‘But what are we supposed todowith it?’ Dylan asked.
‘And how would this help us destroy the Wake?’ Nicole mused. ‘Is it a poison? Or is there some other clue in the painting and the blood is a marker to identifythisartwork?Then, by diving into its history, the answer can be revealed? Or do we simply need to know whose blood it is?’
Perhaps that would only be clear when they found the next two items.
But they had the painting right here … which meant the blood itself was the clue. And if Elisabetta didn’t know what it meant or what creature it was from, they needed someone who did.
Part of Nicole thrilled at the idea of learning more about all of this, but another wilted. More clues? Where were the answers? What was theplan?
Elisabetta didn’t seem to know, either.
Which meant their hopes rested with Verin.
‘Mum said there were three items,’ Nicole said instead. ‘A painting, an artefact, and “something of divine provenance”. Do you know anything about the others?’
‘Ah,sì. She had located the artefact but hid its information with another source.’
‘Who?’ Dylan asked.
‘She’s another artistic creature, a Muse featured in much of the Pre-Raph—’
An electronic alarm interrupted them that jarred Nicole’s instincts like a physical attack. Verin went to investigate a small, sleek screen in his bookshelves, which revealed a security system.
Everyone paused.
‘I’m going to need you four to get into the other wing immediately and not come out until I come and collect you,’ Verin said. ‘Elisabetta, you should be safe in your studio.’
Her father rose. ‘What’s happening?’
Verin’s lips lifted in a pained, bitter smile. ‘It seems the Wake have decided to pay me a visit.’
Nicole’s entire world shrank to the three people she loved most, the portrait of her mother, and the tiny vial of mysterious blood that could be the key to unravelling this entire conspiracy.
All laid out in this room like a damning collection for the Wake to steal in one cursed moment.
‘Where’s the Muse?’ Nicole asked Elisabetta.
‘She’s hidden in the city of the mythical Liver Bird.’
Mentally, Nicole flicked through her mother’s bestiaries until the answer scrawled across her mind like cursive, liquid gold.
Liverpool.
She launched for her sister’s hand and grabbed the portrait as Dylan grabbed the blood vial.
Then, knowing her father and brother would follow, Nicole sprinted from Verin’s blood library and the reeling immortal painter.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kyan
KYAN BROUGHT A FIST DOWN ON THEEXTRAVAGANT GOLDgates of the house’s porch as Callum finished parking his sports car.
‘I don’t know why you insist on driving things like that,’ he said over his shoulder.
‘That’s because you’re a bore who doesn’t appreciate beauty,’ Callum said, jogging smoothly up the steps.
Kyan immediately thought of Nicole and a small smile flickered across his mouth. He arched a look over his shoulder at the low-slung car’s dark silver exterior winking in the afternoon light, and snorted.
