streaming in through the windows. She felt half-alive, unable to

nd fruit-costlier than her weekl

s, sleeves rolled, hair unkempt-less a menacin

alk about the archives,"

rning to

ad. He has consented to your obtaining

rse the

ned forward and rested his elbows on hi

ns the entire time. And if you try anything-anything at all-

reass

who wanted you dead immediately. My father is taking

. "I won't run.

ld I beli

ction that neither of them could dispute. "Don't y

somewhere in this palace, restless a

just slightly. "The bond

I wanted to." She paused. "Do you really think I'm ly

utious as he talked. "I think you have faith in what you'

r en

moving to

e above them, people went about their daily live

clothing; avoid drawing

e pulled her copper hair into a ponytail and opted for dark trousers and a simple pullover. With shackles

prior. She was now at the center of something that could either put a

ived in time t

professional and icy. On either side o

ack, clearly wealthy automobile. Elara gave him a

the tinted windows as she watched the city go by. She was clearly marked as a prisoner by the written

d the same appe

ang of longing for her old

ed up. "The basement is restricted access. If

g," Elara sai

'm known there. I work there. But if I show up with an entourag

with you. The others stay with the car. We

me in

he back seat. "Wear this.

cent that made the bond hum with approval. Sera followed

as busy with mor

r heart racing, Sera guided them to the staff elevator. Since last night, this was the closest sh

the desk, books piled dangerously, and her bag on the ground,

" she p

Elara from re

The letter

part if you jost

et it," Luc

grabbed in her hurry, the letter fragment was still there. The ancient paper t

feel his breath on her neck, and the closeness strengthened the

"What doe

could see it. The majority

ng about giving Aldric a blade. About making it lo

didn't want to believe it. Four hundred years of history said his ancestor wa

hind them. "Could be about anything.

ore Aldric's death. And found in records from his pr

id finally. "You know it's n

e this. Someone who knew about the murder before it happened. If

et hers, and for a moment, something passed between th

sidering this. She shows you one convenient piece

," Lucien stated in a harsh voice.

e another. Through the relationship, Sera had felt their shar

g a rift that m

id quietly. "Before som

ld the letter fragment carefully, aware that this fragile piece of paper wa

m the palace library-histories, records, anything that might be relevant. He eve

id as he set the las

ne days left. And this-" He gestured at the letter. "This isn

kno

word, every pen stroke. Whoever wrote this knew Aldric was going to die.

stion w

the answer before