Page 60 of The Demon's Discovery
She grunted in frustration and dropped my shirt.
“She said she’s never stone slept either,” Magnus added.
“Never?” Ophelia gasped, clearly distressed by the suggestion of such a thing.
I shook my head as I returned to my seat next to Vassago. “I became a ward of the Belettes when I was a child. I never knew anything about the stone kin, let alone that I was one.”
“What a hateful thing to have done. Closing the wing ways? Blocking shifts?” Ophelia launched into a rant not unlike the one Magnus had given about not knowing what such a deprivation could do to a stone kin body as she stalked over to the book and brought it back, offering it to me instead of Vassago.
“You’re the only one who can read the fae entries, Greta. I’m betting there’s an answer here for you.”
“I’m not a witch or a mage,” I lamented.
“No, but you are The Alchemist. I would bet your skill will allow you to undo what’s been done if you can find the right recipe.”
My stomach bottomed out. “Why do you keep saying it like that?”
Ophelia’s smile became broad. “Because that’s who you are. We’ve waited a long time for you, Greta. You are incredibly unique. Your gift allows you to transform things in ways the rest of us cannot. In waysnobodyelse can. Do you understand? The elixir recipe wouldn’t have worked for anyone else—your blood was likely the key. You have an incredible talent and responsibility, my dear.”
“What does that mean though? What will I have to do?” Nerves on fire, I worried that I had yet another set of expectations to live up to, and I couldn’t possibly meet any of them, let alone all of them.
She shook her head. “That I cannot say. It’s up to you to choose your path.”
“Can I come back if I need your help?” I asked, afraid to not have the sorceress to guide me on what seemed like an incredibly important journey. One she clearly knew far more about than anyone else.
“Yes, of course you can. Send Belmont ahead to ask when you’d like to visit. I will give him my answer.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh! Hold on a moment.” She dashed into the kitchen and came back with a pen. My body jolted as she opened the heavy book and flipped to a certain page, then began to mark out measurements and make new notes. “Sometimes, my dear, recipes change. They can be improved on. Corrected. Simplified.” Ophelia’s script was clear and precise as she altered a handful of recipes. “But it has always been an honor to be included, as I said.” She slammed the book closed, a satisfied smile on her mouth. “I have no doubt you’ll have success with any of the recipes inside, if you only set your mind to it.”
“I suggested the Elixir of Life the day she made this one,” Vassago grinned. “But we needed to bolster her confidence a bit first.”
“Yes, yes,” Ophelia nodded enthusiastically. “That would be a marvelous choice. Do try that one soon.”
Stunned, I handed the book to Vassago, who seemed relieved to have it back in his hands, and stood. I had to bend nearly in half, but I embraced Ophelia in a hug. I heard Magnus and Vassago both inhale, but she just chuckled and patted me on the back.
“You seem like a good girl, Libelle. You’ll come see me again, but you have other things to do first. Know that we will all do what we can to keep you safe. Take your mate back to the mage school and rest. Study that book. Find whatever answers it can provide. Make the most complicated of recipes. Failure is not to be feared, just keep attempting until you succeed. Go visit our kin so you can reclaim your wings.”
I nodded, too stunned to do much else, and allowed Vassago to usher me out to the carriage. Belmont announced himself from a nearby tree on our way, a familiar dark shadow the whole way home.
I fellasleep on the way back to d’Arcan, the very last of my energy sapped by the wards. As soon as we were on the main road, I simply couldn’t keep my eyes open. Vassago served well as a pillow, my head tucked into the soft space between his shoulder and chest as we bumped along the dirt through the city. It was beyond comforting to have his arms wrapped solidly around me and his steady, strong heartbeat under my ear.
When I woke, I was in my own bed, my stomach grumbling noisily. As delicious as Ophelia’s bread had been, it wasn’t enough to pass for a meal, and the whiskey had needed a little more to soak it up besides.
I looked over to find my raven perched on the windowsill, watching me quietly. “Hello, Belmont.” I smiled, glad I finally had a real name for him.
He gave a proudcaw, then took off again. I guess he just wanted to be sure I was okay.
I exited my apartment to find Vassago’s door standing open wide. I walked across and rapped my knuckles on the wood of the frame.
“Grace brought up lunch for us, Dragonfly. I’ve been waiting for you.”
I flushed hot at the sound of his voice, the memories of our time in his room the night before washing over me. My blood cooled, however, at the serious look on his face. “Oh?”
He gestured for me to take a seat and began doling out the hearty offerings Grace had left for us. “Did you get enough rest?”
“Yes. I must have been out like a rock.” I smiled, realizing the unintentional pun I’d set up, and he grinned back at me. “I don’t remember anything after the carriage turned onto the main road. I can’t believe you carried me all the way up here and I didn’t wake up.” It still astounded me that he could maneuver my body with such ease, but he’d done it more than once and never seemed taxed.
