She seemed vaguely familiar, though I wasn’t sure why.
Shaking my head, I closed the book and studied my friends. We were tired, but I doubted any of us would sleep easy tonight. “Thoughts?”
“Kill all the Skathes,” Derren said.
“Reseal the veil.”
“Sure, with this.” Derren made a muscle in his upper arm.
Kerralyn looked up from where she was taking notes in her journal. “That or destroy whoever’s controlling them.”
“Anyone have suggestions for how we’re going to do any of those things?” I asked.
From the expression on my friends’ faces, they felt as bleak about this as I did.
“We’ll find a way,” Derren said. “Good always triumphs over evil, right?”
In my fantasy stories, yes. But in the real world? That might be up to the fates.
I set the book aside. I’d study it later to see if there was anything else I’d missed. And think about that drawing of the girl…
“We’ve got two things to address,” I said, focusing on what we could work on now. “Do all of you know who I really am?”
“Welcome to Syllavar, Princess,” Kerralyn said with a grin. “I knew you were royal, right from the start.”
“Sure you did.” Lexie smirked. “That’s why you kept bowing.”
Kerralyn frowned. “I don’t recall bowing.”
Lexie’s smirk deepened. “Exactly.”
“We also know about your sister,” Derren said, completely serious. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“I told them everything,” Lexie said.
“Then you know I came here to find her murderer and make them pay,” I said.
Derren growled. “I’d do the same. We’re with you, Isi. Your vengeance is ours.”
The others nodded, and my heart swelled with gratitude for my friends.
“There’s something else,” I said. “I found my sister’s journal in Trew’s study. She was here, inside this room, and she went through the Rite.”
“A book?” Kerralyn’s eyes lit up like the fairy orbs that must still be bobbing around in the library.
“It’s written in code. So far, I haven’t been able to figure it out.”
“Where is it?” she said. “I love breaking codes. If you let me see it, I might be able to help.”
I settled deeper into the bed, pulling my legs beneath me as I reached for the journal I’d tucked under my pillow. It felt heavier tonight, as if the secrets inside had multiplied during our library adventure.
I passed it to Kerralyn. “It’s all I have left of her.” There was no hiding the croak in my voice.
She traced a fingertip across the cover with the care of someone who understood that some objects held more than words. They held souls. “What was her name?”
“Adelaide. Addie.” Her name tasted like honey and heartbreak on my tongue. “She was younger than me. Sweet and kind and ruthless and conniving.”
