Page 159 of Duskbound

"Impressive," I whispered as he finished the last one.

"I can be gentle when the need arises." That dimple appeared as he smirked.

Heat rushed to my face at his insinuation.

“Not every use of my ability has to be a massacre,” he added, cocking his head. I bit back a smile as I knelt down, examining one of the vials at eye level. The bright crimson that had stained the paper inside was already dulling, turning an ugly brown.

"It's working," I breathed, adrenaline flooding me.

Without thinking, I was moving—reaching for him. His arms surrounded me as I pulled his face down, our lips meeting with an urgency that surprised us both. The kiss tasted like victory, though we still had a long road ahead.

"We need to go," he nearly groaned against my mouth, but his hands tightened at my waist.

We made it to the door before I stopped suddenly, causing Aether to collide with my back. His arm slid around me, pulling me against his chest. "What is it?" he murmured against my hair.

I turned in his embrace. "I have an idea."

"Fia." My name was a warning on his lips, his golden eyes sharpening. "That was not part of the plan. We have to leave. Now."

"But we're already in here..." I pressed my hands against his chest. "What if we could get more information on Stormshire? A layout, or maps?"

Frustration creased his features as he looked down at me. "What did you have in mind?" His voice was flat.

"I think I know where to look. And it should be empty."

"Empty?"

Before he could protest further, I reached out with my web, scanning the hallway. A few minds moved about, but as soon as they turned into their respective rooms, I shifted into shadow form. We raced through the healers' wing like smoke, emerging into the circular lobby just before the social area. A set of spiral stairs beckoned from the left. I felt Aether's darkness brush against mine as we rushed up them, staying close to the walls.

At the top, I found the door I was looking for. One quick check confirmed it was empty, and we slipped through.

The office was exactly as I remembered—walls of rough gray stone stretching up to meet dark wooden beams. A massive mahogany desk dominated one side, its surface meticulously organized. On the other, leather furniture sat arranged on a cowskin rug, looking barely used. Everything about the space spoke of rigid control.Hisrigid control.

I flew to the desk, yanking open drawers and rifling through papers.

"Where are we?" Aether asked, leaning against the wall.

I ignored him, pulling out scrolls and spreading them across the desk's surface. Maps of Fort Agate and Emeraal—fortresses, just not the right one. My hands moved faster, opening another drawer.

Aether's form moved toward the hallway, immediately going still as he peered into one of the rooms—Laryk's bedroom. One I'd never entered before. "How did you know it would be empty?" he asked, his voice taking on a dark quality.

My fingers brushed something small and jagged. I pulled out a piece of red jasper—the one I'd given Laryk months ago during training, on a day when his mind seemed elsewhere. The stone felt warm in my palm, heavy with memories I couldn't afford right now. I returned it quickly to its hiding place.

"It's got to be here somewhere," I muttered, turning to the cabinets behind me.

"It's his, isn't it?" Aether's voice had gone completely cold.

I stilled. "Yes."

In my periphery, I saw Aether's form dissolve into shadow, reappearing near the exterior door, as if he was dying to get out of here. Frustration mounted as I searched faster, knowing we'd stayed too long.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"We have to leave," Aether's words cut through the silence.

The footsteps paused outside. I reached out with my focus—someone stood just beyond the door. My hands moved frantically through the remaining drawers as the knob began to turn.It couldn't be him, could it?

"Now, Fia." The edge in Aether's voice was dangerous.

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