‘Yes, I’m sure she does.’Blaire rolls her eyes, oddly similar to how Lachlan does it.‘The misalignment of siblings is a hard thing to bear.’
‘You’re not getting it.Is this why you came?’
‘I was asked to come.’
‘By Lachlan to meet with my boss.He’s the one who wants to see you.’
‘I have no intention of meeting with Riley Harker,’ she tells him, fingers flexing gracefully by her side.‘He was Céliane’s pet project, not mine.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘You were my interest, darling.You and your beautiful sister.Besides, what Riley seeks to find is not in there.The book is of no use to him.’She extends her hand, palm covered with faded tattoos, aneyeright in the centre and rings on every finger, more than one.
Kade shifts his stance.‘You want it, come and get it.’
‘Still vying for a fight,’ she comments offhand, coming closer.‘The mind reclothes but the muscles remember, don’t they?Eight swords in earth till eight bells clear.’The air seems to vibrate just slightly.Kade feels static building, a denseclickingin his ears.‘Despite the warning I gave him, I doubt that Lachlan read his page fully.He was never one for poetry.This book is a powerful artefact.I cannot allow misuse.’
‘There won’t be any misuse.It’s Lee’s book.You stole it from her.’
‘And she from Penhalyx and he from another.It has been stolen time and again for centuries.’
‘Then I’m keeping up a grand tradition,’ Kade says with a sarcastic smile.
‘I was called here by Riley.Did he really not consider I would try to take the book back?’Blaire cocks her head consideringly.‘Or perhaps he is more like my sister than I thought.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Perhaps he intended to offer me the book in exchange for information.’
‘He wouldn’t do that.’
‘What about you, darling Julian?Doyounot want information?You always did so despise having things kept from you.’
‘I trust my boss to tell me the truth.’
‘Yourboss,’she echoes with disdain, ‘is hiding a great many things from you and some things he has no way of revealing even if he wished to.’
‘You mean his… curse?’
Her green eyes sparkle, watching him closely.‘If you have questions Riley Harker cannot answer, I will consider that fair exchange for the safe return of my book.’
Kade looks around, clocking location.They’re not close enough to the Tower to be seen but he has his earpiece in his pocket.He could—
‘Yes or no, Julian?We may trade if you wish but decide quickly.My patience, despite the love I still hold for you, has thinned these last few days.’
‘You’ll let me ask something in exchange for the book?’
‘I will explain whatever you ask, yes.’
Kade thinks fast, decides to stall for now.
‘Fine.Tell me about Riley’s curse.’
She begins to slowly circle.Kade mirrors it.
The leafy mulch beneath their boots crunches pleasantly.
‘It is calledLe Nœud Mortel.’
