“It’s in a cave in Wales. La Caverne de la Viergueux.”
The moment the name left her lips, their forms began to fade.
Like mist dissolving into the night.
And with them, the warmth in the room vanished.
A bone-deep chill seeped into my skin like the past had touched me.
I rubbed my arms, shivering. “Roman!”
His gaze snapped to mine, his face pale. “I feel it too, my beloved.”
He exhaled, clenching his jaw. “The dagger is within our grasp.”
He looked toward Malik, who stood still as a statue, absorbing every word.
“But how do we find it?”
Chapter 27
Olivia
“We have to find the cave!” I burst out, adrenaline surging through me. “We need to leave. Now.”
I was already stepping forward when Malik slid in my way, gripping my upper arms with steady hands.
“Olivia,” he asked gently. “Do you think you can find anything in this condition? Look at yourself. You’re exhausted. You look like hell.”
I blinked at him, then caught my reflection in the window.
My once elaborate updo now hung in ragged, limp strands around my face. My skirt was torn and smeared with streaks of blood. The blouse I had grabbed in a rush at Costa’s party—a garish red-and-yellow monstrosity—clashed horrifically with the expensive blue silk costume I’d started the night in.
I looked like a bombed Cinderella.
I sighed, sagging against Roman.
“Fine. We can rest. But then we leave at once.”
Roman slid his arm around me, his touch warm and grounding. “My love, we need to sleep, eat, and restore. Not run off half-cocked. Count Montego is expecting us. We’ll go to his estate, rest, and then make a plan.”
My eyelids grew heavy—too heavy to fight. My body finally succumbed to the exhaustion.
“All right,” I murmured, nuzzling into Roman’s shoulder. “But we can’t waste time.”
He pressed a kiss to my head. “We won’t, my fierce warrior.I promise.”
Malik nodded once, already striding toward the door. “I’ll have my carriage driver take you. Get some rest while you can.”
He disappeared down the hall, his footsteps fading into the distance.
I exhaled, my entire body screaming for sleep.
“God, I’m tired,” I muttered against Roman’s chest, stating the painfully obvious.
Roman chuckled, guiding me toward the exit.
“Me too. Let’s get to the carriage. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can lay our heads on pillows.”
