Page 221 of Burn of the Everflame

When I finished, the men bound my hands again and pushed me down the hall to a large godstone door. Luther and I had seen it while exploring the library, but its bloodlock hadn’t opened with my blood. Today, Ophiucae stood beside it, hands clasped behind his back—and Sorrow’s Edge hanging from his hip.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said.

“Unless it involves letting me go, I’m not interested,” I grumbled.

“Very well.” He glanced at the leader. “Unlock her chains.”

“She’s dangerous,” the man protested.

Ophiucae smiled frostily. “So am I.”

No one was willing to argue with that. The man freed my wrists, and the mortals scurried to get out of my reach.

Ophiucae looked me over. “Have you eaten?”

“We gave her food,” the leader cut in. “She refused it.”

Ophiucae ignored him, awaiting my response. When it didn’t come, he clicked his tongue. “As stubborn as Auralie.”

It was deeply unsettling to remember that this terrifying man had known my mother in every way. There was a vital part of her life, a part that completely changed her future, that only he had seen and perhaps only he would ever fully understand.

“Bring us a platter of food,” Ophiucae ordered. “The rest of you, leave us.”

The leader bristled. “I’m not your servant.”

“Are you questioning me?”

“Maybe I am. Just because we’re here doesn’t mean you⁠—”

“Do as you’re told,” Ophiucae compelled.

His face went slack. All their faces went slack. The men nodded as one and walked away.

Ophiucae let out an irritated sigh. “They test me at every turn. I have waited thousands of years to enact my plans. My patience is wearing thin.”

“The mortals have been making plans for just as long,” I said.

“I’m offering them the vengeance they want,” he snapped.

“You’re offering the same cage with a different captor. They’re never going to kneel to you.”

His skin pulsed with a malevolent glow. “We’ll see.” He pointed to the door. “This room is the personal archive of the Sophos Crown. Only their blood can open its lock.”

My blood.

Though I hated to admit it, my heart sank. “So this is why you had me taken.”

“Not at all. I only discovered the room this morning. It’s a pleasant surprise you happened to be here.” He smiled. “One might even call it fate.”

Without my Umbros magic, I had no way to tell if he was lying. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know.

“Shall we explore it together?” he asked.

Since bloodlocks only worked with willingly given blood, this was the one choice he couldn’t force me to make. Ironically, it was also the one request I had no desire to fight. I was equally curious what knowledge the Sophos rulers had hidden from the other Crowns.

I started to offer my hand, then hesitated. “Show me the children first. I want proof they’re safe.”

“That’s going to be difficult.”