Page 22 of A Blade of Blood and Shadow (The Ravaged Kingdom #1)

Chapter

Fifteen

T he pale-skinned male hit the floor with a grunt, and the fae around us staggered back. Glass shattered and females shrieked, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kaden as he pummeled the faerie who’d insulted us both.

Even if he had been baiting him with that kiss, there was nothing rehearsed about the feral wrath he unleashed on the dark-haired male. Kaden’s silver eyes blazed with a fire that made my insides curdle with dread, and a shadow of his ominous magic seemed to envelop the hall.

Blood splattered Caladwyn’s pristine, polished floor, and the faeries in attendance seemed to swamp the two males, chittering excitedly.

Through my fog of shock and horror, I remembered my task for the night. This was the diversion we’d needed — my one chance to slip away and search for the cipher. I couldn’t waste a moment.

Lips still tingling from our kiss, I ripped my gaze from the two males on the ground and backed away from the knot of spectators who’d gathered to watch the brawl. Caladwyn wasn’t among them, but I spotted the flaxen-haired faerie watching from the corner of the ballroom.

I tried very hard not to draw attention to myself as I slipped out of the hall and into the corridor.

It wasn’t the way we’d entered the great hall, and it took me a moment to get my bearings.

The arched ceiling yawned at least ten feet overhead, and domed lanterns cast a soft amber glow over the gleaming white marble.

Not having any idea where to begin my search, I reached out with my senses. The entire house was steeped in the magic of the dozens of fae who’d gathered for the party, which made it difficult to discern where any magical objects might be concealed.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on blocking out the steady hum of power emanating from the great hall.

It was faint, but I sensed a pull of magic near the rear of the manor that didn’t feel as though it belonged.

Tossing a glance over my shoulder, I slipped down the hallway, grateful that Kaden had selected soft-soled slippers for me to wear.

The main corridor was completely deserted, and yet I could have sworn faint whispers and chuckles slipped from the marble walls. The voices raised the hairs along the back of my neck as they chased me deeper into the manor.

The corridor opened into a foyer dominated by a sweeping marble staircase. Two curved sets of stairs hugged the walls, leading up to the rooms beyond. Throwing one more glance over my shoulder, I hitched up the layers of my gown and padded up the stairs as silently as I could manage.

I emerged on the second-floor landing, which led down a long corridor. Golden light spilled from the balcony at the opposite end, and I realized that it was the balcony overlooking the great hall where I’d first spotted Caladwyn.

From where I stood, I could just make out a stilted melody and the chatter of the dancers below. Someone must have broken up the fight between Kaden and the other fae, which meant I needed to hurry.

The magic I’d sensed had been strongest near the rear of the manor, so I slipped into the chamber closest to the stairs.

Faelight flickered to life as I entered the room, casting long shadows over furniture draped in sheets.

An unused bedchamber would have been an inconspicuous place to conceal a powerful magical object, but my instincts told me the cipher wasn’t here.

Backing out of the room, I shut the door and went to the next chamber. It, too, was unused, and I sensed I was no closer to the cipher than I had been in the previous room.

Door by door, I searched until I came to the grandest room of all — Caladwyn’s bedchamber, judging by the color palette. Twin balconies framed an enormous four-poster bed draped in turquoise silk. The French doors were open to the night air, and a freesia-scented breeze tumbled in.

My breathing became shallow as I entered the room, my slippers making faint indents on the plush cream carpet. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my own reflection in the mirror over the dressing table, and I had the fleeting worry that Caladwyn would somehow know I’d been in here.

I pushed the thought away as soon as it occurred. I couldn’t worry about that now .

Crossing to the wardrobe, I threw open the doors.

An assortment of brightly colored boxes lined the bottom, but they only contained shoes and hats.

I rifled through the dresser and looked under the bed but found nothing out of the ordinary in Caladwyn’s room — certainly no hint of the magic I’d felt.

In fact, apart from the flamboyant silk shirts and outrageous hats, there was little of interest in the faerie’s chamber at all. Wherever Caladwyn hid his most prized possessions, it certainly wasn’t here.

Annoyance crept in despite my nerves. If Caladwyn was Kaden’s cousin, surely Kaden had been here before.

He could have at least briefed me on the layout of the house and given me an idea of where to look.

The fact that he hadn’t either meant that he and his cousin were estranged or that he’d sent me in with no information as some kind of test.

Feeling annoyed at the thought, I replaced a small brass box on Caladwyn’s dressing table and flitted out of the room. I took the stairs as quickly as I could manage in my dress and slippers, reaching out with my senses.

The hum of magic was definitely stronger on the first floor, and I realized I’d made a mistake in thinking the cipher would be concealed in one of the upstairs chambers.

I followed the tug of power to a set of double doors tucked into a small alcove. The doors were carved in the same art deco style as the front entryway, their huge brass handles molded into the heads of two curly-haired maidens.

Casting a wary glance down the corridor, I threw the doors open and ducked into the room. The scent of mildew and binding glue filled my airways as faelight illuminated the sconces on either side of the doors.

I was standing in Caladwyn’s study — a small private library of sorts.

Shelves laden with books rose to the ceiling.

Spines of leather, dyed linen, and silk were crowded together from one wall to the next.

Titles in unfamiliar languages glinted along the spines, while some tomes were so old that their titles had faded completely.

I quickly took in the rest of the room. Stained-glass windows leant a church-like atmosphere to the study — a reverence for all the knowledge contained within.

They spilled their jewel-toned puddles of moonlight onto the polished oak floor, and at the convergence of the multicolored pools of light stood a gleaming mahogany desk.

As if led by an invisible hand, I circled the desk, and those strange whispers started up again. Magic pricked at my skin, raising goosebumps in its wake. This had to be where Caladwyn kept the cipher.

Gathering my skirts, I dropped to one knee and gently opened the top drawer of the desk. It was empty apart from some paper and ink.

Undeterred, I quickly searched the rest of the drawers but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Finally, I tugged on the pull of the bottom drawer and found that it was locked.

A puff of air hissed between my lips, which were nearly numb from the buzz of magic emanating from the desk.

The cipher was in there —I was sure of it.

I just didn’t know how to get to it. I’d come too close to turn and walk away, but I knew instinctively that it was useless to try to force the lock.

“ Open ,” I growled in frustration, giving the brass pull another half-hearted tug and wishing I could bend the lock to my will.

A soft click echoed in the study, and I felt the drawer slide open. My jaw went slack as I looked down at my hand and the drawer, which now stood ajar.

Had I done that?

Had I just unlocked it by magic? It seemed utterly impossible and yet . . .

I shook my head. I would think about that later.

Greedily, I tore the drawer open the rest of the way and stared down into its depths. It was empty except for a small golden instrument that was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

Half a dozen brass wheels were set into a box lined with emerald velvet, each etched with an assortment of letters and symbols I’d never seen before. A delicate brass crank protruded from one side — for turning the wheels, I presumed.

I reached for the cipher, but my hand met resistance. It was like trying to push through air that had been made solid, which caused my skin to tingle uncomfortably.

It reminded me of Adelaide’s wards, only stronger. The harder I reached to try to break through the barrier, the more my strength seemed to dwindle.

A low hiss slipped from between my teeth, and the sound of someone clearing their throat made me retract my hand as though I’d been bitten.

I shot to my feet, reaching for my weapons, and all the blood drained from my face.

Caladwyn stood in the open doorway, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. “I did say this evening was sure to be interesting. ”

My tongue got tangled as I fumbled for some kind of excuse — anything to explain why I was in his study without revealing my true purpose. The drawer I’d unlocked was hidden behind the desk, but if he came closer — if he took one step to the left — he was sure to see what I’d done.

“My apologies,” I said, inclining my head. “I . . . didn’t mean to intrude.”

Caladwyn’s turquoise eyes narrowed in suspicion, though he kept his pleasant smile firmly in place. The effect was unsettling. “You are Lyra, Kaden’s little huntress.”

My shoulders itched defensively at the description, though it was what Kaden often called me himself. From Caladwyn’s lips, however, the moniker dripped with condescension.

His low chuckle told me my revulsion was as clear as my answering silence, and he stepped forward into the room. My stomach clenched as he closed the door behind him, and I automatically reached for my dagger.