Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“There was a mystery here I couldn’t ignore,” he answered, his eyes finding mine. “Does he know you lie about your name?”

I shrugged, not at all surprised that he had figured it out. “I didn’t know you were the High King’s little brother,” I said rather than answering his question.

He pressed his lips together, expression drying. “I try to out-age him, but he won’t allow it. Very annoying. Did you not know that before? It isn’t something I try to hide.”

“There’s no information about Satarmore Irsch having a family. I mean, I know that he had parents, but not biological in the sense that you both, along with others, came here from another world.”

His eyebrows lifted in shock. “How did you know that?”

I gave him a knowing smile. “I know things. Not everything. Like the brother thing. I know that Penny, Aeron, a few members of their High Court, and a vampire all came from the same world that you did, and I know that Luke Brachius is said to be from that world too, but that one I can’t confirm.”

He smiled as if remembering something fondly. “Yes, he came with us. He was a big name in our world, and he didn’t want that here. He’s our father. He adopted all of us, actually. Everyone who came from our world.”

Oh, I wish I could have pulled out my journal without being too rude. “Did you all work together there? Didthe species intermingle?”

“All the time. Not all the vampires were kind, and there was no such thing as Fallen in our world, but yes, we were friends. We lived among the humans too, although they didn’t know we existed. It was more of a hidden world. We called it the Nascasto.”

Nascasto. My smile grew at the new information. “That is…that is fascinating,” I beamed. “Did you have High Kings? High Courts?”

His eyes were alight as if talking about his old life was something he loved to do. It made me want to sit down with him and talk for a few hours about his life. “Just Kings and Queens. It was messy a lot of the time, but good. I did have a question for you too if I may.”

My fingers itched for my pencil. “I don’t know anything about the Eye of Orion. I had very little research on it, I apologize.”

But Talaroe was already shaking his head. “It’s not about the Fallen, it’s about the warlocks.”

I straightened, my intrigue growing. “Oh, well, I do have a lot of information on them, but you’ve been here for over 200 years, shouldn’t you know enough about your own species by now? Why ask me?”

Amusement danced in his eyes. “It’s not for me, it’s actually about my brother.”

My eyes narrowed. “Your brother? I doubt I know more about him than you do.”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Cole knew more about him than I,” he replied. “I was simply wondering if you had ever met him. In person.”

I knew the answer instantly. “No, no, I wouldremember meeting someone like him. Why? Does he think I have?” I felt my heart flutter at the question. I had always wanted to meet him. Yes, I knew the rumors portrayed him as a grump and prankster, but his life wassointeresting. To sit down and speak with him would be a dream come true.

Much to my disappointment, however, Talaroe shook his head. “I was only curious.”

My shoulders fell as suspicion filled me, but I let it go. There was no need for my fanatics to get back to the High King of the Warlock Court. I didn’t need the attention of yet another royal on my shoulders. Maybe one day. Or maybe that’s just something I could write about in my fictional books.

“Cole brought something to my attention,” Talaroe went on and I watched as his eyes fell to my neck where the collar was hidden as thoroughly as I could manage.

I fought the urge to touch it, the familiar irritation touching me. “What did he tell you?” He shouldn’t have told Talaroe anything. Yes, I wanted it off, but it should have been my choice to divulge that information to someone like Talaroe.

“That it was put on by a powerful entity, my guess is his High King.”

I worked my jaw, making a note to stop discussing things with Cole. “Yes.”

“Why?”

I shrugged, trying to work through the irritation. “I don’t know,” I lied. “But I can’t get it off. Do you think your brother can? I know his magic is a powerful one.” I already knew the answer.

Talaroe nodded towards the collar. “May I?”

I glanced back to Cole and Madam Levine who were in the middle of gross flirtation. “Yeah,” I said on a sigh, and turned back to him. I carefully pulled away the collar of my hoodie and revealed the black chain to him.

Talaroe stepped up, touching it, inspecting it. “Hmm,” he pondered. “It’s cold.”

“It’s Trick Michael’s magic,” I muttered.