Page 67 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

Cole

I flipped the page, reading the words carefully. It was just history. Things I had learned simply by being alive, but if there was something she had found out that wasn’t included in the history books, I wanted to know.

I was on the third book when I felt the temperature chill.

I looked up, the fire going out like a candle in a storm. With a roll of the eyes, I shut the book and waited for the dramatic entrance to subside, revealing Trick in all of his arrogant glory.

He didn’t even bother cleaning up this time, and I was glad Kyra was gone for it. Coming back from a Session, as he called it, made for a gruesome sight when done.

Trick was missing his suit jacket. The top few buttons of his blood-covered white shirt were undone, revealing the markings underneath. Black markings that covered his entire chest, shoulders, back, and arms in varying designs. He had blood caked in his hair, dripping from his face, his hands. There was even brain matter on his neck.

I set the book down and leaned back in my chair. “Who was it this time?”

“A rat,” he answered easily. “I’m still looking for the five-headed snake.”

A rat in which court? A rat in any court was terrible,but one in our court? I had to admit, I was glad he or she was dead. “Is that how many run this society you’ve been after?” I couldn’t be sure if it was real or not. Lora could be right but admitting that meant admitting that we had all just been letting him travel to different courts, killing innocent people.

Some days it was just easier to believe that it was real. The guilt would eat me alive otherwise.

“That’s the number the rats gave me,” he stated. “I’ve come to retrieve you. It’s been a few days and—”

“No,” I stated, standing.

Trick rose a brow. “It’s been a few days,” he repeated quietly, threateningly. “You haven’t left this place more than a handful of times, a few of those times to replace the wood you’ve been using. You’ve failed in your mission and you’re to return to Arkalious. I have another mission for you to handle.”

I flexed my hands and shook my head. “I’m not leaving. I still have work to do here. Books to read.”

“Take the books then. Your mission is over.”

“And what of the others? Why can’t they do thismission?” I wasn’t ready to leave. I wanted to know her better. I wanted to spend more time with her. I needed more time with her.

“They’re busy,” he said simply.

I snarled. “You said you wanted to be a part of this. You had Lora come and tell me that we were going to do something about the witches. Are you giving up on that already? A pretty quick turnaround, don’t you think? One day.”

Trick ran a hand through his hair, the blood still damp enoughto keep it back save for a few strands that fell into his eyes. “I’ll give you an ultimatum then, Cole. You either come with me now, or I kill her before she has a chance to step off of that pretty little secret she’s standing on right now.”

I slowed then, eyes narrowing. “What secret?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret now, would it?”

I straightened, quickly counting his shadows, that familiar rage steaming through me. “You’ve been following her.” A statement. There was no need to ask. He was missing a shadow tendril. “Why her? Why have you put such aclaimon this one? She’s just some ordinary human. There’s nothing special about her.”

Something deep and dark flashed in Trick’s eyes. “You have five seconds to make a decision or my shadow stops her heart.”

I searched his eyes, the truth clear. There wasn’t a point in arguing with him. In fighting for her. I didn’t need anyone else to sleep with, so I shrugged. “Fine. Let’s go. I’ve checked her off my list anyway.” A lie. A complete, outright lie. I hated myself for even saying it.

Trick snarled and before I could blink, he had me pinned against the wall, a blade at my throat, his teeth bared.

I heard his bones snap, and I knew what that meant, and it terrified me more than any monster I had faced during the War of Ruin. During my lifetime.

I turned my head away from him, gritting my teeth, heart pounding as Trick snarled in a way that was more animal than Fallen.

“You’re lucky,” he said, his voice not his own, “that Idon’t havefunwith you like I have fun with anyone else who crosses me.”

I swallowed, leaning my head back against the wall. I was used to this. I was the only one who questioned him, the only one who pushed him this far. Why? Because Rose had promised me that the real Trick was still somewhere inside of thisthingthat took his place.

But I knew the truth now. This monster held no memory of the male that had once stood in the doorway of our home and reassured me that I would fly again. This male held no memory of the man who took the crown so Lora wouldn’t have to. Who tried to rebuild Oridian after the Fall.

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