Page 96 of Destiny of the Dragons

“You have murdered my son.”

“He tried to kill me.” Mia nodded at the runes. “He said I would come live in his dungeon or he would kill us all.”

Mr. Palmer shook his head. “I haven’t seen dark objects like this since the thirties.”

Mother glared at her but crossed her arms over her chest. “Your son attempted to murder my daughter.”

Mr. Cross looked at the artifacts, going pale at the sight. “Where would he even get such…”

Mia shrugged. “He sold a lot of stuff on the black market. I assumed from one of his contacts.”

Mr. Cross looked between her and her mother. “Well. I supposed I’m prepared to let the blood rights go in light of this…evidence.”

Mother glared at Mr. Cross. “We’ll talk later.”

Mr. Cross and Mr. Palmer left, taking Cross’s body with them.

Mia braced herself. It was sooner than she was expecting, but here went nothing.

“How dare you,” Mother screamed.

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Smoke stood up.

Almost like he was waiting for them to leave, Cassius walked in. Her apartment was like Grand Central Station.

Mother looked at Mia and then Cassius. “You’ve come at a bad time.”

She glared at Smoke and Jace.

Cassius grinned. “No, I think I’ve timed my entrance well. Now Mia is out of that dreadful engagement.”

Mother glared. “She was going to use their contacts.”

Mia stood up, pushing Smoke to the side. Everything inside her ached, but it was time to finish this. “I already found the spellbook.”

Mother laughed. “I don’t know who is selling you false hopes, Mia, but you’re not that stupid.”

Mia shook her head and walked over to the pile of shelves. Her little curio cabinet was demolished. Out of a broken ceramic jar, she pulled out a spell. It tingled in her hands, and even though Mother didn’t have the fraction of her power she would still be able to feel it.

She handed it to Mother. Cassius looked over Mother’s shoulder.

Mother’s face went blank as she took the yellowed piece of paper. She studied it with something like confusion on her face.

For a moment, Mia thought this might be the chance. A chance to change things in her family for good. Mia had never seen such naked wonder on Mother’s face.

Maybe without the bitterness eating away at Mother’s heart, they could try to be a family again.

“Where did you get this?”

“I found a receipt. And then I followed that and a hunch.”

“By the blood god, you’ve done it.” Cassius grinned at her.

For a moment, it felt like things would turn out okay in the end.

Mother looked at up her, and her face changed to anger. Lines cut into Mother’s face, and her eyes widened. “And you didn’t tell me immediately?”

“I just got it today,” Mia said, hating the defensive tone in her voice.

---