“This,” I say slowly, “is the edge of the king’s archives. This is not his archive, or the correct one anyway. I was there a couple of weeks ago when he summoned me and got a good look at the inside. What is on this map is not correct. It’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, though his face goes white as he registers my words.
“The map. It’s wrong.” I reach across the table, unfold the corner of the parchment, and point to the title. “Look at the title, here. It’s not just a numbered document. We misread it.”
A dark, unamused laugh escapes me. Iknewit meant something. I just didn’t know what it meant, but now I do. But how did I miss that before?
“It’s not a number. It’s a slash. Castle Alvonia one out of two. Meaning this map is the first one and we’re missing the other half—the rest of his archives. I’m willing to bet it’s what we need.”
42
“Are you sure?”Rydian grinds his teeth, anger palpable across his face.
“Yes, I’m sure. There are two maps.I know it. The other one must be for the passages in his archives. I can feel it. I know I’m right.” I pause for a moment, holding his gaze. “I think we should get it tonight.”
Considering I’ve already done it one other time by myself, I believe we could slip in and out without getting caught. He just doesn’t know that yet.
Rydian walks around the table, and I lean in on my hands, attempting to read his expression. His face twists with anger, mind whirling, as if he’s racking through every possible outcome.
“We can’t confirm that just based on your intuition. I know you’re eager to find your mother, but we can’t go in there based on a feeling,” he says.
“We have to at least try,” I press.
My mother is in that castle somewhere, I know it. And then we can leave for Aurelia—I can leave with him because I know he’s who I want.
“I’m not saying I don’t agree with you. I’m saying let’s wait until we can get Ren and Orin here to formulate a plan. We can break into the archives to see if we can find the other map in a few days. It’s too risky to do it by ourselves.”
“We can’t wait—we should do it tonight. Please.”
“No, we shouldn’t. Don’t be impulsive. We need to wait for the others,” he clips, though he’s not doing a good job of convincing me.
“If you don’t go with me, I’ll be going by myself. Either you join me or not at all, but I’m going tonight whether you like it or not,” I sneer, instantly regretting my words.
He straightens and lowers his brows, a dark shadow spilling across his face, reaching my side of the table. I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, but I couldn’t stop myself. Shame runs through me, and even though I realize my mistake, I stand my ground with a lift to my chin. A gasp slips from me when he grips my jaw, dragging me closer to him. Although firm, he doesn’t hurt me.
“You think you can threaten me, Isa?” He scans my face. “Do you think I’m going to allow you to leave? You’ve clearly misjudged my affection for you.”
I only chuckle at his words. “I’m going. Please don’t make me fight you—or beg you, as much as I’d love to right now.” I smirk, but he doesn’t take the bait.
His eyes remain fixed on me, sharp and unyielding, while the war inside him plays out across his face, as if struggling with his decision with a shake of his head.
“Please, don’t do that,” he whispers, his forehead resting against mine, stealing my breath.
“Do what?”
“Don’t force me to do this. Your safety comes first, and I can’t risk us going in there without a plan.”
“I’m not forcing you. I’m asking you to go with me. Please. It’s better if we do it together, wouldn’t you agree? We’ll dowhat we did last time, only now we know there are other wards there. We’ll be careful,” I whisper.
His expression shifts, brows drawing close together as he searches my face, flickering with something raw—fear, I realize.
It’s brief, barely there before he masks it, but I see it, and suddenly, Ifeelthe struggle he’s trying to hide. It’s stifling and raw, settling at the edge of my temples, filled with an emotion he forces himself to bury. He’s wrestling with the guilt and pain of losing me not once, buttwice.
The realization hits me hard as my chest tightens, my breathing suddenly impossible as his memories of the battle come flooding back to me. As easily as if I pulled them from him myself. My breathing stalls, images and emotions flying across my mind in a whirl.
I felt it then just as I do now.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I whisper, forcing him to look at me, his jaw tightening from restraint. “What happened at the battle wasn’t your fault. It was an impossible situation. But if we steal the map tonight, I’ll leave with you. For Aurelia. We can continue the search from Aurelia if it’s what you want because it’s what I want. I want that withyou.I want to be with you, no matter the cost.”
