Page 24 of A Kiss From Death (Oath of Vengeance #1)

A fter scarfing down half of Lunaria’s food supply, I’m back in my room, bathed and thoroughly bored out of my mind. Like me, the other contestants have retired to their rooms to rest up for another long day of training tomorrow.

My mind is racing, an untamable beast as I flop like a fish on my bed, trying to seek comfort. I should have known my body would only allow one solid night’s rest before it resorted back to its specialty: a fitful sleep.

Huffing, I throw my blanket off and stand to stretch. Maybe moving around will help tire me out. I start by pacing from wall to wall until I’ve lost count how many laps I’ve completed. Still, my mind is fully awake and ready to play.

Next, I try some high knees, hoping it will jostle my brain into exhaustion. No such luck. I tackle some lunges next, but then I realize my balance is severely lacking. I turn to face my bed, so when I lunge forward, I can balance my hands on the edge as I lower myself down.

I step into a lunge, disappearing slightly under the bed as I grip the edge with my hands, lowering myself into a deep lunge. As soon as the heel of my foot hits the cold, wooden floorboard, I’m greeted with a loud creak .

Not thinking anything of it, I bring my foot back to center and lunge out with my opposite leg in the same motion. This time, the floorboard creaks, but it also slides the smallest amount to the side.

Weird.

Bending down, I use the small amount of light filtering in through the stained glass window to peer under my bed. Blindly feeling around with my hand, I pat and prod the floorboards, snagging a few splinters as I go.

My nail slides into a small groove between two of the boards that would be impossible to notice unless you were looking for it. Wedging my nail under, I pull up, and the floorboard easily moves away to reveal a cavity.

I know I shouldn’t be snooping, but I can’t help myself as I flatten my body and slide under the narrow bed frame. It’s so dark under here, but my eyes eventually adjust to reveal a midnight black, double edged sword with worn black leather wrapped around the handle.

Reaching in, I wrap my hand around the handle, my fingers perfectly fitting into the worn grooves left in the leather. The sword hums to life as soon as my skin makes contact. The hum tickles up my arm and spreads across my body, making me vibrate as I slide back onto my feet.

It feels familiar, like an old friend calling my name, begging me to hold it. My whole body and even the bed starts to shake from the sheer energy it’s emitting, growing with intensity. I immediately release it, flinging it across the room, thunking as it bounces on the floor .

Shit, Nyxi. Could you make more noise?

I let out a swift curse under my breath, praying no one heard. I’m thankful Winston trusts me enough to leave me alone; I just pray no one else heard the chaos.

I suddenly feel empty with the loss, like a limb has been severed off. I’m clueless as to whose hidden treasure I’ve found, but I can tell it’s very powerful and, most likely, very important. I’m sure it’s hidden to insure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands—or maybe it’s simply a lost treasure.

An idea pops into my head, and I sway over to my wardrobe to collect one of my spare shirts. Carefully, without touching the sword, I wrap the shirt around the handle and pick it up again. As hoped, no hum takes over my body.

Looking it over, I flip it over, taking in the detail of this beautiful creation. Even though the sword looks as old as time, the blade seems carved to perfection, not a dull section to be found.

Squinting, I focus in on a small carving just above where the leather wraps around the handle.

Two circles are etched into the metal, smaller circles carved within them.

Taking a closer look, I notice they aren’t circles, but instead depict some type of unique black eyes.

They look animalistic, maybe even birdlike.

The carving is so old, it’s faded, making it almost impossible to decipher.

Bending down, I carefully lower the blade into the cavity and expertly replace the floorboard exactly how I found it. I line up the grooves in the wood so you can’t tell it’s been tampered with.

There’s a dull ache in my head now, and I feel drained, exhausted. The pacing and high knees must have finally caught up to me, my limbs heavy and limp. I drag my body up into bed, my head barely hitting the pillow before I’m drifting off into heavy sleep.