Cade’s pleading tone finally seemed to crack something open. Cassia drew in a long breath, rolled her shoulders, and closed her eyes like she was bracing for a storm.
“Okay,” she said, exhaling. “Fine. But don’t blame me if this doesn’t work or if I accidentally dig up some intimate memory none of us will be able to unsee. Especially the kind that’ll make it really awkward to look you in the eye every day.”
Her tone was dry, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her false bravado.
Bridget prompted Stellan to open the grimoire. “Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”
Wordlessly, Stellan set the leather-bound book on the edge of Cassia’s bed. The moment it touched the blanket, the cover snapped open with a sharp crack.Pages flipped wildly on their own, stirred by a wind that hadn’t come from anywhere. Then, suddenly, they stilled. A single page shimmered with inky black script, glowing faintly in the firelight. The air shifted, thickening with something ancient and electric. A heavy weight settled in Bridget’s stomach like a stone.
Well, that wasn’t ominous at all.
Delphine frowned, eyes narrowing. “Is it supposed to do that?”
Before Stellan could respond, the bedroom door creaked open. Bridget’s heart jumped as Finn slipped through the narrow gap.
“Whoa,” he said, pausing mid-step. His gaze landed on the grimoire. “What’s going on?”
“We’re going to try to find the crown in Bridget’s memories,” Cade explained, his jaw tight. His gaze moved to the empty space behind him. “Why aren’t you with Nylah and Archer?”
Finn shrugged as he stepped further into the room, eyes still flicking warily between the grimoire and the increasingly tense group. “She thought Bridget had been gone too long. I told her I’d come check.”
Bridget sighed. “Way to make me feel guilty before I go under.”
She hadn’t even thought to go check on her before rounding up everyone they could find to get this spell done as soon as possible. But in a way, she was doing thisforher. Quinn had been just the beginning. If Vega had control over more creatures, they’d all be targets. Even in Andarre.
Cade turned to her, his voice quieter now. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Throat tight, Bridget gave a small nod. “Yes.”
If Marin thought finding the crown was the key to defeating Vega, then they had to search for it. No matter the cost.
Stellan gestured toward the bed and pulled out a silver dagger from his pocket. “Lie down, just at the edge. Cassia will need to access—”
“Absolutely not.”
Cassia’s voice sliced through the air like a blade. She stepped forward, her face a mix of horror and protest. “Not on mybed.”
Bridget watched as Cade tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling, clearly calculating whether murder or meditation would bring him more peace.
Castor sighed, despite the twitch of his lips. “Cassia…”
“There’s obviously going to be blood,” she added, glaring at the grimoire like it was personally responsible. “You arenotruining my favorite pair of sheets.”
Bridget ran her hand across the top comforter. She guessed she couldn’t blame her. They were annoyingly soft.
A muscle in Stellan’s jaw twitched. “Then what do you suggest?”
Before Cassia could fire back, a loud crash echoed through the room. Bridget jolted as every item on Cassia’s desk flew off and scattered across the floor.
Cassia spun around, jaw slack, as Cade calmly lowered his hand.
“There,” he said scathingly. “That’ll do.”
Despite the tight knot of anxiety twisting in her chest, Bridget had to press her lips together to keep from laughing.
Stellan’s cheeks flushed as he stiffly moved the grimoire from the bed to the newly cleared desk. Bridget could practically feel the frustration rolling off him in waves. Not wanting to add to it, she crossed the room and lay down on the desk.
Cade moved beside her head without a word, tension radiating from every line of his body. Delphine slid up next to him, voice low and steady.
