Page 133 of House of Ruin
He wished he could storm into the House of Dragons and slam a fist into Norse’s face. A few times, preferably.
Maybe he might even want to kill the bastard. He had been poisoning Blaze for months now, tried to frame him for murder.
It was Blaze’s right to seek retribution, wasn’t it?
The thought of vengeance sent a stab of pain through his chest. It was hard not to think about Alecto.
He had been cruel to her last night, but when he’d woken up this morning, all that had been left was a painful emptiness deep inside him.
“You.” Broken Horn appeared from around the corner. “Come along, witchling. The Queen requested to see you.”
Blaze flicked the butt of his cigarette, his pulse immediately racking up. Was today the day when the Imp Queen finally called Blaze in to fulfill their bargain?
Broken Horn led Blaze inside the warehouse. Just like the last time, Blaze was taken to her office, where behind a crimson stone slab sat Moren.
As stunning as ever.
She didn’t look up from the notebook she was writing in until Blaze sat on a chair in front of the desk.
“Mr. Leveau.” All the hairs at the back of Blaze’s neck rose at the sound of her voice.
Blaze inclined his head. “Moren.”
“Do you know why you’re here, Mr. Leveau?”
“Have no idea, my queen.”
Moren didn’t smile, and neither did she say anything else for a long moment. They sat there, looking at each other.
“Valeria trusts you,” Moren finally said. She closed the notebook and pushed it aside. “That means something.”
Blaze wasn’t sure what the appropriate answer would be. So he only nodded.
What Moren said surprised Blaze. “You don’t know this yet, but your parents’ past can come to haunt you. That’s the cruel nature of life. Kids are supposed to have clean slates. Yet what they often have are burdens they didn’t earn.”
Blaze frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
“Your father has something that belongs to me.” Moren lit a cigarette, grey smoke rising to the ceiling as the it smoldered between her fingers. “He thinks he knows what it is. He thinks he’s smart because he’s in possession of it. Yet he’s just another fool looking for all the wrong things.”
“The chest,” Blaze said. Moren nodded. “Val told me that it’s a real thing.”
“It is a very real thing. And it’s much more valuable than what your father paid for it. He doesn’t know it yet, but it’s not very useful for him.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Moren tilted her head to the side, as if evaluating him. “I need you to return the chest to me, Mr. Leveau.”
Blaze shifted in his seat. It was hard to find a comfortable position. “Is this going to fulfill the bargain I made earlier?”
Moren’s lips twitched, amusement dancing in her amber gaze. “No, Mr. Leveau. This is a separate matter. A business deal, if you will.”
Blaze rubbed his chin, considering Moren’s words.
She didn’t force him to agree. But it didn’t feel as if Blaze had the choice to refuse the proposition.
“What’s in the chest?” Blaze asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
