Page 140 of Exiled Heir

“For a long time,” Cade agreed.

“Physically close, or could they leave an object nearby?” I asked.

I began searching the room, looking for any clues. The charred magic was worse here, enormous whorls on the walls, a dagger the size of the door splayed from the ceiling to halfway down the wall.

With the furniture destroyed and all of Cade’s possessions tossed throughout the room, it was difficult to tell what was supposed to be there and what wasn’t. I picked up a book with a dark cover and no writing inside.

When I held it out to Cade, he shook his head. “A birthday present from one of the councilors to help me with my spellwork.”

I bent, checking under the bed, and something gleamed in the darkness. Reaching out, I grabbed it and drew a pebble into the light. Quickly, I lifted the bed, tossing the mattress aside and shoving the bed frame.

Cade stared at me, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“There.” I pointed. The floor under the bed was just as charred and destroyed as the rest of the room. Cade’s black magic had burned layer after layer of spellwork into the carpet.

But there were more of the rocks. With a frown, Cade bent and picked one up. He hissed, immediately dropping it.

“It hurts?” I demanded. Crossing the room quickly, I took his hand in my own, searching for any damage.

“There’s spellwork on this,” Cade said.

Then he looked up, his eyes tracing over the ceiling. “But it doesn’t originate here.”

I crouched, collecting the rocks. I didn’t follow his eyes because I knew what was above us.

“The king’s bedroom,” I said.

“Yes. I think our answers are going to be there.” Cade’s face paled, his hand opening and closing.

Reaching out, I wrapped my hand around his, turning his palm until I could fit mine against it. With a squeeze, I waited until he looked at me. “You don’t have to go. Call Isaac or anyone else that you trust.”

Cade’s head twitched. “No. I can do this.”

He swallowed, straightening his back and walking out of the room, tugging me behind him. I didn’t let go of his hand, the warm grip grounding both of us. Outside his room, he pressed his hand to a blank space of wall right next to the shards of the bedroom door. Just like when Basil’s cage came into view, the magic made the wall disappear, revealing a gilded staircase. It stretched larger than I thought there was space for, as wide as the staircase from the bottom floor to the second.

When I moved to mount it, Cade stayed still, frozen with his eyes locked on the door at the top of the stairs.

“Cade?” I asked.

“I can’t.” He shook his head sharply. “I can’t.”

Turning back, I stared at the door. It looked normal, made from the same wood as Cade’s. But that was the room where my parents had died. That was the room where my parents killed his.

I wasn’t sure I could either.

Swallowing, I straightened my shoulders and dropped his hand. “I’ll go.”

“You wouldn’t even know what to look for,” Cade said.

“Swirly magic, tattoo-like spells, a big note that saysDon’t touch this, it’s meant to destroy Cade? I can look for things.” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Well, if there is a monologuing villain up there, make sure you drag him down here before he finishes.” Cade tried for a smile but trembled, taking a step back.

I didn’t give myself time to hesitate. Walking up the stairs, I paused at the door, my hand lingering on the handle. I had to force the air into my lungs, everything inside me twisting nervously. Then I frowned, examining the door again.

In Cade’s story, my parents had burst through the door, shattering it. But this door looked fine. House Bartlett must have replaced it before sealing up the stairway, but the explanation was weak and more evidence that the official story wasn’t the real one.

When I opened the door, the room was dark, curtains drawn. I pushed through cobwebs and reached for the light switch. It didn’t work, so I headed for the window, pulling open the curtains.