He nods. “There’s something else. She was wearing a necklace that seemed familiar. I think it’s a Serpent heirloom.”
“Okay, a gift from Marik?” Holly frowns. “So what?”
He shakes his head hurriedly and rubs his temples again. “No, no, I think…I think I’ve seen it before in my parents’ home. They have a private room with rows of jewelry. I swear I’ve seen that specific necklace in a glass display case that my mother kept locked.”
“Sowhat?” Holly repeats, staring at him.
He sighs impatiently, as if we’re supposed to know the significance of the necklace. “Our mother used to warn us away from playing with her jewelry. She said that some of it was bad. I think that she spelled them with dark magic. I think that’s how Marik’s keeping Elle in line.”
I still. “What do you mean?” My voice is a whisper.
His eyes find mine, pity now lining them. From anyone else, that look would piss me off. But pity coming from Asmo makes my blood run cold. “If what I’m thinking is true, then Marik is using that necklace to control Elle.”
I close my eyes, thinking of Marik being in control of anyone. I only saw Marik’s true self for a moment after we said our vows. He set Williamon fire.What is he like with Elle, when they’re alone? What happens when nobody is around to step in? What happens when his victim is powerless? A shiver runs down my spine.
“Think about it,” Asmo continues. “Elle was never afraid to say what was on her mind before. But she seemed skittish. Afraid. And I would bet everything that it was because of that necklace.”
Luca begins to pace in the small living room.
“What can we do?” Ivan asks.
Asmo shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it since I saw it. All I know is if we have any chance of rescuing her, we have to find out how to remove that necklace. Otherwise, any attempts we make will be useless.”
“Wait—how did you get Cally out?” I ask.
Asmo hesitates, but he says, “Someone had been begging Elle for help when she came down. They said there was a woman in her cell that was near death. But I knew Elle wouldn’t be able to do anything. I was considering bringing the woman back, anyway. Maybe dumping her atan apothecary. But when I finally got to her, I saw it was Cally. I used my shadow sword to get out of my cell, then I funneled us out.”
“Your shadow sword?” I ask.
“Remember when I saved you from the cambion the first time?” he responds. “It’s a sword made of shadows that can be used from a distance.”
Ah, yes. When the cambion’s head went flying from its body.
Ivan straightens. “The cells mute your magic and the dungeons are warded. There’s no way you could have used your magic, let alone funnel out.”
Every muscle in my body freezes. I detected no deception from Asmo at all. If he lied, he just got around it perfectly. I check that my nets are intact. “Tell me a lie.”
Asmo furrows his brow. “What?”
“Now. Anything,” I demand.
He locks his eyes on mine and says, “My name is Mae. I’m the High Queen.”
The net tugs. Okay, so I haven’t suddenly lost the ability to detect lies.
“How did you escape the dungeons with Cally?” I repeat.
He drops his gaze and wrings his hands together in his lap. “Before we went in, I carved another mark on myself that makes me immune to wards or anything that mutes your magic.”
Warning bells, once again, go off. But there’s not a hint of deception in his answer. Just how much does he know about dark magic? What else is he hiding?
“That is not possible,” Luca growls. “The wards are imbued with ancient magic. There is nothing that can get around them.”
Asmo’s gaze sears into Luca. “But there is. Because I did.”
Truth, again.
“How do we get the necklace off?” Holly asks, her chewed fingernails hidden in a tight fist on her thigh.
