Page 147 of Heir of Illusion

“We may be too late,” Darrow mutters. “He might already be on his way.”

“Who?” Della demands. She stands at the end of the table, placing her hands on her hips. “What’s going on?”

I force my head to lift off the table, allowing me to see her better. “Baylor. He’s going to come for me.”

Something dark flashes in her eyes as determination hardens her delicate features. “He can try.”

I tell myself not to think too deeply about the reaction. It likely stems from her hatred of him rather than a desire to protect me. Still, I can’t stop the wave of gratitude that rises within me. I pray her decision not to throw me out doesn’t come back to bite her.

“I don’t think he’s searching for me yet,” I tell them as I try to push myself onto my elbows, earning me a disapproving scowl from Thorne.

Darrow barks out a humorless laugh as he returns. A blond curl falls into his eye as he stirs something in a large basin. Based on the smell, I’d guess it’s full of crushed up herbs and likely a few other things I’d rather not know about. He sets the bowl down next to me and pushes up his sleeves.

“I doubt he has more important matters to attend to,” he says, pushing me back down as he takes my arm.

The memory of screams echoing through the temple rushes back, filling me with sick satisfaction. “I stabbed him in the eye.”

His movements halt as his eyes go round. “I stand corrected.”

“Help her!” Thorne growls from my other side.

Spurred on by his fear of the God of Death, Darrow quickly dips his fingers into the green mixture and uses it to draw swirling symbols along my arms. He whispers words in a strange tongue I don’t recognize, and I want to ask him if it’s one of the old languages, but now isn’t the time for questions. When he’s finished, he steps back and the symbols disappear, sinking into my skin and leaving no trace behind.

“It’s done,” he announces.

“He won’t be able to find her?” Thorne asks, standing over me like some sort of avenging angel. I roll my eyes as I push my torso up, supporting myself with both hands.

Darrow shakes his head as he wipes his fingers on a towel. “Not unless he started tracking her before. But if that were the case, I think he’d be here by now.”

My shoulders relax, but the relief doesn’t last long. Only a second passes before a loud bang hits the back door, and all of us freeze as our minds go to the same place.

“Miss Della?” Nolan’s cheerful voice calls. “Can I come inside?”

No one moves.

“It could be a trap,” I whisper. A flash of grief hits me as I think of his fiancée Morwen. “He could be Forsaken.”

Della’s eyes widen as her head swings toward me. “You think they’ve already spread this far into the city?”

I don’t bother questioning how she learned about the effects of the sword. With Darrow staying here, he likely warned her of the danger.

I nod. “Alva and Morwen are with them now.” Every eye in the room turns toward me, but I tuck my chin and avoid their gazes. “And Remy too.”

“Ivy,” Thorne breathes, his hand wrapping around mine once more.

I glance up to find Della watching me with a softness I haven’t seen from her in years. “We’ll make it right,” she promises.

I’m saved from having to answer when Nolan pounds against the door once more. “Is everything alright? I thought I saw Ivy being carried inside earlier?”

Without warning, Thorne drops my hand and barges over to the door. He throws it open, dragging the half fae inside before slamming him against the wall. Della runs to close the door and slide the locks into place.

“Shut your godsdamned mouth,” Thorne snarls, his face inches from Nolan’s. “Say her name again and it will be the last thing you do.”

The room darkens as shadows creep up the walls. Della squeaks as the snakes slip past us, heading for the new arrival.

“What in the Fates is this?” she cries.

Darrow throws his arms up as he grumbles petulantly, “Thisis the reason I showed up at your door in the middle of the night and never left. But now, it seems they’re going to ruin this place too.”

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