeters?”

He looked so tired, Kat wanted to wrap her arms around him, but he also had that air about him that said he needed to be left in peace until he’d done whatever it was he was doing.

“Armed. No one can get close without the alarms warning us. What’s this about, Lann?”

He regarded Clelia and Joss from under his lashes. “We need to talk. Where’s Cain?”

“He had to leave,” Joss said.

Lann wiped a hand over his mouth. “We’ll brief him later. Shall we go to the study?”

“Now?” Clelia said. “You must be tired after the long return flight.” She glanced at Kat. “I’m sure the journey was both physically and emotionally draining.”

“I slept well in the plane,” Kat said quickly. Lann’s worry took its toll. He needed to share the news of Richardson.

“Go to bed, krasavitsa,” Lann said to Kat. “I’ll be up shortly.”

She wanted to hear what Lann had to say. “I’m fine.”

Lann turned to Joss. “This can’t wait.”

“I’ll get Maya,” Clelia offered.