Page 59 of Essence of the Throne

“Fuck,” I breathe, my hand reaching out to touch it before I can stop myself. Jaxon snatches it away, but it’s too late. I’ve seen enough.

The king’s experiments. The children. The way essence seems to be bleeding from the realm itself—fuck's sake, it all connects. The realization crashes into me, my mind spinning with everything I was too distracted to not put together until now.

But the question that flashes through me is how I will rid of the king without knowing what he’s done with his subjects? Perhaps he will use himself as a fail-safe—kill him, and the children die, too. Where would he be keeping them?

“I need to speak with you,” I tell Marek, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Alone.”

His resolute eyes study me for a long moment before he nods. “Velora, Jaxon, give us the room.”

They gather their things, though Jaxon hesitates, reluctant to leave his precious device behind as he stumbles from the room. Once the door closes behind them, I pull my father’s book from my pouch and toss it on the table between us, crossing my arms.

Marek’s eyes widen—a nearly imperceptible indication of his surprise. In all the years I’ve known him, we’ve never spoken of my father. We’ve had a mutual understanding; an invisible line drawn between our boundaries that I’m about to cross.

“Where did you find this?” he questions, not reaching for it.

“My house.” I note every detail of his reaction.

He curses under his breath, running a hand over his face. “You went back…” He trails off, meeting my eyes. “What else did you find?”

I tell him everything—about the Accord, the balance, the strange behavior of essence throughout the realm, Thalion’s experiments. With each revelation, his expression grows darker.

“The Accord,” he mutters when I finish. “It sounds familiar, but I can’t place where I’ve heard of it.”

I pace the length of the room, my mind racing. The man is old, but perhaps I was wrong about him holding information. I’d convinced myself he’d have something to share, considering he was around before even my parents were.

“You know nothing of it, then?”

He shakes his head, leaning a hand against the table. “I wish I did, Ari.” His tone is haunting and genuine, as if it pains him to not have the answers I’m seeking.

There’s one other place I’ve been considering. I’m less optimistic about finding anything there, but we still have a few days to figure this out.

“There’s something else,” I remark, stepping back to lean against a wall. “Do you remember Ally?”

His brow furrows. “The girl from Meridian? The one who—”

“Tried to kill me after she fucked Isaiah? Yes.” I wave away the memory and ignore his string of curses, irritation simmering beneath the surface of my skin. “Thalion wentallthe way to Meridian to recruit her for the competition. Why? There are plenty of assassins here who would have jumped at the chance to take me down, especially for the promise of a crown.”

Understanding dawns in his eyes. “You think there’s something important in Meridian.” Not a question. I swallow the smile that wants to appear at just how well Marek knows me.

“I think there are a lot of things the king doesn’t want us to know.” I halt mid-thought and whirl to face him fully. “And I think it’s possible there’s something worth seeking in Meridian. Perhaps he just chose the most gullible idiot he could find, butAngel damn me if I’m not at least going to try searching there. This is too big to remain even the slightest ignorant before I kill him.”

He dips his head, the movement deliberate. “How can I help you?”

The words cement the growing thickness in my throat, because he can’t. Not anymore.

I don’t answer, instead vowing that I will find him if he can help. The sadness in his expression pushes me out the door, and he thankfully doesn’t press to hug me or whatever the fuck people do for such comfort.

My eyes find Jaxon’s device once more before I leave Marek with the journal. I’ve read the fading pages so many times I’ve memorized every date and word, so it will be safer here than with me. I’ve no desire to give the king any other part of me. If he manages to raid my room, that is.

As I climb the stairs back to the common area, a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.

“Come to pay for your crimes, have you?” Isolde leans against the wall at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed over her chest. She’s furious, which would normally excite me, but I’ve no time for her petty games today.

“Fuck’s sake,” I mutter to myself. “Move.”

She laughs, the sound grating against my nerves. “Or what? You’ll go tell your precious prince?”

My hand wraps around her throat before I can stop it, pressing her harder into the wall. A blade would create a beautiful mess,but I want tofeelher pulse weaken as I squeeze the air from her body.

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