Page 79 of Gift from the Source
“Reveal.”
The spell falls away and I stare in confusion.
The biggest difference between the original book and the copies made for the realm is the writing inside. In the original, it’s handwritten. The other versions are mass produced by the palace Master Archivist in the neatest, most legible penmanship.
This is not the original.
“Primary. Confirm with the old man he was the one who produced the mass copies for the Vito line books after my grandmother’s rule.”
“The what?”she asks.
“Do as I ask, please. He can explain the rest,”I order softly. Sort of.
As I wait to hear her confirm what I already know, I flip through the pages just to see if the accounts are the same as I know them to be.
Unfortunately, they are. So I’m back to square one on why the original is gone.
“Cas,” Roye says, gaining my attention.
“I’ll explain what I figure out when I figure it out. All I know for now is this isn’t the original book,” I say, turning it around to show them the handwriting.
“Someone stole our book? Why?” my mom asks.
“To rewrite history.”
With that, I shadow back out of their office and return to my room.
Setting the book from their office down beside mine, I see zero differences. Both are copies made.
“He said yes. He was the one to produce them for Drudy’s Nexus.”
“But not my great-grandmother’s?”
“No. One of your great-grandfathers—”
“Served as the palace Master Archivist. I know. Everyone come to my room in the south wing,”I command, then backtrack.“Not everyone. Do not bring all those extra people here. The old man can be the exception.”
I refuse to have my space invaded by people I merely tolerate for my Primary and brothers’ benefit. Well, aside from her sister. I more than tolerate her now, I suppose.
While I wait for them, I glide my hand down the seam of my copy and try to get a better grasp on the tingle. It’s obviously an enchantment, but without being able to sense it better, I’m not going to be able to untangle it.
Flipping the pages forward, the sensation immediately grows weaker. So I slowly go backward.
Three pages ahead of my original spot, I find the strongest pull. Anything further in any direction, it weakens.
Calling my magic forth, I command it into the web.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing happens, but my magic ricochets off the enchantment and back into me.
“Fucker,” I growl.
“That’s rude,” Draken snorts and I cast my eyes to my door.
“Not you—this time—this enchantment.”
“What’s going on?” Willow asks as she pushes through my brothers to reach me.
