Page 79 of Lux

“She’s awake!” says the blonde, her voice rasping.

Her father approaches her in an instant. Altaris beats him there, bending low to place his hand on the blonde’s shoulder.

“Can she speak, my darling?” he asks.

“I don’t know.” Colleen sighs, her brows knitted, brow drenched with sweat. “She’s weak. I don’t know how much longer I can keep her conscious though?—”

“Don’t you worry yourself about that,” Altaris says with a wave of his hand. “Just get her to speak. Where did she put the ledger.”

In a gentle tone, the woman asks… I don’t care. The topic of this conversation does not interest me. It is not clear to me why Iam even approaching them, coming close enough to observe the mundane's tormented face. Then I notice Niamh standing before me, still clasping my hand. She’s the one who led me to this corner.

Without question, I followed.

“...sold it,” the mundane says, her eyes fluttering, limbs thrashing. “Sold it to a grifter. Don’t know who.”

“Well, that is unfortunate,” Altaris snaps. “Ask her if?—”

“Take it easy, Col." Daven Wick appears on the other side of the blonde, his voice low and soothing. “Don’t overdo it. Pull back if you need to. It’s okay.”

“A little longer, my darling,” Altaris insists. “We need to know if?—”

“Don’t you see she’s exhausted! You just keep pushing her. You don’t give a damn, do you? Colleen, baby, if it’s too much, you can let go.”

“Do not,” Altaris snaps. Despite his level tone, his gaze is cold and unmistakably authoritative. His grip on the blonde one tightens until she visibly winces, not that he notices. He is greedily fixated on his goal.

Even though she is weakening. Her veins are bulging. Quickly, she is tiring.

Yet the vamryer is not totally selfish. He is plotting and scheming even now. He has an aim in mind. What is it?

“You…” The dying mundane spies my fae, her gaze clear for once. “I… I looked. Name… Aur”

Niamh sucks in a breath. She’s on her knees in an instant, leaning in close. “Aurelia?”

The mundane nods. Then shakes her head. She is too delirious to make sense. “Parna… Aurelia… Parna. Aurelia.”

“Altaris!” Daven Wick is on his feet, his hands clenched, eyes blazing. “Enough is enough.”

The vamryre doesn’t even look up at him. “No,” he insists. “Keep going, my dear one. Just a little longer…”

“I… I can’t.” The blonde one trembles, her eyelids fluttering. “I…”

“Colleen, baby, just let go!”

“Not yet,” Altaris says, louder than them both. “Caspian, darling, could you get the door?”

I raise an eyebrow, but move forward to obey. Upon opening the door, yet another figure rushes in, racing past me. She has a bag at her hip and rummages around, withdrawing a vial of liquid in one hand. A syringe in the other.

“I’m here!” she rasps in between panting breaths. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I couldn’t find?—”

“Finally. Just administer the sedative, please,” Altaris says, cutting over the male mortal before he can say a word otherwise.

The mortal nods and Niamh steps aside so she can take her place. She injects the mundane with the syringe.

The girl shudders. Stills. Yet, she is not dead.

“Good. Now you may relax, my darling.” Altaris strokes the blonde one’s arm, and she nearly collapses into his arms. “There, there. You did well.”

“I need some fucking air.” Daven storms off, radiating anger.

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