Page 89 of Vicious Is My Throne

Tavion stopped pacing. “And if these stones boost our power? Or offer extra protection? Or invincibility? Shouldn’t we at least consider them?”

“I’m not saying we close that box up and shuck the thing back in the bottom of the closet. I’m saying we can’t lose our way now,” Raz argued quietly. “We have to stop Corvus before the blight destroys Blackcastle and everything else. Once Anaria drops the wall and the magic is united, he’ll race here to glut himself on the magic. We need to harness that magic then use that power to stop him.”

“It’s a three-day trip to the northern edge of the Pale,” Tavion said. “But with all the magic of all three realms, and the weapon…and two keystones…What about it, Anaria? Will that be enough to kill him?”

I looked away.

I didn’t have the heart to remind them I’d traded every drop of Fae magic away to the Oracle, not that she’d keep her word.

Or I’d keep mine.

I’d only made the deal to buy us some breathing room, but now…now things were getting real. I had to find a way around our bargain before she arrived to collect her due.

But the fact remained—Blackcastle could already be lost, and all of this might be for nothing. I wouldn’t allow myself to believe that, either.

“I found boots for Tristan, at least.”

“Thank the gods for that.” Raz rose, offering me his hand, his warm, calloused fingers wrapping around mine before he pulled me to my feet, box and boots and all. “Are you going to give that to him? As a reminder, wyverns don’t have pockets.”

We all looked over to the wyvern shifter sprawled across the floor, sleeping so deeply I doubted an earthquake would wake him.

Likewise, Bex was face first into the duke’s papers, snoring.

“Well, it does have a chain. Maybe Tristan can wear it around his neck.”

I palmed the stone in my pocket. “We know which one is Tristan’s. Does that mean there’s technically one for each of us? Torin gave this one to me, but I didn’t get a fancy schmancy box.”

The keystone warmed the moment I touched it, and from between the thin crack between the box lid, rays of light glowed from its twin.

“No fancy box for the princess. So sad,” Raz teased, poking me between the ribs. “All you’ve gotten so far out of this quest are three crowns and three thrones.”

I batted him away. “Don’t be an arsehole. You know what I mean. This might not even be my stone.” But I grinned, never able to get mad at Raz, and besides, he was right. Who needed a box?

I carved more dirt from the engraved lid, revealing a long slender inlay of gold amongst the silver. “So where do you think the Ravenshade’s stole this from? From Tristan’s family? I mean, that would make sense, right? And this keystone does come in a fancy box, which is very Lord DeVayne-like if you ask me.”

Tavion nodded. “They stole the stone from the DeVaynes then were banished here. Somehow, they managed to smuggle this in with them, but I can’t explain the writing on the setting.”

My husband slid me the side-eye. “Witch-made if I’m not mistaken. Truth is, no one knows how this realm was founded. Only the prisoners were dumped here and expected to do the honorable thing and die.”

“Instead, they did the most dishonorable thing possible and thrived. That fact really pissed off Solok.” I headed for the fire, stumbling on stiff, aching feet. “Maybe we haven’t been fair to the Descendants. This place was supposed to be their grave, but they were strong enough to survive. Build a society.”

I groaned at Raz’s look of disgust. “Okay, not a great society, but only because they had shite role models. Maybe they would have gotten there eventually.”

“Maybe,” Raz said, not sounding convinced.

I set the boots down beside Tristan and shook his shoulder gently. “Hey. I found boots. Hopefully these will fit, otherwise you’ll be wearing the duchess’s slippers.” He yawned, stretching, giving me an eagle-eye view of those cut abs.

“Eyes up here, princess.” Tristan’s grin was as warm as the fire crackling behind him. “They’ll be fine,” he murmured. “Even if I have to jamb my toes into them.”

“Oh, and we found a little something that might have once belonged to you before it got nicked. You DeVaynes should really keep better track of your valuables.” I set the box down beside him. “Now, don’t freak out, and yes, we are all as shocked as you are about to be.”

I would keep the picture of Tristan’s face when he opened that box in my head until the day I died. Bexley’s expression was nothing to sneeze at either.

“Why the fuck is a keystone in Varitus? And what do you mean someone nicked it from me? I’ve never seen this before in my entire life, and while I might be old, I’m definitely not senile.”

“Take a closer look at the lid, you fool,” Raziel said sharply.

Tristan did, his face losing all the color the fire had restored. “Holy gods. Where did you find this?”

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