Page 63 of Petals for Vicious Secrets

Hope couldn’t take her eyes from it. It was a completely functional, strong, and capable hand. But it was made of metal.

Nina said, “Because this is Ciaran Castel, heir of the West House and who my parents, my brother and I worked for.”

Hope blinked, unsure if this was a trap. This hadn’t been in the plans of their arrival in Thyria.

Aurora, next to Nina, held her weapons in each hand. Her eyes narrowed, which was reason enough for Hope to not let go of Ciaran’s neck yet, despite the frown on Nina’s face. Courtrades were now filling the room, as most of them had jumped out of the tunnel. The last one was Marcus. Six courtrades less indeed.

“This is most surely not the courtrades’ quarters,” Marcus said. “But if you wanted us dead, you would have started already. Who the fuck are you, where are we, and how did you find us?” His eyes were cold, assessing. His hands had shadows twirling around his fingers, as if they were ready to strike should the answers not please him.

“As Nina kindly said,” he bowed at Nina his head as much as Hope’s arms let him before continuing, “I’m Ciaran, son of Cobrian Castel of the West House.”

Hope wasn’t sure if it was him knowing Nina by her first name, the respectful bow towards her friend, the genuine happiness in Nina’s eyes at seeing him, or that his scent was starting to blur her thoughts. But she finally let go of his neck, jumping to the floor. She didn’t go too far from him. Not yet.

“Brendon Gallon here,” said the second man, now stepping into the light. He was stunning, with short blond hair and blue eyes. He added, “We are under the Invisible Grand, and we should leave the chitchat for later unless you fancy a visit to the Organ Mandor.”

Hope’s eyes widened as she held her breath. Could it be this easy to confront her father at last? Adrenaline was rushing through her veins. It had been rushing through her veins for a long while now.

“No one is moving until you tell us how you found us,” Marcus demanded.

It was Ciaran who spoke this time. “I heard the whispers when you left Verdania.”

Marcus nodded silently, as if that explained something to him. “That doesn’t explain how you knew we’d be here,” he said.

“The Cardinals guided us here,” Ciaran said, his voice tense, as if he didn’t like being questioned so much.

“Metaphors are not good enough explanations,” Marcus said.

“A fucking red cardinal came to me and wouldn’t stop picking my already-bleeding back until I Healed myself, and then it instructed me to moure into Brendon’s, and then moure us both into this room, I guess because he works in this damn building that I’ve never stepped in. Is that good enough?” His patience was definitely running low.

Hope couldn’t stop herself before she asked, “Why was your back bleeding?”

Ciaran looked at her, and she might have imagined the coldness of his eyes easing a bit as he said, “It’s a long story.”

“Did you cause the panomquake?” Marcus asked, still not taking his eyes off Ciaran.

A corner of his lips twisted upwards as he said, “That wasn’t me.”

“He’s not a talker, you see. Don’t waste your—our precious time. Now, can we get out of here?” Brendon urged.

“What if I do fancy a visit to the Organ Mandor?” Hope asked, consciously avoiding the panicked stares of her mother and Nina.

“While being starved, thirsty, sleep deprived and with your hand hurt? A very stupid idea,” Aurora snapped.

Ciaran tilted his head slightly, exposing intricate ink shapes where his neck met his clothes. “Is that why you came to Thyria?” he asked.

“It’s a long story,” Hope smiled sarcastically.

“Can you take us to the courtrades’ Thyrian quarters?” Marcus asked Ciaran.

“I can moure you there two at a time,” the panom said.

Marcus pushed Aridian and Jessica forward to be the first ones. “Please,” he said.

Ciaran walked towards Brendon and removed Hope’s blade from his shoulder, healing it as he had mended his own. They stared at each other while this happened, presumably in a silent conversation that ended in Brendon nodding and walking next to Hope. Ciaran walked towards Aridian and Jessica and touched the back of their necks, the three of them disappearing from sight a moment later.

In less than a minute, Ciaran returned, and two other courtrades were ready for him. On and on, he moured them away, returning with empty hands, the caved room with fewer people every time he disappeared again.

“Are you sure he is to be trusted?” Hope asked Nina, not caring that Brendon was standing next to her, listening to every word.

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