Page 28 of Seared Fates

“Very bad.” Grey leans back, fingers twined over his stomach.

“As the name implies, it’s our first spellbook. While it’s no different to other spellbooks that allow us to draw on the magic embedded in its pages. However, this one can only be willingly gifted; even in death, it can’t be taken. It’ll burn anyone who tries.”

‘Fuck,’ I curse inwardly.

“And what can it do?” I ask as calmly as possible, even as my muscles tighten.

She glances towards Grey, who only sips his tea in answer. “There’s a spell which can turn any mage, willing or not, into a blood mage.”

“Fucking hell,” I grind out. “That explains how Emma made her little army, because they weren’t all blood mages.”

Astra offers a stiff nod. “Much as I and others disagreed, Emma and our brother created a plan. Sebastian, as our Sovereign, was the only one who could use the First Tome. But I couldn’t allow this…this madness to happen!” Her fist slams onto the arm of the chair, the first crack in her armour.

“They wanted to turn mages,” Grey says.

“People who didn’t even know what they were!” Astra replies, apparently outraged. “People living as normal humans. It was appalling.”

“Suddenly you have morals?” I mock. “How do you make your spellbooks again?”

“Mine was passed down!” Astra snaps before finding her calm. “I had to do something to stop my siblings. So, with my eldest children, we fought Sebastian and his supporters, and I managed to land a killing blow.”

I expect to see pride, but the words seem to age her.

“Yet somehow in the chaos, Sebastian managed to give that wretched Tome to Emma in a locked box. But, much to her own surprise, Sebastian used his dying breath to order it given to his son,” she says, disdain thick. “A son I didn't even know existed.And, in my darling brother’s crazed wisdom, he decided was his ‘true heir.’”

“What I don’t understand,” Grey muses, eating another chocolate biscuit, “is why not give it to Emma? She was his sister, after all. Why this supposed heir?”

Huffing out a frustrated breath, Astra stands, turning her back to glare out the window. “The First Tome corrupts your thoughts and desires; in his mind, only this estranged boy could take his place.”

I move forward before I can even think and grab her forearm, twisting her to face me. “Corrupt? What do you mean?” I demand, and fight to swallow back my fear for Kai. I won’t show my hand in front of Astra, or even Grey.

Astra tugs out of my hold. “Exactly as I said. The thing was made from incredible, mind-altering pain. But willing pain from an ancient creature. What creature is lost to history. The First Tome is powerful, but that much terrible power sinks into a mage’s mind and twists. Towards the end, Sebastian was a raving lunatic.” She drops her chin, sighing. “We never got on well. But I didn’t want to see him reduced to…that.”

“How long?” I snarl.

“How long?” She repeats, and I don’t miss the way Grey perks up.

“Until your brother lost his mind.”

“Sebastian started turning after a month,” Astra answers.

Ice pierces my heart. Kai’s had the First Tome for close to three weeks.

“Emma has the book,” Astra continues. “I managed to hunt down one of the men—boys, really—who escaped the warehouse burning down, Mickey something. He said Jace threw it to her before he died. But I’ve had no luck locating her.”

My fists clench. “What if she gives it away willingly? Would her mind be saved?”

In a very canine gesture, Grey’s head tilts to the side.

Astra slumps back into the chair, exhausted. “After this long with the Tome affecting Emma’s magic, I wouldn’t risk it. Keeping her alive is too dangerous.”

Kai can’t hand the book over to Astra. I have more trust in a rabid dog than in Astra not attempting to kill him. But now I’m left with a week to find Emma before Kai becomes corrupted.

“And with Emma gone, it helps to keep your place as the blood mage leader,” Grey points out.

“I won’t deny that,” Astra snaps, finding some iron in her spine. “The blood mages have made enough enemies. If we don’t strive for change, we’ll all die.”

“How sad,” I scoff.