Page 76 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Nico shook his head, his silver hair swinging with the motion. “About that one.” He jutted a thumb toward Declan. “He’s been practicing his lecture for you since we slayed the last beast. You’re in for an earful.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing I haven’t heard before,” Luka responded.

Delcan glared at him. “I take it you’re not even sorry about your actions?”

“Nope,” Luka said definitively. “Lennox needed me, so I went to her. I’d do it again.”

“Stupid fucking fool,” Declan swore.

“Don’t take it the wrong way, L, we’re glad you’re okay. We’re glad you’re all okay, we’re just mad at this idiot for making such reckless decisions and leaving us to deal with the aftermath,” Nico informed me.

I forced a smile onto my face, this entire conversation was making me uncomfortable, tightening the growing knots in my stomach. “No, of course, I understand.” I understood their frustrations and concerns yes, but Luka’s concern over me? That I still couldn’t work out. Why he would keep putting himself in danger over me?—

“You guys can continue your little scolding later.” Luce looked around anxiously. “I, for one, would like to get the fuck out of here before another monster appears.”

Without another word, we made our way out of the catacombs.

The next morning we all gathered in Luka’s office; Luce had transported us all back to Cel Nox after we arrived back in Arcadia. Luka didn’t want to press our luck being away any longer.

We had decided to put off opening the book until this morning, at Luce’s request that we bathe and sleep first. I was ready to argue with her, my impatience over wanting to know what was in the book threatening to take over, but I remembered I was caked in blood of a variety of colors, my body ached from my injuries, and my stomach gnawed with hunger. And once the adrenaline fully wore off I knew I’d have a hard time keeping my eyes open.

So we all said our goodnights and planned to meet in Luka’s office first thing in the morning.

I had been unaware he had even possessed an office until last night, but Luka argued that was what made it the perfect place for us to meet and look over the book.

“Alright, open it already.” Nico rubbed his hands back and forth as we all stared at the two halves of Hecate’s spellbook on the coffee table in front of us.

“I can’t believe you waited for us all,” I told Luce.

A flash of guilt flicked across her features. “Well, I did try to open it last night before I fell asleep. I couldn’t resist myself.” She winced slightly. “But it wouldn’t open with only my blood, I’m assuming it needs all three of ours again.”

Without saying a word the three of us pricked our fingers, letting our blood drip onto the faded leather cover.

Our blood sizzled before turning into a puff of red mist and disappearing. As the smoke dissipated, it revealed the cover was no longer blank, but Hecate’s name and the ancient symbol bearing her likeness marred the cover in dark glimmering ink.

Luce’s fingers danced over the worn leather, but she hesitated before opening the book.

“What are you waiting for?” Kara asked.

“I— I don’t know.” She opened the cover.

We all crowded around the table, peering at the aged parchment. The same symbols and markings that had been in the labyrinth were scrawled on the page.

Luce quickly flipped to the next page, revealing more of the same thing. She continued flipping through the pages as an irritated scream tore from her throat.

“It’s all in this Goddess-forsaken witch language!”

“I’m guessing you don’t know how to read it?’ Nico asked.

“No.” She huffed. “I don’t.”

“Luce, it’s okay.” Kara placed a hand gently on Luciana’s shoulder. “If anyone can translate it, it’s you.”

“It will take time.” She looked between me and Luka. “Time we don’t have.”

Luka stiffened beside me.

“It’s okay.” I sat up straight on the couch. “We will figure out things on our end, you do what you need to do.”

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