Page 24 of Fate Unchained

The music was nice, although Kyril would never admit it to anyone. The vae had a special magical instrument, which resembled a gramophone he’d seen in human territories, and it absorbed any music played around it. Afterward, the instrument would play it back. He’d bought one and brought it to the vulk den.

They spoke for a few more minutes, then Zann disconnected, saying he’d reach out after the storm when he and Finn headed down. Kyril returned to the fire and added a few logs, letting the flames flicker up into the shadows above. He took one of the haunches of venison down and set it up to roast.

Lilah didn’t speak, only watched him. She hadn’t put her coat back on, only the oversized, faded blue sweater and oilskin pants. The faint odor of her father circled around her and he wrinkled his nose. At least the scent would prevent him from reaching for her again.

She crossed her arms. “When you aren’t killing things, what do you like to do?”

“Hunt defenseless woodland creatures. Frighten children. The usual.”

Her lips twitched, almost a smile. “I’m sure you’re good at scaring others.”

“I don’t scare you though, do I?”

“No.”

A warmth spread in his chest. Just as quickly, he forced himself to remember she’d come to trap him for a reason. Perhaps to kill him.

He ran his hand over his muzzle. “Why not?”

“It’s your eyes.” Her cheeks turned pink, and she turned her head. “When I came to the cave, I thought a vulk was a raging beast, but when I got my first look at you … your eyes were human. That’s when I knew what I was doing was a bad idea.”

He bared his eyeteeth slightly. “Yet you still set up the trap.”

She looked away. “What time is it?” She couldn’t avoid answering his questions for much longer, but for now, he’d play along. Besides, dinner was almost ready.

“About twenty minutes before the suns set.”

Her eyes widened. “You know that?”

“Of course.” He didn’t explain how he could feel the two suns and the two moons as they crossed the sky. At night, a faint energy buzzed in the air, making him a bit stronger, a better fighter, and added an awareness of the night he wouldn’t be able to describe.

“I’ll be able to work on the rune to break us free soon,” she said.

“Eager to break our runebond?”

She looked up. “I was talking about the cage.”

The meat finished cooking, and he divided it up. He doubted she ate with her hands normally, but she lit into her meal eagerly. Her tongue flicked up the side of her hand, licking off some juice, and his trousers became too tight again. He shifted in his seat.

“Time for you to talk. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get the page from the grim—from this journal?”

He wasn’t going to tell Lilah he suspected her page was from Herskala’s grimoire. The less people who knew about it, the better. Herskala had possessed immense power and knowledge, and in the wrong hands the book was deadly. It needed to be destroyed.

“And where did you get the powder you used on me?” By her having the powder, he knew she was linked to those he sought. Only the Dark Cabal had the powder that affected the vulk. The spell to create it was inside the grimoire—the same grimoire Lilah’s page came from.

Her gaze fixed on the fire, Lilah said, “A man who knows my father blackmailed me into showing him I could use runes.” She described how a human named Boris showed up and gave her the page and the powder. “He purchased all my debt. So I’m forced to pay him or go to prison.”

“What debt?”

“I inherited my aunt’s debt when she died.” Lilah sighed. “It was so stupid. I signed a document she asked me to.” She waved her hand, then let it flop back onto her leg. “Now it’s all mine. I always read everything, but that one time I didn’t.”

Kyril nodded. “You can’t trust anyone.”

Lilah’s shoulders hunched, and she seemed much smaller. She nodded. “I know.” Her gaze caught his. “What about you? I’m trusting you’ll help me.”

“Boris had that page, and I’m going to find out where he got it.” He shrugged. “I’ll help you at the same time.”

Kyril sat forward. “Did he just have the one page, or did he have the entire book?” His breath hitched. Could Boris have the entire grimoire?

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