I locate Arden’s name on the parchment and follow the dash across the page to her mate’s name.
Garron…Garron BarloweTriori.
Arden, the High Queen…was mated to a Triori?
I stare at the page, unblinking.
“It’s been in my family for generations,”Kylian had said as he presented me with the locket. “Keep it on you at all times, and you will never be lost. It will always guide you home.”
Oh my god.
I have one half of the key. I’ve been wearing it around my neck this entire time. My fingers close over the smooth metal at my throat.
Why would he give this to me?
The answer sits in the darkest corner of the room, staring at me from the shadows like a watchful demon.
One I’m not yet ready to face.
“What doyou know about Garron Barlowe Triori?”
“He was Arden’s mate,” Eaton answers.
“Is there any information in here about him?”
“Maybe in this one.” He slides a heavy, dark red tome from its place on the shelf and spreads it out on the polished table. I follow his eyes down the page, trailing his pointer finger.
“Garron Triori, son of Melanthe Barlowe and Vance Triori I. He was Arden’s king consort. When she died and the kingdoms broke off, he relinquished his crown to his older brother, who then became the first king of Vod. He was a starsmith.”
“What the hell is a starsmith?” I cock my head.
“Starsmiths were extremely rare and powerful. They could essentially capture stars and fashion them into magical objects.”
“Objects like a key?” I glance around, locking eyes with Zadyn.
Eaton gives me a half-assed shrug. “It’s definitely possible.”
I unclasp my locket and place it down on the table. Zadyn leans over, watching intently as I take a breath and flip it open. The star bounds from its shell, trailing light across the library as it dashes in all directions.
“What is that?” Eaton breathes.
“A star fragment.”
Kai swings his legs off the table and stands. “Where did you get it?”
“Kylian gave it to me. Right before I walked down the aisle.”
Zadyn gives me a long, wary look, his lean-muscled arms crossed over his chest.
“Did he ever say anything about a star passed down from your ancestors?”
Kai shakes his head. “No, he never mentioned it. But then again, we are not particularly close.”
“What makes you think this is a key?” Eaton draws my focus.
“This letter.” I pull the parchment from my pocket and smooth it out, allowing them to read it for themselves. “I found it tucked inside the grimoire. This book belonged to Arden.”
My friends stare at me, brows slashed together. I toss open the grimoire to the page with the Aurea Dei constellation.
