Page 88 of The Soul of the Dragon

Fortunately, I didn’t have to get it out the whole way. I only needed access to—

A louder crash sounded right next to the bed and I scrambled to get out of the way as several more chunks of the ceiling fell on the bed and around where I crouched.

Good Goddess. What the hell was going on with Isaac and Magnus? I had to hurry and get the hell out of here before they completely demolished the palace.

I pulled one more time and finished exposing the top half of this thing. I’d never realized this thing was so damned heavy.

I scooted around the side and pushed all of the accessories out of the way and tugged at the curtains glued to the faux windows to the secret panel that I’d carved into this thing when I was about eight years old so I could hide silly childhood things that were now meaningless.

As I dug my fingernails into the crack in the wood to free the cover, a tingle of magic snaked up my arm and wrapped around my chest. I sucked in a breath as it settled around me with a welcoming hum.

Oh My Goddess.

It can’t be.

My heart hammered wildly when the piece of wood broke free and clattered to the ground and I got my first look at what was hidden underneath. I pulled a white piece of paper out first and held my breath as I unfolded it slowly.

Mother.

She’d left me a note. A quiver overtook my lower lip. My hands shook as I looked down at the words scrawled across the paper.

My Dearest Darling,

I knew eventually you would find your way to this spot. I only wish I was there with you now to share in the rest of your life.

As the first tear fell on the paper, I dropped the paper to my side. There was no way I could read the rest of this now and not fall apart. And Isaac was counting on me, and if I didn’t get out of here now I’d end up as part of the rubble this place was being reduced to.

I refolded the paper and shoved it in my pocket. The next time I was alone, then I would read it.

I reached back into my secret compartment and pulled out the black cloth pouch. I couldn’t believe it. If I thought my heartbeat was out of control, it was nothing like now. The sound of it whooshed through my ears and tuned out all other sounds.

With shaking hands, I pulled the tie loose and upended the pouch and dumped the contents into my hand. Another intense blast of magic shot through my fingers, leaving me breathless. It couldn’t be. There had to be some kind of mistake.

I turned the amulet over in my hand, looking for some other sign and the magical buzz increased until it thrummed through my body, wrapping me in a warm cocoon of safety.

Mother.

How could she do this?

“Kitra.”

I turned at the pained growl of Isaac’s voice, shocked to see him standing at the threshold of this room.

“Isaac,” my heart skipped a beat at his rough appearance. There was blood on his face and deep cuts across his arms and chest that looked like—

“I’m okay. As soon as I shift again, I will heal. What’s going on here? You can’t stay in here. The structure of the castle is compromised. He glanced around, his gaze landing on the series of locks on the outside of the door, and then the bars on the windows. “This is a prison cell.”

I nodded tightly, my throat thickening as the amulet hidden in my hand continued to buzz. “I am not surprised. He seemed determined to take whatever he wanted from me however that he could. Even if that meant keeping me locked up for the rest of my life.”

“And where is he now? I’m going to kill him.”

“That’s not likely to happen, Isaac. He’s a coward who ran at the first sign of trouble. And with his ability to phase from one place to another, he could be anywhere.”

The rumble in his chest grew louder. “And what about the amulet?”

I didn’t answer right away. I could lie and tell him I was wrong about its location. There was no indication he sensed its magic. But his reasons for wanting it were noble. He had a chance to reunite with his mother. I squeezed my fingers harder around the metal in my hand, knowing I had to tell him.

“I found it.”

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