Crescent (Book 1)

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"What was in the vault?" I mutter quietly around a swallow of biscuits at breakfast. I already know the answer, but I want to see if Ceth will lie to me. His answering smile is tight, and he glances down at me as if I'm a dog in need of a leash.

"You have nothing to worry about." He continues eating, the chatter around us loud enough that he doesn't even look to see if anyone overhears.

"Why aren't you leading the tour?" I try to tame my thoughts, but all I can think about is the feeling of the Wispling's cold hands creeping over my skin.

He runs a hand through his slicked-back streaks of blond hair, narrowing me a look. "I don't have time to hold your hand like a child."

I stare at him, hoping that the chatter is enough to hide our conversation. Forcing a bright smile, I reach across, patting his cheek though the gesture is anything but affectionate. "Regretting getting engaged already?" I smile at his annoyance, but the dark look on his face clears as his gaze sweeps past me. Thayer stands behind me, arms respectfully in front of him as he bows.

"Good morning," his kind eyes gleam in greeting, and being this close, the morning light makes his tattoos appear even more pronounced. A silver necklace hangs round his neck, the chain matching the piercings decorating his lobes. Ceth nods at him, and Gabriel chooses the opportune moment to appear. He, too, bows though his eyes hold mine far longer than they should. Amusement dances in them, and I hope they're met with the steel I aim through my own.

"Are we ready?" I insert quickly, gathering my skirts in my hands as I stand.

Ceth's eyes narrow slightly at the two males before he acknowledges me again. "The guards are already waiting. You know what to do." Something sharp rests in his eyes, and when he presses a searing kiss to my lips, I understand what he means. The door is already unlocked.

Thayer extends his arm toward me. "May I?"

Gabriel stands aside, and with Thayer's arm keeping me steady, I lead the way. The guards wait at the vault entry with a lantern in hand. The chill I felt before is gone, but I'm grateful for Thayer's easy chatter as I take the lantern.

My teeth grit together as we step inside, the lantern illuminating the spiraling path. The walk is the same as before, but the guards pause at the entry where the guardian wolves silently loom. I mirror Moira's movements from yesterday and let the statues breathe light into the room.

I've seen this room a thousand times before, I remind myself. Neither Thayer nor Gabriel speak as I begin the introduction I prepared for the occasion. It's a rambling effort- facts about rare jewels and the lengthy processes that go into cutting and restoring them. "Do either of you have a favorite gem?" I end and Thayer motions to Gabriel.

"Well brother?" he muses, turning about his spot in the room's center.

"Tell us about the lost Drakova Emeralds. It's always better when you tell the story." Gabriel's eyes find me. "Do you know it?"

I shake my head, looking to Thayer to finish the story. "Only bits and pieces."

"Like many things, the details are lost with time," Thayer begins, and I listen in fascination as he tells me of the emerald's journey on a ship from the rocky shores of the old world destined for the six realms. There was a horrible storm and the emeralds were lost in the ship's wreckage when it went down. Legend has it, a fateful explorer picked them up. Sold them- or traded them for sex or ale or other worldly pleasures- and they were lost once again. Now, by chance maybe, Ceth has them.

I guide the men toward the shelf Moira had shown me yesterday, pausing at the same case. "How do you know all of this?"

Thayer smiles again. "I was born in Innonia. My people are the great recorders of history. We study from a young age, and many of us have written the books or tomes you read today. Or, at least... We did- before the war."