“Do you think Mia can find the Trove?” Azriel asked Christopher as they relaxed in the sitting room that separated their bedchambers, flames crackling in the hearth before them. The night had turned chill enough that they needed the fire, and Christopher , who’d always loved fall despite the pricks in the Autumn Court, savored the warmth.“I hope so,” Christopher hedged. He couldn’t stomach the thought of Mia putting herself in danger, but he understood her motivations entirely. If he’d had to pick between sending one of his brothers into danger or doing it himself, he would always—always—choose himself. Though he’d winced at every harsh word that had come out of Mia ’s mouth to Elain, he couldn’t fault the fear and love behind her decision. Could only admire that she had stepped up—if not for the good of the world, then to keep her sister safe.Azriel said, “Mia really should do a scrying.”Christopher gazed across the space between their two armchairs. They’d sat in them, before thi

Five days later, Christopher sat before the desk of the library’s high priestess and watched her enchanted pen move. He’d met Virgil a few times over the centuries—found she had a dry, wicked sense of humor and a soothing presence. He’d made a point not to stare at her hands, or at the face he’d only seen once, when Mor had brought her in so long ago. It had been so battered and bloody it hadn’t looked like a face at all.He had no idea how it had healed beneath the hood. If Madja had been able to save it in a way she hadn’t been able to save Virgil ’s hands. He supposed it didn’t matter what she looked like, not when she had accomplished and built so much with Rhys and Mor within this library. A sanctuary for females who’d endured such unspeakable horrors that he was always happy to carry out justice on their behalf.His mother had needed a place like this. But Rhys had established it long after she’d left this world. He wondered if Azriel’s mother had ever considered coming here, or

Without doing extra training between the stacks, Mia found herself less exhausted when she left the library. Christopher had retrieved her from Windhaven after two and a half hours, and she’d already been so bored sitting in Rhys’s mother’s house that she’d nearly smiled to see him. But Christopher ’s face had been tight, his eyes cold and distant, and he’d barely spoken to her when Rhys had appeared. Rhys had barely spoken to her, either, but that was to be expected. It was better if they didn’t speak at all.Yet Christopher hadn’t said more than “I’ll see you later” before leaving again with Rhys after the High Lord had brought them back to the House of Wind, his face still tight and angry.With the extra energy buzzing through her that night, wondering incessantly why Christopher had been so upset, Mia didn’t feel like eating in her room and falling asleep. So she found herself in the doorway of the dining room.Christopher was lounging in his chair, a glass of wine in his hand, st

Anna was taken out of the underground in silence to live in Christopher's mansion and resume the underground at night when she's well rested.Her room was beside Devon's room and well furnished, equally as his own, with luxurious closets large enough to open a boutique.Anna could not stop exclaiming and thought of exactly what was going on.It was the third day she was taking Christopher home after the night she passed out without seeing Christopher himself. She was left alone in the room, only to be taken care of by maids attending to her needs. She needs fresh air, at least, but at the same time, she is scared of breaking the rules.That morning, she had just showered up early and was creaming her body before Christopher walked into her half-nakedness.It was nothing to Christopher, as he has seen her that way several times, but the amusing part is the fact that Anna was covering her body and not throwing herself at him."Out of your clothes! Like right now, put it off." Christop

What she wants?Mia wasn’t naive. She knew very well that Christopher wouldn’t be able to get out of this mess without her. It seemed he had made the mistake of angering Arthur and at least, she was able to help him. Even if it meant giving up her own freedom.Why she was so nice to the same man who had abandoned her many times when she needed him but now she felt the urge to give herself up to help him… she didn’t know. But he was her brother and she felt somewhat responsible for him.“I… I want my brother safe,” she began to speak after a moment's pause. “I want him to leave alive. I want to see him leave alive and for your men to never go after him again.”“And in return, you’ll take my offer,” he mused. Mia nodded and the smirk on Arthur’s face widened.“That’s a deal,” he responded, his tone final. Mia felt a little bit of relief, even though her heart pounded in her chest.Then, his hand snaked up her arm and she gasped at how warm his palm was on her cool skin. Up her arm, to h