Crown of Flames by Erica Marie Hogan

Author:Erica Marie Hogan [Hogan, Erica Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950051861
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-06-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Quintaria

The streets of Quintaria had never been so quiet. Maxx held tight to Noelle’s hand as he navigated their way down the back streets toward Clea’s mansion. Word had spread quickly when Clea closed up the place, boarding the windows and securely locking every door for her indefinite journey to Molderëin. His sister’s house would be the perfect place for him to hide with Noelle and the Eventide Sisters until they worked out where Adlae had gone. The entire household had left with Clea, so there was no chance their presence would be revealed to the city if they broke in.

Noelle peeked at him from beneath the hood of her cloak, a mischievous smile playing across her lips. Maxx returned her sweet grin with a wink, pushing away his inability to ignore how much she’d already grown. She was as tall as Gwylan now—though considering the Eventide Sister herself was small, that wasn’t saying too much—and her hair had grown as well. Long, sleek strands of red, loudly proclaiming her Sundragon heritage. She was beginning to look like a woman, the baby roundness of her cheeks fading to more mature, sculpted lines. In a matter of days, she’d grown from a babe of four to a young woman of sixteen. Thinking about how she’d changed made his head spin—looking at her made his heart stop.

Will Brecken even believe she is his daughter? Maxx shoved the thought aside, bounding across the street with his little band of women close on his heels.

“You are certain no one belonging to the house remains?” Symber hissed once in front of Clea’s door. “Eventide Sisters in Quintaria are unheard of. If we were to be discovered, they would swarm us and innocently bring every soldier wearing Kael colors to our doors.”

“Those under my sister’s employ and protection are fiercely loyal to her. They would have all followed her to the ends of the Nfaros Sea if she asked them.”

Maxx wrapped his hand tight with a handkerchief, moving away from the door to the window. Grunting and tugging, he tore the boards away, leaving just enough space for him to climb through. Checking over his shoulder for late-night stragglers, he took a breath and punched his hand through the glass. Once the latch was lifted, he climbed through, boots crunching shards of glass as he strode to the door. The women tumbled inside before he’d even opened the door halfway, Gwylan with a firm arm around Noelle’s shoulders to keep her near.

He bolted the door quickly before turning to face them, watching Ellia and Symber move hastily around the house, whispering words he didn’t understand. They held out their hands, fingertips glowing briefly before they’d move on to another part of the house.

“They’re casting protection spells,” Gwylan explained quietly. “This magic is subtle enough so as not to be sensed by Raphaela Kael.”

Maxx nodded slowly. “I will start the search for Adlae tomorrow. You truly believe she is still somewhere in Quintaria?”

“No, I am sure of nothing.

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