Chapter 21 #3
“Her appetite for books is rather voracious.” Malachi tucked the three books he was holding against his side, close to the throwing knives sheathed near his ribs.
“Lack of television does that to her,” Chase put in with a shrug and a half-smile. “She likes escaping the world, and I think she needs that now more than ever. Morden even loaded up a tablet for her, downloading her favourite shows.”
Everyone but Morden stared at him as if he had sprouted another head.
Including myself.
Malachi looked at the books he held and before he could voice that theory I could see in his eyes—one that had crossed my mind too since we had several stone tablets on display in the library, ancient ones that held scriptures of powerful protective magic—I pieced together what the wolf really meant by that word.
“Is it similar to a television?” I had seen one such device in Saphira’s cabin back at her pack lands, and she had explained it was a television—a screen for watching pictures.
He nodded. “Similar, but smaller. Portable. It’s a digital screen that runs on batteries and can play television shows and movies.”
“Moving pictures with sound,” I explained. “Saphira had a rather less portable version in her cabin.”
She had switched it on and laughed gleefully at how I had reacted to the sudden noise and seeing tiny people moving on the screen.
“Exactly.” Chase smiled at me as if I was a wolf pup in school and he was the teacher, so I scowled at him to remind him that I was not a child, and was rather capable of crushing him with the strength of my magic if I decided not to hold it in check around him.
He cleared his throat. “With Morden moving between the pack and here, he’s been able to keep it charged for her.
But it seems she’s been hitting the books quite hard.
” The wolf flicked a look at Malachi. “Whatever the demon is supplying, it’s hitting the spot for her. ”
Malachi grunted, “I merely gift her with fae fairytales.”
I arched a brow at my spymaster. “That is quite the dark subject matter and perhaps not the best for her in her current state.”
“I picked the lighter ones… the ones that speak of the creatures of this land rather than the seelie and unseelie.” His horns grew, barely an inch but I noticed the sign of his aggression as he restlessly flexed his huge leathery black wings.
“She is quite interested in them, and I thought it might help her grow more comfortable in this court.”
Angling my head, I studied the spines of the books he held.
They were the gentler tales of this land, but I still worried that she was reading about such things after her ordeal and given how she feared the fae now, believing us all monsters.
I did not like the thought of her filling her head with tales that might paint us in such a light.
It would not do if Saphira returned to find her friend no better than when she left.
“Chase. Morden.” It was rather hard to call him by his name and not something else. “I require you to look into Saphira’s origins by speaking with the other members of your pack. I want to know how she came to be the daughter of a seelie king.”
Chase’s fair eyebrows dipped low. “This is what you were asking about after she left… back at the mansion. You thought I knew about this? I didn’t.
I swear it. I didn’t know anything about her being part seelie.
Even as beta, there were things I wasn’t privy to, and that included the Harper’s private lives. ”
“I am glad to hear that, because if I had discovered you knew about her origins—her blood—and kept it from her, I would have been most displeased.” I did not keep the malice from my voice, nor the darkness from my eyes as I held his gaze. “This will be of great importance to her. Do not fail me.”
Chase dipped his head. “You got it. We’ll find out what we can.”
“Malachi.” I turned to my spymaster. “I assume she is well?”
He nodded, and I felt as if I could finally breathe again.
“She is settled in the castle. It is not easy for me to keep watch on her, but I saw her in the town only a few days ago, with another female. I cannot get any closer to the castle than the orchards.” Malachi looked displeased by that, and ashamed.
“They have always warded it well.” I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Do what you can to keep watch over her.”
He nodded and pressed his hand to his chest. “You have my word. I will carry out your orders to the best of my ability and not fail you.”
“Thank you.” I squeezed his shoulder, palming it, letting him know that I was grateful to him and that I knew he risked his life by venturing so close to the castle for my sake.
For Saphira’s sake.
He felt honoured I had chosen him to watch over her.
I felt honoured I had such a male as a friend.
My hand slipped from his shoulder as I turned back towards Jenavyr and Riordan, snaring my sister’s attention as the vampire finally donned his jacket.
“Prepare the strategies.” I pivoted away from them. “I want to hear them when I return.”
“Where are you going?” Vyr called after me.
I summoned my shadows.
“The Winter Court.”