Page 130 of A Promise of Peridot
I glared at her, but couldn’t help a half smile. “First things first.” I sighed. “You need to tell Briar about your magic. If anyone can help you get it back, it’s her.”
“Maybe this is a blessing. I was all right before magic. I’ll be all right again. Maybe there’s something in my lineage that shouldn’t be touched.” The look in her eyes told me there was more to that theory, but she moved past it. “Please tell me you’ve been faring even a little better?”
I exhaled with an audiblewhoosh. “I have a lot to catch you up on.”
“I feel like this happens to us far too often.”
“Maybe one day our lives will be boring.”
Her brows rose quickly before lowering as she schooled her face. But I knew what surprised her. It had been a long while since I’d spoken about the future as if I might still have one.
“Go find Leigh and Ryder, and we can show them Shadowhold together. Last night I told Leigh about Kane’s art collection and promised I’d show her my favorite paintings in the castle. Did you know she can really draw?”
“Yes.” I smiled at the colorful memories. “Our house back in Abbington was full of her art.”
“After, you and I can go to the great hall, drink too much birchwine, and tackle everything I missed.” Her eyes had brightened a bit, and my heart was starting to re-form from the mangled shape it had contorted into at her confession. She would survive this. I would help her to. “Starting with you and Fedrik. He’s been asking about you nonstop.”
Bleeding Stones,Fedrik. I had almost forgotten.
“And speaking of, look who it is.”
I whirled to see Fedrik walk into the throne room, followed by Griffin, Kane, and a handful of Onyx generals. I waved brightly at Barney and Dagan among them, which earned only a nod from Dagan—an obvious sign of his deep and steadfast love—and a full, ear-to-ear grin from Barney, welcoming me home.
Home.
I had barely luxuriated in how good it felt to refer to Shadowhold as such when Fedrik cut away from the group and directly toward me. He looked radiant, as if filled with sunbeams, despitethe dark, rich stone walls and obsidian thorns of Kane’s throne behind him.
“Arwen,” he said brightly. “How was your trip?”
“It was... informative.”
“Kane tells me you found the seer but her clues on the blade were a bit ambiguous.”
“Yes, but at least we have a lead now. It’s here in Onyx. And we got a few other helpful pieces of information we can hopefully tie together, too.”
“Good to hear. Mari, do you mind giving us a moment?”
Mari couldn’t hide her sly smile as her eyes locked on mine. “Not at all. I’m going to go find the other two Valondales and teach them a bit about fine art. It’s been a while since I felt like a snob.”
Fedrik drew closer once Mari had left us. “I’m sorry I left Briar’s abruptly. Griffin said you’d be back last night.”
“We got caught in a storm.”
His blue eyes flared. “I’m sure you did. Have you made a decision regarding my offer? I’m sailing back to Azurine today.”
“Fedrik—”
“What offer?” Kane asked behind me, his voice like lightning across a desolate sky.
I spun to face him, my eyes pleading.Not now.
Fedrik only smiled. “Well, you were going to find out eventually.” He stood a bit taller, still at least half a foot beneath Kane. “I asked Arwen to come back to Azurine with me. At least until you’ve found the blade and prepared for battle. It’ll be safer for her, and frankly”—he looked around at the dark drapery and flickering, wrought-iron candelabras—“a little more scenic.”
“A generous offer,” Kane said, his voice dry, “if Arwen wasn’t our key to finding the weapon.”
“She already told me it’s here in your own kingdom. For all we know you’ve had it all along and are just delaying the inevitable.”
Kane stepped toward him with intent. “Mind your tongue, or I’ll sever it from your mouth.”
