Page 64 of Ivy & Bone

“It’s my essence. Part of it lingers with my body, but it’s only an echo of my true power. I . . . was told that magic resides with the soul, not the body.”

Prue’s eyes narrowed. She hadn’t missed the catch in Mona’s voice. “Told . . . by whom?”

Mona’s form rippled slightly. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t explain it all right now.”

“Mona, who have you been talking to?” Alarm quivered in Prue’s thoughts as she imagined Cyrus’s other horrible brothers and how they might be manipulating her.

“Prue, focus!” Mona snapped, sounding so much like her usual self that Prue almost laughed. “Remember that rune I taught you during Samhain last year?”

Prue wracked her brain as she tried to recall. “The one to dislodge a person’s spirit?” She shuddered. “Goddess, Mona, do you want me to do that to fake-Mona?”

“No, no, she doesn’t have a spirit to dislodge. I’m suggesting you paint the rune in your blood . . . right there.” Mona lifted a wispy hand, gesturing to the ground just beneath her. Within reaching distance, if Prue stretched her arm through the bars of her cell.

Prue frowned, her mind working furiously. Then, comprehension dawned. “Oh. I see.” She grinned wickedly at her sister. “That’s quite clever, Mona.”

“I know.” Mona sounded so pleased with herself that Prue actually did laugh this time. Mona’s spirit flickered like the dying light of a candle, and Prue’s smile faded.

“I have to go now,” Mona said, her voice far away. “If I’m here too long, he’ll sense me.”

“Mona.” Prue stumbled forward subconsciously, even knowing she couldn’t touch her sister. She couldn’t just let her leave.

“I’ll see you soon,” Mona said. “I swear it, Prue.”

And then she was gone.

BLOOD

CYRUS

Cyrus stared stonily at the decanter in his brother’s hand as Vasileios poured the amber liquid into a chalice.

“Drink,” Vasileios ordered. “It doesn’t do much for our immortal forms, but it helps.”

Cyrus merely glared up at him. They were in an ornate guest suite as big as the throne room with an enormous bed topped with plush pillows on one end and a chaise sofa and table on the other. Behind the sitting area was a series of luxurious bathing chambers.

It would’ve felt extravagant, were it not for the circumstances.

Cyrus sat on the chaise, only to keep himself from pacing. Vasileios stood over him, still holding the chalice.

Instead of accepting it, Cyrus bit out, “Where is Prue.”

Vasileios sighed and sat opposite Cyrus, drinking out of the chalice. “She’s safe.”

“Liar.”

“It doesn’t need to be this way, Cyrus. The crown was always mine to begin with. Simply give it back, and I can put you in a comfortable position. Take my place here. An empire at your disposal. An entire palace for yourself!” He spread one arm to indicate the vastness of the suite. “You can even keep your little witch here to be your empress.”

Cyrus’s scowl deepened.

“Or you can execute her,” Vasileios added with a shrug. “I honestly can’t understand you two. One minute it seems like you’ll slaughter an entire army to save her, the next it looks like you want to wring her neck.”

Cyrus couldn’t help but lift his eyebrows at that. Vasileios had a point there.

“Is the Underworld really that important to you?” Vasileios went on, taking another sip.

“It’s my home,” Cyrus said incredulously. “The only place where I ever meant something.”

“Not anymore. Take my deal, and you’ll be an emperor.”

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