Page 76 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“In the Forest Kingdom, there is an archive of ancient knowledge which is a closely guarded secret. Healers are privy to the knowledge only once they have taken their sacred oath, but even then, access can only be granted by the custodians of the archive. My family are the heads of the custodians.”

I puffed out a breath of relief and tried to digest this information.

“What kind of knowledge?”I asked.

“Illegal knowledge,”she whispered. Even though she was speaking directly into my mind, she still feared saying the words and being overheard.

“You see, the healers have always kept the most extensive archives in the kingdoms. Even more so than the priests, who, at one time in history, were a part of the healing order. But over time, the disciplines separated and the magic evolved, and priests becamesomething different to us. Their practices stayed rooted in the old ways while ours developed. Always changing and evolving for the better care of the people. But at its core, healing magic is the oldest kind of magic and we must know its roots in order to help it grow.”

I knew this history, but I couldn’t tell her so.

“When the kingdoms were unified under one rule at the end of the Hundred Years War, everything changed. Old magic was outlawed and all the references were ordered to be destroyed. Our archive was always closely guarded, so it was safe. But healers all over the kingdoms risked their lives to rescue important works and transfer them to the care of the archive in the Forest Kingdom.”

“And it survives?”I asked, intrigued. We had thought that our people were the only ones who thought to rescue this kind of information. But our elders had been wrong. I wanted to see this archive and compare it to the great library of Kerani.

“It does, and its existence is so sacred to my people that the oath we swear to become a healer at the end of our training includes it. Only my bloodline can grant access. Not even the council of elders controls it. It’s the only way to ensure it’s never discovered.”

“So how are you telling me?”I didn’t understand. The blood oath we swore before we were allowed to leave my home to come to the First Kingdom prevents me from speaking of it outside of Kerani itself. If she swore a vow, surely she was breaking it.

“I had thought I’d never be able to. But my father actually encouraged it. He’s very taken with you, Jaxus,”she chuckled.“It’s pretty disconcerting, to be honest. He never warms to fae who aren’t healers, especially not flyers. I don’t know what you did to win him over, but it’s miraculous.”

“So he gave you permission?”

“Not exactly. He just reminded me that our bond meansyou’re as good as family now, so if I trust you enough, I can make that decision.”

“Just like that?”I couldn’t believe it was that easy. That she trusted me that way.

“Not exactly. The elders will most likely not be pleased with an outsider knowing our most guarded secret. But as my father reminded me, it’s not theirs to guard. That is our right, and as my bonded flyer, I am granting you the trust.”

I didn’t know what to say. This was—I…I felt like a snake. This was the moment I should be telling her that I had a similar secret, but no. My secret was far bigger and had so much more than knowledge at stake. I couldn’t speak the words without breaking the blood oath. If I did, I’d die and she’d suffer like Nyx was for the rest of her days.

If I ever wanted to share those facts with her I would have to take her there and I knew in my heart if we went, the elders wouldn’t let us just fly away this time. I had promised to return and didn’t. I couldn’t go back with yet another outsider and hope they’d accept that we wanted to take our knowledge and live outside of the mist. No, they’d force us to stay. I knew they would. They’d kill to protect the secret.

“Say something—”Kiera sounded nervous and I realized I’d gone into my thoughts and left her waiting for a response.

“So you can go there and see if you can find what we need to help Nyx?”I asked.

“We can go there,”she corrected.

“You’d risk getting on the wrong side of your elders to take me?”I was surprised she’d even consider it. I’d had plenty of experience dealing with elders, and it was something you avoided if you could.

“You’re researching this with me, I need you.”

I was touched. She was such a bright mind, and she valued my help. I was about to say something to this effect when she silenced me with her sharp wit.

“Besides, how else will I get there?”

THIRTY-THREE

JAXUS

“No one will be awake at this hour, so we need to be quiet going into the house and opening it up. It’s been ages since I’ve been here, and I don’t know what state it will be in,”Kiera said into my mind as we landed in the clearing.

“Do you think I’m incapable of being quiet?”I sent a laugh with my words so she’d know I joked.

She looked down her nose at me.“Not at that size.”

I narrowed my eyes, stalking toward her when I shifted back to my fae form. “What are you saying?”