Page 142 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“To the party?” Graves asked. His eyes were curious as they swept to Kierse.

“If you want,” Kierse added quickly, knowing he never would. That wasnotGraves’s world. “But I can ask him there regardless.”

“Good. Schwartz, you have your assignment. Kierse and I will bring on our next two members. Laz, I have an idea for you, but I might need to call in a favor. Keep combing through the files to see if there’s anything else in them in the meantime. Send them to me to review.”

Laz nodded.

“Is your warlock friend going to continue to be a problem, sir?” George asked from where he’d been standing silently.

“No,” Graves said gruffly. “I’ve dealt with that.”

Dealt with was a word for it. Montrell had shown up one night, an apology on his lips. Imani was badly injured, and her magic was on the fritz from the car crash. Graves had told him that if Imani ever set foot in his city again, she was going home in a body bag. And because of their previous affiliation, that had been as much leeway as Montrell would ever get from him.

“Edgar, any luck with the stakeout?”

“No one came or went from Sansara in days, sir.”

“So they’re self-sustaining?” Schwartz suggested.

Graves pursed his lips. “It’s possible.”

“Or they moved the door,” Kierse said.

Graves nodded. “That’s also a possibility.”

Since currently only Graves and Kierse could see magic, one of them would have to be the one to look into it.

Before Kierse could even volunteer herself, Graves said,“I’ll look into it. Thank you, Edgar.” Edgar nodded his head once. “Kierse has gotten us one step toward the Curator,” Graves continued. “We’re going to do some work to verify the information she provided.” By work, he meant digging around through her memories again. “Anything else?”

No one said a word. The plan was coming together. Kierse could see his mind working, and already she had ideas to help. She’d broken into the Plaza with Jason. She knew the layout like an old friend.

“Get to work,” Graves said, clapping his hands to end the meeting.

George and Edgar promptly left. Laz hassled Gen out of her seat, insisting she come downstairs for some biscuits with him and Schwartz before they headed out. Kierse stood and stretched her arms overhead. She could still feel the strain from her wound, but Gen had fixed the bulk of the damage.

When everyone was finally gone, Graves’s eyes met hers again. “Are you ready?”

“Are you?” she teased.

He shut the book he’d been looking at. “Always ready for you. Lay down and let’s get started.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Kierse was flat on the chaise. Her heart raced, and she couldn’t seem to calm it down. There was no reason for fear. It certainly wasn’t about Graves, but more what she might find in her broken memories. Cillian Ryan had put this spell on her. He’d been the one to hide her from the world. And she was almost certain that he was the one running Sansara. There were too many coincidences for it to be anything else.

The only way to find out was to go through.

“Breathe. You look like you’re about to panic. I’m not going to torture you.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not panicking.”

“I’ve seen it with others,” Graves said casually. “You’re going to show me something you don’t want me to see if you’re not relaxed.”

“Should I meditate like the tree cult?” she asked, feeling snippy.

He sank down onto a chair opposite her. He looked at her for a long moment before leaning back. “Are you nervous about what you’ll find? Or about seeing Ethan again?” He paused again. “Or Lorcan?”

Kierse let the tension drop from her shoulders. “I don’t know. All of the above.”

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