AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Lucan, I know you and Shock have…issues, but I don’t think he betrayed us. By helping us in the first place, he’s put himself at odds with his family. Yet he’s still here.”
“Of course. He’s a spy!” Lucan insists.
I agree. I have to—or face the very real possibility that my own father betrayed me.
“You’re way off, you stupid sod,” Shock spits, then turns to me. “You, too.”
I have no doubt that, behind Shock’s sunglasses, the wizard glares out a death wish.
“I said stop!” Bram shouts before he addresses the group. “The truth is, we don’t know exactly who our Judas is. I won’t believe it’s someone in this room.” He casts a hard glare at Lucan. “Nor will you. Anyone telepathic at the party had the information. Any of them could have told Mathias, and we will likely never know who. Fighting the Anarki and learning to eliminate the undead is our priority. So, Marrok, will you train us?”
Chapter Forty-Two
Marrok
I sit back. Six pairs of eyes burn into me, none more than Olivia’s.
What is the most advantageous strategy? It matters not whether my “wife” is conspiring with her father to earn his fickle affection or that I’m not thinking straight because I’ve been denied the chance to reaffirm our bond. I must keep Olivia and the diary safe at all cost. I cannot make decisions based on fear, impulse, or ignorance of the magical world.
If we remain with Bram, Mathias will know precisely where to find us. Staying here sounds mad, but if we venture alone, our location will be a secret…but ’tis hardly a guarantee of our safety. Olivia will insist on reuniting with her father and returning to her gallery. Either way, should he find us… I cannot best a maniac who fights with magic.
As much as I hate it, the job of protecting both the book and Olivia while dodging the madman and his undead army is too big for me alone. Part of being a good warrior is knowing when to make strategic alliances.
I know of only one person in the room, who, without a doubt, would never take Mathias’s side.
I tear my gaze from Olivia’s and focus on Bram. “I must speak to you. Alone.”
Surprise flickers across Bram’s face, but I read men well. My request is not unwelcome.
“Right. Out with the lot of you,” Bram says to the others. “Let me talk to the warrior.”
With a mixture of shrugs and disgruntled stares, Lucan, Shock, Duke, and Ice file out. Olivia remains unmoving beside me. She, more than anyone, cannot hear this.
I turn to her. “I’m sorry, love. Can you leave us?”
She rears back. My request clearly stuns her. Hurt crosses her soft face. I hate it, and if my worries prove false, I will find a million ways to make it up to her. If not…
“Sure. Whatever.” Stiffly, she leaves the room.
Bram shuts the door softly behind her. “What’s on your mind?”
“We have not been friends.”
“I’ve tried. You don’t appreciate my finer qualities.”
“After my experience with Morgana, perhaps you understand why I distrust magic.”
“And here I hoped you’d come to realize we’re not all evil freaks.”
I smile faintly. “After the attack this morn, I have reevaluated my position. I trust no one except—and I never thought I would utter this—you. When you passed the magic circle at my cottage, ’twas clear you could have entered and stolen the book anytime you wished.”
Bram nods.
“Why did you restrain yourself?”
“To build your trust. Besides, stealing it may do more harm than good. It’s possible bad things come as a result. Some objects can be cursed if they’re taken from their owners.”
“Like the book locking and never opening again?”
