“You belong to me,” I whispered against her damp skin. “And I belong to you, always.”
She hummed and snuggled deeper into my arms. “Don’t forget our promise from earlier. I’m not that sleepy.”
Her soft breaths fanned across my chest as she tumbled into sleep.
For now, she would rest.
Everything else could wait.
48
Lore
It took days to set things right in the city, and it would’ve taken longer if Lord Briscalar wasn’t leading the charge. My lords and ladies surprised me, stepping forward to offer more than they were asked to deliver. I hoped this would help us come together as one people, though I knew it would take time and guidance to bring about the future I envisioned.
Time I may or may not have.
We’d even been too tired each day to explore Isodine’s diary.
Finally, with only three weeks left before my birthday, things were settled enough that we could take time for ourselves.
We lounged in our room all day and ordered food to be brought to our suite, eating it in the sitting area with the spread before us on the low table. We hadn’t allowed anyone inside thesuite other than her ladies to collect our soiled clothing, and Faelith, who came to take the nyxin for regular walks.
Reyla nestled on my lap, feeding me food off the platter.
Once we’d finished, she rose and scooted into the bedroom, returning with the small book and the velvet bag. “See?” She settled on my lap and smoothing her fingertip across the Evergorne crest on the front cover of the small book. “Dragons.”
I frowned at the book. “I see ravens facing each other with their tails and wings flaring out behind them.”
“Dragons.” She nibbled on her fingernail, speaking around it. “Though I believeyousee ravens. We need to figure out why we don’t see the same thing.”
Was this also related to the curse or a simple mistake? Although, who’d confuse ravens for dragons?
“What’s this?” I flicked the velvet bag she’d also placed on her lap.
“My gift from the Halendor head librarian.”
I lifted my brows. “When did you see the Halendor head librarian?”
“She visited with Valera and left this for me. I didn’t meet her myself.” Reyla held up the bag. “I put it inside here because it’s invisible. I could feel it, but I couldn’t see it.”
“Intriguing.”
“I tried a nullification spell on it, but it didn’t come into view, so I assume whatever she gave me is spelled in some other way. I believe the spell also disguises what it is because it feels like a long, thin rock.”
“Not the most exciting gift, then.”
With a shrug, she untied the ribbon she’d secured at the top and spread the fabric wide. Her wide-eyed glance shot my way before returning to the bag. “Would you look at that?” Upendingthe velvet pouch, she slid out the contents—a silver dagger nearly the length of her palm with a small red stone on the handle.
“Even more intriguing.”
Reyla pinched the hilt and lifted the dagger into the light of the fire. The blade seemed to drink in the glow rather than reflect it, the silver pulsing as though alive. Shadows coiled along its sharp blade in ghostly smoke trapped beneath its surface.
The red stone on the hilt throbbed, catching my breath. It wasn’t a steady rhythm but erratic, mimicking a heartbeat. Reyla tilted her head, angling the blade so the light caught strange etchings on its spine—markings too intricate and uneven to be decoration but too deliberate to be scratches.
“Do you feel that?” she whispered.
I nodded, though I couldn’t name what it was. The air had thickened around us, carrying a tension that pressed against my skin. The dagger wasn’t only a weapon; it was something ancient.
