“The book was stolen from the underworld to begin with. It’s not safe. Dragons are experts at protecting their treasure. Leave it with me, and you’ll never lose it again.”
She paused, rolling the gem between her thumb and forefinger. “Strange that the book is sealed within a jewel. Paragon is known for its many jewels, is it not?”
He said nothing.
“And now you offer to guard this treasure. Where exactly did you find this, Tavyss?”
“I think you know where.”
“Hmm. Yes. It must be Paragon. I can see everywhere else. It appeared in my looking glass quite suddenly last night, didn’t it? Clearly when you arrived from your homeland.”
He watched her slither around the room like a viper.
“The question is, where in Paragon did you find it?” She smiled wickedly. “Was it with your mate?”
He clenched his jaw and shook his head.
“Ahhh. You do wear your heart on your sleeve, dragon. You know she’ll have to pay. No one steals from me and gets away with it.”
He blinked slowly, his head beginning to pound. “You have your book. Just go.”
She scanned him from head to toe, her eyes narrowing to slits. “All right,” she said softly. Too softly. His body tensed, ready for anything. “For now.”
She turned, touched the feather, and was gone.
Tavyss wasted no time seeking out Medea. He needed to tell her he’d been wrong. He needed to beg her forgiveness.
At first he couldn’t find her, but then she appeared quite suddenly beside a clearing.
“Medea. I looked everywhere for you.”
She scowled. “It’s good to know the wards around the house are working. Perhaps I should disappear inside them again.” She turned as if to leave.
“You’ve warded your home?” He should have known a witch would, but still the sophistication of the spell surprised him. She was undeniably powerful.
“Against supernatural creatures, yes. Shall we put it to the test?”
She took a step, and he picked up a slight shimmer in the air before her.
“No!” He held up his hands to her. “Medea, please. I need to speak with you.”
“About what? About how you plan to bring about the certain death of my parents? How you plan to crawl on your knees back to a bitter, hateful goddess who cares nothing for anyone but herself?”
He shook his head. “No. I came to apologize. You were right. I shouldn’t have taken the book from you.”
All the tension drained from Medea’s expression, her softened features overflowing with relief. “Then you’ll give it back?”
“I can’t. Hera has it.”
Medea blew out a breath as if he’d physically punched her, light dwindling from her eyes. Her disappointment was a bitter, palpable thing that made his bones turn to lead. He could almost smell her disgust.
“And I suppose she plans to seal it away somewhere.” She scoffed.
“I—” Tavyss was about to admit he had no idea what Hera would do when a blinding light blasted between them, painful in its intensity.
He turned his face away and shielded his eyes. When he turned back, Hera was there, her teeth bared, her hands balled into fists. She unclenched her right hand to reveal the jewel that held the book nestled in her palm.
“What business is it of yours what I do withmybook?”
