I climbed into the carriage after Irene and Darius and waited until we were out of Whitechapel before speaking. “Who the hell is Lord Rothbart?”
“I have no idea.” Darius took out his damn book. “But I’ll find out soon.”
“In the book?” I asked.
He skimmed through the pages. “This book can answer any question if you ask it in the correct way.”
“But how the hell… Leave it.” I pressed two fingers to my temples.
Darius would answer with a riddle, and I had no patience for it.
He stroked his chin, staring out of the window. “He feeds on people’s fear and pain.”
“I can’t believe this Lord Rothbart is Sean.” Irene shook her head.
“Extraordinary, isn’t it?” A maniacal light glinted in his gaze. “A sorcerer who feeds on fear and pain like the Algea, the three goddesses of suffering. I’m convinced his range of spells is limited.”
“Yet,” I said, “we’ve been searching for him for years and never found him.”
He resumed staring out of the window. “I need to gather more data. That’s all I have to say.”
43
CHALLENGE
Alex
When we returned to Raven Hall, the mansion was in turmoil. The servants were gathered in the entrance hall, talking over each other. The butler was shouting, ordering the maids and footmen to return to their work.
“What’s the meaning of this?” I advanced deeper into the room, and the chatter died down.
“Let me explain.” Graves swaggered his way towards me. “I was telling everyone that our duke is mentally unstable and, as the constitution of the Dark Court states, a mentally unstable duke should be deposed.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I strode past him, heading for the sweeping stairs.
He closed his hand around my arm with speed and strength. I recoiled and shrugged free, but a wave of nausea rose anyway. I shivered, forcing myself to stay calm. My skin burnt, and invisible claws ripped my chest apart.
He came close to me. “You’re sick. You don’t touch anyone and don’t want anyone to touch you not because you’re an eccentric duke, but because you’re deranged. Your fear cripples you. If I hadn’t been present that night at the hospital, Tanner would have fled. You didn’t chase him because there were too many people around you, and you were shivering and feeling sick.”
I clenched and unclenched my fists. He was right.
He pointed at Irene. “I’m sure that Irene was stabbed for the same reason. Your fear of being touched must have frozen you, and a thug stabbed her.”
“Is that true, Ravenhill?” Myrtha asked. “Did you fail to protect Irene because of a condition?”
Keeping my problem hidden was one thing, but lying was another.
“Yes, it is true,” I said as Irene said, “No, it isn’t.”
Myrtha shifted her gaze from Irene to me. “Ravenhill, Irene almost died because you have a condition we knew nothing about. Instead of telling me and asking for help, you stalked London with her, aware something like that could have happened. And I felt guilty all this time, thinking Irene’s incident had been my fault.”
Hell. I pressed my lips together.
“He’s a liability for all of us.” Graves spread his arms. “Is he the type of leader you want?”
“What is your point, Graves?” I focused on him. It was easier than focusing on Myrtha.
“I’m challenging you for the role of Duke of the Dark Court.” Graves gave a bow of his head.
