“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means the dungeons are expecting new arrivals,” he said. “The cells are being prepared.”
The words landed hard.
“For my mom?” I whispered.
Karvey hesitated.
Just long enough.
And that was all I needed.
My stomach dropped, the room tilting just slightly as everything I’d been holding together threatened to slip.
“There’s more,” he added.
I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Say it.”
His eyes held mine, steady and unyielding.
“Our informants believe the Priestess has already begun the ritual.”
The world didn’t stop.
It kept moving behind me, laughter and conversation and the soft clink of teacups carrying on as if nothing had changed.
But everything had.
“She doesn’t have the stone,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Karvey’s expression didn’t shift.
“No,” he said. “But she’s not waiting for it anymore.”
Chapter Four
The afternoon had wound down, and Keegan and the others were quietly speaking in the study while Twobble didn’t leave my side as I stood near the entrance, which made me more nervous than if he’d been off with Skonk and their usual shenanigans. And speaking of Skonk, I looked down at Twobble.
“Where is Skonk?” I asked.
Twobble’s pale green cheeks tried their best at reddening, and he cleared his throat. “Great job with the pastries, Maeve. Culinary magic is finally within your reach.”
“Don’t try to butter me up with your…”
“No pun intended, am I right?” he interrupted, elbowing me in the hip, and I groaned.
“Seriously, Twobble. Where is your twin cousin?”
He let out a heavy sigh, and his shoulders dropped slightly. “I told him not to go, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Go where? What aren’t you telling me, Twobble?”
He looked up. “A lot.”
“Great. Just great.”
A few seconds of silence sat between us.
