Page 48 of The Stygian Crown

Logan nodded, and she rested against his chest as he stroked through her hair.

“Can I attend the meeting with the Stygians? I should be there.” Kara expected him to argue with her, but he nodded in agreement.

“We’ll go together.”

* * *

Jon,Rahj, Athar, and Thomas sat around a circular table in the meeting room. Nerves danced in Kara’s stomach as she followed Logan inside. Thomas’s eyes were hard and flinty when they fell on her, settling there before shifting away. Kara slid into one of the empty chairs and avoided looking at him. This wasn’t the setting she’d imagined meeting him again in. Logan sat down beside her.

Athar’s gaze slid over her tousled hair, and he grunted. “Thank the mother you two are tuppin’ again. He’s been a right bastard the past month. Knew yall’d be back together, though. Recognized that look in his father’s eye, too.”

Kara’s cheeks flushed, and she caught the small smile curling Logan’s lips.

Logan cleared his throat. “Enough about my bedroom activities. Is the room secure?”

Rahj nodded. “Scanned and sealed.”

“What’s with all the rabble? Thought this was a circle meetin’.” Athar said.

“Thomas is reporting to the other teams in the city, and the matter directly concerns Kara. What have you found?” Logan asked.

“There wasn’t much—seems Salizar was vigilant about destroying evidence, but we found a letter.” Rahj pulled a piece of parchment from his jacket and unfolded it. “Tricky piece of work, runescribed so that only a blood key would display the message. I was able to counter the lock eventually, but it's sophisticated. We're not dealing with amateurs.” Rahj slid the paper across the table, and Kara and Logan read it together.

She will bein the palace soon. Inform me of her movements. Do no harm—we mean to take her alive.

“The princess,”Kara concluded, sliding the letter back. “They mean to capture her, not kill her.”

“More leverage. She’s also the only heir aside from Calim,” Jon said.

Kara kept her mouth shut. If Namirah was her grandmother—and it was a big if—she wouldn’t be in the line to succeed, anyway, having been born out of wedlock. And she had no interest in ruling this mess.

Rahj tapped his fingers against the table. “The teleportation rune in Salizar’s workshop—transporting objects is one thing, but people? I’ve never heard of it being done successfully. A friend of mine lost a hand attempting it, and he only teleported across his bedroom. I’d be surprised if he arrived on the other side intact. The magic singe on the rune was powerful, though. Whatever reagent he used to charge it was potent.”

“Assume he made it,” Logan said, his face tightening.

Kara's heart stuttered. Was he going to share the theory of her heritage with them? She wasn’t ready to accept it herself, let alone share it with the world. Her heart swelled a little when he didn’t elaborate.

Rahj arched a brow, his eyes ever-knowing. “So what’s our next step?”

“Were you able to trace where the transport sent him?” Thomas asked.

Rahj shook his head.

“We have to assume Kara’s cover is burnt,” Jon said. “Salizar likely has runes all over the palace, which means he might have known her identity from the start.”

“We need to continue the charade,” Logan said. “It will keep us near the princess. Stay armed. If anyone attacks, they’ll tip their hand. I’ll have extra eyes on Kara and Ariana. Kara will take the news to Calim. It might be time to inform the princess of the threat, but I'll leave the decision to him.”

“The Gavrochean delegation is arriving by ship this week,” Rahj said. “The enemy will act soon if they want to stop the betrothal announcement.”

Logan knit his fingers together. “Pull Jasper and Eric’s squads in from the city, then. Put them wherever they’ll fit—kitchens, courtiers, stableboys. I want everyone on this. Is there anything else?”

The room was silent.

“If you see something, say something. Snuff the seventh candle from the eastern entrance on the second floor servant’s hall if you have information. We’ll find you.”

Everyone began to stand. Kara took a deep breath. “Thomas, may I speak with you? Alone.”

His eyes flicked to hers, icy emotion warring within them. “I suppose.”

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