Page 73 of When Storms Ruin

“What is it?” Nik asked through gritted teeth. A muscle feathered in his jaw, and I could see that he was losing his patience, too.

I didn’t want to draw any more attention to us, and I certainly didn’t want to leave a reputation behind of causing trouble in The Shadow. As it was, people knew we were here now. Phineas knew who we were. Word would get around that Diana Kotova, heir to the throne, had been in The Shadow. We didn’t need trouble, and we didn’t need people searching for us. Especially those loyal to Donika, or those in her army.

“There’s onelittlepiece of information I’ve left out…” Phineas grinned, moving to stand and dust the dirt off his leather riding pants.

“And what might that be,friend?” Puck’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he moved to stand beside Tess.

A figure appeared at the mouth of the alley, and they didn’t appear very happy. We needed to get out of here…now.

“You wouldn’t be able to perform the spell anyway, even if you had it in your possession.”

“And why is that?” Puck asked, scorn thick in his voice as he pushed Tess towards the other end of the alley. Towards a crossroad that would lead us up and out of The Shadow.

Another figure joined the first, and Phineas’ grin deepened.

“It’s abinding spell. In order to bind it, you needtwogenerations. A bloodline. Afraid you’re fresh out of luck where that is concerned,” Phineas replied with a shrug.

I wanted to cross the space between us and strangle him with my bare hands. Even if we found the spell, it would be useless to me because Donika had killed my mother. The only other witch in my direct bloodline that was still alive was Donika.

I bit back the tears that stung the back of my eyes, and Nik moved to block my view from Phineas.

“Run along,” Phineas cooed, moving closer now that he was flanked by a few of his men, his confidence renewed. “I hope we meet again soon.”

“Let’s go, Diana,” Nik’s voice was soft in my ear as he placed a hand against the small of my back to guide me.

We moved towards the mouth of the alley where Puck and Tess waited, and Phineas and his men followed suit.

“Faster,” he urged in my ear as he pushed me to walk before him.

He turned his back towards us as we retreated. As if he would fight all three men by himself. But after one long glance at Phineas, Nik took off after us.

We rushed through the streets at a clipped pace, following Puck’s lead as he appeared to know where we were going. I recognized the long, dark, tunnel and the spelled door on the other side of it. We raced up the steps and out of The Shadow, and it wasn’t until we were safely a block away from the staircase that I allowed myself a relieved sigh.

I bent over, my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. Nik had made sure we weren’t followed, but there was no way we could enter The Shadow again any time soon. Phineas and his men would spread the word, and it would be one of the first places Donika and her men would search for us.

“Well…that was a bust,” Tess’ voice was ragged from running. “I’m sorry, Diana.”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts, turning my face towards the sky that still threatened rain. “We will have to find another way. Another spell. It can’t be the only way. It can’t.”

Tess nodded in agreement.

I couldn’t give up so easily. There had to be another way, and we would find it. Maybe my grimoire would sense our change in direction and show me a new vision, guide us on a new path.

I let out a heavy exhale, and with it, my disappointment. As Alastir had said, I was hardly the first Stormshade to be granted an unnatural amount of power. There were those that came before me that struggled to control their magic,and I was no different. If there were answers to be found…I would find them.

I moved to unclasp my cloak around my neck, suddenly hot, when I felt something rustle in my jacket pocket. I patted it lightly, and it made the sound of crumpling paper.

Tess raised a brow in my direction, a smile on her face. “What isthat?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied, reaching into my jacket and taking out a folded piece of paper.

It was brown parchment, aged by weather and time. I unfolded it carefully, a gasp escaping me.

“You havegotto be kidding me.” Tess laughed, the realest laugh I had heard in a long time.

“What?” Nik asked, moving to see what it was that I had in my grasp.

On the paper before me was the key, a little worse for wear, but it was right here. “What the hell?”

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