cascade | kotlc

18. The Vacker Legacy?

- J. R. a day later

"What did the Council tell you about?" she asked Fitz as he led her down the Everglen grounds.

He slowly rubbed his temples. "What did Faye tell you about?"

"You know I can't tell you."

"Well, it's the same for me. Not exactly classified information, but..." he groaned. "I can't. Not to you. Not to Biana. Not to anyone. No one... no one can know about this." He heaved a sigh before he lifted his face and his demeanor changed from slightly depressed to hopelessly optimistic and sweet. "I wanted to show you something."

"You mean the clearing?" June asked as he pushed through a barrier of thick weeds. "You've shown me that before. It was really pretty, though I remember you telling me-" A rosy blush settled on her cheeks. "I remember you telling me I looked even prettier."

Fitz laughed, caressing her hand as he took it. "You were wearing a white gown that day. You looked spectacular."

"Oh, stop it," she muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Was it the clearing you wanted to show me?"

"No, not the clearing. It's in the general area, yes. But there's something more secret I need to show you. Just behind this tree."

As he brushed the conifer needles aside, a brilliant halo spilled from amidst the greenery. And when Fitz hauled her over the stumpy bushes her eyes adjusted and she could make out the distinct white light of Everglen's perimeter fence.

"You wanted to show me the fence?"

"Not exactly. Notice anything special here? It'll help if you look left."

She looked left. The long grass was peppered with sculptures that seemed to rise out of the ground, thin strands of dark metal twisting and spiraling around colorful glass orbs.

"I've seen these too. But I don't think it's the same bunch."

"It's not," Fitz agreed. "This area is very subtle, only our family would know it even existed, because this is where the emergency override for the gate is. That's what I wanted to show you."

June's eyebrows raised as he led her toward one of the larger statues and pointed to the only teal orb supported by intricate swirls of metal.

"This is it?" she asked, keeping her voice low. "Of course it's teal."

Fitz nodded, leaning closer again, so that his hair brushed her forehead and their lips were close. He refrained from giving her a kiss -- god knew how much June wanted it -- but his lips curled into a small smile and he whispered, "I thought you should know how to find it. And know the code that activates the panel."

"Why?" June whispered back.

He drew upward, his back turning rigid as he nervously bit down on his lip. When he tried to talk his jaw seemed to automatically lock, and finally, when he set his hand on her shoulder, could he talk.

"You're the only one I trust."

And if I'm not around one day... you need to know it.

Her heart slammed to a stop, and the wind literally froze around her, turning brazenly warm on her skin. Her world seemed to slam its brakes and reverse in a screech as she stared at Fitz in horror. I'm sorry, what?

I thought... His brows scrunched, as if he was seriously contemplating his word choice. I thought, if something ever... if I wasn't around... if anything like Umber ever happened again... I'd want you to...