Page 147 of Bruised MC Bear

18

Kiera

Kiera was tryingto keep it together, but the fact that she and Coco were about to break into the Regent’s locked study and rifle through his belongings took away any confidence she had.

“Are you sure nothing in the main library has the information we need?” she asked Coco for the tenth time.

“Positive. That bastard kept all the good stuff to himself.”

“And you know that how exactly?”

“Hello,” she said, pointing her index fingers at her chest. “Over three-hundred-year-old practicing witch familiar here.”

“You know what we’re looking for?”

“Of course, and I know exactly where it is. He has a lockbox under the floorboard behind that big paisley armchair at the window. I saw him flipping through that scroll one day, and he was so focused, he didn’t notice I was sitting on the windowsill spying on him.” She took off again, and stopped in front of his door, bending to study the lock. “Now shush so we can steal it before he arrives.”

“Do you need help with that?”

“Right. I forgot. Telekinesis is one hell of a talent,” she whispered, smiling broadly.

Kiera focused on the lock parts with her mind.

“Okay,” Coco said. “All you need to do is picture the metal tumblers and levers, lifting out of the bolt that prevents the handle from moving. It’s like your—”

Kiera smiled. “Done.”

Coco shook her head. “Please tell me you won’t turn into one of those boastful bitches…I mean witches,” she grinned, and pushed the door open. “Nice work, by the way.”

“Thanks.” Kiera lit a candle next to the door and followed Coco across the room to the window. They pushed the armchair to the side. “The loose floorboard is right where you said it was.”

“Of course it is,” Coco answered, getting down to her knees. She lifted up the square of wood to reveal a long, rusty metal box. Picking up the box, she checked the lock. Coco needed no help replacing the floorboard, and pushed the armchair back to its original spot. “Let’s get this to your room.”

“Good idea,” she agreed, following Coco back to the door. “Tell me something. Why have we never done this before for other spells we were curious about?”

“Search his room?” Coco checked the empty hallways, then motioned for Kiera to leave the room. She blew out the candle and quietly pulled the door shut, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention as she considered the question. “Nothing else was worth taking the risk.”

Kiera folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure I believe that.”

“Have you ever stopped to wonder how I’ve lived this long, young thing?” Coco crooned. “I can think of eight…no, nine times I cheated certain death, and I can tell you it is always worth the fight.” She crinkled her nose, and then she relaxed her face and smiled. “All right. Maybe I was not brave enough to cross Minassus before this…but now, I can feel it in my bones, Kiera. We have a chance to cut the son of a bitch off at the knees and go back to how life was before. You are so strong, love. I can hardly believe the quantum leaps you have made these past few days. As your familiar, you know it’s my goal to help you hone your craft, to unlock the powerful parts within you and harness the world around us as you become stronger. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been so proud of you…but these past few days, it’s like you are a woman on fire.”

“Awww, dear.”

She grasped Kiera’s hands. “That fearlessness is exactly what you were born to wield…and if I go on, I swear your fiery little ass will make me cry.”

Coco sniffed a bit and fanned her eyes, which had already filled with tears. Taking a breath, she picked up the box and passed it to Kiera. “Enough with this sentimental stuff. Let’s get the hell out here.”

“Agreed. His carriage is close to the fortress entrance.” Kiera hurried up to her room with Coco following behind. She placed the lockbox on the bed. “What exactly are we looking for?”

“An account that Thalia wrote.”

Kiera stared over at Coco. “Sector Two’s first witch Regent?” Coco nodded. “From three hundred years ago?”

“Yes. Did you open the box?”

“Yes,” Kiera answered.

Coco flipped the lid to one side and quickly picked up the rolled-up scroll on top. A large ancient coin the size of an egg fell to the bed.