Page 64 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

As I chanted, Lennox and Kara repeated after me, our words churning in an echo in the catacombs.

There was a slight tingle in my palm, like a tiny jolt of static. It moved through my palm and up my arm. I felt it in my chest before it returned to my other arm, zipping through my palm. Lennox jolted slightly as it entered her palm.

We were connected. I could feel it as Kara and Lennox’s power intertwined with my own, caressing itself around the threads of my magic.

“Now that we’re connected we need to search for the other half of the book.” I removed my hand from Kara’s and placed it on the book.

“C'mon, where are you Hecate?” I muttered.

I closed my eyes tighter, envisioning the path towards the cave that would lead us to the Astria’s chamber.

“Where are you?” I gritted.

My vision steered in every direction. Zipping from one cave opening to the next.

“C'mon.” I felt for Hecate again. She was in me. I could feel her. It was her blood in my veins, fueling my magic.

My vision took a sharp turn, guiding me towards a cave to my left and stopping. There was a dead patch of flowers outside the cave, like all the others, but this one had one living flower that stuck out among the dead ones. A single red bud in the decay.

“There.” I gasped. Gripping the book and Lennox’s hand tighter. “That’s the cave.”

“I see it,” Lennox murmured.

“But how do we find it?” Kara asked.

As if the magic heard her, the illusion slowly backed away from the cave, tracing the path backward until it reached us.

When I opened my eyes there was a path through the mist.

“I think you guys passed the test.” Nico’s icy eyes sparkled as I met his gaze.

I let out a shuddering breath. “I think so.”

27

LENNOX

“Okay, me, Lennox, and Kara are going to go in and find the book, while you guys stay out here,” Luce directed as she rose to standing.

“Fuck that.” I met Luka’s gaze. “Do you think I’m going to let you go in there while I stay out here and hope and pray to the Goddess you don’t get attacked by some magical monster?”

He looked over at Luce. “There is no way I’m staying out here.”

“I agree with him, Lucy,” Nico added.

Luce rolled her eyes. “I figured you guys might throw a fit. Now I have a plan b, but I don’t think you’re going to like it either.”

“Let’s hear it,” Declan said.

“I know a spell that can connect us temporarily. For a short period of time, we’ll be able to communicate mind to mind.”

My brows rose. I had never heard of this sort of spell, which meant— “but it uses Ichor Magic, doesn’t it.”

“Well of course,” Luce answered. “What? It’s one little spell and it will solve our problem.” She looked at Luka. “I figured he wouldn’t let you out of his sight.”

“Fine.” I sighed, she was right. “Tell us what we need to do.”

“Are you sure about this?” Luka eyed me questioningly.

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