Page 36 of Cursed Heirs

I took in the text there, only just suppressing a growl.

Cornwell:Got a lead on Saryan’s contacts. Now you owe me two. Ready to commence payment, pretty prince?

“What’s wrong?” Tal asked, pulling me from the message that was making my blood boil.

Ever since he’d confronted Cornwell and called him out, Cornwell had taken on a nasty edge, our interactions becoming unpleasant.

“Just one of my leads going nowhere,” I lied.

“Sorry, brother.”

“No worries. There are many more.”

I stared down at my phone, hesitating.

Fuck.I didn’t do that, I didn’t fucking hesitate.

This entire situation was fast trying my patience.

It really didn’t help that I’d been pulled from my classes and that I wouldn’t be allowed back into any of the ones concerning combat or advanced magic-wielding for another week. Until I’dcalmed down, according to the dean.

Orpheus:My chambers. Ten minutes.

I pocketed my phone, then returned to my map, telling Talon, “Do you mind giving me some space to work on this? I need absolute silence.”

He frowned. “You’ve been working on it for hours. I thought you were talking about taking a break?”

“Change of plans.”

“How come?”

Jeez,ever since he’d found out about me and Callum Cornwell, he’d been a suspicious shit about everything to do with me. Normally he’d trust in me and would rarely call me on anything. But all that had shifted now. It really wasn’t the best time for it, not with certain things I was working in the background.

As if I would just sit back while my father was being held captive.

As if I would entrust his return to anyone else, least of all Abigail Rose andExemplar.

And as fucking if I would allow Constantine’s attack to go unpunished.

“I need to keep busy non-stop until I’m allowed to resume classes, so I don’t do something dangerous.”

“Stupid, you mean?”

“Never stupid, always carefully calculated.”

“Fine. I don’t want you doing any of that shit, so I’ll head out. Besides, I need to catch up on some readings.”

“See you soon.”

“The second Alena gets back today, we’ll meet back here? I would sayherroom, but you’re confined here.”

“Sounds good. Bring those marshmallows she likes, her favorite drink.”

“Great idea! I’ll set it up.” He started talking to himself then about other things he wanted to prepare for her homecoming. Fortunately it led him out the door as he was buried deep in thought.Good, it had worked.

I stepped back from the map and shoved my hand through my hair, trying to get a handle on everything, not least of all was the guilt that was infecting me at keeping this Cornwell thing from him, from them all.

Motherfuck,it was for the best. This way I took the full weight of it, and it didn’t touch the three of them.

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