Page 106 of Bound By Darkness

A woman bowed her head in greeting as she gripped a wooden basket filled with eggs. “May the Mother guide you,” she said softly, her fingers crossing over her lips.

“And you as well.” Ivan’s fingers crossed over his lips in blessing.

The woman carried on, her belly swollen as two kids held onto the hem of her dirtied apron. Fresh baked bread and sage filled my nostrils as we passed cart after cart. A woman with long, red hair stirred a pot to my right, the scent floating through the streets as people lined next to her for food.

“Meal hall,” Ivan said next to the bright yellow tent. “Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served promptly for those who need it. Most do since there are no places to cook besides the meal hall. The tents are cramped, about two families sharing one.”

He pointed toward the lowest part of the valley where more of the pointed tents rested against the hillside, oil lamps hanging from metal stakes outside them. Every tentwas burgundy, starkly contrasting the dying grass on the hill.

For such a bustling center, no sound floated through the streets except for the occasional transaction between merchant and buyer. The man handed over a piece of yellowed parchment as he scribbled something down. He handed the parchment back to a young woman, along with clothing and linens.

“Rations,” Ivan answered, noticing my gaze on the paper. “Each family is provided a weekly parchment paper with items they can buy or trade for. It’s how the Hideaway keeps running.”

“How long has this been here?” Fin asked.

“Iyanna created it a few years ago. She set up the wards to hide this place from prying eyes, specifically the rebels and Hywell. No one can enter unless she permits them to.” He jerked his thumb toward the tent resting under the elm trees.

Iyanna’s tent. The Queen of Krones.

Red and orange beads draped from the opening, cascading to the ground in flames. They rattled against each other as Ivan raised them, shielding them from my head as I stepped underneath, Fin hot on my trail.

“Stop.” The sound floated from the woman as she stood from the velvet-crushed chair, her hands spread atop the wooden table.

“Iyanna,” Ivan greeted, his body dipping low.

She scoffed loudly, her long red nails drumming against the wood. Her lips were tinted purple as they pressed against each other, a thin line forming. “You.” She flicked a hand to Fin. “Out.”

“So you’re not inviting us here for pleasure?” Fin mused.

Iyanna’s lips tugged lower as she glared at Fin. A gasp left my lips as she turned. Her eyes were bone white as they glimmered under the twinkling lights.They narrowed at the sound, a fingernail pointing at Fin. “This does not concern you.”

“Like hells it doesn’t.”

Iyanna’s eyes blazed white. “Ivan.” A command.

Ivan’s brows furrowed. “I told you not to speak.”

Fin grabbed my hand as he hauled me to the glowing beads. “Fine. We can go speak somewhere else.”

“She stays here,” Iyanna called out, her voice commanding and slightly alluring as it twisted around my ears. “My business is with the two of them. You, on the other hand, are more than welcome to wait outside my tent.”

Ivan sent Fin a nod, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Fin blew out a breath. “I’ll be outside.” Turning to leave, he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Call out if you need me. Ivan seems worried too.”

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze before he left. Swallowing, I turned to the Queen as Ivan took place beside me.

Her nails set a steady pace against the desk as she leaned forward, locks of hair falling over her shoulders. Dressed in elegant robes of fine silk and satin, the hems of her sleeves brushed over the books littering her desk.

“Thalia Carr, it’s a pleasure to finally put a name to a voice.”

“Your business is with me. I came here?—”

Iyanna held up a hand, silencing him immediately.

“This does not concern you. The woman can speak for herself.” A long nail pointed toward me. “So, Thalia, you’ve entered my camp with one of my assassins. What can I do for you?”

Clearing my throat, I stared at the woman before me. “I need supplies to search for the Book of Spells.”

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