Page 151 of Taken By Shadows

Formally dressed, a young man, possibly in his late teens, greeted me. He led me to the foyer, where he bade me wait for the lord and lady.

“Just Tymon.” I inwardly cringed. Lord Tymon. But it was too late now. The boy had already disappeared down some stairs to another part of the house.

The place was similar to the Alabaster Palace in that it was grand and had hard marble flooring, though these were black and white. But where Kaed’s home stood bare on the walls save for the swathes of curtains, Tymon’s home had paintings and art on every inch of plaster. Each in an ornate gold frame, they depicted everything from battles to weddings to simple seaside scapes.

It must have taken years to curate this collection. And I was only standing in the foyer. I had an urge to peer around the next corner to see if the art displays continued throughout the house.

“It was my father’s collection before it was mine.” Tymon’s voice was warm and welcoming as I heard him behind me.

I turned and smiled, and it was genuine.

“Lady Imogen.” Tymon inclined his head.

“I think we both know you don’t need to use a formal title for me.”

He smiled. Where Kaed’s features were fierce and demonically handsome, Tymon’s were classic and refined. His rich, dark skin was like ebony that shone from within, and the points of his ears were unmarred by piercings. If Kaed was the wild night, Tymon was the warm sunshine day. But there was a strength in him that I knew was what he and Kaed had in common.

“Please.” Tymon gestured to the lounge through one of the doors.

As we entered the room, I peered behind us.

“We have probably three minutes before my dear lady wife arrives.”

“Sorry.” I fiddled with the buckle of my cloak. “I just don’t think she likes me very much.”

“She doesn’t like most people. Don’t feel put out.”

I smiled and took a seat in a settee opposite Tymon.

More paintings. So many more. Most were of beautiful cities I had never seen. I recognised one of Viverna and a large one above the mantle that I took to be Gallen, its carts and mining equipment depicted by the artist in the corner. And a cluster of the flowers I’d seen on his breast the first time I’d met him.

There was an ominous piece of a dark castle on a stormy night. And beside it, its utter counterpart, the golden city of Aurora with rivers for roads and shimmering shells for roof tiles. My heart gave a painful squeeze at the sight.

“What brings you here?” It wasn’t a rude attempt to draw my attention. But we had to get down to things before Sapphine showed up.

I pulled my gaze from the paintings. “Things have gotten a bit worse.” What a wonderful way to greet someone. But Tymon waited for me to continue.

I filled him in on Audrie’s theory that the books we had been looking for may have been deliberately removed from the archives.

“And do you have any thoughts on who might have done this?”

“A few council members were quite interested in your mines when you returned, Gavrin mentioned.”

“You think the council had the records removed?” He raised a perfect brow. He was practiced at controlling his features, I could see that. But his pupils were wide with surprise.

“Perhaps some of them. We’ve no proof.” I paused as Tymon took in what I was saying. This was a lot. If we were right, not only did it mean the council was hoarding faebane sources, but they were lying to everyone about it.

“And that’s why I’m really here.”

Tymon came out of his thoughts and looked at me.

“We need invitations to the Seeds and Starlight Celebration. Kaed is convinced he won’t be on the list, and judging by how Councillor Varris enjoyed the sight of him in irons, I doubt he will want to see him in his finery.”

Tymon nodded. “I will secure your invites.” How, I wasn’t sure, and he didn’t elaborate. He scrubbed at the neat stubble on his jaw. “I’ll have the invitations sent to the Alabaster Palace as soon as I can. And will you tell Kaedian I will see him before the celebrations?”

I stood to leave and wanted to hug Tymon for his help. He didn’t ask questions. He just trusted me like he trusted Kaed.

The sharp clip of shoes on tiles pulled our attention.