Page 121 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

Tick, tock, tick, tock.The clock on the wall mocked. If I didn’t get back soon, Tharan would come looking for me.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.I matched my heartbeat to the sound of the clock.

Erissa continued her experiments. The smell of sulfur wafted through the cracks in the door.

Come on, I need to get out of here.My knee bounced on the wooden desk.

Finally, the door to the laboratory shut.

I wedged myself from under the desk, scanning the room beyond for signs of life.

Nothing.

I fled through the open door, through the lab where potions glowed, casting shadows onto the wood-paneled walls.

“Looking for this?”A voice like honeyed wine turned my blood cold. Dangling a key from her elegant fingers, Erissa let out a devious laugh. “You won’t find what you’re looking for in my chambers.”

She glided toward me on light feet—a wicked grin cutting her elegant face in two.

Firm hands grasped my shoulders, throwing me into a shelf of old books.

“Tsk, tsk, Now, now, boys, we want her intact.”

Her voice faded away as darkness crept in.

44CAIDEN

“Trinity, I hate this place,”Lucius said as they rode into Ryft’s Edge under the cover of darkness. Tying their horses to a tree, they gazed upon the castle looming menacingly overhead.

“Let’s get in and get out,” Caiden said, taking a transfiguration potion from his pocket and handing it to Lucius.

Caiden grimaced as he slugged back the foul-smelling liquid. Skin bubbling, he transformed into a standard-issue Highlands soldier with dark hair and eyes.

“Trinity be…” Lucius said, looking down at his now human form. “Being human must be awful. They are so ugly.”

Caiden rolled his eyes. Besides their elongated incisors, sylph and humans looked identical. “Let’s go before the tonic wears off.”

Two soldiers nodded their heads in acknowledgment as they passed through the stone archway leading to the royal residences.

Upon entering the marble castle, they parted ways. Lucius headed into the dungeons to Sir Brutus’s chambers while Caiden headed up to the tower to search Gideon’s study. The castle dripped with opulence—plush crimson rugs accented by lavish gold detailing graced the floors. Velvet curtains framed thewindows. Paintings by some of the world’s most revered artists hung on the walls.

Shrill sounds of fornication emanated from Gideon’s room as Caiden passed, rolling his eyes at the attending guards.

Following the map in his mind, he climbed the winding staircase up to Gideon’s study. Perched atop the highest tower, Gideon spent many days gazing out over his kingdom.

A locked door greeted Caiden at the entrance. Running his hands over the carved wood, he looked for a possible release button.

Nothing.

Charging his power, he sent a small bolt into the lock. With a puff of smoke, the door unlocked.

A green rug embroidered with fine gold accents led to an opulent parlor lined with rows of unread books. In the corner, a fire fought off winter’s chill. A steaming mug of cardamom tea filled the room with a warm aroma.

Mangled papers piled high on Gideon’s desk.

Rummaging through the ravings of a madman, Caiden searched frantically for Gideon’s diary.

“There you are,” he said proudly to an empty room. His fingers gripping a leatherbound book with the wordIronheartengraved on the cover.

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