Page 64 of Spark of Sorcery

“Briony Storm,” he says, and I hold my breath, my heart thumping, “I promise to keep this a secret.”

“Thank you,” I say and the shadow inches towards me, close enough to touch. I reach out, but it jumps away, then shoots back to his hands.

I can’t meet his eyes after that. I feel like I just did something wrong.

“Let me fetch it,” I tell him.

I turn away and hurry to my cupboard, pulling out the blanket and my bag and then reaching inside and carefully lifting the stone. I quickly skim its surface. The cracks aremore numerous and deeper and the thing vibrates in my palms.

With another inhale, I spin around and step towards Thorne.

His eyes linger on my face and then drop to the stone in my arms.

He studies it silently for several long, drawn-out seconds.

“Is that what I think it is?” he says finally.

“What do you think it is?” I ask him, taking another step forward.

“Can I see it?” he asks.

I walk closer to him and for once, with the door blocking his escape, he can’t back away. I hold out the stone to him.

He examines my hands, then carefully and cautiously, he places his hands on the stone and takes it from me, as if he doesn’t want our hands to touch.

He turns it over in his hands.

“A firestone,” he says, eyes still locked on it.

“That’s what I thought too.”

“Where did you get it from?”

I chew on my cheek. Will he believe me?

“I found it about nine years ago–”

“Nine years ago?” he says, unbelieving. “You’ve had it all that time?”

“Yes, that long. But found it isn’t quite right.” I screw up my temples trying to find the words to explain.

“You took it,” he says.

“No!” I scowl at him. “Stars, what is wrong with you men? Just because I’m from Slate, does not make me a thief!”

“I’m sorry,” he says, “you’re right.”

“Hmph,” I sulk.

“Please explain what you meant?”

“It’s hard to explain. It’s like it called me to it.”

“What do you mean?”

I rest my right hand against my stomach. “It tugged at me. I could feel it pulling right in the center of my stomach. It tugged me into the forest that lies at the edge of our Quarter, all the way in, and then I found it at the bottom of a lake.” I shake my head. “It sounds crazy. No wonder you think I stole it.”

“I believe you,” he says.