“Key, what the hel is that?” His face is twisted into a near snarl. He takes a step back out of pure reflex.
The light shining in through the room makes the crystal look radioactive. The lime green glows as if leeching its poison into the air. But the color of it is familiar. I can’t put my finger on it, but I’ve seen this exact shade of green before. Maybe not as bright, but there’s something about this particular hue that tugs at my mind.
Luna rests a hand on her hip. “Your queen doesn’t listen very well.”
Lachlan turns towards her and a single brow arches. Not wanting to be in the middle of that standoff, I chime in.
“This is what Odessa and Julius were studying.”
“Aye. Anything interesting?” He turns back to stare at the crystal still balanced on the book.
“They had loads of these crystals and books about crystals. And … Mina accidentally broke one of the vials that had asphidra venom in them.” I grimace before I can even finish explaining that everything is fine due to the alarm spreading across his face.
“WHAT?”
Luna rolls her eyes. “It’s fine, calm down.”
Lachlan breathes sharply through his nose, his face still bright red, and I know he is a second away from turning that wrath onto her.
“It was an accident, and she’s right. Totally fine.” I beam at him, trying to prove my point. Lachlan’s dark hair crosses over his eyes as he shakes his head in an attempt to clear it. And after a calming breath, he asks, “So, do ye think they were using the venom to create weapons?”
My eyes shift warily to Luna, and she shrugs. “Possibly, butwe hadn’t discussed it yet.” Her tone is curt and icy. Can she not? He’s barely staying calm. It’s like she enjoys poking him on purpose.
“We brought the crystal out here to see it better, and we’re going to grab more of the books to study. Can you hold this while I go back for more?” I hold the book out towards him, and he grits his teeth while reaching out carefully to take it from me.
“Aye, but hurry back. You’ve missed lunch, and I’m sure ye willna want to miss dinner, too.”
Aheap of books has been transported from the cave to Odessa’s room, and finally, to our depressingly bare library. I should feel relieved to have useful books in here at last, but as I pick through the massive amount of text, I only feel dread. Or is it hunger? Right on cue, my stomach growls. Lachlan sighs and pushes off the wall next to the fireplace, where he’s been a sentry-shaped statue, watching me skim through book after book. After book three, my ass went numb. By book five, my eyes started to burn. Nothing has piqued my interest yet. It’s all family histories, royal politics, and prophecies.
“Come on, let’s get ye some food and then ye can come back and read to your heart’s content.”
It’s like he can read my mind sometimes. I take his hand and let him pull me out of the cushioned chair I’ve sunken into. Irub the back of my leg with my free hand, hoping to infuse some life back into my asleep backside.
“You don’t like reading?” I ask as we head to the dining hall where everyone else has already gathered.
Lachlan grins and shakes his head. “I like to keep moving. That’s why I like building.” There’s a happiness to his eyes as he says it.
I study his profile, seeing him in a new way. “If you find yourself bored, there are still parts of the capital that are in need of some rebuilding. I’m sure they would love to have you.”
His eyes swing to my face and soften. “I would love that, but ye need me here. And I would always rather be by your side.”
I lean against his body as we walk into the dining hall. A large pile of plates is stacked between Tane and Evander, and I can’t tell whom they belong to. Luna sits at the far end of the table, eyeing the group with bleak disdain before focusing back on the book held open in front of her. She doesn’t look so hollow as her eyes swiftly skim the words on the page. It’s one of the books we pulled from the cave,Prophecies of The Morriganwritten in scrawling gold letters down the spine.
Mina and Mathilda laugh raucously, and an answering smile blooms on my face. But a small part of my heart aches when I spy the empty chair beside them. Lachlan gives my hand a gentle squeeze, no doubt seeing my face fall at the reminder.
“So how many books did she read before you convinced her to eat?” Mathilda asks, popping a grape into her mouth.
“Seven,” Lachlan retorts. “Which makes Tane the winner. Ye get to pick dinner tomorrow.”
My mouth drops open, and I reel back, offended. “You guys werebettingon me?”
“Yeah, and I’m mad at you!” Mina wrinkles her nose and pushes her plate away.
I place a hand on my chest. “You’re mad atme? Why?”
Mina rolls her eyes and dabs her lips with a napkin. “Because I bet you’d get through twenty, and now we’re stuck eating what Tane picks.”
Luna snorts, and all of us turn her way.
