A Love From A Different World

Chapter 69

They collapsed in the foyer of the manor, the rest of the Inner Circle looking wide-eyed at them.

They really were like puppies.

"Did you get it?" Mor asked, peeking from behind Cassian.

Amren snapped her fingers and was instantly clean of the sand and sea water. Aelin got up with the rest of them, her eyes unconsciously finding Azriel immediately. And found his hazel orbs already locked on hers.

Amren took out the metal box in which the book was in and waved it, a predatory grin on her face. She carelessly threw it on a table.

Aelin tried to breath. In and out. It was difficult to focus, because for some unclear reason, Aelin felt drawn to it. It was more than just because she needed it to get back home- Aelin felt an unexplainable urge to touch the book, to unlock the box, to speak to it.

The assassin needed to leave. Leave immediately before she did something rash, like steal it right then and there. She was able to take down Cassian, yes, but she had weapons and the advantage of surprise over her opponent. Attacking all five of them, in their own city with no means of escaping, was nothing short of stupidity. Not to mention that she had no idea how the book even worked, and the fact that she still required the other half. Better wait for Rhysand and his cadre to get it from the Mortal Queens before acting.

Still, Aelin needed to be away from it lest it influenced her to do something regrettable. So she walked away, noting how Amren's preening eyes stared at her as she did.

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Mor felt uneasy. It was not the fact that they had just made an enemy of the Summer Court, or that Hybern was breathing down their necks. Nor was it the fact that they had half of the very weapon that could nullify the Caudron. No, Mor felt uneasy because of Celeana.

The clever, witty, stunning human terrified her. It had terrified her since she first laid eyes on the beauty. Mor knew she was as untrusting as they came, and Mother, the girl did absolutely everything to make herself look suspicious. There was no doubt about it, even if Rhysand refused to say a word. She had sensed that something was amiss in her cousin when he and Celeana had returned from the Bone Carver. Though he had said nothing, Mor knew that whatever the girl had offered up revealed the ugly truth that Rhys had tried to bury. Revealed the unfortunate truth that Celeana was working against them. Mor knew. And damn Rhys for doing nothing. Damn Azriel, the spymaster, for saying nothing as well. And damn herself too, for despite everything, Mor understood her family because she too felt the strange urge to protect the female. Not the way Az and Rhys did, of course, but in a way a sister might to protect a younger sibling. It was no doubt her knowledge that the girl had been tortured for years, the fact that when Celaeana had appeared in the foyer, for a second, Mor had almost believed that she was looking at herself. Mor had frozen, unable to move, to breath as she had laid eyes on the body on the floor. As she took in the scarred tissue, the nakedness, the blond hair. It terrified her. Half a second later she came to her sense, unimaginable grief threatened to choke her as she had approached the girl.

That had been weeks ago, and though she knew that Celeana had countless secrets- and whether she was a spy was yet to be confirmed- Mor wanted to protect the girl. The Third knew that her emotions could comprise her duty and decided to stay away from the strange human. She had just wished that Azriel and Rhysand had done the same.

It was already worrisome that her High Lord and his Spymaster were both enthralled by Celeana, Mor could not risk adding herself to the bundle. She had been grateful that Cassian had kept his head straight. And Amren. Though the blond was more skeptical of the latter.

The small female was talking to the box, asking for permission to open. Thought it was quick, Mor had seen the look Amren threw Celeana as she had walked away. That looked frightened her. Mor prayed to whatever gods that were still listening that that look did not mean what she thought it did.