Page 191 of Once the Skies Fade

Matthias rushed to my side, but aimed his question at the dragon shifter. “Wrenwick?” Again Asher nodded, and my mate shot me a sideways glance, lowering his voice. “Think his job has anything to do with a certain curse?”

At this Asher’s eyes widened, his chin jutting forward. “Excuse me?” His eyes darted from Matthias to me. “What curse?”

I stilled except to wring my hands together nervously. Pursing my lips, I caught Matthias’s eye and gestured toward our friend. “Could you tell him?”

Confusion pulled his expression tight, but it shifted quickly with understanding. “Right,” he whispered before looking to Asher. “Calla can’t speak of it herself, but she might have hired a certain mage to punish those responsible for Brennan’s death.”

“Mighthave,” Asher repeated, skeptically.

“Meaning she did,” Matthias admitted. Anticipating Asher’s next question, he quickly added, “The Olanders.”

Isa’s hand landed lightly on my arm. “I thought it was Graham.”

Nodding, I explained. “Ultimately it was, but—” My voice gave out as soon as I tried to speak of the Olanders’ role, but Matthias offered the words I couldn’t utter.

“He may have orchestrated it, but apparently the Olanders carried it out.”

Behind Asher, his brothers exchanged a glance. Asher pressed his thumb to his temple, his fingers grazing lightly over the fresh but faint scar that bisected his brow. “And what was this curse, exactly?”

“Don’t know,” Matthias answered for me. “Killer, here, was understandably in no mood to ask at the time, but?—”

“We need to get going,” Asher interrupted, tossing an anxious glance over his shoulder to his brothers, who both gave crisp nods.

“What is it, Asher? Is it something I can help with?” I asked, reaching a hand out to my friend.

“No, there’s nothing more you can do,” he said, stepping forward quickly to wrap me in a strong yet brief hug. Extendinga hand to Matthias, he added, “I’m glad I was able to help you out.”

“Me too,” Matthias said, clasping hands with Asher. “If you ever need our help?—”

“I know where to find you,” Asher said, but his smile—though genuine—was short-lived, slipping into a frown that seemed almost nervous. Without another word, he offered a quick nod to Isa and spun away from us, shifting mid-stride into his dragon form and leaping up into the air, his brothers following close behind.

Isa stepped cautiously up to my side and leaned around me to peer at Matthias and me both. “Either of you catch what he just said?”

I stared up to the point where the dragons had disappeared over the treetops. “You mean thenothing moreI could do part?”

Isa nodded as Matthias asked, “Think he’s helping the Olanders with your curse?”

“Fuck.” The swear fell from my lips on a sigh.

Matthias planted a kiss to my temple. “Don’t worry about it, Killer. If anyone can handle a curse, it’s Asher.”

“You know, Killer, we should have asked for some more brandy while we were with the Vranics,” Matthias said, pouring a small amount into two glasses and walking over to the sofa where I sat waiting for him.

Accepting the glass, I lifted a brow. “You really think I’d waste such an opportunity?” I asked. “Don’t you know me at all, general?”

“I should never underestimate you,” he said around a laugh.

As he settled down beside me, the door to the solar opened, and Isa entered with Phillip close behind. Matthias was on his feet at once, bounding around the sitting room to greet the other male, asking, “You okay? Can I get you a drink?”

A low growl rumbled in my throat. He couldn’t possibly be offering my brandy. Matthias spun his head around to look at me and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry, Killer. I know you don’t like to share.”

Phillip’s eyes shifted nervously between us. “I’m fine, thanks,” he muttered, following Isa over to sit in the pair of chairs opposite me.

“You might want to sit down, Matthias,” Isa said, her voice somber. She lifted an ominous piece of paper and nodded to where I sat.

Matthias obliged, grabbing my hand. “Who died?” When I eyed him disapprovingly, he shrugged and asked, “What?”

“Actually,” Isa said, and we both snapped our attention to her. “It’s King Durand.”

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