Page 58 of The Lies We Conjure
“Yes, yes, broken ankles,” Hector says with a laugh that seems strong enough to be forced before gesturing with a flat hand toward the depiction of Mercy’s Point. “But any of us would have eventually come to the conclusion to check the chapel.”
“Wait, no, look more closely,” Lavinia says, and circles the top of the mountain with her own finger. “The outdoor chapel isn’t designated, only the summit of Mercy’s Point. Sure, any of us maybe would’ve gotten there eventually, but we’d work faster with Hegemony knowledge.”
The elder Blackgate glances up at me as she says this, and I realize she’s not wearing makeup today, no intricate styling to straight dark hair, no telltale magic spell to perfect things a la Winter, just long-lashed eyes and creamy skin. Faintly, in the back of my mind I’m suddenly in agreement with the Winter of last night—not just eye makeup but all makeup should be illegal on Lavinia Blackgate if this is what’s underneath.
“She’s right,” Infinity says, and I blink away from Lavinia and my thoughts. “We need teams. Our next priority should be to identify likely locations and split up with a Hegemony in each group as a grounds expert.”
“Yes, that’s it,” Luna cheers, emphatic. “My grandbaby with the methodical plan.”
The rest of us agree it’s the way to go. There’s some shuffling, and as I snap a picture and stow away this clue, I realize something.
“Winter?” I ask. “Can you find us a map with Shadrack’s original plot delineated? If he wrote the clues, I think it’s best to start within the bounds of the estate he owned. The relics could’ve been moved by another High Sorcerer, but I think it might be the way to start.”
“On it.” Winter sweeps around the desk and back to the map portion of the bookshelves. As she does, Evander seems to notice I’ve safely removed the clue from the workplace and draws out his key, pulling it over his head and walking over to Ursula’s safe.
“Evander, what are you doing?” Hector asks, in a voice a little too rushed and a little too loud. The tonal difference is enough that the whole room takes immediate notice—even his kids flinch before going stock-still.
Confused, my cousin looks up from the newly opened safe to Hector, following the man’s dark eyes to the master relic held tightly in his own hand. “I’m putting the relic away.”
“You can’t do that.”
The hollow certainty settles in my brain that another fissure in our unusual, unbreakable family has just clawed its way to the surface.
Evander narrows his eyes at Hector’s rare but effusive stiff-arm. “We don’t want anything to happen to it. It’ll be safe here.”
“You can’t do that because we still haven’t determined it’s yours.” Standing around the desk, Hector is close enough that he puts what he appears to think is a comforting palm on Lavinia’s shoulder. But even I can see her stiffen from several feet away. “Morgana is the originator of the Death Line. The chance to hold these master relics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—no, once in half a millennium. We need to ensure each family holds the correct one for their line. Moreover, it’s one of Ursula’s rules—”
“The rule,”Evander cuts in, “is that a master relic shouldn’t be taken from the rightful line. I haven’t taken it from anyone.”
Hector tosses up a pair of placating palms—and Lavinia immediately rolls her shoulder away. “I understand that, but I feel it’s necessary to have a discussion about the fact that the Breath ofMorgana might actually belong to the Death Line and the Blackgates.”
Evander swallows a scoff, though he can’t hide the way his big paw tightens around the chain.
“It’s the Elemental relic. We all immediately agreed the clue was Elemental in nature, just like we all immediately recognized this clue to be Celestial.” He gestures around the study, noting how all of us turned to the Starwoods like sunflowers to the dawn. “Our instincts as witches count for something.”
“There’s not even anything in the clue that confirms this relic is Elemental save for the word ‘breath,’” Hector points out, “which might be a coincidence. I think—”
“Hector, we appreciate your concern, but this is not our master.”
The entire room swivels toward Lavinia.
“How do you know?” Hector asks. “Do you know what your master is? Or where we can find it?”
“No, of course not.” She gives a little shrug. “But I think Evander is right—we all believed this is the Elemental master, and despite its connection to Morgana, I’m not interested in spending any more time arguing about it. We have less than forty hours to find three more. I want to focus on that.”
Honestly, though I know this isn’t the Lavinia Blackgate of my childhood—the one who always had to be right, the best, the smartest, the one who would never back away from anything she decided was hers—I appreciate the focus on the bigger picture.
Yet, her mature attitude seems to embolden the Cerise patriarch further.
Hector is still smiling as he continues to argue but there’s something dark about it, like the roll of thunder on a sunlit morning. “Why aren’t you more concerned that a Hegemony could have your relic, Miss Blackgate? If I were you, I’d be damn suspicious that the Hegemonys were holding the seat of your powers and concerned they won’t relinquish it when a more appropriate master comes to light. Isn’t it worth ensuring the wrong person isn’t in control ofyourrelic?”
“He’s not—”
“I’m not—”
Lavinia and Evander speak at once. My cousin backs down, letting Lavinia have the floor. “The master is yours, Evander. As far as the Blackgates are concerned, it’s the Elemental master relic and we cede it to you.”
“Yeah, ceded,” Kaysa agrees with a stout nod.
