Page 108 of Autumn L.A.W

He stood there for a moment, staring at nothing in particular, the quiet pressing in. Victoria’s face flickered through his mind—the real one. She was sharp, composed, unshakable, except now he could already sense the crack forming beneath that control. He’d seen warriors take hits before. This one wouldn’t cry, but bleed inwardly.

And he couldn’t be the one to deliver the bad news. No. Absolutely not.

He dragged a hand down his face, exhaled hard, then reached for his phone before he could talk himself out of it.

The line rang once. Then Bas answered, her voice steady, alert. “Duke.”

Of course, she didn’t say hello. That would imply things were normal.

“You’re not going to like this,” he said, skipping any attempt at easing in.

“Tell me.”

He turned away from the room, as if the books might eavesdrop. “The sorceress confirmed it. The talisman did exactly what we thought. Body swap. Clean, but permanent.”

Silence on the other end, then a heavy sigh.

“She said it can’t be undone,” he added, quieter now. “Not reversed. Not broken. Not… anything.”

“Do you believe her?” she asked.

“No. I believe she didn’t tell me everything.”

“Then we proceed as if she’s lying by omission.”

Duke nodded. “Victoria’s going to hear ‘impossible’ and take it at face value.”

“She won’t,” Bas said calmly. “Not if I’m the one telling her.”

He closed his eyes briefly. “Yeah. That’s why I’m calling you.”

“I gathered.”

“I don’t think I can—” He stopped. “She deserves better than me standing there when it lands. She needs her coven.”

“She deserves the truth. And she deserves a plan to go with it.”

“I’m working on the plan.”

“I assumed you would be. Duke, we don’t abandon our own.”

“I know that.”

“Good. Then you won’t stop trying.”

A breath that almost passed for a laugh. “Noted.”

“I’ll handle Victoria. You do what you do best.”

“Dig where I’m not supposed to.”

“Exactly.”

The line clicked, ending the call. Duke lowered his phone slowly.

The library stirred as he moved. Shelves trembled, and with a reluctant groan, the entire structure slipped sideways through space.

When it settled again, they were nowhere near Long Island.