Queen of Ruin(Book three of the Immortals Series)
CHAPTER TWELVE ENGLAND

"Sleepwalk..." Tessa shook her head as the song she long ago refused to utter fell so sweetly from her lips again. "Where in the hell did that come from?"

While she packed her things in her room, she found herself humming the tune again. The flash of the memory of Rafik's brown eyes came to her mind, and she swallowed back the urge to cry. "What the hell is going on?" Leaning over with his hands clasped between his legs, Haldir breathed away the dull ache in his chest. He'd spent almost every second with her for ten years, and the thought of her being somewhere without him made a sick sensation rise in his gut. "Don't you think you should prepare her for what's about to happen?"

On the soft, white couch across from him with his ankle crossed over his knee, Teddy patted the back of the seat he had his arm stretched out across and rolled his eyes. "Sure. That's a fantastic idea."

With a smirk, Haldir nodded as he glanced up at him. "We should have done this a long time ago."

Teddy took a deep breath of the sea air and admitted how poorly he'd handled it. "I know. I just couldn't think of a way to do it."

She straightened her pearls as her heels clicked across the marble floor. Setting her bag of holding on the entry table, she checked herself over as she hummed the tune. A throaty growl puffed from between her teeth, and she shook her little fists. "Goddammit! Stop it, Tessa."

Wearing a simple black dress that hit above her knees, she showed just enough cleavage not to be obscene. "Have either of you ever heard of Minister Blake? I don't recall ever hearing his name before. You think he's from the Realm or something?"

Preparing for the worst, Haldir closed his eyes. Teddy rubbed the back of his neck the way he always did when stressed. "No. I've not heard that name before, Sugar, but Billy said he's the best in the world, so I'm inclined to believe him." "I hope he's handsome, at least. The thought of being stuck with an Ugo for the next few years isn't exactly my idea of a fun time." She slid her red lip gloss across her lips, then threw it in her bag and turned around. "I'm ready when you are." Haldir took the keys to their London apartment out of the drawer and handed them to Teddy. "Let me know if you need anything. There's about a quarter of a million in the safe under the bar for emergencies."

Sliding his arms around her waist, she put hers around Haldir's neck. "Love you, Tess. You be a good girl and call me now and then, so I don't think they burned at the stake or anything."

The bristles of his beard tickled her nose as she kissed his cheek, setting it into an itchy wiggle. "I love you too, old man. Don't worry about me."

Her little hands found his, and he squeezed them as the night at the card table came back to his vision. Part of him screamed to keep her close because it would never be safe for her out in the world, but he'd given his word to stay out of those decisions. "If you ever have the feeling like something's wrong, you come right back here. Don't even hesitate."

Smiling at her ancient protector, Tessa pulled on his hands as she twisted back and forth. "Have you ever known me to hesitate to do anything?" Haldir twisted his lips and shook his head. "No. Never. Not my girl."

"Good Lord!" Teddy rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm. "You two are nauseating. She can be back home in five seconds, for Pete's sake."

The mist rose from their feet and swallowed them up as Haldir cupped his hand over his mouth and yelled out to them. "Good luck to both of you."

Reappearing at the seldom-used apartment, she swatted the mist away and stepped down into the living room. "I don't understand why you even came along. I can handle myself just fine; I'm not a child."

As he took her bag from her and set it on the floor beside the couch, Teddy did his best to lie. It never worked on his sister. "Is there something wrong with wanting to see that big ole castle you're going to be spending all your time at?" With her pointing finger wagging itself at him, Tessa shook her head and narrowed her eyes. "Un-un. No. You're up to something. What's going on?"

He turned away from her because she read faces like a book. "Don't be ridiculous. I wanted to make sure you got settled alright. We've been together every day for 23 years; I think I have that right to make sure you're safe." She knew he was lying, but it hardly mattered because she would be free of him and his overprotectiveness soon. "Right. Anyway, what are we waiting on?"

He sighed as he poured a drink into his glass. "Minister Tyson wanted us to come around suppertime. She's sending a car."

Tessa slid her arm on the seat back as she peeked at the clock on the wall. "Well, make me a drink while we're waiting."

Handing her a glass of whiskey, he sat on the couch beside her. "This is such a great opportunity for you, Tess; I don't want you to take anything for granted. There aren't many people who'd be willing to take you under their wing after everything that's happened. Most folks are still wary of having us nearby for fear of lightning striking them down or something."

She swallowed back her whiskey, then blew out the sting of it and licked her lips. "You think I'm going to screw it up, don't you?"

He shook his head and glanced over at her. "No, that's not it at all, Tess. It's just that I want you to keep that all in mind when things become too difficult. You tend to lose your shit easily; I want you to keep things in perspective when you have that instinct."

Still on alert to whatever he was preparing her for, Tessa's eyes darted around his face as she shook her head. "I won't fail. This is all I've ever wanted."

"I know." Teddy poked his finger in her arm. "Daddy was right; you're destined for great things."

It was easy for him to get lost in her shadow with an enormous personality like hers, and she wasn't blind to it. Her fingers closed over his, and Tessa squeezed it as she nodded at him. "We both are. I don't know if that's ever going to happen in this world, but someday."

He shook his head and chewed the inside of his lip. "I thought I was ready to go on with my life without you, but I don't even know what I'll do with myself while you're gone. You were kind of a full-time job for me, you know."

"I guess you and Haldir can go out and live it up like two ornery old bachelors without me around to steal all the ladies." Tessa laughed at herself then poked him in the side. "You be nice to him. He loves you."

"I'll try my best." As the buzzer rang, he glanced up to the clock. "I guess we should head out. It's a long drive out there."

After he picked up her bag, Teddy faced her and took her hand. "Well, this should be quite an adventure for you."

One last glance around the room later, she took a deep breath and nodded. "I hope so. I'm ready to go on with my life."

Riding through the countryside, she studied the neatly manicured green pastures and old stone walls. The cold rainy English afternoon sent a chill through her bones, and she missed the shores of Greece suddenly.

Her heart pounded as a warmth surged through her veins as they came to the castle. "Can you feel that?"

He leaned down to better view the massive stone fortress as they came up the drive. The lawn was decorated with hedgerows and statues, and he had a twinge of jealousy that his sister would be living in an actual castle like a fairytale princess while he was stuck with a drunken, old Viking. "What exactly am I supposed to be feeling?"

Shaking out the pins and needles sensation from her hands, she blew out a long breath through her mouth as she tried to calm her nerves. "I don't know. I'm so nervous all of a sudden."

His eyes fell towards the ground, and he sighed through his nose as his guilt made his stomach turn. "I don't know, Sugar. Momma's people are psychics. Maybe this place can sense it on you."

When the car stopped at the steps, Minister Tyson came through the front door and clasped her hands in front of her. Teddy got out and faced her, then gave her a quick lift of his brow as he held out his hand for Tessa. Taking her bag, he held her hand while they climbed the stairs.

"It's so lovely to see you again, Minister Tyson." He took the woman's hand and kissed her knuckle before giving it back and taking Tessa's arm in his.

"I'm so happy you're here, Tessa." Her short red hair blew in the breeze as Minister Tyson stepped aside and held her hand out to the twins. "Please, come with me."

Stepping inside the foyer, Tessa wiped her wrist across her forehead. Supernaturals don't get sick, but the beads of sweat that appeared on her skin warned her that something was wrong. "Minister Tyson, it's just beautiful here."

With her hands clasped behind her back, Delia smiled at her surroundings. "You can call me Delia, and yes, it is amazing. Sometimes I still pinch myself when I wake up and realize I'm living in a castle."

As her eyes darted around the foyer, Tessa fanned her face. "My, it sure is warm in here, isn't it?"

Delia smiled and glanced at Teddy's face before nodding. "I suppose it is a bit. Come, let's go visit the laboratory; Amari is waiting for us."

Descending the stairs, Tessa stumbled as her weak knees buckled beneath her and giggled at herself when Teddy took her arm to steady her. "Are you alright, Sugar?"

A shot of wind blew from Tessa's pursed lips before she nodded. "Good thing I'm meeting the Potion Master; I think I'm sick or something."

When they reached the iron door to the lab, Delia turned around and faced her. "I hope you will listen to what he has to say, Tessa."

The dizzying smell of cinnamon and clove made her gasp before she even saw his face as she passed through the doorway. "Hello, Rohi."