Chapter 16 #2
He obviously thought it was valuable enough to lure me to my doom. Joke’s on him because now I’m going to steal it to spite the fucker.
I step forward so I can get a closer look.
The book is bound by a belt of black, hooked in place by an argent saber longer than my finger, blunted at the tip. A saber my eyes narrow on.
I’m sure I’ve seen teeth like that before …
My gaze is drawn to the cover, made from something that reminds me of the stretched membrane of a dragon’s wing. Such a distinct shade of silver it threatens to shake me up from the inside out.
I’m quick to shift my attention to the black belt wrapped around the book’s middle. Constructed from a material similar to what was used to make the cover, but beyond the leathery texture, I see …
Stars.
Thousands of them. Distant.
Winking.
Something gloomy soars through the eerie expanse, and I frown, squinting to make out its shape. When I blink, it’s gone, making me wonder if I’m going mad.
“What is this thing?”
“The Book of Voyd,” Roan blurts. “See, I told those rusty old Tri-Council crones I didn’t steal it! They didn’t believe me.”
“Wait … the Book of Voyd? The one believed to be written by the God of Aether? The book—” I swallow my next words quicker than a shot of hard spirits.
The book Essi often spoke of. Wished she could set her eyes on and never did.
“The book every documented rune was derived from? Yes. I was caught in there trying to read it. It disappeared before one of the Wardens came across me and almost imploded my lungs.”
“Then what?” I look at him. “Sentenced you to death?”
His cheeks redden. “Correct.” He tries to straighten his wonky spectacles again—unsuccessfully.
“The Tri-Council didn’t take well to me announcing to the entire sentencing assembly that I believe the arches protect against moonfalls, etched in runes that haven’t been shown to the rest of the world.
” He pauses, gaze shifting to the book, back again.
“Runes I believe are somewhere in those very pages.”
“Ah.”
Suddenly, everything makes a lot more sense.
I turn to the book again …
Way I see it, the Tri-Council has abused their privileges. Something that wholly justifies me removing this very special, very powerful artifact from their premises. For good.
I reach for it—
“What are you doing?” Kaan growls, his voice a rockslide stuffing the chamber so full I freeze.
My gaze flicks in his direction. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Stealing the Book of Voyd from this ancient protective chamber, making an instant enemy of the Tri-Council.”
“Correct, yes. The Tri-Council can eat spangle shit for all I care.”
His silence tells me he appreciates neither my snark nor my thieving antics.
I sigh, dashing a hand at Roan. “He’s already been ‘assassinated’ for this very crime. Technically, the book’s free game, and it could help protect your folk against the impending moonfalls. Let’s not waste time mourning my withered moral aptitude.”
The look I receive is dryer than the Boltanic Plains, time stretching before Kaan fills his chest and blows out a sigh. “You’re right.”
I gape at him. “I’m what?”
“Right.”
“Louder this time. And with more gusto.”
His responding glower almost makes me laugh despite our shitty predicament.
“Be quick about it,” he grits out, jutting his chin forward. “Before somebody catches us.”
I throw him an exaggerated bow, spinning to grab—
“WAIT!” Roan yells, barely refraining from leaping over the threshold into the room with me. “You might faint if you touch it with your bare hands. Or … worse.”
Kaan and Pyrok both glare daggers at him, the former growling a taut “Explain.”
“It’s not a normal book,” Roan continues, pushing his glasses up his nose. “It’s said to grapple with anyone who picks it up.”
Sounds fun, just maybe not right now.
“Sometimes to the death,” he tacks on, and my brows bump up.
“There are stories of past Tri-Council members disappearing from this very chamber, leaving nothing behind but splats of blood. Once, a Mindweft endured the book for a long while, but eventually became so troubled she had to be cut loose. I hear they’ve only recently found someone who appears to be able to come and go without going mad or getting slaughtered. So far.”
Wow. The Fate Herder was absolutely trying to get me killed again.
Prick.
Wish I had it in me to skin the asshole next time he prowls into my personal space. Turn him into a pretty silver rug or an end-of-pallet throw.
“Alright, well. Worst-case scenario, I get mauled to death by the book. Good to know.”
Silence hungers as I pull a blade to strip the hem off my black cloak, using it to protect my hands and lift the book off the plinth—ice cold despite the thick buffer of material. Like I just plucked it from a nest amongst the stars.
My heart labors, a tightness in my chest almost pulling me in on myself.
I tip the book, checking it’s still in one piece before I gently bundle it within the material. “Now what?”
“You get the fuck out of there.” Kaan’s volcanic eyes burn, his entire body trembling, hands fisted at his sides. “Now.”