Chapter Twenty-Four
So, what does the book say?” Owen called from the kitchen the next morning as I sat on his couch, my legs folded under me. I had woken up feeling better, the terror of the nightmare already faded.
I was wearing one of Owen’s shirts with nothing underneath. It fell to my midthigh, and he kept giving me heated looks while making breakfast. He was shirtless, his jeans slung low on his hips, and I snuck glances at him as I flipped through Marion’s book.
I turned my attention to the page before me, blinking hard as the words swam out of focus. Were my glasses smudged?
Great. What other parts of my body would my magic change?
“This is interesting,” I said, setting my glasses aside. “She makes reference to a second book she wrote.”
“Oh? What’s it called?”
“Shadow Hunter.” I read the note then smiled. “It’s your grandparents’ story. How they met in 1963 and found your sword.”
Owen’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to read that.”
“Me, too. I wonder where it is. We didn’t find it at Charles’s house or in Marion’s donated items.”
A few minutes later, I found information on the third piece of the seal, the Emberstone.
“Listen to this,” I said, wandering into the kitchen.
“The third Druid was a warrior. He valued fury, cunning, and courage. Blasted skyward by the breaking of the seal, the third piece became a ‘falling star’ that landed in a molten crevice near a volcanic mountain. Over time, it was forged into a dagger by an ancient tribe who believed it to be a gift from the gods.”
Owen gave me an incredulous look. “Where are we going to find that?”
I pursed my lips while I thought. “I think what Sylvia said was true: It’ll find me. The Waterstone fell into a stream and was carried to the base of cliff. When we were on the Bruce Peninsula, the Waterstone Guardian found me. Let’s hope the same thing happens with the Emberstone Guardian.”
After a quick Google search on my phone, I felt even more certain. I looked up at Owen with a wide smile. “Care to take me to a gala?”
Owen raised his eyebrows.
“If the Guardian is going to find me, then I need to put myself in the vicinity of the shard. The Royal Ontario Museum right here in Toronto has just announced it’s acquired a large donation of ancient tribal weapons that will be on display in a few months.
I bet you anything that the dagger is a part of the collection. ”
“A few months? That’s too long to wait.”
“It is,” I agreed. “Which means we need to sneak into the rom’s storage rooms and find the dagger ourselves.”
Owen almost spewed his coffee. “What?!”
“There’s a fundraising gala this Saturday that includes a behind-the-scenes tour for guests. You and I will join the tour, hide in a closet, then sneak off to find the Emberstone when the coast is clear.”
Owen looked stunned.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re becoming quite the criminal mastermind.”
I blushed. “It’s a silly idea. It’ll never work.”
“Of course it will work, and of course I’ll be your date.”
“I’ll need a dress. Shae and I can go shopping,” I mused, just as Owen said, “We should visit the rom before the gala. Take notes of the layout, exits, and security. I’ll text Jace.”
With that settled, I felt a lot better. I continued flipping through the book, but when I reached the end, I noticed something I’d missed in the dark of Sylvia’s shop. My stomach fell. A page had been ripped out.
“Damn,” I muttered.
“What’s wrong?”
“The last page is missing, which probably means it’s important. And I bet I know who has it.”
“Guess I get to confront Sylvia after all,” Owen said, an eager gleam in his eyes.
However, when we arrived, Sylvia’s shop was not only closed, it was boarded up. A peek through the windows confirmed that the entire place had been cleared out. Not a single antique remained.
“Shit,” Owen cursed. “How do we get the page now?”
“I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it.”
“You’re right. I don’t like it.”
Owen glowered at Todd’s closed office door like he was about to enter a court-martial proceeding. I sighed. His expression was likely a good indication of how the next few minutes would play out.
“Are you sure we need that page?” he asked, looking particularly displeased as he stared at the PhD designation on Todd’s nameplate.
“Pretty sure. It might help us understand how Sylvia managed to acquire magical abilities. Maybe it will even give us a clue that will help us re-form the seal and save Charles. We need it.”
“Maybe Gran made a copy. We should check her house first.”
I rolled my eyes and gave him a look. “We already did that. What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
“Think of all the threatening looks you can give Todd. Maybe you’ll even have the chance to rough him up a bit if he gets out of line.”
Owen harrumphed. “Assuming he has the page, why do you think he’ll give it to us?”
“Good, old-fashioned blackmail.”
“You mentioned that, but I’m unclear on the details.”
“Do you always need details?”
“One hundred percent. How can I prepare if I don’t know everything beforehand?”
“Have you ever just winged something?”
“Winged something?” He looked horrified.
“Been spontaneous. You know what I mean.”
“I try to avoid it as a general rule, but I’m having a spontaneous idea right now. How about we go back to my place, get naked, and I’ll show you how spontaneous I can be. It would sure as hell beat what’s behind this door.”
He had a point. But despite the tempting suggestion, I wasn’t budging.
“Fine. I’ll follow your lead, Ms. Details Don’t Matter. How’s that for winging it?”
“I like it.” I smiled and stretched to give him a quick peck on the lips.
“That’s not a kiss, woman,” he growled at me. “After we’ve finished with this unpleasant business, I’m going to give you a real kiss.”
“Looking forward to it,” I whispered and quickly knocked before Owen could whisk me away. I knew that look in his eye.
The door opened a few seconds later, and Todd’s welcoming smile turned into a frown. The cut on his temple from when I’d thrown him against the tree was still swollen and bruised.
“What do you two thieves want?” he grumbled.
Well, at least that answered the question of whether Sylvia had told him about the book.
I crossed my arms. “We merely took back what was rightfully Marion’s. The book belongs to Owen’s family. Now, where’s the missing page?”
Todd sniffed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We don’t have time for games, Todd. Either give us the page, or Owen will search your office. And he won’t be gentle with your things.”
Normally, I would have felt guilty about threatening someone, but honestly, at this point, I was done. These were desperate times, and we needed to find Charles.
Todd’s eyes bugged out. “You can’t threaten me like that!”
I stepped toward him, my hands on my hips. “Don’t test me, Todd. I’m feeling particularly temperamental today, and I could choke you with a mere thought.”
Todd blanched. After a few desperate glances up and down the empty hallway, he mumbled, “Fine. We have the page, but it’s not here.”
He was lying. That look on his face was the same one he had given me every time he cheated. God, why had it taken me so long to see the truth? I saw it now, however, and we were not leaving until we got that page.
Unfortunately, using my magic was a last resort. It was dangerous and unpredictable and, as much as I disliked Todd, I didn’t want to kill him. Not much, anyway. Thankfully, I had another card up my sleeve.
“It is here, and you’re going to give it to us. Do you know why?”
He sneered, but Owen took a threatening step toward him, and Todd immediately schooled his face into a frown instead.
“Do you remember what you were up to in May, Todd? Well, I do because I have pictures.”
A look of horror crossed Todd’s face.
“I’m sure your colleagues would be quite interested to see you enacting a pagan rite in the dean’s private, locked garden.
Breaking and entering, Todd? What were you thinking?
” I tsked. “In fact—” I pursed my lips, pretending to think.
“—I’m pretty sure the university’s newspaper would love to print a story about this.
You dated the editor there, right? But you two had a falling-out, I recall.
Did you cheat on her, too? I bet she would love to get her hands on these photos. ”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Are you willing to take the risk? You have a lot to lose academically. Aren’t you up for tenure this year?”
Todd crossed his arms. “I don’t believe you. Prove it.”
Taking my phone from my purse, I showed him the photos I had prepared for this moment. Todd paled even more.
“Fine,” he gritted out. Todd marched across his office, then pulled open a cabinet door with such force I thought it would rip off the hinges. I heard a safe being unlocked, and then Todd flung the missing page at me.
“Get out,” he snarled.
I spun on my heel, but before Todd could slam the door on us, I paused and turned back, noticing for the first time his stooped shoulders and haggard appearance. Something wasn’t adding up.
“Why?” I asked, and Owen stilled beside me, his posture tensing.
“Why what?”
“Why pursue me only to cheat? Why lie to my face, even after I suspected? I don’t care. Truly. I’m over it. But it doesn’t make sense. We hardly knew one another, and you clearly didn’t love me. So why lie to keep me?”
He was quiet while he studied me, and I almost thought he would give me a real answer, but then he shrugged. “Because I could.”
Even though I suspected there was more to it than that, those three words released me from the last of my guilt.
Because he could.
Because he was selfish and egotistical and he lacked character. He’d made the choice to leave when it was hard to love. It had never been my fault. His betrayal was a reflection not of my worth but of his own emptiness.
I walked out of the office, and out of his life, feeling freer than I had in a long time. Free in a way that felt wild and unfamiliar, like breathing fresh air after years of living underground.