Page 119 of Hybrid Heroics

He fell silent once more, his brows furrowed as his eyes traced the patterns on the top. They made intricate, flowing swirls around oval carvings that looked like abstract vines. It was a mesmerizing, chaotic knot of threads, but as I studied it, I realized I couldn’t find the beginning or end of the strands.

My guys filed into the room, spreading out to deposit their haul of junk food. Novak went straight to the corner stand to plug his laptop in, Briggs following behind him after handing me a bowl of berries. Palmer and Vaughn browsed the shelves against the back wall.

Stone sat on York’s right side, kicking his feet up on the ottoman. “Are you going to open it?”

“Thinking about it,” my druid replied.

“What happens if you open it?” I inquired.

He shrugged. “My parents will know.”

“And?” Stone prompted.

York took a deep breath, building tension before he said, “And nothing. That’s all that happens when I open it.”

“What’s inside it?” Palmer asked, leaning over York’s shoulder to peek at the box.

He glanced at us, wobbling his head before he made up his mind. The tip of his finger hovered over the lid, not quite touching it as he traced a particular thread in the woven pattern. The lid popped open, tiny hinges lightly squeaking.

“Were you searching for the right—”

“No,” he answered before I could finish. “I knew what the symbol was to open it. I mean, I didn’t until a few years ago. But at that time, I didn’t want to open it. After everything that’s happened, I just want to make sure the contents are still inside.”

“And?” Stone continued his prompting. “Is it still full?”

Of course, he would want to know. It was more than a curiosity for my demon. He had hid this box when York was captured, taken care of it, protected it…

“It was never full,” York told him, folding the lid to rest against his knees.

“What is that?” I asked, dumbfounded even as I saw the specks spread across the bottom.

“Seeds.”

“It’s just seeds?” Palmer inquired, sharing my confusion. “Like plant seeds?”

York quirked a brow, retorting, “Uhm, yeah. These trees are extinct. What did you think would be in the box?”

“Wait,” my demon drawled, peeking into the box to roll the tiny yellow ovals with the tip of his finger. “You mean... You had me protecting seeds this whole fucking time?”

“They’re important to the druids,” he explained. “These are the last seeds to the harvest tree, the world tree that grows through the center of the palace.”

“They’re fucking seeds, York.” Stone shook his head. “I don’t understand why anyone was trying to steal them.”

“I get it,” Vaughn acknowledged. “Royalty is weird like that. There’s always some miniscule artifact or jewel that someone wants with hopes that it will give them the kingdom on a silver platter.”

Stone stood, walking the length of the room twice before he turned to York. “Why seeds? What is the significance?”

“My dad told me to protect them with my life.” York chuckled. “If I could keep the seeds safe, then I could keep the kingdom safe.”

“Makes perfect sense,” Vaughn agreed, though sarcastically. “It would be safer to let you run the kingdom and then give you the seeds.”

“I feel like I’ve seen these before,” Palmer muttered.

Briggs snorted. “Probably in a book, you nerd,”

“Fuck off,” my mage shot back without missing a beat. “I know I’ve seen these before.”

“Seeds?” Stone whispered once more. “Are you serious? That’s how they test you?”