Page 68 of Rebel in the Deep

We file into the library. I’ve only been in here a handful of times, and not since I was a teenager, but I could swear little has changed. It’s a great dome of a room, with bookshelves running up the walls. Overhead, the curved ceiling has dozens of strange shapes hanging from it. They look like some kind of artifacts, but I can’t begin to guess their origins.

The carpet underneath our feet is ancient and faded to the point where I can’t figure out what the design originally was. The room curves away on the opposite side from where we entered, fading into deep darkness that not even my eyes can penetrate. That way will have more of what we have here, as well as an office for the person who oversees the collection.

After several long minutes of tension, Bastian drops the glamour. I had barely registered the magical weight of it againstmy skin, but I can’t help stretching the moment it’s gone. Everyone is silent as we look around. I very intentionally study the group instead of the large glass square in the center of the room. My fate lies in that case, and even if I have no intention of avoiding it, that doesn’t mean I have to stare at it a moment before strictly necessary.

Evelyn looks around with wide eyes. “So many books…”

“Don’t even think about it,” Lizzie and Bowen say at the same time. They exchange irritated looks, but there’s a thread of fondness growing between them despite themselves.

Bowen clears his throat. “Some of them will be trapped. It’s not worth risking touching anything but what we came for.”

“Spoilsport.”

“Siobhan, on the door.” Nox speaks softly but firmly. “Bastian, sit down and rest until it’s time to leave. Evelyn, the case.”

“Right. The case.” The blonde crosses to the case, Bowen a bare step behind. She glances over her shoulder. “You’re lurking. Give me a few moments.” Without waiting for an answer, she circles the case. And then does it again, even slower this time, her green eyes narrowed.

Impatience bites at me, but we can’t afford to rush. This is the only chance we’re going to have to pull this off.

On her third circuit, she stops and nods. “Okay. They tried to be tricky, but whoever put this together didn’t expectme.” She holds out a hand without looking at Bowen. He curses softly under his breath, but doesn’t hesitate to offer her a small knife. She pricks the meaty pad of her palm and then presses her bloodied hand to her tattooed chest. A beat where her eyes flare brilliant green, and then she grins. “Oh, yeah, I’ve got you. Give me five minutes and I’ll have it dismantled.”

I should be grateful that it won’t take long, that it’s surmountable, but instead my tension rides higher. Too easy. This is too damned easy.

“Almost there.” Something sizzles behind me, and Evelyn makes a satisfied noise. “Got it. Bowen, it’s safe to dismantle the glass now.”

The air in the hallway abruptly shifts, coursing toward us. I take a step back even before my brain catches up with what I’m smelling. “Oh, fuck.”

A low laugh emerges from the darkness a moment before my sister steps out. “Hello, Siobhan.”

Chapter33

Bastian

We all freeze as Morriganfills the doorway. She’s a handsome woman, though where Siobhan has always tried to downplay her strength and blend in, Morrigan seems to embrace it. She wears a sleeveless vest that shows off her powerful arms, and tight pants tucked into knee-high boots. There’s no weapon in sight, but why would there be?Sheis the weapon.

“How did you find us?” I don’t mean to ask the question, but we took such precautions. She shouldn’t have known our destination.

Morrigan shrugs. “Ace is a shark shifter.” She grins, revealing too-sharp teeth. “Come now, Bastian. After losing you in the storm—neat trick, by the way—we figured out you were headed to First Sister. Siobhan, you know better than most how I hunt.”

Siobhan practically vibrates with tension. “You drew ourattention with Bull’s display and sent Ace to place a tracker on our ship.”

“I knew you wouldn’t come so close to Lyari unless Lyari itself was your destination, and you wouldn’t comehereif you weren’t hunting the Council. Now, as much as I like appreciation for my brilliance, we have business to attend to.” Morrigan’s long fingers shift longer yet and gain a wicked curve of claws. She holds them up and finger-waves at us. “The whole gang’s here. Traitorous captains, an equally traitorous selkie, a vampire never properly sworn in to the Cwn Annwn, a witch who should have been executed the moment she broke her vows, and a noble convicted of using illegal magics.”

“I wasn’t convicted,” I protest weakly.

“The trial was held this week in your absence.” She examines her claws. “The trial for your family will quickly follow. We’ll discover exactly how much they knew—and how much they’re hiding.”

Cold unlike I’ve ever known courses through me. I knew the risk, but I truly thought their legion of connections would keep my family safe. “They know nothing.”

“We’ll see.” Morrigan shrugs before turning her attention to Siobhan. “Andyou. I’m disappointed, Siobhan. I thought you might finally be an opponent worthy of me, but you’ve been wasting both our time chasing fairy tales.” She motions at the horn. “That relic lost whatever magic it had generations ago.”

“Maybe.” Siobhan shrugs. Her body is coiled, ready to burst into motion. “I suppose we’ll see.”

“We won’t.” Morrigan rolls her neck and bounces on her toes a little. “I should thank you. You’ve handed me the path toleading the Council. All I have to do is kill you, and it kills your cute little movement. They’ll beg me to take the position after this.” She grins, her teeth too large for her mouth. “Now be a good girl and offer me your throat.”

“Fuck you.” Siobhan launches herself at Morrigan, who meets her in the air. They’re moving so quickly I can barely follow it.

I spin to Bowen, who’s taken a step toward them. “The case! We have to blow the horn!”

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