Page 159 of Of Masks and Fury

Coralee’s attention snapped to her. “Several hundred years.”

The words hung in the air like a pronouncement of doom.

“Yet someone knows this magic after all that time.” I kept my voice level, but fury simmered beneath. “How could someone have access to abilities that haven’t been seen in such a long time?”

“I said I haven’t heard of it being used.” Coralee’s tone went crisp. “That doesn’t mean no one possesses the knowledge.”

“But you know something about it.” Isi stepped forward, her pale blue eyes fixed on my aunt. “You recognized it.”

Coralee nodded, her gaze stark. “I’ve read about it in texts that are locked away for good reason, ones that detail blood magic practices.” She looked at me, and for the first time I could remember, my aunt appeared terrified. “Your father had me research this magic once. Years ago.”

My chest tightened. “Why?”

“He didn’t say. He only asked me to find any references to bloodfire magic and report what I learned.” She glanced down at the scorched earth. “I found very little. The practice was forbidden long before our time. Those who knew how to wield it were either killed or went into hiding.”

“But someone knows now,” Derren said.

I glared at the ashes. The symbol that had been on the woman’s wrist now lost forever.

“You said my father asked you to research this.” I met Coralee’s gaze. “When?”

She was quiet for a long moment. “Before his death, of course. Sixteen years ago.”

The same time everything else happened. The wasteland. The deaths. The beginning of all these mysteries that kept circling back to that single point in time.

“Did you ever figure out why he wanted to know?” Isi asked.

“No.” Coralee’s voice went soft. “He died before I could finish my research. And your mother forbade me from continuing. She said it was too dangerous, that some knowledge was better left buried.”

“But you kept your notes.” I knew my aunt. She never discarded research, no matter how dangerous.

“I did.” She straightened, some of her usual composure returning. “They’re in my private study. Locked away. I haven’t dared look at them since.”

“I need to see them.”

“Trewyn—”

“Someone has access to forbidden magic. They sent a spy to listen to my private councils. I need to know everything there is to know about bloodfire.”

“What if my looking into it brought about your father’s death?” Stark pain filled her eyes. “I don’t want to endanger you.”

“Knowledge will only make me stronger, not weaker.”

Coralee studied my face before she shuddered and gave me a nod. “I’ll find them and place them on your desk in your office.”

“Thank you.”

She turned and walked back toward the palace, her ermine a pale streak against her dark gown.

The head of my guard rushed over to join us, peering around. “I was told you were chasing someone?”

“She’s dead now. Burned.” I swept my boot across the scar on the ground.

“What can I do, Sire?”

“Increase guard rotations. No one enters or leaves the palace without being checked. I want every servant, every visitor, and every person within our walls and the surrounding area accounted for.” I looked at the scorched earth again.

“At once.” He hurried back toward the castle.