If anyone knew who could make Derrick whole again, it was the other half of his soul.
I broke away from Brietta and pushed through the crowd as panicked whispers hit my ears.
“Did you see them carry away His Excellency? He looked so weak!”
“He set fire to his own palace!”
“He’s going to be Alastar the Mad!”
My stomach churned as the gossip spread like a disease. I fought the urge to throw my magic over the crowd like a net and burn their tongues.
Annalisa’s watering eyes flicked up to meet mine as I called her name. She threw her arms around me before I could say anything.
The fight between Midnight and Alastar was destroying Derrick’s mind. There had to be a way to kill Alastar. Of all the twelve Dukes, someone must have done it.
I thought back to Alastar the Wise’s portrait. The stern and cold-eyed man that was painted shortly after his coronation did not match the same man from Freya’s stories—a man who listened to her, respected her, and nurtured her ideas.
Had he slayed his generations-old monster before anyone had realized he had done it?
“Anna,” I whispered, “I know we do not have much time…but if we find out more about your grandfather, we might save Derrick.”
Annalisa’s face steeled. She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd until we came upon a group of whispering maids. All the maids backed away with downcast eyes except for one.
Merri looked softly at Annalisa even though her face was creased with worry. “Madame Thornebow, what can I—”
“Take me to the vault,” Annalisa commanded.
The maids nearest us gasped softly. Merri’s eyes went wide as she scanned the courtyard to see if anyone else overheard.
I furrowed my brows. I had abandoned the plan to uncover the truth about Ilsa long ago, why was Annalisa bringing it up again?
Merri leaned forward and lowered her voice to the barest whisper. “Anna, I know I promised to take you there one day, but now is not the time.”
“Now is the perfect time,” Annalisa said, not bothering to keep her voice low. “Everyone is so distracted with the fire that no one will see us.”
Merri’s throat trembled as she swallowed. Before any of the other maids could protest, she turned on her heel and weaved through the crowd. Annalisa followed, pulling me along with a brightness in her step.
Merri looked over her shoulder before she opened up a door on the side of the palace and quickly led us up a tight staircase. The smell of char filled our noses as we walked down the dark hallways within the palace walls.
A whisper skated across my teeth as I followed Annalisa. “Why are we going to the vault?”
“I already know everything about my grandfather,” she replied. “If you are looking for a missing piece, it would have to be where all her treasures were. Grandfather doted on his Duchess more than any of my other ancestors did.”
Merri stopped in front of a large rectangle in the middle of the dark hallway that must have been the back of a portrait.
She folded her arms and refused to look at us. “Push through. And hurry.”
Annalisa shoved the back of the portrait so hard she momentarily became a battering ram.
The secret door swung open to a world of cold blue.
I looked up, a window in the ceiling stained with fractals of cerulean and indigo glass poured moonlight over the small room. Dazzling dresses on large mannequins sparkled in the icy light. Exquisite furs lay over carved wooden chairs. Gleaming gemstones sat in open pewter caskets.
And I thoughtmyDerrick was generous.
Even though the room was filled with glittering treasures, my eyes fixed on a large portrait of Duchess Ilsa that rested on the floor. She looked through the portrait with a countenance of cold steel with a large blue diamond hanging from a long chain around her neck.
The Diamond of the North in all her glory.
