Page 31 of Within the Hollow Heart

Etta and Gideon went on to his private office, but Jules stopped before turning to face Nickolas. “My time is nearly up.”

Nickolas took her hand in his. “Shall I walk with you?”

Her mouth tightened as if she were holding back emotion. “I think I would like to be alone for a while.”

He lifted her hand, bending forward to press a soft kiss on her skin. “Good night, my lady. Know that we will do all we can to help.”

Eyes misty, Jules only nodded. It seemed as if she might want to speak, but she did not, only offering him a weak smile before she drew her hand away and turned to go. Nickolas watched as Ian followed with the bird, down the narrow corridor to her room.

“Nickolas?” Etta called from the doorway of Gideon’s office.

He cleared his face of concern then turned to join them.

* * *

Etta had securedthe door to Gideon’s private office, and the three of them had huddled around his orderly desk. Gideon was as proper and orderly as a man could be, in Nickolas’s estimation, but the chancery was stuffed with shelves and stacks and carts. Records of all kinds were housed in every nook and cranny of the ancient wing, and nothing could be done for the dry, dim environment that smelled of aged parchment and spilled ink. The man probably itched to have it all sorted and filed.

He was, after all, twitching like a schoolboy about to get the rod because of the fae relic centered on his desk.

Nickolas let out a low whistle. “I’m no expert, but that looks extraordinarily old and highly illegal.”

“It is,” Gideon muttered without looking up. “Don’t touch it.”

Nickolas reclined farther onto the desk, just to annoy him. “Well, someone has to.”

Gideon’s jaw tightened, but he carefully opened the cover, its binding making a mild crackle of complaint. Nickolas leaned in. The pages had aged well enough and were marked with symbols and lines that seemed to be translated into print. Color dotted the layout sparingly, bits of gold and vibrant red in a few of the illustrations. Not taking his gaze from the writing, Nickolas asked, “Where did you say your father found this?”

Etta shrugged. “I had always assumed he’d taken it off a prisoner. Now, I’m not so certain.”

“I’ve read to here,” Gideon said. “The rest will be new.”

“And we’re looking for…” Nickolas prompted.

“Marriage contracts.”

“Right.” Something settled in the pit of Nickolas’s stomach. It only grew worse as time went on, because Gideon had turned to a section that illustrated fae ceremonies, a full court in attendance beneath a midnight full moon. He did not want to imagine Jules in place of the fae bride, but he could not look away. Trees rose around a clearing, a stone throne centering the edge of the circle like the finest carved marble. Fae creatures of all kinds stood in witness as a prince knelt before his intended.

The office had fallen quiet. Etta placed a gentle hand on Gideon’s shoulder. He turned the page.

Pages later, they found what they’d been looking for. Hours after that, Gideon’s desk was scattered with documents and scrolls, the three of them poring over contract wording and ancient rites and cross-checking every single aspect of the law.

Gideon sat straighter. “I think we’ve got it. We only need to verify these last few details.”

There was color in Etta’s cheeks, and Nickolas could feel a fluttering excitement inside his chest. He didn’t want to hope, but there it was, strewn out in front of them—a loophole that might be used to subvert the bargain’s terms.

He stood. “We have to tell Jules.”

Etta straightened. “There’s no use waking her now. We have to prepare, and she’s not had enough rest. We’ll tell her in the morning.”

Gideon stood as well and wrapped the fae book with a cloth before placing it inside his jacket. When there was a knock at the door, everyone froze.

An instant later, Etta was beside Nickolas, blocking view of the documents on the desk. “Enter,” she called.

A soldier stepped in, tall and thin, her dark hair tied into a clean knot above the red-trimmed collar of the uniform of the marshal’s office. The soldier gave a practiced salute.

“Report,” Etta said.

The soldier glanced at Nickolas and Gideon then hedged, “There’s a problem with one of the prisoners.”

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