Page 244 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

The five of them headed upstairs to the library with Graves at her side.

“How did things go for you last night?” Graves asked Nate.

“As planned,” Nate said on a sigh. “I was nominated for the convocation alongside Amberdash.”

“Who else did the Men of Valor nominate?”

“Amberdash’s second, a wolf by the name of Nova Lee,” he said with a wrinkle of his nose. “She’s had it out for me since I helped with the Treaty. She’s going to be upset when I beat her.”

“We’ll deal with it,” Graves told him.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Nate said. “Plus, I have wedding festivities that are more important. Maura’s family is hosting an entire week of Indian wedding parties since the ceremony is more traditionally American. Are you still planning to come to events this week?” Nate’s eyes flicked to Kierse. “Maura would understand if you had to cancel.”

“I’ll be there. Gen and I both,” Kierse said at once. She’d rather be celebrating someone else’s happiness than thinking about her own misery.

Gen smiled. “I’m all for it. I used to tattoo with henna for fun. A Mehndi would be an honor to witness.”

Nate blew out a breath of relief. “Great. She’ll appreciate you both there.”

Kierse’s hand reached for her wren necklace, remembering again too late that it wasn’t there. Lorcan still had it. The last piece of her mother and it was gone. She’d kept it all those years on the streets, and somehow now it was lost. Her father’s knife was on her belt. She reflexively rubbed her hand along the handle, imagining burying the thing in a Druid’s chest.

Graves pushed open the door to the library, and for a second, Kierse’s breath caught at the sight before her. Almost every available square space was covered withvaluable collectibles that had been the showcase pieces for the Curator. Jason’s thievery on display in the Holly Library.

“Whoa,” she whispered.

“We did good, eh?” Nate asked, nudging her shoulder.

While Kierse and Lyra had been getting through the security for the cauldron, Nate and Edgar had cleared out the showcase room into a van. With the ballroom on lockdown thanks to Walter’s warding, they’d been able to steal the entire lot of Jason’s collection, not just the cauldron, without anyone the wiser.

“How did everyone take it when the doors reopened?” Kierse asked, running a finger over the crown jewels she’d noticed the day before.

“I was just as shocked as they were,” Nate said with a wink.

“Lyra claimed the photograph.” Graves pointed at a black-and-white picture. “If you have something in mind, you can take it. Otherwise I’ll sell it all off and give everyone a cut.”

“What do you think that cut will be?” Nate asked.

“I was estimating each cut at twenty-three million apiece.”

Gen gaped at him. “What?”

“Too low?” Graves asked her. “It may be higher if we find the right buyer.”

“That’s…” Gen floundered. “That’s… You’re going to give me twenty-three million dollars?”

“Each.” He sighed softly. “Though I may have to find new help.”

Kierse shrugged. “New blood might be good for you.”

“Perhaps.”

Ethan’s eyes widened between them. “How do I get in on this?”

Gen leaned her head on his shoulder and grinned. “Don’t worry. We’ll share.”

“I won’t,” Nate said with a laugh. “And the money’s great and all, but what about the cauldron?”

“Genesis,” Graves said, tipping his head at her.

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