No. It had to be Cleo.
Isla looked carefully at the book, though she could feel his eyes on her. Studying her reaction to this new information.
“What does the book say?” she asked through her teeth, willing her mind still. Willing herself not to give away a single thing.
Finally, Oro’s eyes left her face. And he began to read.
Two chimes later, Isla and Oro sat hunched over in the library, countless books and frustrated silence spread between them.
The book’s details had been scarce. It spoke of a heart containing pure, unfiltered Sunling, Wildling, and Nightshade ability. Energy greater than their own, the type of power that had only existed thousands of years before.
The heart is hidden until it blooms and becomes a part of Lightlark when it is needed most.That was the translation Oro had offered her.
By the time Isla stood again, her legs had cramped, and she was surprised to see light shining through the very bottom of Oro’s curtains. They had spent hours reading and weren’t any closer to the heart than before.
But Isla hadn’t lost hope.
In fact, she was more hopeful than she had been in a while.
“This is the key to finding it,” she told him, motioning to the books. “I know it is.” Oro offered a nod, but his eyes were more tired than ever.Purple rings and creased edges. When Isla had suggested they rest for a bit before meeting again, he had only refused once. Then, thankfully, he had relented.
Isla walked the halls, quiet as a specter, the castle opening up and dawn’s reddish fingers peeking through long, uncovered windows. She was far from Oro’s quarters. Far from her own.
Celeste appeared as soon as Isla walked into the room where Grim had hidden her. She looked exactly like she had every night that Isla had visited. Still as a statue. Floating peacefully.
Tears stung the corners of her eyes. From the beginning, Celeste had been intent on finding the bondbreaker—a plan to break their curses without killing another ruler. Without needing anyone else except for each other.
For so many weeks, Isla had hunted for it.
Though Celeste couldn’t hear her, Isla’s voice shook as she finally said, “You were right, Cel. About the hidden library.”
She grabbed her friend’s hands, knowing how excited she would be if she was awake. And that was when Isla noticed one of them was curled into a fist. As if she had been fighting, right before the poison had made her go still.
Not fighting,Isla thought, as she carefully pulled her friend’s fingers back.
Sending a message. To Isla.
There was something in Celeste’s fist, something she had managed to grab, to tell Isla who had done this to her. A clue. She finally fully pulled her friend’s pale hand open.
And the diamond ring she had given Azul fell to the floor.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
DIAMOND
Azul had poisoned Celeste. He wasn’t the jovial, haunted ruler who had charmed Isla with his music. He was a calculating ruler with a plan.
She remembered the conversation she had overheard, so many weeks before. Oro had been fighting with Azul over a strategy to end one of the realms. The king had assured Isla she was safe. She had assumed Azul had meant to destroy the Moonling realm.
Now she realized he must have been talking about Starling. Celeste. Worse—Isla hadn’t even told her friend about the overheard conversation. After her best friend had been paired with the Skyling, she should have at least warned herthen,but she had been too focused on Oro’s betrayal. On herself—always herself.
How had she not considered the possibility that Azul might be targeting Starling?
But why?
What was his plan?
So many questions, pieces that didn’t make sense. Every time she thought she knew something for certain, the truth shifted and scattered. But not for long.
