Page 26 of A Petal in the Crown

“Which you also didn’t tell me about,” Gray pointed out, but he wasn’t able to force anger into his tone. He was grateful that Erik hadn’t interrupted them. That he’d had the opportunity to be with Lea as she fell apart and pulled herself back together, ready to face what was to come.

“Sorry about that. But everyone's been a bit preoccupied since then… And rightly so.”

“Where is he?” Lea said, the room darkening. Her hand drifted to the flowers in her crown. No more petals had fallen since the last one hours ago, but not knowing when the next would fall had them both on edge. Gray caught himself glancing toward the crown every few seconds, searching each one for flecks of black or ash.

“I went back to where—” Erik paused, a shadow of grief flitting across his features. Janelle’s hand drifted to his shoulder, and he cleared his throat, giving her a small smile. “I went back to where Alaric disappeared. There's a crater right in the middle of the field there. The moonflowers Lea planted are growing around it, avoiding it as if the ground itself is poisoned.”

Lea nodded. “I was stealing his magic, or trying to, at least. Then he slammed his hand into the ground and was just gone—vanished into thin air.”

“There's a handprint in the scorched earth. I touched it, and when I did, I saw something. An image flashed in my mind.” Erik’s eyebrows lowered as if trying to relive a memory.

Hope sparked behind Gray’s sternum. It was a clue. A way forward.

“Was it in Desia?” Gray asked, walking to the large map of the kingdom spread out across his desk. “Describe the landmarks. I'm sure we can figure—”

“I know exactly where it is. Back at the castle, the old guard shed we used to play in as children.”

Gray’s mouth cracked open in surprise. “It's not possible, is it?” Gray looked to Vincent, who shrugged, his brows furrowing.

“Would he go back there? Somewhere he could so easily be found?” Vincent asked.

“I think that's exactly where he would go,” Lea said. “He was losing. He knew he was going to die and only had a moment to make a decision. He chose the first place that came to mind. Is that somewhere he would think of easily?”

Gray’s jaw clenched, and he nodded. “We spent a lot of time there as kids. We'd hide there sometimes when my father was on a rampage and looking to punish someone.”

“Even if he did go there,” Vincent said, “he wouldn't stay. He has to know that would be the first place we’d look for him. Right?”

“But it's a start,” Thomas said. “And if he left some piece of himself here that showed us where he went, maybe there's something there, too. A trail to follow.”

“I’d like to see the crater myself,” Gray told Erik.

“I can show you, but when I touched it a second time, nothing happened. I'm not sure there's anything to see anymore.”

“I'd still like to try. Lea, you said you were stealing his magic. Can you feel him? Can you follow it?”

“No.” Lea said. “I tried, when I woke up. But the magic I was taking? It didn’t feel like his. I think I was taking his stolen magic. When I…” she trailed off, eyes drifting down. “When I died,” she said, choosing theword carefully, “I searched for the magic I took from him. I could feel my own magic beyond the veil, but all the magic I’d taken and the magic I'd given to our soldiers was gone. I think it went back to the earth. Or wherever it came from.” Lea said.

Gray nodded. “That would make sense. The goddess said you have to kill Alaric and allow the magic he’s stolen to return back where it originated from. Back into the universe.”

“If Lea can’t feel him, then we have no choice but to follow the clues we do have,” Erik said.

Gray considered their options, his mind already spinning. Was it possible he’d actually return to the castle? The very first place they’d look? Then again, he’d only had seconds to disappear. If Lea was right that she’d significantly wounded him, he’d only had one chance to escape. Gray nodded. “The castle is the logical place to start.”

“When do we leave?” Thomas asked.

“Normally, I'd say at first light.” Gray sighed, running a hand through his hair. Exhaustion pulled at his bones, his lips pursed and his eyes heavy and ringed with dark circles.

“Let's take a few hours to rest, to let our army prepare. They can’t stay here without us, it’s too easy of a target.”

“I’ll take care of the armies,” Vincent said, standing.

“Have everyone bring everything they’ll need. We won’t be returning until Alaric is dead.”

Chapter 16

Thomas

The last time Thomas had traveled from Bearswillow to Auropera, it had been in handcuffs. He’d been a boy then. A child, so shortsighted and naïve.

---