Page 105 of A Drop of Anguish
He nods and continues his pacing.
I sit at the table and wait, leg bouncing restlessly. I try to distract my mind from what all of this could mean by flipping through the book. They must have delivered that journal entry just so I’d go looking for the book, right? And left the card, knowing I’d eventually find it.
The big question is, why? Are they expecting me to do something? There are no other instructions like there were last time. And why not just deliver the card to my door? Obviously, they have access to my dorm room because they’ve been sending me messages for weeks. Is this all an elaborate scheme to get into our heads?
It’s clearly working on Jarron. His fingers have been replaced by massive claws, and curling black horns have appeared on his head.
To control my own nervous energy, I flip casually through the book while Jarron paces back and forth until Laithe finally arrives.
Laithe stomps in, their expression wary.
Jarron points to the calling card like it’s a snake that will strike me at any moment, before Laithe even reaches us. There is sweat on Laithe’s brow, but otherwise, they seem calm as they approach.
“It was in the book,” I explain when Laithe peers over at the card. When they still don’t move any closer, I give them a quick summary of how I found it and why.
Still, nothing. I want to shake them both. What are you doing? Laithe’s gaze shoots to Jarron then back to the card, tension growing in the lines on their face.
“We need to find Corrine,” I say finally. “I need to know if she’s still here, in the school. If she’s not—”
Laithe’s expression is slack as they say the words that send a shiver down my spine. “The games have begun.”
I swallow. My mind spins.
If only I’d known the truth, I never would have entered the games.
My blood runs cold.
What piece of information are you missing, Candice?
“He’s not going to let you out of his sight. I’ll…” Laithe looks over their shoulder. “I’ll go and send a messenger to Minor Hall.”
I sigh, realizing they’re right. Laithe is too strong to go in, and Jarron isn’t going to let me go. “Find Lola or Janet. Send them.”
Laithe nods then strolls purposefully from the room. My skin is crawling, a feeling inside telling me I need to move. Telling me I’m running out of time for something.
But what?
Is that my instinct telling me to follow the card? To go chasing after the games a second time?
My hands shake as I flip through the book some more, barely able to register the words until I reach a page with notes in the margin. I pick the book up with both hands and lean over it, bringing it close to my face.
Is this why he attacked?one of the notes reads.
He was mine all along? Why didn’t I see that?
I flip to the next page; there are more random notes and a few highlights in a section about Orizian mates. My heart pounds even harder.
The actual content of the book seems to be fairly tame, with no mention of chosen mates or imprinting, but instead focuses on how a demon will cherish their mate above anything else, even above their own kingdom. It does tell the story of a young demon that destroyed a goblin consulate in defense of his mate, but it’s painted in a romantic light.
Why didn’t he tell me?This one is written in harsh dark letters, like the writer was angry.
I turn to the next page. The end of the chapter. The page is half empty of text, but the rest is filled in by scrawled handwriting.
Dear Candice,
I praythis message finds you. He doesn’t know I’ve sent it, and it has to stay that way. There’s so much to tell you and not a lot of time for me to pen this before the plan is set. Vincent is baiting you, expecting to lure you and Jarron in. He has this elaborate plan that I don’t agree with, but I don’t have a choice but to go with it. The more I play along the easier it will be to save you both.
I need you to play along too, with a few exceptions.
