Page 11 of The Seeker

“Collum.” My voice contained a note of warning.

“It’s for me,” she promised, though her gaze still rested on Friar. “I’m not reading to the servants anymore. I promise.”

I still didn’t believe her, even as my empathy gift revealed she was telling the truth. Regardless, I didn’t want to discuss that now and instead launched into the real reason I’d come to see her. “I need to know what books they have here.”

She arched one of her blonde brows, her blue eyes sparkling. “Finally wanting to get your hands on more magic, I see?” she teased, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Although I would never wish illness on anyone, I had hoped it would lead my cousin to change. So far, it wasn’t looking promising if all my cousin thought of was still how much magic she could attain. I played into her suggestion, knowing it would get me further than my true purpose for wanting to know what books were available. “Things are bad at the front; I need to know what tools we have at our disposal.”

Collum’s eyes flickered to Friar, and I knew I wasn’t privy to information both of them shared. “I didn’t realize you were on Malheim’s side.”

“I’m not.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m on my own side. I need to know what tools are available.”

Collum frowned and moved toward her bed. “You’re married to a Viscount, Runa. You made it, just relax for now and we will let you know when there is something you can do.”

It was my turn to look at Friar. “I don’t have much time. I don’t care what you and Friar are planning.” She opened her mouth to cut me off, but I held up my hand. “If I am still here when you need help, I will help. But until then, I’ve got to work on my own thing. Now tell me what you read to Hansen before you were sick.”

Collum didn’t look at Friar this time, fidgeting with her hands in her lap instead. “I came here sick, Runa. I never read to Hansen. And with everything that happened with you and Leif and . . . Well, I’m not sure Leif knows I’m here.” She looked to Friar again, who motioned for her to continue with a dip of her chin. “That’s part of our plan—keeping me out of sight. You know Leif and I don’t see eye to eye.”

It was true. All they’d done was argue while I’d been imprisoned in Ralheim.

“But I do know Leif stole most of what Hansen has from Adis so . . . you can assume.”

I shook my head. “Leif’s a seeker, Collum.”

There was a gasp from Friar at my admittance, but I kept my gaze on my cousin. There was no shock in her reaction.

“You knew,” I accused.

“Yes,” she admitted with a puff of air. “I learned that when we were all still with Adis—from the coven.”

My eyebrows arched. During my imprisonment in Ralheim I’d learned my cousin had been far more involved in the Seid coven than I’d known. While we’d all attended the monthly meetings when we were young, my parents had stopped taking Milo and me several years before the Purge, when we’d just barely entered our school years. They’d said something felt off. And since the meetings were merely meant to help the Seid feel as if they were less alone, or so young me thought, my parents thought it safer to stop attending.

And they’d been right.

Adis had used the coven meetings to find his first targets. Two of which were Collum’s parents.

The memories burned, and I walked to the wall, leaning my forehead against it, trying to ground myself. So much time had passed, but I still felt like I was in the same place, trapped with a cousin I couldn’t trust. “Collum, why don’t you trust me?”

My cousin was silent.

I spun around.

“You’re too young, Runa.”

Those words reignited the flame in my gut. “I’m too young?!” I screeched, stomping back over to my cousin as I yanked up my sleeve. “I’m not too young to be taken from my home and forced into military service. I’m not too young to be forcibly bonded to a male I can’t stand. And I’m not too young to be branded not once, but twice, by people who have ulterior motives.” I panted, the force of my voice stealing my air, but I didn’t stop. “I was under the bed with you that day, Collum, watching my parents’ blood spread across the floor. I haven’t been young in a fucking decade, and it’s time you stop treating me like I’m a child.” The last word was a whisper, and tears spilled from the corner of my eyes. I’d forgotten how I’d sworn not to be underestimated again, and here we were. And I was done.

“I’m sorry, Runa.”

Collum’s words did little to halt my anger, but I did appreciate the apology. I raised an eyebrow at her, waiting for the explanation.

“I just . . . I forget. I came to your family when you were young, Runa. I was like your second mother. But you’re right; I need to trust you.” Collum sighed, suddenly looking so much older than her thirty-five years.

My gaze moved to Friar, who was leaning her back against the stone wall, observing. I doubted my outburst would convince her to bring me into her plans, but I held out hope.

“Well, Astrid and I originally met in the Westwood’s coven and⁠—”

I cut her off. “I already know that, and I know Signa.” I inclined my head toward Friar. “We went and spoke to her the same day you arrived here.” Signa was the leader of the Westwood’s coven. Though she had only just taken over in the last ten years—sometime after my family had stopped attending. I couldn’t remember who had been the leader when I was a child.

“Oh.” Collum paled.