I expected the other Elves in the room to protest, but no one spoke out against Liam’s strong voice. They were all intimated by him.
Cameron couldn’t be half the leader Liam was if he tried. The Water chief could force my father to his hands and knees like a dog and parade him around the palace if he wanted to, that much was clear.
I think Cameron knew it, because he started to back off. “I understand she is grieving, but speaking out of turn to the Emperor is unacceptable!"
“Ava just lost her mentor after experiencing the loss of her Familiar and the loss of her bonded partner. That she’s holding herself together at all is a great feat of strength,” Liam demanded.
“And why should I care? It’s not my problem to solve,” Cameron whined.
“Then deal with the problems that are your responsibility, and let me take care of my own,” Liam replied. Ava’s sobs quieted as I heard Liam kneel beside her chair, taking her into his arms.
“Fine,” Cameron sneered. “Just get her out of my sight.”
Ava wept softly as her parents wheeled her out of the throne room. Oberi gave a longing whine as he watched her go.
I was glad Liam and Sophia left. I couldn’t face them— how could I, after I’d destroyed their daughter? I knew I’d have to speak to them eventually, but bearing the thought that I’d have to meet with Liam again after what I’d done…
I felt nothing but shame. I’d promised him I’d take care of her, and look at what I had done. He’d put his faith in me, accepted me into his family, and I’d failed. He never should’ve given me his blessing, because to do so was to let a wolf into his tribe, one that tore apart whatever it touched.
I nudged Oberi. “Go with her. She might not be able to hear you anymore, but she still needs you.”
As you wish. Oberi hurried off after Ava.
“My Associates will handle this investigation,” Cameron restated firmly. “As for the rest of you, you may return to your quarters, so long as no evidence arises pointing to your involvement. I don’t want to hear another word out of any of you.”
Takahashi led us into the hall. My father was a terrible Emperor. Any king with a spine wouldn’t have let us talk out of turn for that long without cutting out our tongues. Part of me wondered if Cameron enjoyed the altercation.
“He’s wasted everyone’s time!” Danny snarled. “All that time spent arguing when we could’ve been tracking Alistair. He’s got to be halfway across the city by now!”
“We don’t have to bother with Alistair anymore,” Marcus said. “As long as he’s not around us, he can’t funnel any more information back to the Warden. If he lives long enough to find a way past our shield and out of the city, he won’t survive in the Warden’s world, because Doctor Taurus will kill him once his usefulness runs out. He’s already done for.”
“If Cameron isn’t going to do his job, then we need to get the Demigod Guardians together and work outside the crown’s knowledge,” Takahashi suggested. “Follow me.”
I followed alongside Kallie, Marcus, and Danny as Takahashi led us to the palace library. My magic swirled upward several stories. I could feel the immense stacks of books lined in massive rows, interrupted only by spectacular arched columns.
“So this is where the Demigod Guardians have been spending their time,” Marcus noted.
We’d never been in the palace library, because we were usually out in the field and left the research to others. But here in the quiet amongst endless pages of books, I could understand how one might enjoy the peacefulness of the job.
“More or less,” Takahashi responded. “Come.”
He led us to a far corner of the library, until it seemed we were weaving through a maze of bookshelves. Takahashi bent to assess the titles.
“Are we doing research, Professor?” Kallie asked.
“Much more than that,” he said. “Ah, here we go.”
Something clicked as Takahashi triggered a secret passageway with the books. Air whooshed forward to fill a hallway that hadn’t been there a moment ago.
Marcus approached the passageway with wonder. “So the Demigod Guardians have continued working in secret.”
“Yes. I’ll explain along the way,” Takahashi said.
We entered the secret hall, and the hidden doorway closed behind us. Takahashi’s voice echoed off the stone walls. “What I’m about to show you is a hidden research room gifted to the Demigod Guardians by Emperor Cassiel. He wanted us to keep our records a secret in case things went south— both to hide our knowledge from the Warden, and from Cameron. He didn’t want his son doing anything rash with these records if he were to rise to power. We were only supposed to show this room to you as a last resort, but if Cameron isn’t helping us to defeat the Warden, then we have no choice. We call this place the Hidden Legends Archives.”
“Hidden Legends?” I repeated, feeling something stir within that told me the name meant something profound.
“Hidden Legends is the name the Demigod Guardians have given to your stories,” Takahashi explained. “The moniker refers to a collection of historical documents tied to our supernatural history— legendary tales hidden away from the rest of the world, if you will. The greatest stories belong to chosen ones, usually, talented supernaturals, or demigods with prophecies written about them. We’ve spent our time here in Ilamanthe compiling these stories, searching for clues within our history on how to beat the Warden.”
