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“Clover,” I say before she disappears. “You might want to warn Ayan.”

She pauses, turning back. “About what?”

“We’ve learned that Hellebore is his mother.”

“What?”

“Hurry,” I remind her.

Dumbly she turns back. “I’ll…see you there.”

I return to Pranmore’s quarters and shock myself on his blasted ward.

A moment later, the door opens. Lawrence must have heard my surprised curse. When he sees me rubbing my hand, he grins. “Apparently it’s only set on the outside. Where’s Ayan?”

“Clover said it would be easier for her to fetch him.”

His smile dims. “You spoke with Clover?”

“Are we going to do this right now?”

Eyeing me with a modest amount of disdain, he steps out of the doorway so I can come inside.

“Did you learn anything while I was gone?” I ask.

“One thing,” Lawrence says hesitantly.

“Did you find out what Camellia has planned?”

“No…” He averts his eyes. “But Hellebore did tell us how we can remove Brielle’s necklace without the curse killing her.”

“How?” I ask desperately, just stopping myself from grabbing his shoulder and dragging it out of him.

“It’s complicated,” he hedges, oddly uneasy. “Pranmore asked me not to tell you.”

Instantly angry, I demand, “What do you mean—”

“But I believe you have a right to know.” He glances toward the door. “But not now. Pranmore says Hellebore doesn’t have much time left, and there’s still so much we need to ask her.”

Hellebore’s eyes travel to me when I step into the room, but her face falls when she sees I’m alone.

“He’s coming,” I assure her. “Clover knows where he is, and she’s fetching him.”

Hopefully, she won’t be long.

25

CLOVER

Ayan looks only somewhat surprised when he finds me outside his door so early in the morning. The handsome elf leans against the doorframe, sans shirt, languidly looking me up and then down. “Oh, Clover, I knew this day would come. I told myself I would stoically turn you away, but now that you’re here…”

“Get dressed,” I snap, impatient.

He looks down, smirking. “But half your work is already done. Surely, you don’t want to start from the beginning?”

“You’re a pig. Get dressed—we need to go to Pranmore’s quarters right now. Rouse Audra and Lyredon as well.”

The flirtatious look falls from Ayan’s face, replaced with a frown. “Is it about that elven woman?”