Page 11

Bile hits the back of my throat and my right hand spasms. My muscles lock up as I fight against my baser instincts to whip around to spot my brother’s emaciated form behind me. Instead, I stare at Jagger unblinkingly, my teeth clicking, waiting for the Corporal to flinch or gasp at a figure appearing behind me.

But the Corporal sips his tea, completely unbothered. I let out my breath slowly. The cursed version of my brother told me that Alasdair was too far gone to be saved. Now that I’ve cut the curse free, Alasdair will die.

Perhaps he’s already dead. If not, I saw that welded-together binding collar on his throat myself. There is no way in hell he could ever break from it in his withered state. He couldn’t be here.

I swallow and force myself to blink in an attempt to soften my wide-eyed stare. The voice. It felt so real, and it’s not the first time I’ve heard it tonight either. It whispered to me after I found the body in the foyer.

A chill shivers down my spine. How much longer do I have before corruption robs me of my mind? Weeks? Days? Hours? Or perhaps it’s already done, and I’m really laughing in a dark corner of my shop, rocking and smiling too widely.

Jagger helps himself to more sugar, oblivious to my spiraling thoughts. I stare, transfixed, when the lump falling makes the smallest of ripples. My pounding heart nearly drowns out Jagger’s response. “I’m aware that you’re no longer involved with the Astrum Order, but I’m sure you’d know of this weaver. He is rather renowned in and out of the Order. We received a tip that he was spotted entering your shop this evening.”

Male pronouns. They don’t think I’m Astoria, and I have no idea if I should be relieved or not. Damn it. I’m too rigid, but I cannot seem to relax my body. A whisper falls from my lips, “Which weaver?”

Jagger sighs and Hobbs’ eyes land on me. Finally, the Corporal says, “Vincentius Bauer the Third.”

My teacup crashes to the floor. Hobbs’ lips tilt in a small smile. They know.

Jagger settles in his chair. “You seem surprised.”

Jinx’s voice fills my mind. Books are under control. You can stop panicking now. It’s rather annoying.

But I can’t find the will to respond. Looking at Hobbs’ smug face, there is a bone-deep conviction within me that Dimitar killed Vincentius and planted the body in my shop.

What if Dimitar has Valen? Suddenly, I can’t breathe. If only my disguise could dull the very real scrape of dried blood on my skin, but it doesn’t. The stiffness of my blood-soaked robe makes me want to rip it from my body.

Memories of the congealed clots squishing under my hands when I fell flood me. The dripping walls. The scent of raw meat. The tendons and muscles… Oh, fuck. Bile rises in my throat, and my eyes burn from the effort of keeping my gaze trained ahead.

I’m going to faint, my body swaying. I slam my hand down on the table to catch myself. I snarl. Get it together. Do not let these assholes win.

My voice is too controlled, too flat, but I can’t seem to get myself to sound normal. “I apologize. I’m rather… shocked. That’s the Preservation Domain’s Councilor. If he were to enter my shop, that would entangle me with the Order and as… as…” I clear my throat. My hands are trembling, but I can’t feel them. Everything is cold. “As you know, I don’t associate with the Order. It’s key to being an independent merchant within the city.”

Hobbs needs to stop staring at me. I’m teetering between unyielding, blind rage and screaming as a total meltdown threatens to take over from the whirlwind of events.

I force in breath and attempt to harden my heart. This panic attack needs to be rescheduled for later. Right now, I need to get the Magistrate’s dogs out of my shop so I can get downstairs and talk to Lucas. We need to take action to prepare for Dimitar’s next move. We need to ensure Valen is safe and alive.

Darkness unfurls within my chest, its seductive tendrils stroking my insides to lure me into its control. A tremble vibrates through me. I cannot give in to its power. Not now when Dimitar’s trap is snapping around me. I grit my teeth against my heart’s pain and shove all thoughts of Valen away. It’s what must be done to get through this.

I clear my throat and surprise myself with my casual air. “Please, search the shop to your satisfaction. I fully comply with the Magistrate.”

With a nod from Jagger, Hobbs is on her feet. I don’t track her. Jinx can take care of that.

I suck in breath once more. I need to stop all these spiraling thoughts immediately. Jagger is watching me like a predator assessing their prey.

My eyes burn, but I somehow manage to summon another teacup. I fill this one by hand and thank the Tapestry that nothing spills. I pick up my fresh cup and say with a stable voice, “My, what a political nightmare it would be if you don’t find him. An Order Council member going missing within the city? What will the Archweaver do?”

Jagger’s lips purse. “I’m sure it will all be fine. We’ll find him. Hobbs is excellent at her job.”

I smile, but it’s more of a grimace. I take a sip to hide it and hiss down my connection to Jinx. If the bitch so much as looks at a book wrong, kill her.

CHAPTER 4

ASTORIA

“Luckily, they found nothing in their search, and Jinx didn’t eat anyone. So now we just have… the body to deal with.”

I finish catching Lucas up on everything that happened upstairs, that the Magistrate think I’ve been visited by a “powerful weaver”, careful to exclude Vincentius’ name. I can’t look at Lucas, the guilt for not telling him who the body really is weighing nearly as heavy as the fear of him knowing. From the corner of my eye, I see him nod solemnly, and silence descends upon us. We stand side by side within my basement, staring straight ahead at the skinned body of a man who used to be as dear to me as a father. Lucas’ orb glows with his magic, preserving Vincentius’ remains while we decide our next move.

My shoulders pull up tight and my hand presses against my lips. A tick, tick, tick begins to echo within my mind. We just escaped one catastrophe and barely came out alive. This newest one so soon is…