Page 72 of Crown of Darkness
“It seems to be the best option for all of us. I don’t think your sister is interested in extending the invitation.”
Over her shoulder, I see Lucere pace to the edge of the balcony, looking down on us with a cool expression. Her gaze locks on Imerys.
“Thank you. For saving my life and Gossamer’s.”
“I’m sorry about the books.”
Imerys squeezes my hand. “And speaking of books, I was thinking about what you were asking before. About the relics. Is that what you were truly searching for?”
“Searching for?”
“Oh, please…. I’m not an idiot. You broke into my library and you were searching for something. It wasn’t about the Old Ones, though I think you’re interested in them too.”
The urge to ask dies on the tip of my tongue. I left her books on my bed, for I didn’t feel right about taking them, after everything.
“I owe you my life,” she points out. “If I can help in any way…. I swear I will not tell another soul.”
I have to trust someone. And while my husband and the others would slay any monsters we came across, when it comes to finding information, this is what I need. Someone with knowledge. Someone who has access to information.
“I need to find the Crown of Shadows.”
Suspicion dawns in her eyes. “Why?”
I don’t want to lie to her. “Because I’m tired of living under the yoke of another, and this is the only way I can free myself.”
Imerys nibbles on her lip. “I’ve heard of it, though I don’t know where. Or what. Just…. The name sounds familiar somehow.”
Curse it. It couldn’t be this easy.
“If I find anything, then I’ll send it your way,” she promises.
“Thank you.”
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Fifteen
Thiago sentences me to our chambers for several days, because although there’s no outward sign of damage, my throat remains raw and I have a pressing headache that stabs harder every time I use my magic.
I don’t know if he’s pleased I made such progress—he’s been training me to access my powers for the past three months with little response—but he does insist I rest.
“Maybe I’ve been going about this the wrong way?” he muses. “Maybe you don’t need solitude and meditation to access your magic, but something more pressing.”
I pause, halfway through a bowl of soup. “You’re going to send me into a burning building next training session?”
“No.” There’s a certain sort of wickedness in his eyes. “But I’m sure I can conjure… motivation.”
“Just remember: I can set your britches on fire.”
He snorts as he pushes away from the bed. “Or our sheets.”
“That only happened once!”
“Once is enough,” he says with a wink, as I’m about to throw my buttered roll at him. “Unless you mean that metaphorically, in which case I’m quite happy to volunteer. Get some rest.”
“Did you hear anything about Lysander?”
His face sobers. “The Prince of Shadows sent his hexbreaker. She worked her magic, and Baylor said there’s a little difference, but Lysander’s still trapped in animal form.”
