Page 123 of Bound By Darkness

She nodded. “Don’t you get it? If he eradicates all Four Houses, he’s the only one left with casting in the entire kingdom. If he eradicates the curse, he will become an immortalgod.”

“By the Mother,” I swore, my fingertips digging into the wood. “Does… does anyone else know of this?”

She gave a nod. “Those closest to me know, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out his plan.” She pushed aside the book in front of her. “I will let you search for the Book of SpellsandAsa once the news of your disappearance has dwindled. The King is doing everything in his power to search for you. If he captures you, you might as well gift him everything he desires.”

I swallowed. “Then how long?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I need that Book of Spells too. If we have it, the rebels and King Hywell will be out our mercy. It will turn the tide of the war in our favor.”

“But isn’t it dangerous? Wouldn’t it be better to hide it?”

She laughed, wickedness dripping from her open mouth as her tongue swept over her canines. “That’s what makes you naive to war, Thalia.”

Beads clinked together, the sound announcing Naexi as she stumbled into the tent. Her eyes narrowed at me before she cleared her throat. “It’s urgent.”

Iyanna stood, her nails scratching her chin before she gave a nod to Naexi. “We’ll talk later,” she said to me.

“But—”

Iyanna’s eyes narrowed, her lips tugging together. “Enough. Enjoy your evening.”

My eyes narrowed as I stood. “That Book won’t give you want you want, Iyanna. It sounds dangerous. Besides, we aren’t done?—”

“Enough,” she said before the lights dimmed in the tent,the winter air kissing my face as red beads sang behind me, my body tossed from the tent like scraps of food.

Collecting myself, I cursed openly in the air as I left the menacing women behind.

At least the Hideaway was cast in a beautiful orange haze as I walked through the market, a few people greeting me with smiles. It was peaceful, the streets emptying from the harsh chill in the air. Different from the conversation I’d had with Iyanna as I tugged the sleeves of my cloak closer. Winter was settling fast, frost clinging to the ground as I headed toward the outskirts of camp.

I didn’t have a spot in mind as I curiously explored the expanse of the ward, slowly ridding my mind of the information she’d expelled to me.

King Hywell was going to end the curse and eradicate the remaining casting in Cethales? If so, it made sense why he was searching for me. If I was the cure to the curse, my life was far more promising to him alive than dead, but how dangerous would it be to leave?

We needed that Book and to rescue Asa from the rebels if I was going to figure out my casting. Would it be worth leaving, putting those I cared for in danger? But what if we didn’t leave? Stayed here in this bubble?

I didn’t realize how far I’d drifted from camp, my thoughts circling as a lone tree crept into view. Leaves crunched beneath my feet as I inched closer to its hanging branches. The leaves were frosted in winter’s white kiss as they touched the ground, creating a magnificent archway.

The wind licked my back as I plucked one from the tree, bits of frozen dew coating my fingers.

“Thalia?”

My fingers dropped the leaf as the branches shook, Ivan appearing from underneath. My eyes roamed between himand the branches, not expecting to find him here… beneath a tree. “What are you doing?”

“I could ask the same of you.” He shifted the branches a bit further, a small invitation.

Slowly inching forward, I peered inside the makeshift cave. A blanket sat against the ground, a book nestled by the tree stump as I stepped completely inside.

Ivan let go of the branches as they snapped into place, most of the faelight trapped outside.

Sitting, I grabbed the book as I lazily flipped through the pages. “Were you reading?”

“I have hobbies.”

“How did you find this place?” I asked as I surveyed the expanse of space. It was fairly warm inside, most of the wind kept at bay from the thick branches.

He shrugged, his large frame resting against the tree as he shifted the oil lamp to the side. “I needed a place away from Iyanna and stumbled across this one day. I’ve been using it ever since.”

“After meeting her, I understand.”

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