Page 20

Gavin

G avin gritted his teeth. He couldn’t wait until he and William thought of a better solution to satiate the Eye of Behelwer. Until then, he’d just have to bear the twice-daily hike up to the vault. Dragging a hand through his hair, Gavin mentally prepared himself for the massive draw of energy he was about to encounter as he turned the corner.

“Adelaide?”

At the end of the hall, Adelaide jumped and whirled around to face him. Under any other circumstance, the small squeak she let out would’ve made him smile. But the fact that she was standing right in front of the magical barrier that stood as the vault’s entrance, reaching all about for a trigger that didn’t exist had Gavin ensnared by confusion.

“Gavin!” she gasped. “I…This—” Adelaide pressed her hands to her eyes. He watched her closely, waiting patiently for an explanation. He crossed his arms over his chest. Had he fallen for an act after all?

Gavin shook his head. It couldn’t be. He knew Adelaide. She did not willfully harbor ill intent toward him or Castle Belmont. So how had it come to this? What had changed?

Gavin waited for the deep breaths to turn into sobs. But they didn’t.

Instead, Adelaide withdrew her hands. Playing with her fingers, she said, “I can explain. Please.”

“Look at me, Adelaide.”

An eternity passed in the time it took for Adelaide to meet his gaze. When she did, Gavin’s heart nearly fractured. The mixed emotions swirling in her eyes made him think of the day she’d come into his office after Mistress Scrabs had used statique trosher on her.

Fear, desperation, pain, and a sadness that cleaved his heart in two lay bare under his study of her.

“What’s happened?” he asked quietly, his tone harsher than he’d intended it to be. Adelaide flinched at the hard edge to his words. Gavin forced himself to take a breath. Reaching out to her slowly, Gavin settled his hands on her shoulders. He rubbed her arms in an attempt to soothe her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be short with you. I only want to know what’s happened.”

“She threatened my family,” Adelaide said hoarsely, like she was holding back tears or couldn’t speak. “I have to bring her the Eye.”

“We can’t give her the Eye,” Gavin interrupted.

Adelaide inhaled sharply. “What else can we do? Gavin, my fam—they have my family.”

Gavin reached a hand up. When she didn’t move away or show any sign to discourage his touch, Gavin gently wiped away her tears. There were too many questions and details to sort through. He didn’t know which to ask first. “Who else knows about this threat?”

“Just you,” she whispered. “And whoever else Mistress Scrabs has working for her within Castle Belmont.”

Gavin’s heart spasmed. “Inside Castle Belmont? Aside from you?”

“Yes. I just learned about them today. My contact…he’s dead.” Adelaide hiccupped, overtaken by a sob. Gavin moved to wrap her in his arms in an effort to offer what little comfort he could.

Adelaide pressed her hands against his chest and shook her head solemnly. “There’s something else…something you need to tell the king.”

Gavin tilted his head. Dread sank into his bones. “What is it?”

“The Darshovian prince is alive. I saw him with Mistress Scrabs at the inn. They want the Eye of Behelwer.”

Gavin’s mouth went dry. “To do what?”

“They think they can make the eclipse happen sooner by using the Eye. I think they want to attack Kordouva.”

“If that’s possible…they want to surprise us.” Gavin’s mind reeled. He didn’t doubt Adelaide, but he couldn’t make sense of it all.

“Is it?” Adelaide insisted. “Could the Eye of Behelwer really shift the cosmos?”

Gavin considered the question. His stomach tightened. “I don’t know. Maybe, given the nature of the prince’s powers and connection to the Penumbral Realm, but I couldn’t say for certain. The Eye amplifies power. Branigan would have to be the strongest magic user in the world for their plan to work. Or…they could destroy the very fabric of our universe in their attempt.”

Adelaide paled, her face drawn with apprehension. Gavin reached for her hand and squeezed. “I won’t let that happen.”

Her shoulders tensed, but still she nodded. “I know.”

“Just as I won’t let anything happen to your family.”

Adelaide’s lips twitched as if she wanted to smile. Sadness swam in her eyes. Gavin stroked his thumb across her cheek. He wished they had time. He craved the time to comfort her but knew they hadn’t many heartbeats to spare if they wanted to save her family and stop Mistress Scrabs.

“Do you know what Mistress Scrabs wants more than anything?” Gavin asked.

Adelaide frowned. Her brows drew together in her confusion. “Why does that matter to you now? Shouldn’t we—”

“Please,” he said, “This could help us.”

Adelaide looked at him doubtfully. “I would say power. More than anything, Mistress Scrabs wants power. It’s the only thing she could stand to gain by aligning herself with the only surviving heir to the Darshovi throne.”

“Because she has plenty of wealth and influence already as the Master of Thieves, but has to hide who she is.”

The pieces of the puzzle Gavin had been toiling over clicked into place.

“Status,” Adelaide breathed. “Of course! She wants the status her power—”

Adelaide gasped as he picked her up, spinning her around.

Laughing, she asked, “What are you doing?”

“You’re amazing, Adelaide,” he said, setting her down. Kissing her forehead, he explained, “I know who Mistress Scrabs is. I have to go and speak with William. I’ll explain everything later, I promise! Just be ready to meet with Mistress Scrabs in an hour.”

“What about my family?” she called after him.

Gavin stopped short. Turning around, he pressed a hand over his heart and bowed. “They’ll be safe, I promise.”