Page 9 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“What can you tell us about the Trinity Wells?”

She scoffed, stalking around the room, taking in the sights. Her periwinkle eyes widened when they fell upon Caiden.

“Trinity Wells?” She laughed, taking a seat next to him. “Those are a myth—an old wives’ tale. Crom Cruach was obsessed with finding them, convinced he could harness the power within and call the deities down from their heavenly sanctuaries—to smite them for what they did to the land.”

“You mean when they culled the old gods?” I asked through gritted teeth.

The Morrigan twisted her finger through one of Caiden’s golden curls, ignoring my question. “Aren’t you delicious? I haven’t seen someone like you in an age.”

“Stay on topic, Morrigan, and leave my guest alone,” Tharan warned.

She pouted her bottom lip.

“I have been cooped up for thousands of years. Just the scent of a man is enough to drive me wild.” She inhaled the secondhand smoke in the room then blew smoke rings shaped like hearts at Caiden.

He stiffened and waved the smoke out of his face, giving the Morrigan an uncomfortable, half-hearted smile.

I tightened my grip on the desk.

She continued, “When the Trinity came and culled the land, they were brutal in their retribution. Old gods like me either bent the knee, were banished to another realm, or killed—as much as a god can be. Those who chose the latter built resentment toward the Trinity and those they created. For thousands of years, they have bided their time, hiding deep in the underworld, plotting their revenge.

“That mage, Erissa? She was one of Crom’s first followers. A zealot of the highest order. That was why the elven mages kicked her from their ranks. But elves, like gods, cannot die. So, she, too, has been biding her time, I suspect. Acting like a good little mage to the Ironhearts, rebuilding her power, waiting for the world to weaken again. Crom hated the Trinity and wanted to use their power against them. That’s why he was looking for the Wells. I assume Erissa has been searching for them since he died. She loved him and likely thinks she can bring him back with the Wells power.” She shuddered at the thought.

Caiden placed a reassuring hand on hers.

“Did Crom find any of the Trinty Wells?”

I gritted my teeth trying not to focus on their hands touching.

“We’re all sitting here, aren’t we?” A smug little grin tugged at the corners of her lips.

Caiden nodded.

The Morrigan’s eyes flitted around the room. “No—you’re not thinking about going after the Wells…”

“That’s exactly what we’re thinking of doing, unless you have a better idea.” Tharan straightened to his full height, all of his power on display for the room to see.

“It’s suicide. Even if you find them and somehow unlock them, the Wells will kill you. They don’t want to be found.”

“So, theydoexist?” Caiden asked.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she sunk into the couch.

“I said, I don’t know. And I don’t. But if they did exist, it’d be suicide to try and find them. The Trinity designed them never to be found.”

“Okay, thank you. It’s time for you to go back into your scepter,” I said, picking up the bone.

She winced, holding up her hands.

Caiden swiftly tucked his hands into his pockets, and I caught his eyes darting to mine before falling to the floor.

“No, I can help. Please don’t send me back there yet.”

“Oh?”

“Let me go between this world and the one beyond. I can help you and report back what the spirits are saying.”

I took a puff of my cigarette, letting the smoke calm the jealousy pooling in my gut at the memory of her hand on Caiden’s.

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