Page 56 of Shattered Jewel

Axe, as well, carries scars of our Sovereigns’ hobby, a practice we’d presumed started with their reign, but we’re now realizing runs much deeper than our modern overlords.

“We can agree Mavvy-boy enjoys forgotten areas,” Wilder says. “Places the Sovereigns haven’t used or don’t know about. Do you know of any more old, neglected, forsaken hiding spots, sweetwitch?”

Elara’s expression goes taut.

“Could the third be around here, too?” Axe asks.

Wilder runs a hand through his unruly hair. “Am I actually going to tear this place apart in search of a mysterious third flash drive? Because the Grand Library is fucking … grand. But I’ll do it.”

Elara winces as she takes in the size of this underground fortress, filled with answers, yet so overbearing, it would take us years to search it.

My laptop churns where I left it on a stack of books, sorting through Maverick’s files and doing everything it can to unlock them.

Maverick Wraithwood, while an asshole, was a clever one. It won’t be easy getting into the files he promised would explain everything.

Of course not, I think dryly. Why make it easy?

“We don’t have any other leads,” Axe mutters, worry creasing his brow as he leans heavily against a bookshelf.

I hum my agreement. “Especially if there are other secret rooms behind bookshelves. We need to be swifter than this. It’s only a matter of time before the Sovereigns call on us to either do another job for them or give them answers?—”

“Oh my god.” Elara hops from foot to foot, excitement curling her fingers as her eyes light up.

My brows jump at such a display of joy in this world of gray. My gaze rakes over Elara, taking in her flushed face and bright, eager eyes.

Fuck, I want to touch her. Break her. Own her, all in one breath.

“Yes, beastie?” I prompt.

“I know a spot!” she breathes out. “At my Gram’s house. Behind a grandfather clock.”

I suppress the urge to rub at my face but don’t bother to hide an exasperated, “Somebody spare me from entering fucking Narnia next…”

“There’s an office belonging to a man named William Jonquil,” Elara continues. “He looks exactly like Maverick. I thought I was the first to find it, but maybe my brother did, too.”

“You think your brother stashed the drive in this Jonquil’s office?” Wilder asks, skepticism woven into his tone.

Elara nods with conviction. “The Grand Library was hidden behind a painting, and the altar room was hidden behind a bookshelf. This would make sense. And.” Elara points at Axe’s phone, where it’s rested face-down since he took it back. “Another thing Maverick said. For me to only trust family, no matter how many years separate them from me … that’s Jonquil.”

Wilder snorts. “Your brother found a secret office behind a grandfather clock in your grandmother’s house?” He shakes his head slowly. “That’s ... bizarrely poetic.”

The barest hint of a smile tugs at Cav’s lips. “Guess we’re off to Grandma’s house, then.”

You need to rest.

The statement almost escapes my mouth before I seal my lips shut. I’d never embarrass Cav like that or indicate myself in our less-than-perfect states. With my arm in a sling and his chest carved up, we both should be lying low. The impossibility of finding a bed right now and staying there is obvious—but there’s also the risk that the Sovereigns can take us and use us at any time, regardless of our health.

“We’ll need to tread carefully,” I say instead, my mind racing, formulating plans and contingencies. “The Sovereigns have eyes everywhere. We don’t want to alert them to our little field trip.”

“Underestimating them is precisely why we’re in this mess,” Axe mutters. The same cogs turning in my head turn in his.

“Then we’ll just have to be smarter,” Elara says.

Her voice is a bit sharper than it usually is. Her eyes are on mine, burning with a smoky intensity.

It feels like she’s challenging me, daring me to disagree. But there’s something else. With her looking at me like that, the thought of destroying her seems obscene.

But I’m so good at breaking things.

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