Page 128 of Antiletum

We’re quiet again, the only sounds around us the flap of wings and hoots and screeches of owls, owning the night. Like theNocturne.

The thought of thedeosandSuredeishas me clamping my eyes closed. Covering them with my hand.

It was easy, pushing the missingVulpesHeartstone out of my mind when Delaney came to find me. Having never left for the manor at all. Waiting for me to return to her.

Yes, it’s been entirely comfortable not thinking of how horribly I’ve failedSuredeis. Murdering Rainah before she locatedPanthera.And now, lettingVulpesget away.

Delaney senses my shift, slipping away from our quiet, calm cocoon.

“You were upset when I came in here. Beyond everything between us,” Delaney says.

Peeking between my fingers, the shadow of her breasts are intimate and tantalizing in the low lighting. Such a lovely distraction.

She grabs my chin, tilting my head to look at her face and my hand falls away from my eyes. “What happened while you were gone?”

Rising, I glance around at the conservatory, all the formerly dead flora bursting with life. Our magic holding without thought. To the point where the threads we used to seep life back into stalks and petals are wearing away, becoming settled until they don’t need our connection at all. Becoming permanent all on their own.

I gulp, steeling myself to let Delaney down. Yet again. “TheVulpesHeartstone is gone.”

Even in the minimal light, I can see the color drain from her face. The way her eyes narrow at me suspiciously. “What do you meangone?”

“It’s not there anymore. In its den where the fox was born. Where it should be. That’s where I went after you left me in thespirlinary.” I push my hand through my hair. “The man who was supposed to be overseeing it was missing as well. His group of sacrifices were dead. The entrance to the den where the Heartstone should be was undisturbed. But when I went inside, there was only a crater in the floor. No stone. The Ellden clock was still there. And there were black spots around the edges. Like someone clamped off the veins and cut it out.”

“That’s impossible. How much would that thing weigh?” she asks, as bewildered as me. “How would anyone get it out?”

My shoulders lift and fall heavily. “No idea. But one of the last times I was in theStrigiForest, I noticed theNoctuaHeartstone had similar black spots around its edge. I thought it was from the strain of working against the Ellden clocks. I think it may be tied to the missingVulpesstone.”

Delaney gnaws on her lip. Terror falling over her face. Loath to make it worse, I have to admit to the other issues surroundingVulpes.

“Heartstones aside, we have to leave Omnitas, Delaney. Soon. And not to the manor.”

I hear Delaney’s heartrate increase and I hate myself for being the one to hand deliver that fear. To rip away her sense of security, just as she’s getting settled, after the tumultuous upheaval that has been her life since her parents died.

“Parliament?”

I nod. “They want me to meet withVulpesto inform them they will not be receiving theirantiletumshipments. Or their pre-payment back.”

Understanding dawns on her. “The harvest from my parents’ fields.”

“Yes.”

“And how do they expectthatto go?” she scoffs. Angry. Protective.

Glorious.

“I’d imagine they hope it will result in my death.”

“They told me to go with you?”

“No.”

“But you saidwewill have to leave soon,” Delaney points out.

I scowl at her. “Don’t insult me.You honestly think I would plan on leaving you behind for those fucking vultures? Besides, I don’t thinkit’s expected that I will leave you behind. Mallin, Selise, and Blair will have to leave with us as well. And possibly Alaric, from the manor. It turns out, Roarke’s grandmother is a member of Parliament and was much wiser than the rest of the cabinet. Not to mention, I have personal issues within their family.” I grimace. “Even before I smashed Roarke’s head with your mallet you allowed me to borrow.” I lean forward. Kiss her hard. “Thank you for that, by the way.”

She’s undisturbed by my admission to murdering the prick, too preoccupied with what we face.

My fingers find her chin, turning her to me seriously. Going against every instinct I hold to keep her close to me always, I tell her, “If you don’t want to do this, Delaney, youcanstay. I’ll make sure you’re protected in my absence. I meant it. You have a choice now.”