Page 20 of Temple of Magic and Bone

Elektra couldn't tear her eyes away from the painting. The temple was trashed, and there were bodies scattered in the gardens and fields around it. In the background was painted a shimmering wave of lavender and blue light, like a brilliant wave about to crash down on top of them. It was the Veil, as only very few could see it.

"Your reapers?" Vanth whispered softly.

Elektra's jaw clamped too tight to form words, so she nodded.

"How do you like your tea, miss?" Eiline asked.

"Black with one sugar, thank you," Elektra said, shaking off the cold feeling in her stomach. "My name is Elektra. I... It's an honor to meet you."

"Is it?" Eiline asked, her brows drawing together.

"She doesn't know," Vanth said softly. "She doesn't remember."

Elektra pulled out her necklace. "I was given this by a friend of yours. Her name was Maria."

"Maria..." Eiline said and stared at the necklace.

Vanth took out his and slotted the pendants together. Sweet music rose up from it, and Eiline dropped the spoon she washolding. She moved slowly over to them and took the singing pendant in her shaking hands. "I remember." Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed the pendant to her cheek. "Orcus, my love."

12

Of all the things that Vanth expected his mother to say at that moment, the name of the Etruscan god of the dead wasn't one of them.

"What about Orcus?" he asked.

The music had stopped, and Vanth pulled his half of the pendant free. "Were you a devotee of him like she is with Charon?"

Eiline swallowed, clutching the pendant so hard, her fingers whitened. Her gaze cleared, and Vanth knew she was lucid, her curse pushed back for a moment.

"I was never a devotee of him. Orcus is your father. And you, Elektra must be a reaper. A good one too if Maria gave you this."

"I am, my lady. It's an honor to meet you," Elektra replied, bowing again.

Eiline nodded and looked at the mural she had painted. "Fuck. It's starting, isn't it? They are trying to break the patch on the Veil because it's weakened. When did this attack on the temple happen?"

"Four days ago. The high priestess sent me to find you and your son," Elektra replied. "A shade of a reaper told us Lazarus is also trying to find a way to trap Orcus in order to use his power."

"The audacity of that bastard," Eiline hissed.

Vanth was still frozen in shock. He forced his mouth to work. "What do you mean Orcus is my father? Which Orcus? Be specific because there're a lot of necromancers out there who get off on giving themselves dumb names."

"TheOrcus. The real one," Eiline said primly. She placed her hands on his cheeks. "It's a long story, my baby boy, and we aren't safe here."

"None of you are going anywhere," Clara said, coming into the cottage with three men. They were all mages with hard eyes, their magic humming.

"Clara?" Vanth couldn't make sense of what was happening, only that his world was breaking. The nurse he had been friends with seemed to have a completely different aura. How had she hidden it for so long?

"She's one of them. How long has Lazarus had you posted here to spy for him?" Elektra asked, looking down her nose at Clara.

For the first time, he could see the imperious royal in her. Damn, she was so beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

Clara's return smile was chilling. She didn't even try to deny it. "As soon as we located Eiline hiding in this place, I was sent to watch her. The curse has kept her from being useful until now. Whatever this reaper bitch has told you about us is wrong, Vanth. You know you can trust me."

"Can I?" He was going to be sick. He had been bringing Clara coffee and flirting with her for years. He thought she had actually cared. What a fucking fool he had been. He pointed to the mural. "So that didn't happen? Is it a lie? Or is your boss responsible for murdering people for their magic?"

Clara's smile widened. "It served a higher purpose. All of you will come with us now. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. Lazarus doesn't want to kill you, Vanth. He wants to recruit you. Talk to him, and you will see what we are really trying to do."

Elektra unsheathed her sickles and shot Vanth a glare. "I'msoglad you talked me out of wearing my suit. Why would I need tactical gear in a hospital?"

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