Page 62 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

Grabbing her hand, I examined the stone.

“Amolie… you and Roderick? Bound?”

“You’re not mad? I wanted you to be there, but we didn’t know if we’d have more time…”

“Of course, I’m not mad.” I pulled my friend in for a hug, heart bursting with love. “I’m so happy for you. You two deserve each other.”

“Let me see!” Baylis squealed with delight.

“This calls for champagne!” I rang for one of the servants, who quickly brought over a fresh bottle and poured us three glasses. “To Amolie and Roderick!” We clinked our glasses together and sipped the bubbly.

“Well, now that that’s out of the way. We can get down to business.” Amolie sat beside me and piled her plate high with sausage, eggs, and fresh biscuits. “The portals always make me famished.”

“It’s the magic. It speeds up your metabolism. Magus is unaffected, but as humans, it takes a lot of energy to access the portal.” As I was now a magus, the portal didn’t affect me as much, but it would make me ravenous when I was fully human. I’d send a note ahead to have a meal prepared for me on the other side.

“So what’s the plan?” Amolie spread a thick layer of butter onto a flakey biscuit.

“We need to find someone to take us to the Isle of Fate. The journey is treacherous and filled with monsters, and that’s not even including the things that will undoubtedly try to kill us once we’re on the island.”

“Ha! Well, what else is new? Everything is always trying to kill us.”

“I think we all know who can help us with the monsters.”

Amolie arched a brow. “Ursula?”

“The one and only,” I said, finishing my champagne. The bubbles buzzed through my brain and down to the ends of my fingertips. “She likes to hang out at the Rusted Bucket near the docks.” I looked at the clock on the wall that read 10 A.M. “We should go soon.”

“What about a boat? You can do a lot of things, Aelia, but I’ve never seen you captain a boat.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” I said. I finished my coffee and got to my feet.

While I waited for the others to get ready, I turned the whisper stone and lit a cigarette. “Tharan? Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you, my love.”

My whole body relaxed at the sound of his voice. “I miss you so much. I could barely sleep last night without you.”

“I know, my darling. My heart aches every second I am away from you.”

My pulse quickened at his words. “How far are you away from elven territory?”

“We’re close, just a few more days.”

“You’re making great time.” I let smoke plume into the air. “You wouldn’t happen to know a sailor crazy enough to brave sea monsters.”

“Hmm…”

I pictured him staring out the window of an elegant carriage, the winter sun illuminating his glowing skin. His hair was tied back behind his ears, and he had a cigarette between his perfect lips.

“An old war buddy of mine resides in Ruska, but he’seccentric. He might take you.”

“Where can we find him?”

“He lives down by the docks. Last I heard from him, he was the captain of a ship. His name is Conrad Teeling. Ask the Harbor Master about him.”

“You’re too good to be true. You know that?”

“You won’t say that after you meet Conrad,” he chuckled.

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