Page 239 of Fallen Nocturne

“Why would I hate you? You’re my brother,” I say, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around him. “You’re family. You kept Rainer and me safe.”

Shade stiffens in surprise. Then his arms close around me, holding me so tightly that my feet nearly leave the ground.

“I’ll come back,” he says into my hair. “When my mother is settled. I’ll come back.”

“You better,” I say, my voice muffled against his shoulder.

We pull apart and look at each other. I crouch beside Lucien and open the leather pouch at my waist. Five small glass vials rest inside, each filled with a pale silver liquid.

“I only managed to make five,” I tell him. “Drink one whenever you need to return to your elven form.”

Lucien lowers his nose toward the pouch and sniffs cautiously.

“They should each last several hours, but the potion may become less effective every time you use it. Your curse is too powerful for me to break completely.”

His ears lower.

“This will only suppress it,” I explain. “To end it permanently, you need to find the original warlock who placed the curse on you.”

Lucien gives one sharp bark. Whether it means he understands or simply dislikes the answer, I cannot tell.

A shadow moves across the courtyard. Svenn steps from it with Coinneach at his side, carrying a narrow wooden case beneath one arm.

Shade turns to him. “I was not leaving without saying farewell. I was merely afraid you would strike me for failing to finish my lessons.”

Svenn scoffs at his student and holds out the case. “Take this.”

Shade opens it. Inside are small wooden tiles, each carved with a letter of the alphabet, along with several common words and symbols.

“Lucien can arrange them whenever he needs to communicate,” Svenn explains.

Shade studies the tiles suspiciously. “Is this more homework?”

Lucien barks excitedly and nudges the case with his nose, his tail thumping against the ground with gratitude.

Svenn looks at Shade. “Find your mother. Break Lucien’s curse. Come home alive.”

Shade nods once.

They leave through the palace gates a short while later. Shade carries his pack over one shoulder while Lucien walks beside him, the wooden case secured among their supplies. Svenn and I remain in the courtyard, watching them follow the road out of Völundr.

“I’m worried they’ll have trouble communicating,” I say.

“Lucien will manage perfectly well with the tiles.” Svenn folds his arms. “It is Shade I’m concerned about. He’s the idiot who can barely read.”

I elbow him lightly, though I cannot stop myself from smiling. My gaze returns to the wooden case strapped to Shade’s pack.

“Those carvings… the craftsmanship looks familiar,” I murmur.

“Garrett made it.”

I turn toward Svenn. “Garrett?” I glance back at the case.

“He is following them too.”

My smile disappears. “He is doing what?”

“From a distance,” Svenn assures me. “Shade and Lucien will not know he is there.”