Page 168 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

Kazimir passed his hand across the envelope’s surface and sniffed the wax. “No poison,” he said. “No subtle toxins, at least—not the Alchemist’s style. They’re more about flamboyant transformations.” Then Griffin performed a quick enchantment check and nodded. Kazimir offered me the letter, staying close so that our arms brushed.

I tore open the seal carefully, uneasy about the dancing loops of script. The Alchemist’s writing filled the page:

Dearest Lady Blackrose,

It has come to my attention that Lord Atticus Evenfall—your father—awaits a tragic end at Auremar’s behest. Assassins are enroute to remove him as a loose end. Whether you think he deserves such a fate is your affair, but I suspect you may want this information for your own reasons. You must act swiftly if you wish to intervene, or simply observe. I, of course, find the possibilities thrilling.

Let me know how the story unfolds.

I crumpled the edge of the parchment but then passed it to Kazimir in silence. He skimmed the lines, his jaw flexing. I doubted he cared much about my father’s mortal peril from a moral standpoint, but we both recognized the manipulation for what it was. My father, the man who sold me to the highest bidder, was apparently marked for execution by King Auremar. Now I had… options.

Kazimir lowered the paper. “So Auremar cleans up his mess by killing your father.”

“Probably to hide the deal they struck involving me,” I said, each word tasting bitter. “Though that’s hardly a secret, anymore, is it? It means the king’s hiding something else.”

“The Alchemist doesn’t hand out truths from the goodness of their heart. They’ll expect a favor in return if we intervene.”

“Unless it’s all a lie.” I looked up at Kaz. “Could be a Syndicate trick.”

He shook his head. “They don’t fabricate details outright. They prefer real sparks that set everything ablaze. It’s more entertaining. I’d bet Auremar wants no loose ends.”

I inhaled, swallowing any flicker of pity. “So if we do nothing, Father dies on Auremar’s terms. If we chase him down, we’ll owe the Alchemist. Great choices.”

“What do you want?” he asked, placing his hand on the small of my back.

I crossed my arms so he wouldn’t feel me trembling. “He’s not worth saving, but if Auremar kills him, I’ll never get the chance to confront him myself.”

No one spoke for a beat. I sensed the tension spiking around us, thick as the residue of burned magic. Griffin busied himself with orb fragments, clearly wanting no part in family matters. Vex just waiting, unblinking.

Kazimir eyed the paper one more time. “Then we’d have to leave now, entanglement be damned. We might face Auremar’s killers along the way. It’s not exactly ideal if we’re stuck staying close.”

“Are you telling me we can’t?”

He looked torn between annoyance and a grudging approval of my nerve. “I’m saying it’s a perfect storm of inconvenience. But if you need to see your father first, then we’ll do it.”

A swirl of emotions almost floored me—fury, old wounds, a twisted gratitude that Kazimir allowed me the choice. Possibly some excited glint that I’d confront my father.

Griffin cleared his throat and hefted the remains of one shattered orb. “I’ll see to the Heirloom while you indulge your paternal closure.”

“Wait,” I said. “The manor. Those suppression runes my father used... are they still active?”

Kazimir’s gaze sharpened, his hand tightening almost imperceptibly on my back. “Yes. They won’t reach full strength instantly, but don’t underestimate them.”

“Right.”I’m not the same girl he locked away.

I tried stepping away from Kazimir, but a fresh stab of pain made me hiss and pitch forward. Kazimir lunged to catch me before I hit the ground. Our abrupt half-embrace eased the agony, leaving me breathless.

He tried for a wry grin, though his voice still sounded strained. “I’d rather endure an entirely different kind of writhing with you, but once again, the Heirloom has other ideas.”

From behind us, Griffin coughed awkwardly. “Well, no one’s spontaneously exploded, so I’ll count today as a success. We can refine the enchantment later. Just… try not to stray too far from each other.”

I lifted my chin, aware that Kazimir’s arm still circled my waist, his body flush against mine. “At least we aren’t about to blow up the citadel. That’s progress, right?”

He gave me a light squeeze. “I’ll take what I can get.”

And although anger, dread, and a twisted sense of anticipation throbbed inside me, I leaned into Kazimir long enough to steady myself. If we really were stuck together until this entanglement wore off, then so be it—my father’s impending execution demanded a reckoning, and I wasn’t about to cower just because it hurt to walk away from Kazimir’s side.

No. I would face Lord Evenfall on my own terms, even if I had to drag the Dark Lord along with me.

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