“Citrine?” Lyr asked.
I nodded. “We use these for light here, and they do allow some torchlight.”
Her eyebrows crinkled in curiosity, and then she quickly returned to looking over every section in wonder. I looked,too, watching as the citrine stones cast a warm golden hue across the shelves of scrolls.
We were led through the first tower, out onto a small bridge that led to another tower, and then another before we were finally in the one that contained all the studies, the one I used to frequent with Dario and Garrett when prepping for academy exams.
We were shown into a private study room I hadn’t seen before. And from the looks on Dario’s and Aiden’s faces, they had no idea this room existed either. Our eyes met, our shoulders all lifting in a confused shrug—as if we’d forgotten we were enemies now. For a second, we were just the sons of nobles, at the library for a study session, when we’d rather be elsewhere. Training. Fighting. Partying. Dario would have wondered if he could access the room to bring his latest lover there, while Garrett would be plotting to get Aiden alone in it.
I’d be dreaming about Lyr.
The door closed behind us, and the fantasy shut down. Garrett wasn’t here. Garrett wasn’t going to be here. Somehow, being in exile, it had felt easier to grieve for him. To understand that he wasn’t where I was, because his place was here. It was easier to pretend I’d left him behind, left him safe with Aiden and Dario. To forget the last time I’d seen him.
But the longer I spent here with my old friends, without Garrett, the more his absence began to feel like a living pulsing thing. The more I missed him.
And the more guilty I felt. The more my final secret about him weighed on me.
Our escort remained outside, and as Dario and Aiden took their seats at the long study table, I did my best to push thoughts of Garrett away. I had to focus.
The table was already full of neatly organized scrolls. For a moment, we all stared at each other, no one willing to take charge, or open the discussion.
Then Lyr’s eyes narrowed on Aiden and Dario. “What has your Imperator told you?”
“Enough,” Aiden said.
“No. Not good enough. What do you know? What do you need explained?” she asked.
“Sounds to me more like you want us to reveal something to you that we shouldn’t,” Aiden said. “Well, we won’t. Give it up now. Your efforts will prove fruitless.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll assume you both know nothing, despite the fact that you’re here means you must have some level of clearance. So, I’ll fill you in. And don’t worry, I’ll speak very slowly, and use really small words.” She glared at Dario.
“Go as slow as you want, my lady.” Dario winked, his tone suggestive. “I can go all night long. I’m not under a deadline. But you are. You’re the one with a month to fulfill your contract to His Highness.”
“So then you know we’re going to the Valabellum,” Lyr said.
“Myself to fucking Moriel,” Dario said. “Yes, we know. We also know we’re planning to take the Emperor’s big old shield from his throne room, and then spirit Lady Julianna from the Palace.”
Lyr stiffened, her eyes darting to me, and then Meera whose eyes widened.
“What?” Meera asked. “We’re going to rescue Jules? With Imperator Hart’s help?”
“We are,” Lyr said gently. “I’m sorry, Meera. I wanted to tell you right away. But I haven’t exactly been given any permission to talk to you.” Her aura flared with anger, the emotions jutting out toward Dario and Aiden, but quickly, her focus returned to Meera. Meera, whose relationship with Lyr had been rocky for days. “You should have known,” she said.
I realized then, if Meera had no idea about the plan, then she still had no idea she was Cassarya, that she was the Goddess of the Blue Ray. And I didn’t know when we’d be able to tell her.
Meera took a few deep breaths, her eyes watery.
Lyr reached out a hand to Meera, and squeezed. Dario and Aiden watched the interaction, their bodies leaning forward, as if they were audience members at a play.
“Can you give them some privacy?” I asked.
“No,” Aiden said quickly, his voice harsh. “Whatever game this is, whatever madness your father wants, you’re still under our watch.”
Fuck. Meera deserved to know the truth about Cassarya, and about the shield. Dario and Aiden might know we were stealing it, but we weren’t going to tell them Ereshya’s shard lay in its center.
“Do you know who Lady Julianna is?” Lyr asked, her voice shaking.
Dario, to my surprise, nodded, his eyes softening. “She’s your cousin.”
