Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“Does it matter?”

“He only says things he knows he can followthrough on.”

Great.

“So yes, it matters.”

I watched him carefully as I gripped the back of my chair. “What did he say before he abandoned you during both of those world-altering wars?”

Something flashed by Cole’s eyes before his walls went up. “I wasn’t alive during the Fall.”

“And the War of Ruin?”

“How do you know about that?” he countered, leaning over the table. “I thought you couldn’t find information about us.”

I glanced towards the cupboards under the sink. I had a single book there dedicated to the Fallen. One book, only half-filled. With a sigh, I turned back to him, wondering why he hadn’t been curious enough to at least read that one. “I have some information on your species, not a lot,” I reminded him. “I know he disappeared during those wars. Each for a duration of 10 years. If he means what he says, what did he say then?”

I needed to know it wasn’t true. I needed to know that he said things just to say things like every other person in this world. I needed to have a shred of hope that my life wasn’t going to end in a concrete prison, chained to the ground, being tortured and raped by that man.

I needed something.Anything.

“High Kings are allowed to keep secrets. You told me that.”

I worked my jaw, but the stiffness in his eyes was unwavering. Whatever he had told them, Cole wouldn’t reveal it now.

I straightened and shook my head. “He didn’t tell me anything of any substance,” I lied. “He wanted information and didn’t know how to ask nicely, so I gave it to him. I told him about the contract signed by Malaki. I reminded him that so long as Satarmore was still getting reports fromawitch living in Sarivos, he didn’t have to care about what the others did. It’s not his problem.”

Cole’s nostrils flared and then his brows pulled together. He leaned back in his chair, pondering over what I had said before finally shrugging. “He doesn’t do anything ‘nicely’. It shouldn’t have ended like that. Like,” he gestured to the collar he couldn’t see.

Luckily, my hoodies and shirts covered most of it, and with my hood up, it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye unless someone was looking for it.

“Have you tried getting it off yet?”

I slammed the door on the memory of what Mom had done and shook my head. “Nothing that comes to mind. How powerful is he?”

Cole sighed. “Powerful enough that no one will be able to get that off with their magic.”

I shrugged again, already planning on going to see Madam Levine about it. “Then I just have to figure out what the source of your magic dysfunction is and get close enough to that where his falters. Which leads me to one of my questions. Why is it that the witches magic worked yesterday and yours still has issues?”

“My guess is that they’re controlling it. Which makes sense. Trick is just too powerful to be affected by it.”

Which reenforces my theory of the witchesgoing after him.

“Your brother, Mark?”

My breath caught.

“How was he?”

I chewed on my lip, trying to come off as nonchalant, but it did shake me to my core that he now knew my brother’s name. Of no fault of his own, I suppose.

Cole leaned over the table. “He’s the one this is all for.”

Not a question.

I found his eyes again, pulling at my fingers. “Hmm-mm. He was…” I cleared my throat. “He was fine. He is fine,” I corrected.

Cole smiled softly. “Well good. Tell me about him. This man who has your heart.”