While Kiara set up a magical barrier to keep monsters out, I said, “What is this place?”
“I come here often, to think,” Alexei said. “It’s the safest place in the world. I’m sure no one knows of it. We won’t be overheard or followed here.”
Everyone turned in a circle toward Odette. By this time, she was fully alert, and rubbing her hands together nervously.
“You said Gabby and Eli have the griffin stone,” Emma said. “Where is it?”
Odette grimaced. “It was a bit of a misnomer. They have it, but they don’tknowit yet.”
“How?” Theo wondered. Odette began pacing.
“The griffin stone is with the Black Claw,” Odette said, and the nausea in my gut grew even worse. “From what I saw, someone in the cult has the griffin stone, but they’re keeping it concealed from Gabby and Elijah because they want to keep it for themselves.”
“It has to be a griffin,” Kiara said, with a look at Alexei. “No other Faction would be able to use the griffin stone.”
Odette’s tone grew more worried. “But Gabby and Eli are working with the cult. If they do some digging, they’ll find it. We just have to hope they’re distracted enough that they aren’t focusing on the cult right now.”
“They only use the Black Claw when they need someone to do their dirty work,” Alexei grumbled.
“Maybe Gabby and Elijah aren’t keeping up their end of the bargain,” Emma speculated. “They promised the cult something to gain their allegiance.”
“They promised them your blood, Emma, at the proper time. That moment, whenever it is, has not come,” I said.
“But they have to be impatient waiting around,” Emma pointed out. “Maybe that’s why whoever has the stone hasn’t told them about it yet. They’re keeping it as a fail safe, to make Gabby and Elijah fulfill their deal when the time is right.”
“Who could possibly be keeping the stone? The Black Cult doesn’t have a leader,” Theo wondered.
“Unless you count the Hidden King, which is Elijah,” Stefan subbed in.
“The Black Claw doesn’t have one leader, but itdoeshave acolytes,” Alexei explained. “They’re the heads of the cult, the people who are in charge that keep the cult running until the supposed return of Droga and the Hidden King.”
“How do you know so much about this?” Stefan asked him.
Alexei scowled, and I said, “It doesn’t matter. What matters is figuring out where the cult is basednow, and who within it might have the stone.”
“Did your vision provide any more specifics?” Theo asked Odette.
Odette bit her lip. “I saw shadows of things. An acolyte, who has the griffin stone. The faces of children. A magical staff. And fire— so much fire.”
Odette shuddered. “It wasn’t a happy vision. Don’t ask me where they are. I didn’t see any monuments, or landmarks that stood out. It was too dark… like I was in a cave or something. All I can be certain is, they’re hiding here, in the city.”
Theo rubbed Odette’s back. “I know visions can be tiring. You need to rest.”
Odette leaned against him. Emma put a fist to her mouth and nibbled on one of her fingers. “At least we have a lead,” she said finally. “We know where to go. We have to find the cult, infiltrate it, and figure out which acolyte has the griffin stone. It’s our only course of action.”
I nodded. Hopefully, we’d get to it before Gabby and Elijah realized it was within their hands.
If not, the griffin stone would be out of our reach, forever. Gabby and Elijah would put the griffin stone in one of the royal vaults, and use their armies to guard it, leaving it impossible for us to obtain.
And if we were going to save the fae, that couldn’t happen. Not at any cost.
I truly hoped luck was on our side. We were going to need it.
With the newsthat the griffin stone was in the hands of the Black Claw, I could barely pay attention in my classes all week, anxious that it could be used for some sinister purpose. Though I knew better than to let my attention roam in my Master of Fae Magic class, as my teacher would accept no nonsense.
Professor Hemlock was an accomplished sorceress who had a daughter here at the university— Callista Hemlock, a First Year. As I’d heard it, Professor Hemlock’s mate had died several years ago, and her child was all the family she had.
Professor Hemlock was young, in her early forties, and very bright, but very strict. She usually taught classes like Alchemy, but in Lord Lucien’s absence, had picked up a few extra classes. Her piercing eyes roamed the classroom as she rapped her knuckles on the chalkboard.
