“It was a week before you first saw me,” I say. “There was some kind of battle between an angel and a dragon shifter outside my cell. Whatever happened between them, the dragon’s fire broke the magical seal that kept me imprisoned.”
Halle’s forehead is lightly creased, but she gives a brief nod. “Dragon shifters have strong light magic that can surpass even an angel’s power.”
“So it seems.” I ease up on her before I say, “I have one last question for you, Hel. And your answer will determine if I release you or try to kill you.”
Her green eyes narrow at me. “Spit it out.”
“How does your brother come into all of this?” I need to find him and I sure as fuck won’t let her kill him before he leads me toTheBook of Dark Magic.
“He betrayed me.” The corners of her mouth turn down. “He stoleTheBook of Dark Magicfrom me.”
My eyes fly wide. “Youhad the book?”
“I protected it! There are very few creatures who can look upon it and not lose their minds. My affinity with the underworld gave me the ability to resist its power.”
Her face turns pale, her lips white with apparent rage. “But Jormungandr—my brother, whom you know as James Vanguard—was overcome with hubris. He took the book to Taiven. And that’s when Taiven snapped.”
She takes advantage of my loosening hold to lurch up beneath me, attempting to free herself. “So now you see why Jormungandr must pay!”
Oh, I really do.
I jump away from Halle, releasing her.
She rises to her feet, slightly hunched, watching me warily. The cuts on her face have healed, but I remain on the lookout for a reappearance of her vines.
Even so, my focus darts to the keeper, then to my family.
Then back to Halle. “Do you know how to find the book?”
“Of course,” she snaps. “Why do you think I spent so many nights huddled in Central Park? I sensed that a page from the book was hidden there, but as soon as I saw what that pagedepicted, I couldn’t bring myself to look at it again, so I left it there.”
Halle sighs and her shoulders slump even further. “It was one last piece of Galeia’s hopes and dreams that didn’t belong in anyone else’s hands.”
I consider Halle quietly. “You let me take it.”
“You’re her daughter.” But her glare is now accusing. “After that, I saw you working for your father and for my brother. The two men responsible for ending Galeia’s life.”
Oh.When I first met Halle, Iwasworking with James Vanguard, protecting his son. It must have looked like I was already working for Taiven then, too.
“Fuck, no,” I whisper. “I was there for revenge.” But my own voice returns to a growl. “You, on the other hand, were there to kill an innocent child.”
She jolts, her jaw dropping as she gasps. “I was not! I was trying to get that boy away from the fucking lot of them. It was my first and only chance to free Elijah from Taiven’s clutches.”
I shake my head at her. “You sent your vines after him. You killed my panther!”
Halle sniffs. “Your panther got in the way. Besides, I know a dark elf when I see one. She was going to be fine.”
Her focus flickers to Anarchy and her brothers.
They’re all on their front foot and I can tell they don’t know if they should be stepping in or staying out of things. The keeper has folded his arms across his chest, studying me closely. Lucian, on the other hand, casts worried glances at Jonah, who is still Halle’s captive.
I take a breath and then exhale into the silence.
“Let Jonah go,” I say to Halle. “Jormungandr will pay for his role in what happened to me. But right now, Taiven—my father—is the greater threat.”
She, too, folds her arms across her chest. “I’m listening.”
“Many have tried to end Taiven’s reign by assassinating him. I plan to slice his defenses away piece by piece, starting with his main obsession:TheBook of Dark Magic. And then I’ll strike again. And again. Until he has nothing left.”
