Void Dancer by Amanda Meuwissen

Author:Amanda Meuwissen [Meuwissen, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64108-556-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2023-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“WHAT ARE you talking about? What happened?” Enzo demanded.

He’d only thrown on his trousers and undershirt, barefoot on the cool stone floor where minutes earlier he and Cullen had landed after a magical blink. Now, he’d burst out of his bedchamber to confront Vanek ahead of Cullen, who was under control, but Enzo didn’t fool himself into thinking that couldn’t change with the right catalyst.

Vanek stood beside the kitchen table and turned his attention from Enzo to behind him with a withering glare. Cullen had found his old clothes to change into, since the borrowed tunic and undershirt were singed and very likely stained on the bedchamber floor.

“Our message was delivered,” Vanek said plainly, “painted across the front of the castle behind the crumbled statue by our swiftest mages. The royal line must topple for the poor to stop suffering. And with it, we filled the courtyard with scrolls detailing all the wrongs done, all Tyraag and his peers hope to hide from view and pretend isn’t happening.

“Those scrolls were burned up by the swiftest wealthy mages at Tyraag’s command before anyone, including the visiting royals, could see them,” Vanek finished with a snarl. “Now he’s claiming our actions are by but a handful of dissenters. We need to escalate.”

“What?” Enzo dashed toward him with his own fists clenched. “No. I told you I would help you this once, but no more.”

“We are running out of time, Enzo. They might… be able to trace the device back to you.”

Enzo leaned back on his heels. “One of your riffraff was supposed to recover the orb while creating the message.”

“They did.” Vanek pulled it from his pocket, but he kept it close, not handing it over like he’d promised. “What we didn’t recover was the one I built and used before.”

“Vanek.”

“The destruction was too great! We weren’t able to get to it in time. When they began investigating what happened, they found it.”

Enzo felt a cold guilt-ridden chill flood over him, erasing all the good and hopeful shivers he’d felt only minutes prior. “You lied to me.”

“I neglected to mention that part.”

“Then you already knew you couldn’t cause another explosion without me?”

“Yes, I came looking for you last night because I needed the original Dragon’s Gland. Cullen interrupted my plans. But just my luck you offered it of your own free will this morning.”

“And now you are going to give it back,” Cullen growled, reminding Enzo of his presence.

“No, I’m not.”

Enzo spun, sensing where this might lead, and silently pleaded with Cullen, whose fists were as tightly clenched as either of theirs, but at least they hadn’t yet unfurled perilous shadows. He shook his head. As angry as he was with Vanek, he didn’t wish him harm, and he couldn’t risk Vanek seeing what Cullen was, or a mob of Ashen might show up at his door next, either to destroy the beast or foolishly try to recruit it.

Once he saw Cullen’s hands relax and an answering nod was given, Enzo turned back.

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