“Is that even possible? Immortality?”
Kane and Afton exchanged a look. One Erinna was growing tired of.
“Occasionally, some people have such capable manipulation of the arcanum that they can find ways around aging and death. But as you can see, it is not pretty or worth it. Iprix was an exception.”
That would explain the Chancellor’s many years of life. He must be one graced with the ability to extend it through sheer power alone.
Erinna eyed the stars on the box again. “Where is it from?”
“The Yaga? Too old for even Iprix to remember.”
“No, the crate.”
Afton gave her a puzzled look. “Umm, some old kingdom in the north, I think.” He turned to Kane. “You have anything to add?”
Kane scanned the top of the wooden chest, eyeing the constellation crest, and then sent a pointed look to Erinna. “Yeah, it’s certainly from the north. But it’s pretty old. I have no idea where it might have come from.”
Erinna frowned and tried not to let her disappointment show too much.
Afton let out a sigh and turned to resume his search. “Curses are in the back. Three rows down, two full shelves.”
Erinna’s jaw tightened.Of course they are.She’d just spent the better part of an hour stumbling through this maze, and he’d known the entire time exactly where she needed to go.
As if sensing her thoughts, Afton paused mid-step, glancing back over his shoulder. “You may want to look into the nature of transmutations while you’re at it. There should be a book on the relationship between the two. They manipulate arcanum with similar properties.”
Transmutations.
The word echoed in her memory, but she couldn’t quite place why it seemed so familiar. Important, even.
Erinna filed it away, though she wasn’t sure what good it would do her. The mark on her arm wasn’tchanginganything—it was just there, waiting.
“I'll go with her,” Kane said, his tone carefully neutral. “Make sure she doesn’t kill herself.”
“Whatever you want.” Afton flicked his wrist in dismissal. “When you hear a bell, meet back in the first room. Otherwise, you’ll be trapped in here for the rest of your lives. Which will be short once Haru finds you.” He said it so casually, like he was warning them not to forget their coats. Then he disappeared behind a tower of books and scrolls, leaving Erinna and Kane alone.
Kane bent over, his face so close to hers his lips nearly brushed against her ear. “I believe we have a deal, Yarrow.”
Her pulse jumped. Answers. Finally, actual answers about the mark, about her father, about why her blood had decided to turn traitor. She managed a nod, keeping her expression steady even as anticipation coiled tight in her chest.
She jerked her chin up, meeting his gaze. “Lead the way, Atwater.”
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Soon.
Soon she’d have what she needed. If everything worked out, she could return home and start to undo the curse that kept her father in magical slumber. If she were lucky enough, Kane might even help her uncoil the threads of secrecy that surrounded her family.
“What about the books my father wanted you to get?” she asked, noting Kane’s lack of a heavy bag.
“Still finding the rest. I was rudely interrupted before I could finish.” He shot her a grin. His amusement seemed to deepen at her glare in response.
He cleared his throat, likely to conceal a chuckle. “I take it luck has not been on your side?”
“I can’t find anything in this place,” she admitted and fought against rising frustration.
“Well, you were close.” He stopped by one of the shelves and rifled through a few of the volumes. “The old man kept as much useless crap as useful.” He knocked the ancient, delicate books to the ground, and Erinna cringed at the disrespect.
