Page 96 of Spellbound
He scoffed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Naomi shouldered me, grabbing my hand. “Who thought it?Us.” Her eyes bulged. “Actually saving the world.”
“It’s hardly saving the world, Nai,” Maddox answered from ahead of us.
“Don’t listen to him. It kind of is,” I said, though it was a bit of an exaggeration. I admired her positivity. If it weren’t for her and Maddox, I would still be stuck in a vicious circle of depression and self-doubt. At least I could laugh again, even if it felt a little morbid to do so after finding Alexander’s body last night and knowing what was ahead of us. Somewhere in the depths of that forest or high in those mountains were vengeful gods with the ability to rip Istinia to shreds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
We checked out of thehotel and hurried through the small town with quaint shops and market stalls, where whispers of local slaughters were circling like the plague. Maddox rushed to one of the stalls on the dirt road and bargained for some apples.
I leaned into a conversation between a group of three women.
“Oh, yes,” one said to the others, her eyes wide. “The entire family, gone. Killed in the night by some monster.”
The second, shorter woman said, “No monster. I heard it was a man.”
“Serves ’em right,” the third snapped back in a whisper. “No-gooders anyway. Good riddance, if ya ask me.”
Naomi pulled me away. “I’m sure it’s a coincidence.”
I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but they’d said it was a man. “Maybe it was Aziel.”
She fumbled her fingers. “Maybe, but people do get murdered.”
“Alexander,” I said to remind her. “Freya’s lover is killed right outside our hotel, then in the same night, an entire family is killed. Ithasto be them.”
“I doubt Raiden would have done it.” She squeezed my arm.
Maddox walked back to us. “Fruit.” He offered a collection of apples, bananas, and some plums. “Eat up. I just spoke to one of the locals.” He gestured in the direction of the stall. “He confirmed a family was killed last night, some rich folk with more power and money than sense.”
I looked around. “Why do they live here then—I mean, did?”
“Probably for the quiet,” Naomi said. “My dad’s friends who are super rich live outside the city and have houses in the city for work and such.”
“Makes sense.” I tapped my fingers against my lips. My stomach was in knots. It had to be Aziel. I didn’t for a second want to believe this was the work of Raiden. “Should we go see the house?”
