Page 133 of Of Nine So Bold

BYRON

I’d read hundreds of books in my lifetime.

Apparently, I’d missed one.

“Are you unfamiliar with Hidgerson’sTreatises on Pre-Cumlerian Understandings of the Legend of the Nine?” Ignatius asked Casimir.

“I will confess,” the vampire said carefully, “that particular title was not part of the Zeniryan royal libraries.”

Ignatius’s brow rose. “But you are the central wielder, yes? As the descendent of angels and as king, you would be the logical choice.”

Casimir bobbed his head in a way that could have meant anything. “Logical indeed.”

While another giant might have taken the answer at face value, Ignatius had spent too many years around politicians and other dissemblers to be fooled by the response.

Unfortunately.

“And yet I do not hear that as a confirmation.” Ignatius’s quizzical look included me along with the vampire.

And as ever, I was a coward. I ducked my gaze away, doing my best to hold a neutral expression while I fought to regain my mental footing. But, gods, it wasn’t easy. Implications weretumbling down on me faster than an avalanche on an icy slope, bombarding me with more realizations than my mind could handle.

Joined powers. That could mean anything.

But if there was a chance in hell that it meant what happened between me and Gwyneirawasn’ta catastrophic mistake the likes of which could kill her…

“Surely you have a central member of your joined powers?” Ignatius continued.

Casimir sighed, seeming to realize—like I did—that there wasn’t a way around the scholar’s question. Lying wouldn’t help us, not in the long run.

Telling the truth was the only choice.

“As I said,” Casimir admitted, “I am not familiar with that book. Nor, I believe, are any of my companions. We have not intentionally joined our powers.”

I noted how carefully he placed the wordintentionally—and prayed Ignatius might overlook that.

But please, gods, if what happened between my power and Gwyneira’swasn’ta mistake…

Hope overwhelmed me, making it hard to concentrate on the conversation. When Dex told me that my life and hers were tied, that my death could mean her end as well…

Horrified didn’t come close. To think that I’d been on the cusp of throwing myself into the gateway to save her, when I would have been damning her instead… it was more than I could bear.

My heart pounding, I cast a glance at the duke. He was too far ahead to hear, but the way he was buried in talks with his henchmen made apprehension join the elation racing through my veins. He likely thought we were plotting his demise, so he was returning the favor by plotting ours. Little did he know wewere instead listening to lunacy that might still be the best news imaginable.

Well, best except for the part about needing to save the world.

“—don’t you agree?” Casimir turned to me.

I blinked, scrambling to recall his question. “Y-yes.”

Gods, let that be the right answer.

Casimir’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he buried the reaction with speed as he returned his attention to Ignatius. “So any information you have would be most appreciated.”

The scholar stared at us both. “If this is true, then it is even more important that we reach Syloria with all speed. Tell me, what do you know of the threat the world faces? Do you know why you’ve been called forth now?”

This conversation felt like quicksand, and any misstep could send us plummeting into its depths.

“Thus far,” Casimir said carefully, “the primary threat we’ve faced has been from a species known as the Voidborn.”

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