Page 18 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

NINE

JAXUS

We’d been at this for days.

Whenever Kiera could get away from the healer’s wing, we met in the cells to do research. We decided not to do it in the library because we didn’t want to draw attention to ourselves. A flyer doing hours of research with a healer was not a common sight.

So, instead, we’d set up the cell next door to the undead as a kind of research office. It was a little dank, but at least it prevented Kiera from avoiding me.

Occasionally we would find information that we felt might lead to a possible test that Kiera could conduct. Then we would visit the cell next door and see what we could achieve.

The answer was always nothing.

I sighed heavily. “I feel like this isn’t gettingus anywhere. The information on necromancy in the palace library is inadequate, to say the least.”

Kiera snapped her book shut and nodded. “I know, I agree. Unfortunately, everything in our libraries will be post-unification information. I feel like what we’re dealing with here is older magic.”

I cleared my throat, treading carefully. “And that information is not available?” I asked tentatively.

“No, unfortunately, all pre-unification texts were destroyed. To wipe out the ‘evil’ of the old magic.” She used her fingers to make quotation marks around the word evil and rolled her eyes.

Interesting.

I had no idea there was anyone left in these kingdoms who viewed older magic in such ways. I was always told that fae in the unified kingdoms shunned all old magic, but Kiera seemed open to the idea that some old magic was different.

I wanted to ask her, but there was no way into that conversation without revealing information that I was bound by blood to keep.

“Maybe we should take a break,” I suggested, quickly deferring the topic away from that difficult subject for me.

“We could,” Kiera said reluctantly. “But I’ve already eaten. I don’t know about you.”

I drank her in for a moment. Amused by the idea that she was so programmed to work that only a necessary meal could be a reason to take a break.

“Why are you smiling?”

I schooled my features. “I wasn’t suggesting a meal. How about we fly?” I studied her, hopeful.

She looked away, not meeting my eyes, her gaze fixed on the floor. “I don’t think I have the time for flying today.”

I watched her as she fumbled through her response. “I think a change of scenery might do us both good.”

“You go,” she said, abruptly turning to the bench andgathering things ready to make her escape. “I’m extremely busy. I need to get back to the healer’s wing. We have patients I need to see.”

“You said that you didn’t have any patients right now and that your morning was clear,” I challenged, determined not to let her run away from this again.

“I need to check in. Things change quickly in my line of work, Jaxus. I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Kiera,” I said with as much calm as I could muster. I would not spook her with my mounting frustration.

“Look, I just don’t think it’s a very good idea for us to fly together.”

I stood, moving towards her where she fumbled through some books aimlessly, and I placed my hand over hers, stilling her.

“Kiera,” I repeated.

She froze.

“Look at me, would you?”