Page 66 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

Souls are meant for those of holiness. I am not holy. I am the embodiment of vengeance and retribution. I was born of sin and I will die in sin.

Kyra

The bell chimed above me as I stormed into Madam Levine’s shop. The floor below me didn’t even have a chance to creak as I stalked through the small store and slammed my hands on the counter. “I need help.”

Madam Levine looked over from where she was helping a fellow wolf. “Someone forgot their manners,” she lectured.

“It’s from the male who stole the rock,” I stated evenly, knowing it would get her attention immediately.

Her eyes furrowed and then she straightened asmuch as an ancient wolf could straighten. She pressed her lips together. “Run along, Todd. Go tell your pop that I’ll need another piece of silver for that, eh?”

The pup shot me a glare before scurrying off.

When the bell chimed again, Madam Levine trudged her way over. “What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now, Astraea?”

I leaned back and carefully pulled down my shirt and hoodie, revealing the collar. “I need something to take this off. I’ve been told it can’t be done, but I’m hoping for the best.”

She leaned forward, squinting her eyes, inspecting it. After a moment, she found my eyes again. “And what does this have to do with that wretched man?”

“He put it on me,” I said through my teeth.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly. “What?”

I put my clothes back into place, thrumming my fingers on the counter. “Heput it on me,” I explained, enunciating each word carefully. “Yesterday. And now, I can…canhearhim in my head.” Anything else could be written off as starvation or dehydration. Lack of sleep, but I was sure now that this was the cause of it.

Levine leaned back, eyeing me. “Why did he do that? What makes you so special?”

It wasn’t a good special, I could see that much in her eyes. She knew the stories too. Knew what Trick Michael did to his victims. “Nothing,” I lied. “I haven’tdoneanything.”

“Does he know you know about this street?”

I lifted and dropped my hands. “He hasn’t said anything about it.” He had to have known about it.Fuck!Ihadn’t even considered that.

“What has he said?”

If he knew about the street, then nobody here was safe. Should I warn them? He hadn’t done anything yet, but what if Madam Levine had a solution and I did manage to get the collar off? Would that kill them all? “He’s said…” I turned away from her if only to hide my own shame and frustration. “I don’t know…nonsense,” I finally spit out, walking over to the nearest shelf. “Stuff that doesn’t mean anything.”

“Oh, dear, it always means something. You need to listen. I’ve been telling you that for years.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just tell me how to get it off.”

“I can’t,” she said, causing my heart to fall. “Astraea, he’s rumored to be one of the strongest, if notthestrongest magic-user alive. No one can break his magic. No one.”

I turned back to her, my hope quickly diminishing. “I have to get it off, Madam. I’m not ready to die.”

Sympathy filled her eyes. “Then you’ll need someone far more powerful than anyone on this street to help you. I don’t have your answer. You’re the one usually bringing me answers.”

I waited, praying that if I just stared long enough, she would give me a better answer. It didn’t take me long to realize that there was no other answer.

She had no ability to take it off. None. And I didn’t know of anyone else who would help me. Shit. Cole was right.

With a huff, I turned on my heel. “I have to go.”

“Who gave you those black eyes, Astraea? Was itthe High King?”

“I’m a thief, Madam Levine, it’s part of the job.”

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