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“Morgana’s writings never say explicitly, but it would be like her to create a powerful object only for the fairer sex. And it would likely be its most powerful in the hands of a Le Fay woman.”
“And no others remain besides my mate?”
Gray shakes his head. “None.”
My protective instinct surges again. It takes all my restraint not to pick Olivia up and carry her away.
“Tell me about the two halves of the key,” I bark at Gray, suspicions forming. “Do you have them?”
“I was a young man when my mother died. You saw her painting?” he asks Olivia.
“The young woman with the symbol around her neck was your mother?”
“Indeed. The painting was completed before her mating, long before my birth. Upon her death, she left me that necklace. But as I said, the key is in two parts. We need both to unlock the diary.”
Olivia frowns. “And you only know where to find one?”
Gray swallows, looking away. “I-I gave mine to Mathias two centuries ago. He demanded a show of fidelity and—”
“And like the sniveling yes-man you are, you gave him half the key to the end of the world,” Bram cuts in.
“I believed in equality. At the time, I didn’t know he was actually hurting people and—”
“How think you Mathias intended to enforce his will, if not through coercion and bloodshed?” I demand.
And how did he think anyone but Mathias would ever open the tome again? No wonder my every effort was thwarted for centuries…
“I was young and idealistic and—”
“Daft.” I itch to put Gray out of everyone’s misery. I have smelled stinking heaps of refuse with a more pleasant stench. “What happened to the other half of the key?”
Again, Gray turns to Olivia. “I left the other half with your mother for your protection. I told her that if the Anarki knocked on her door, she should give it to them to save you.”
Olivia pales. “W-what does it look like?”
I grip her shoulders to ensure she sinks not to the floor.
To my surprise, Ice zips past me, lifts the older wizard by his shirt front, and shoves him against the wall again.
“You might be able to zap our immortal friend if the mood strikes you, but no such luck with me. I’m an Anarki-hating bastard from way back.”
Bram might dislike Ice, but at the moment, I appreciate the hell out of him. Menace rolls off the green-eyed wizard. Only someone stupid would cross him.
I hope Gray proves himself a half-wit.
“What troubles you?” I wrap my arms around Olivia.
She wriggles free in exasperation and marches for Ice. “Let him go. He can’t answer us if you’re choking him.”
Drawing her back, I glare at Gray. “Spit it out. What does the necklace resemble?”
“The piece hangs from a chain of twined silver and gold.” His voice wobbles as he stares at Ice like someone confronted by the grim reaper. “It-it’s half of the symbol. The half beneath, which is an ornately scripted L with rubies—”
Olivia blanches even paler.
My mate has seen the key. Does she have it among her possessions? Is she broadcasting that very thought? If so, the last thing I need is for Gray to “hear” it.
If he does, I suspect the Anarki will know, too.
