Page 59 of Heir of Illusion

“And yet, he had time to stash the sword somewhere and still make it here for help.” Thorne’s eyes light up as he follows my thoughts.

“Wherever he left the sword must be nearby. Probably within a few minutes’ walk.”

He rolls up his sleeve, concentrating on his bare skin. Just like in the tunnels, dark lines move down his veins, and a snake appears in his palm before slithering to the ground between us.

“What are you doing?” I ask, urgently scanning the street to make sure no one is witnessing this.

“You said it yourself—Darby was bleeding when he got here. What do you bet he left a trail for us to follow?”

I nearly jump with joy as I recall how easily they sniffed out blood in Darrow’s shop. “That’s brilliant,” I admit.

He shrugs. “It was mostly your idea.”

The snake nudges my leg, and I peer down to find it gazing up at me. Its crimson eyes blink slowly, as if to say “hello.” Unsure what to do, I find myself bending down to brush my fingers over its wispy scales. Part of me expects my hand to go right through it like my blade did, but instead, I find it corporeal. It nuzzles against my hand for a few moments before coiling around my leg.

“Your little friends aren’t so vicious anymore,” I tell Thorne as I straighten.

“Only with you…” He trails off, his brow furrowed as he watches the shadow cling to me.

When our gazes connect once more, a strange sensation flutters through my stomach. My lips are curling into a shy smile when a large raindrop splashes against my cheek. Our heads tilt back simultaneously as we take in the stormy sky above us. When our eyes meet again, the urgency I find in his mirrors my own.

“Quickly!” he commands the snake, who slithers into action.

Our feet pound against the cobblestone as we race behind it. Raindrops splatter around us, blurring out our surroundings as I try to keep track of the shadow roving the streets ahead of us. As we follow it around a corner, a prickle of unease stirs inside me.

I can’t explain how, but I know exactly where we’re going.

A few minutes later, the shadow snake comes to a stop in front of the gray home that captured my attention earlier. Something dark and oily settles in my gut, leaving me nauseous. No figures haunt the windows this time, but the house still radiates a sense of wrongness.

We shouldn’t be here, my intuition whispers.

Unfortunately, I have to ignore the trusted voice that has kept me safe many times before. I offer a silent plea to the Fates, praying this isn’t a fatal mistake. Thorne stands at my shoulder, his gaze drilling into the side of my face.

“Strange coincidence,” he says as the snake at our feet dissolves, its shadows scattering with the wind.

I shrug, hoping the gesture doesn’t look as stilted as it feels. “I guess my instincts are better than yours.”

“That must be it,” he agrees, but the doubt lingering in his eyes tells me he doesn’t believe it. He’s likely cataloging this strange coincidence in a mental folder with my name on it.

“Don’t suppose we can just knock?” I change the subject.

“As much as I enjoy making an entrance, I’d suggest something more subtle.”

“Perfect.” I nod. “Breaking and entering it is.”

Without waiting for his agreement, I disappear before Thorne’s eyes.

The illusion stings as it settles over my skin, delivering tiny shocks to my nerves. But the prickles of pain are worth it as he takes a step back. His lips part as his eyes widen in surprise, and perhaps a tiny hint of awe.

“That truly is an incredible gift,” he murmurs, sounding impressed.

Suddenly, I’m immensely grateful he can’t see my blushing cheeks.

“We should split up. You can take the back,” I say quickly, leaving him behind as I head toward the front door.

I eye the porch warily, noting how parts of the wood are broken and rotted. Choosing my steps carefully, I make it to the door without falling through. I try the rusted latch, finding it unlocked. I suppose there’s nothing inside worth protecting. A creak echoes through the house as I push the door open. With one last glance at the empty street behind me, I call on my iron will and force myself to cross the threshold.

The first thing I notice is the smell. Something definitely died in here.

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