“To throw it for him, perchance?”
“You’re being obtuse. Keep up with me here, Lorant,” I grumbled. “I found a diary in the library and brought it here.”
“Found.”
“Borrowed. Whatever. Alright.” I puffed out a breath, shooting stands of my hair toward the ceiling. “Istoleit. But it was left for me, so I was supposed to take it.” I tugged the ring and key from beneath the top of my dress that kept trying to slide off my breasts since he’d unbuttoned it. Despite his paltry attempts to seduce me into climbing into bed with him, he hadn’t even stolen one peek. If I wasn’t focused on other things, I might be insulted.
Actually, Iwasinsulted.
“This key opens the diary.” I dangled it in his face. “Valera’s mother told her to give me the key.”
He took the ring and key from me and studied them lying on his palm before turning the ring over with the tip of his finger. “Ravens.”
“What?”
“There are ravens carved into the side.”
“Like the Evergorne Crest?”
He shrugged. “Ravens aren’t exclusive to Evergorne.”
I lifted the ring and squinted at the tiny pattern engraved on each side. “Those aren’t ravens. They’re dragons.”
“Ravens.”
“If anyone knows dragons, it’s me. They’re dragons.”
“If anyone knowsravens, it’s me. They’re ravens.” I wanted to smack him for smirking. His head tilted, his smirk sliding away. “You said you got them from Valera Windhaven, the head librarian?”
“Yes. Her mother… I think she and King Theon were lovers. She died in childbirth delivering a son who perished along with her. When Valera told me her mother’s story, I wondered if the child had lived, if the child was you.”
“Obviously not.”
“Proven quite conclusively, I might add. Shortly after I brought the book here, it disappeared, ironically right after Erisandra paid me a visit.”
“And you believe she glamoured the book to look like the ball.”
“I’m convinced of it. In fact, she was here a short time ago, and she tried to steal it, so that proves it.”
“Perhaps.”
“If I can nullify her spell, I can unlock the diary and see what she wrote. I suspect there’s something inside there that I need to know.”
“Why would Erisandra try to hide it from you?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t have an answer other than the fact that she’s mean. She may have thought it was mine. Her motives don’t really matter.”
“Or they do. She tried to steal it. Why not if and when she found it?”
“You go right ahead and ask her that. Let me know what she says.”
His lips thinned, and his gazedidglide down my front. My skin warmed. My cheeks flamed. And my core… Oh, the things this man could do to me with one simple look.
Focus, Reyla!“Valera told me her mother had the gift for foretelling. I think she knew I’d marry Merrick?—”
“Me. You marriedme.”
“Same thing.” I frowned but let it go. “We’re wasting time. Leave or turn around.”
