“You know I want to ask,” he says, his steps falling in line with mine.
“Oh, I’m sure you are dying to know what I talked about with your mother.”
“I am,” he bites back.
“She loves me,” I say, sarcastically.
“Who wouldn’t?”
I huff. “A lot of people, apparently.”
He chuckles.
I pause, planting my feet, and Silas runs into the back of me. The abrupt stop causes him to trip, nearly taking us both to the ground. Turning to stare at him, his face is laced with confusion. I reach into my pocket and pull out his mother’s necklace. His eyes widen, but he doesn’t speak.
“Aerona gave me this.” I extend my hand for him to take it if he wishes, but his hands remain at his side. “She told me I would find out what this is within the Archives.”
He gazes at the stone, his eyes widening slightly. “I can’t believe she gave you that. She’s had that for as long as I can remember.”
“She provided me with information about the Archives, and I trust her regarding the documents. She also informed me about how to use the Rigil to our advantage and where I should hide once I enter.”
“Alright,” Silas replies. “That sounds great, but I sense you’re not happy about something?”
I nod. “She told me to go to the left and hide, but what she doesn’t realize is that I’ve been in the Archives, and there is no bookshelf to the left.”
He angles his head, still confused.
“There is a tunnel in that direction, but there is nothing there for me to hide behind. She’s lying, and I don’t know why.”
“Maybe she just got confused, Briar. I don’t think my mother would lie about this,” Silas defends.
“I thought you might say that,” I shake my head. “Then, tell me why she gave me a fake stone as well.”
“What?” he unintentionally shouts.
I clutch the stone and close my eyes, allowing my magic to react. Once again, nothing happens. Silas watches me, his eyes intensely focused on me and the stone.
“Your mother has the stone Yara referred to, not Malachi, and I think it’s similar to the resurrection stone. She acted like she wanted me to have it, but this is a fake, and I know it for certain.”
“Wait,” Silas snaps, understanding exactly where I’m going with this.
“Your mother doesn’t have the real stone. Fenmore does.”
Chapter 33
Silas’s mouth drops open, and he stares blankly at the jewel.
“This entire time, Fen has had the stone,” I finally speak.
Silas stutters, “I…I had no idea.”
“I never realized it, either. I’m also not sure what it does exactly, but I’m going to find out. Tonight.”
Silas rubs his face, stopping at his temples to apply pressure. His eyes close, and I allow him a moment to process this information. He leans to the side, propping his shoulder against the stone wall once more.
“I gave Larkin the book to return to the house. He was going to tell Oak to start translating the text on the Rigil.”
“Thank you.”
