Page 18 of The Daughters of Nyx

Ivy’s scent sent tingles down my spine and a rush of warmth through my veins, towards a heart that hadn’t beat in over two-hundred years.

Frowning, I strode to the door and threw it open to reveal Ivy’s polite smile and wide, brown eyes. A shiver raced down my spine as those warm eyes met mine.

“Good afternoon, I hope I’m not disturbing you,” she said, voice soft. It was almost four, but the sun still hung in the sky, trapping me in the room.

I shook my head, and returned the smile. “No, not at all.”

She held out a package, and I stiffened. “This was just dropped off at the front desk for your room.”

Scratched in red pen was Rowan’s name, signed with anS.Seer Sable. Meeting Ivy’s stare, I took the package and turned slightly. “Rowan. It’s for you.”

The mage almost flew from his position on the bed and rushed to my side, a grin, punctuated by two dimples, forming across his lips as he took Ivy in. “Well, hello beautiful. I thought we said we were meeting at ten?”

Her gaze shone a bit brighter as she eyed his tall frame, but her lips tightened into a line. “Unfortunately, I really do finish late tonight.” She bit her lip, and I followed the movement with my gaze. “I’m off tomorrow, though. So, if you would like to go forcoffee, I would very much like that.”

Rowan stiffened beside me, almost like he hadn’t been expecting her to acknowledge him again. I took a step back, unable to take my eyes off her. The feeling had dimmed, and yet, I was more confused than I’d been before.

“Great,” the mage murmured. I took my leave, offering her one last polite smile before escaping into the second room.

Once I was out of sight, I dropped onto the bed and sucked in one last breath.

Her scent lingered, woven with Rowan’s, an entanglement of energy that shuddered through me.

And hidden within was my own, a dim thread that pulsated the longer she stayed.

~

Seer Sable’s face filled my vision as she appeared in the doorway of my office. Her long, red hair had been pulled back beneath a bandana, though the charms that were tied into the braids chimed as she entered. She closed the door behind her without a word.

“Please,” I muttered, sitting back in the arm chair. “Enter.”

The old witch smiled grimly as she hobbled over to the desk. “We need to talk.” Her wide eyes met mine, and I realised she didn’t mean about the weather.

Leaning forward, I motioned to one of the armchairs sitting in front of my desk. “Please, sit. Is this about—”

“Hush,” she whispered, and my lips snapped shut. “Listen here, and listen good. All have been blind to the darkness festering in this palace, all but me. And that darkness is ready to explode.”

I frowned. “I don’t take much stock in riddles, Seer,” I replied, falling back in the chair. “I take it you’re telling me there are those who don’t wish to see a new Queen on the throne?”

The seer narrowed her eyes, but nodded. “Yes, and I’ve yet to uncover who.”

“Why come to me?” I asked. “Do you believe they’ll attack her once we find her?”

“They’re plotting something, and I don’t think they know how dangerous that is.” She waved her hand, and sparks flew from her fingers, exploding out of her palms like fireworks and dancing over the walls of my office. “Just need to make sure there are no prying ears.”

I stood and paced the length of the office. On either side of the desk and behind my chair, there were dark wood bookshelves, the top half open and filled with books collected over the last two centuries. The bottom half was closed up and locked, though. Charms given to me by mages over the years sealed the cases, enchanted to be opened only by me in order to protect important files from being touched by hands that weren’t my own.

“What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room,” Sable said, rubbing her hands before resting them on her knees. “This person or organisation already knows about you and your team leaving to find the new Queen. They will do whatever they can to stop you—or stop her return. If that is the case, youmusttake their memories, and find out who their master is. I cannot see them, so they are close to us and know how to hide themselves from me.”

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. What she asked…I used that ability rarely, and when I did, it was only out of deep necessity. I hated prying into the memories of mortals, and the Seer knew that. Very few vampires had the gift; we all had added strength, speed, healing, eyesight and smell. Most could use compulsion on humans to make them forget us.

And yet, I nodded, because I knew she was right. If there was someone hunting our next Queen, then we needed to know who. Especially if they were close to Queen Greer.

“I will do what is necessary to protect the new Queen.”

Seer Sable nodded. “Oh, I know you will.” Slowly, she rose, a half-smile etched across her thin lips. “If you don’t, everything falls apart. Nyx is watching over us. Don’t disappoint her.”

I bowed my head and listened as the door to my office clicked shut with her departure.

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