Page 91 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Shaking her head, she went to the third floor, where a wooden sign indicated the history books were kept.

While the shifters were long gone, humans and Fae seemed to have learned little, still engaging in spying and mistrust.

A large table stood in the middle of the half-moon room, six comfortable chairs set around it, and she cautiously placed the lantern she’d carried down on top of it. Making sure the glass was secured—so she didn’t risk burning down the entire place—she walked along the shelves, picking up a book here and there.

When she couldn’t carry more, Lessia brought them back to the table, sorted them in the order she wanted to read them, and got comfortable.

The first book outlined how the Fae had chosen Vastala as their home, the humans Ellow, and the shifters Korina.

The Fae had wanted the island closest to the next realm, where another lineage of Fae lived—where they’d migrated from.

The humans had wanted the land with the most space, and the thousands of islands that made up Ellow suited them.

Already outcasts back then, the shifters were content with Korina, the most secluded island, with cliffs as high as the clouds skirting the whole island.

The book didn’t explain how the shifters traveled in andout of their island, but since they could change their human form to anyone they wanted, animal and human and Fae alike, Lessia guessed they’d shifted into something with wings and flown in.

The next book she picked up depicted the war, how the shifter ruler convinced the human royals that the Fae were plotting to take over their lands—that their population had outgrown Vastala and wanted to claim all Havlands for themselves.

The humans sent out covert ships to take down Fae ones, with the goal of destroying their entire fleet before they could take over Ellow.

The Fae didn’t respond kindly.

King Rioner’s father sent out his water wielders to drown hundreds of human ships as revenge.

The human king retaliated by bringing over his entire army to Vastala, targeting innocent families, children, and whoever they came across.

That prompted King Rioner’s father to send out every offensive magic wielder, the fire wielders spearing the operation and burning down most of the fields, forests, and towns in Ellow. Only Asker remained relatively unharmed because most of the fleet and guards were brought back to protect the royal family and the nobles who left their people and islands to fend for themselves.

Thousands upon thousands perished, and in the end, even King Rioner’s father was captured and brutally murdered.

It wasn’t until a lowly fisherman overheard the shifter ruler urging the human king to take out all Vastala and approached King Rioner, who’d just inherited the throne, that humans and Fae realized they’d been misled.

The shifter ruler had wanted all Havlands for himself andhis people, and he was patiently waiting for the humans and Fae to destroy each other before he made his move.

Instead, they joined forces, hunting down every single shifter and killing them until no more remained in Havlands.

More humans and Fae died, and the book depicted how thousands of bodies floated across the Eiatis Sea, staining its crystal surface crimson.

There had been so few survivors to rebuild the lands that humans and Fae had no choice but to collaborate—share the resources of their lands—to persist.

“That’s a lot of books.”

Lessia looked up to find Loche leaning his hands on one of the chairs opposite her.

She’d been so engrossed in reading she hadn’t even heard him approach.

Closing the book, she eyed him. “What are you doing here?”

Loche dragged out the wooden chair and sat down, resting his elbows on the table and leaning his head in his hands as he eyed her right back. “I am here a lot. I find reading soothing after a long day. I tend to prefer the fictional works, though. Those look quite boring.” He waved toward the thick leather-bound history books before her.

Lessia narrowed her eyes. “Seriously, Loche. I don’t have time for your games. I know what you’re trying to do.”

Tongue darting out to wet his lips, Loche leaned forward. “And what am I trying to do?”

She refused to let her eyes follow his tongue as it slid over his exposed teeth, clenching her hands into fists by her side. “You’re trying to seduce me intotelling you all my secrets.”

Lessia wasn’t sure what she had expected, but Loche breaking out in a loud, real laugh wasn’t it.

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