We were looking for more information about the time around Ivan Vylan’s midsummer party. Both Oris and Ivan seemed to be keeping secrets, but had the rest of the Lines known? Were they all complicit in the bloodbath of the Second Line?
I had Ivan’s journal and thetalbook under my arm, and I hoped the old guy wouldn’t think I was stealing them when we left. I just wanted them with us so we could cross-reference.
This might be nothing, and honestly, I almost hoped it was. The horrifying idea that the First Line had been sucking the magic from the citizens of Ebrus for so long made me feel ill.
Deep down, I knew it was important to this war we were about to find ourselves in. Because if thattalcould siphon and store magic, did that mean it could also release it? Or would it merely stop pulling magic, and it would take a generation or more for the magic stores to build back up among the outer Lines?
So many unknowns. So much magic that was lost to time, and the whims of a man who hadn’t believed he was enough.
Hayle grabbed a leatherbound journal from the shelves. “Lovell Taeme, the Heir to the Third Line during the First Line’s eradication of the Second Line. We pulled together tightly after that night, never sure if we were next. There was a whole generation who never left the Third Line Barony.”
He slid the book toward Lierick, who opened it and devoured the words inside, quickly finding the timeframe we needed. He shook his head, laughed softly, then turned the book toward the rest of us. There was an account of the wine, of the women, and of his hangover the following day, but he didn’t seem overly fond of either Oris or Ivan, and there was no mention of any tension between them.
Hayle snorted. “There’s a full paragraph on how amazing Ellanora Halhed’s boobs were, though. You definitely inherited the Halhed breasts,” he told me lovingly.
Vox picked him up with bands of air and put him in the corner. “Obviously, not the only thing that was inherited in the room. You can come back out when you stop treating our girlfriend like steak.”
Hayle just laughed. “But I love steak!” His voice was muffled from the corner.
Lierick pointed a pen at Vox. “He has you there.” He looked down at thetalbook. “What I don’t understand is why my Line didn’t seem overly affected by it. Our magic is still as strong as it was when my Line left.”
This was far above my paygrade. I moved toward the shelves, looking at what else Hamor had stored here. I pulled out a history of Soul Ties, flicking through the pages. Zier stood beside me, his own fingers running along the spines, as if he was waiting for the correct tome to jump into his hands.
“How much do you trust these men?” he asked softly, his tone light, like we were talking about the weather.
I cocked my head at him. “I trust them with my life and my heart.” I turned toward him, trying not to be instantly defensive. “Why do you ask?”
He let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t believe it’s just the First Line who has benefited from whatever power boost thistalprovided. Think about it. Hayle is the Spryrix, one of the most powerful mythic creatures ever to roam Ebrus. Vox is obviously reaping the direct benefits of that power boost. Even some of the younger generation of Cyne are more powerful than they’ve been in decades.”
“What are you trying to say?” I wanted him to spell it out for me, even if Iknewwhat he was getting at. I wanted him to say it out loud.
“If they knew that their strength—the same strength that they’ve used as a crutch for so many years—is due to this forbiddentalbeneath the Hall of Ebrus, would they be as eager to destroy it?” He looked down at me, the weight of the world in his dark eyes. “And itmustbe destroyed, Avalon.”
I knew it was true. I felt it deep in my bones that this was what was upsetting the balance. That destroying that thing was my purpose. As soon as I’d seen that idol, drawn roughly on thepage, the Goddess may as well have sent a ten-piece trumpeteer band to announce that its destruction was my goal.
It had almost been a relief. Ever since Lierick had arrived on the doorstep of Boellium, and we’d started this insane mission, I’d wondered what I contributed. It hadn’t been power or influence; it hadn’t been an insane strategic mind or fighting skills. I’d warmed beds and brought the group together, like a mascot with nice boobs. But they’d all been adamant that I was important, and I knew I was—to them, but not the mission.
Until now.
I reached out and grabbed Zier’s hand. It felt… electrified, and I couldn’t describe it any other way. It was like I could feel every rough callous on his hand, every small ridge of his fingerprints. I was so hyper-aware of his skin against mine, I almost forgot what I was going to say.
My cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, but when I looked up, Zier was also staring at our hands. A smile curled my lips, but then I remembered we were talking about a very solemn topic. Clearing my throat, I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. Goddess, that made me feel giddy.
“I trust them, Zier. With my life, and yours, and all of Ebrus. They’ll do the right thing, and I’ll destroy it.”
His eyes looked at me, like they could see right inside my body, right down to my soul, but he nodded. “I know you will.” His thumb brushed against the soft skin of my inner wrist, right over my pulse point. My heart was thundering in my chest, so it was probably going wild beneath his thumb.
Was he going to kiss me?
I licked my suddenly dry lips, his eyes following the motion. “Avalon, I…” His words trailed off, and I held my breath. I waited, but he didn’t continue.
He didn’t kiss me either. The disappointment was like a lead weight in my chest, but I smiled past it.
Squeezing his hand one last time, I released his fingers, and he let them drop. I forced another smile. “It’ll all work out how it’s supposed to, Zier. I’ll make sure it does.” I turned back toward the guys, the book on Soul Ties still tucked under my arm.
At some point, Vox had released Hayle from the naughty corner, and he grabbed my waist as I walked past, settling me in his lap. I was happy for the contact. I wanted to bury my overheated face in the safety of his chest, but I didn’t. Not yet, anyway.
“That looked intense,” Hayle whispered in my ear, kissing my temple.
