“Where is Caspian?”
“What do you want with him?” Asmodeus asked, waggling his eyebrows. “I’m right here.”
“Asmodeus. Don’t be silly. Where is he?”
Asmodeus sighed and assumed a more serious expression. “He found some information … on who might have been behind the attack on your family.”
“He has gone after them,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“When will he return?”
“He was … supposed to come back last night.”
The silence was deafening.
He did not return that night, or the next.
The weight of her loss of Caspian, on top of the death of her parents, was crushing.
Her parents’ death had broken her, and now with Caspian gone, she felt, if possible, worse. She had not only been responsible for the deaths of her family, but the person she had blamed had gone after them, had tried to avenge them, and now he was gone too.
Now she was alone.
***
Elizabeth returned to her chambers and spotted an envelope with a yellow seal on her writing desk—her weekly letter from Charlotte. Elizabeth tore into it.
Dear Lizzy,
I hope you’ve finally come to your senses and are not intent on living out your days alone in Veridas. Come stay for the Midwinter holidays at our family manor, and we will figure out what to do together. If you are still there in a month, I will come get you myself. You may have your space to grieve, but I will not allow you to wallow and tumble into the abyss on your own. You think I am joking. I can sense you are scowling while reading this—
Elizabethwasscowling, but her lips quirked into a grin at Charlotte knowing her so well. She bent to continue reading,
—but I am not joking. I will be there for you, but I will not let you destroy yourself from grief. I am also writing to tell you I am making inquiries (subtly, of course) about your parents with my friends at court. I know you have been hungry for answers.
Your father, unlike Lord Wilkinson, has been an advocateforFaina in his correspondence with the queen and her council.He has sent countless letters, voicing his belief that they should “loosen the leash” so Faina can flourish under the Rhodean regime rather than be squashed under our thumb. So Fainan rebels, the likely culprits, would stand to gain nothing by your father’s death.
Which tells me one thing—it wasn’t Faina.
I will keep you posted if I learn anything else, and we will find whoever has done such a horrible thing. May the gods curse their name.
I hope you are keeping out of trouble and not being too hard on yourself, and if you need anything, ever, I am here.
-Charlotte.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes overly bright.
It was so unfair that she had glimpsed the amulet only once, and now demons were after her. She debated writing to Charlotte, telling her the amulet she owned had caused this mess. But if there were any possibility of the letter being intercepted or read by unfriendly eyes, she would be putting Charlotte and her family in terrible danger.
She bit her lip and re-read the letter.
Which tells me one thing—it wasn’t Faina.
How would she even begin to find the demon who went after her parents? She could not traipse into the Seven Hells and demand answers. They would tear her apart limb from limb.
She inhaled sharply, suddenly seeing the path forward clearly.
