Page 82 of House of Ruin
“Doesn’t sound like my mother either.”
Alecto turned away to focus on the boxes. Her mother had stored various collectables that didn’t fit her mood or taste around the home. Hopefully, she’d also stored her secrets here so Alecto could find out who her mother had actually been.
“What are we looking for?” Blaze asked after Alecto opened the first box.
“Anything. Notebooks, memory orbs, letters.”
Blaze didn’t need further encouragement. As Alecto opened the boxes, he dug through the old stuff, inspecting the rusted statues and dusty books.
After thirty minutes of rummaging through useless old junk, with watering eyes and a runny nose, Alecto had a hard time keeping her disappointment at bay. She was certain there would be something here. She hoped there would be.
“It doesn’t look like there’s any proof,” Blaze said, tossing a plush rabbit aside. “Maybe your dad has a safe or something where he would keep something like that?”
Alecto dropped on her knees, leaning into the biggest of the boxes. One last time she rummaged through the junk inside. There was a small metal box at the very bottom, locked.
“This might be something,” Alecto said, lifting the box for Blaze to see.
He arched a brow, not convinced.
“It’s locked,” Alecto said, rising to her feet. She rattled the tiny bronze lock. “Help me open it, asshole.”
“Just because you asked so nicely, Black.”
Alecto resisted the urge to flip Blaze off. She placed the box on the floor between them. Then she walked up to Blaze, standing so close that their bodies touched.
Blaze took her hands, lacing their fingers together. It was very hard to ignore the electric current, the tingly warmth spreading from the tips of her fingers all over her body at Blaze’s touch.
He kissed her first. It was quick and harsh, their lips meeting in a hurry.
It didn’t matter, though, once they peeled away from each other, breathing heavily, Alecto’s body was hot with need.
“Apereo.”
The lock on the box snapped, the lid popping open to reveal the contents. Inside the metal box lay a black leather journal. A shimmery scaled snake was wrapped tightly around it.
Alecto inspected the journal in her hands, trailing a finger over the snake. It was made of black bone, what kind, Alecto wasn’t sure.
“It’s locked,” she said.
“I’ve never seen something like that,” Blaze said. He came closer to see the binding around the journal. “It looks similar to the spell we have on our Book, but not quite like it.”
Alecto nodded. The snake coiling around it was indeed magical, an electric current shimmering over the scales.
“There must be something inside if it’s protected with such an elaborate spell,” Blaze observed after a moment.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Alecto said.
“Alecto!” Jolene’s voice came from downstairs. “Alecto! We’re ready for some hot springs. Are you coming?”
“Coming!” Alecto called back, hoping Jolene and the others wouldn’t come looking for her. “Let’s go.”
Blaze grabbed her forearm, yanking her closer to his chest. Their gazes locked. For a moment, his eyes dropped to her mouth, and he licked his lips.
“If there is something inside that journal that explains the past our parents shared, I want to know.”
There was something in Blaze’s eyes that told Alecto he was looking for answers just like she was. She could understand his need for it. It would be fair of her to share, to give him the peace of mind she was also seeking.
One part of her wanted to refuse him. To make him suffer. That would be a perfect way to add to her current revenge plan. But another part of her couldn’t resist the soft pleading in his gaze as he waited for her answer. That was why she said, “Of course.”
