Page 139 of Of Nine So Bold

But if the magic was gone…

Up ahead, Ignatius scanned our surroundings with a perturbed look. Every so often, he bent to scoop up a rock, turning it over in his hands before setting it back among its brethren. Walking on his own ahead of us, Byron seemed tense as well. His head twitched left and right like he was checking for a threat.

Even the duke was surveying the terrain with suspicion, and occasionally, he’d glance back from where he walked in the lead to give Ignatius or us an accusatory look.

What did he imagine we’d done? Raced ahead to do away with the magical resource he believed would confirm him as king?

The rest of the giants didn’t seem to catch onto the problem, though. His henchmen strutted along they were an honorary royal guard. Norbert only smirked at the terrain as if planning to use it for his advantage somehow.

Ozias’s hand slipped around my side. Comfort radiated through our connection. “Breathe, little mate,” he murmured so softly, most of the others wouldn’t hear. “And later, tell me what hurts you so I may destroy it.”

I hesitated, but he wouldn’t accept a no and I knew it. Nodding, I drew a breath as he asked.

“Good girl,” he murmured, making a frisson of heat twist in my insides.

Squeezing me briefly, he gave me a tiny smile and then let me go as we came closer to the temple. Broad marble steps led up to the massive door, and above its arch, the stone was engraved with words in a language that looked like Erenlian but not.

“Knowledge Above All,” Byron murmured, a twist of bitter irony in his tone.

“The credo of the Order of Berinlian.” Casimir gave him a sympathetic look. “It reads beautifully in the old Erenlian, does it not?”

Blinking, Byron seemed to pull himself from his thoughts. Nodding curtly to Casimir, he followed Ignatius up the steps, never looking back.

My heart ached.

“Scholar,” the duke called from the top of the steps. “Are there traps my people should expect within these walls?”

Furrows lined the older giant’s brow. “There were once many layers of magic on this place. It saturated the ground and the walls. But now…” He shook his head. “The residual effects have sunk into the earth, obscuring what lies beneath, but I cannot feel any magical traps. And any physical ones would likely have been tripped by animals long ago.”

“So the temple might be safe but the earth beneath it could be a giant trap?” Clay commented. “Fantastic.”

The duke ignored him, while Norbert just sneered.

“Good enough.” Duke Ensid gestured imperiously to his henchmen. “Open the doors.”

Dex cast a glance back at us, twitching his head slightly. In silence, my giants retreated down several steps, bringing me and Niko with them.

Putting distance between us and the temple… just in case.

Byron stayed where he was, barely seeming to notice we’d moved at all.

The double doors swung wide, revealing a mix of deep shadows and dim twilight, as if the sun had gained entrance to the temple somewhere up ahead too. Drawing himself up proudly, the duke gestured again, silently ordering his men to precede him through the door.

From the nervous looks that passed between the henchmen, it hadn’t escaped their notice they were his test subjects, proving it was safe.

“Move it, you fucking cowards,” Norbert spat, hanging back with his father.

“He’s one to talk,” Clay muttered.

The henchmen inched toward the opening. When they came close, two of those at the rear moved fast, shoving the pair ahead of them through the doorway. With a startled cry, the giants stumbled into the shadows and twilight.

Nothing happened.

Anxious chuckles left the pair, relief obvious on their faces. “Guess it’s good?” one offered with a shrug.

“Move, scum.” Norbert strode past them. “We’ve got a king to crown and a dwarf to handle.”

Niko tensed beside me, while I fought back a growl from my vampire side.

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