Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
I won’t do that to her, I tell Misha through our minds. Not here. Not now.
“Whatever the reason,” Brie says, “I choose to consider it a gift. Because we removed the ring, Jas is awake and well.”
“You never explained how my phoenix plays into all this,” Jasalyn says, shocking everyone in the room by speaking for the first time.
I wonder if they forgot she was here or if they thought they could continue to speak about her without her saying a word. Given how quiet and hidden she’s kept herself the last few years, probably the latter.
Abriella clears her throat. “We think your phoenix is the fourth element of his plan,” she says. “Although Mordeus wouldn’t have known or understood it when he put this into motion, the gift of the phoenix is the gift of resurrection. Through your gift and by taking over the immortal life you traded, he can rise from the ash.” Abriella holds her sister’s gaze for a long time before letting out a breath. “I believe that’s what the seers mean when they say, ‘Claim the princess and control the court.’”
The room goes too quiet, but I have to give Jas credit. She keeps her chin up.
My brother clears his throat. “Additionally, there are questions regarding Felicity and the Seven,” he says. I knew we’d be talking about the Seven in this meeting, but I didn’t realize I would be part of the conversation. “We all agreed that Erith and the future of Elora could wait until after Mordeus is dealt with and the shadow court is stable. However, now that we know Erith is integral to Mordeus’s plans, we can’t ignore how he plays into this.
“When Erith’s people snatched her from Misha’s dungeons, nearly everyone expected that was the end for her.” He meets Misha’s gaze for a beat, and I can almost feel their common bond over being two, if not the only two, who refused to believe I’d been killed. “We’re grateful they didn’t kill her, but we need to think about why. They kept Felicity alive for a reason. If we want to both protect her and know how Erith’s plans connect with Mordeus’s, we need more information.”
Hale leans back in his chair, his chest expanding as he draws in a deep breath. “Which is why it’s time for me to go back to Elora and return to the oracle.”
Remme straightens in his chair. “With everything happening, you shouldn’t be in Elora. You’re more vulnerable to the Seven there.”
“I can go,” I say. “I’ve been before. I know how to do it.”
My brother’s gaze softens when he looks to me, and the regret I see there slices into my heart.
Have you two talked yet? Misha asks in my mind.
No. I avoided all of them this morning.
“I appreciate the offer, Lis,” Hale says, “but if you want to help, I have something else I need you to do. We need you to go to the Eloran Palace.”
My stomach sinks. “I already told you, I can’t—”
“I’m not sending you to kill Erith,” he says. “In fact, all of our intelligence tells us he’s been away from the palace for almost a year.” He looks to Jas. He doesn’t have to say it for us all to understand the significance of the timeline. He’s been missing from the palace since Jasalyn got her ring. “We need you to get us any information you can.”
“Everything that happens in the Eloran Palace is recorded in the Chronicles,” Natan says. “For a group that has destroyed as many ancient texts as they have, they sure are diligent about maintaining their own histories, and the beauty of the Chronicles is that it’s fueled by truth magic. There’s no way to cheat history there.”
My gaze bounces between Abriella, Hale, and Natan, then back. “The only people who can access the Chronicles are—”
“The Seven,” Hale says with a nod. “Or in your case, someone who has taken on their form completely.”
I swallow. I said I would help. Now isn’t the time for cowardice. “Whose form will you have me take and how will we make sure we aren’t both seen while I’m there?”
Misha holds up a finger and then pulls a small envelope from his pocket. “This hair belongs to Sol. She’s—”
“Second only to Erith. I know.”
“She’s been trying to get a private meeting with me for months. Something about the future of Elora and my court.” He places the envelope on the table and slides it toward me. “I got this at our preliminary meeting. If you choose to take her form, I will call her to Castle Craige. That way you don’t have to worry about two of you being spotted at the palace at the same time.”
I stare at the envelope. I’ve been avoiding the palace for so long. Going there now feels like walking right into the belly of the beast.