“Why?” I started past him. “You don’t tell me of your whereabouts or your mysterious business that is apparently more important than working on a plan.”
Francis sighed before replying, “I went to the human village near Faris to help with the rebuilding after the attack.” He walked beside me. “I promise to always tell you my whereabouts if you promise me the same.” He reached for the door, holding it open for me.
“I don’t actually care what you do with your spare time, Francis.” I walked into the castle, guilt spreading through my blood. How could I be mad at him after his candidness? “I am not a child that needs constant supervision.”
The bright luminance of candlelight gleamed in the hallways of the castle, the paintings on the walls stared at me with curiosity.
“I was worried you were in danger, Cordelia. Surely you can understand that.” Francis’ hand brushed mine as we made our way through the hall. “Despite what you like to tell yourself, I care for your safety.” He stopped before the door of his study. “Come, we have much to discuss.”
The wooden floors creaked as I entered the room, following after Francis.
He sat before the oak table; pieces of parchment covered every inch of the surface, connecting at the corners. They resembled something similar to a map of a construction—a castle, perhaps.
“What is all of this?” I studied the papers Francis had arranged in an order I failed to understand.
“It’s the Royal palace’s underground paths. Florence stumbled upon it the other day in the library.” He raised one brow when I leaned on the table, trying to make sense of the ancient layout. “I didn’t even know we carried something like this here,” he hummed more to himself than to me.
“It’s outdated.” I frowned. “By a few centuries at least.”
“That is why I needed your help.” Francis offered me a quill. “Can you fix what is missing?”
“Why?” I ignored the quill. “What do we need a map for if you have me? I know all the passages.”
Francis swallowed, his voice turning gentle. “You shouldn’t go back there, Cordelia.” Before I could protest he added, “I amnot going there to kill Kane, not yet, I am merely looking for the archives Caleb mentioned.”
My dear Moon and the Gods... “No.”
“No?”
“I cannot believe you wasted three nights coming up withthis.” I shook my head. “Caleb can do this for us, he said so himself.”
“You trust him,” Francis scoffed, shaking his head.
“I do not. I simply know when it’s best to use others for your gain.”
“And what do we do when he finds the archives and brings them straight to Kane?”
To that I had nothing to say.
“It’s decided. I am going.” Francis nodded, offering me the quill once again. “As much as it pains me to admit, Caleb is right. Royal steel is our only chance at survival.”
“Then I’m going with you.” I shrugged, pushing the quill away—
“What good are those weapons if we have no one to carry them?” Roxanne’s voice carried through the study, our heads flew in her direction.
Roxanne and Florence stood at the threshold of the room, their hands in a tight embrace.
“How long have you two been standing there for?” Francis’ voice shone with annoyance.
“Long enough,” Roxanne said as the women made their way to the settee by the window. A small smile spread across Florence’s face when her eyes met mine. I wished I could return the gesture, yet my lips refused.
“Faris is still recovering from its last assault.” Roxanne faced Francis. “We lost a dozen vampire warriors trying to free Cordelia from the palace.” She glanced at me.
My brows furrowed as my heart beat faster. What was she saying?
“We have no use for the weapons without an army.” Roxanne shrugged.
“You didn’t come for me alone?” My voice echoed through the study. “Someone else died because of me?”
