“Why would he—” she said as Eyden quickened his steps and pressed the crystal to her forehead. The witch’s eyes closed as her body slumped. Catching her frail body, he helped her to the floor. The sleeping spell was working as Farren had promised.
He heard the curtain move before he felt Lora’s presence beside him. “So this is where fae disappear to,” Eyden said. The medical instruments suggested some sort of sick experiment. Bile rose in his throat. When he took in Lora’s face, she didn’t look surprised. Her turquoise eyes met his, telling him not to ask. It was killing him not to, but Lora getting hurt because of him would kill him more. The contract must state that Lora couldn’t reveal Karwyn’s secrets.
He had to find out for himself. Eyden went to the shelf, looking at the jars filled with suspicious substances.
“Eyden,” Lora said on the other side of the room. Books peeked out of the cupboard she had opened. “I think this is a spell book.” Grasping an ancient book, she pulled it out. Her dagger was hidden on her body again.
Eyden crossed the room and took the book from Lora. She was right. They’d struck gold. He browsed the pages, seeking anything related to the protection spell placed around the palace walls. The witch had written notes into the book, crossing things out and adding her own spin. She had been experimenting with spells. At first, Eyden didn’t understand what he was reading, then something clicked in his mind.
His eyes lifted from the pages in front of him. Lora was going through other books. “He wants to steal their power,” Eyden stated. Lora’s hand stilled mid-movement. She wouldn’t look his way. It was all the answer he needed. But if Karwyn wanted power, why was he waiting to experiment on Lora? He thanked Caelo that Lora was still alive, but for what reason?
Eyden turned his attention back to the spell book. Taking out his own notebook, Eyden scribbled down the most important parts from the witch’s book. He couldn’t take it; if he did, they would suspect and he would lose the element of surprise. He skimmed through the rest of the book until he found something about the protection spell on the palace grounds. With his silver flower pen, Eyden noted it down as quickly as possible.
“Look at this,” Lora said, walking towards him with a notebook in hand. She showed him the open page. It was a list of names, and each one was crossed out. Were these the fae the king had experimented on and who had died as a result?
Eyden took the notebook and handed Lora the spell book. She fished out her phone device from her boot and started snapping pictures. Catching him watching, she said, “You should get a phone. It’s faster than copying everything by hand.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “I’m a fast writer.” He returned his attention to the notebook. Flipping through the pages, his breath caught at the number of names listed. His fingers stilled abruptly on the page as a familiar name caught his eye. His heart beat faster, his chest tight. A sense of dread washed over him, the past catching up to him.
“Are you okay?” Lora’s voice sounded distorted to his ears.
Eyden had waited for this for so long. He had been thirteen years old when his father had been taken to the palace. They’d been going to the market to get food. It had been an average day, nothing special about it, until guards had come up to them, swords gleaming red in the afternoon sun. His father had told the guards he wasn’t a high-level fae, that they’d been misinformed.
They hadn’t listened. Instead, they’d taunted him, asking questions about Eyden.Did his son share his power?His father had agreed to go with them if they left Eyden in peace. He is only thirteen. He hasn’t showcased any powers yet,his father had said.
The taunting look of the guards as they had pushed his father towards the carriage was something Eyden would never forget. His father had tried to reassure him that he would be fine, that he would go to the palace and would reach out to Eyden soon. He had told Eyden to go straight home—his other home. The one with Elyssa and her uncle.
Eyden had watched in shock as his father had driven away in the carriage, leaving Eyden alone in the street, confused tears gathering in his eyes.
For months, Eyden had waited for his father to contact him, to come back. He never did. And now here he was—staring at his father’s crossed out name on the king’s list of victims. Eyden had known for a long time that his father was dead, but seeing proof was another thing.
“Who is he?” Lora asked gently, putting a hand on his arm.
Eyden forced his gaze away. His father’s name echoed in his mind, over and over again. “Adelio Kelstrel,” Eyden said, staring into Lora’s eyes. “My father.”
Lora sucked in a breath. “I’m so sorry.”
Snapping the book shut, he handed it back to Lora. “Can you take pictures of this and see if you can find ‘Damir Nivarro’ on the list?”
Lora accepted the book. “Sure. But—”
“Later,” Eyden interrupted. “I know we have a lot to discuss, but not now, okay?”
She seemed to understand.
Eyden went back to the cupboard, trying to see if there was anything else useful.
“Can I ask you something else?” Lora asked, still busy taking pictures. Eyden gave her a brief nod. “I thought your last name was Kellen.”
“It’s my trader name. The first time someone asked me at the black market, I realised I should change it.”
“It’s quite similar to Kelstrel,” Lora observed.
Eyden looked up at her. “I started saying my real name, then caught myself. I had to think fast.”
Lora fought a grin.
“What?”
