Page 155 of Weavingshaw
His grip on the diary did not loosen. “My father must’ve hidden its whereabouts, knowing such a secret would lead to his murder.” He flicked through the diary once more, before slamming shut the cover with force. “I wonder if he left instructions on how to track this object within the Avon diary? It must be read more carefully.”
“First we must find the antidote.” Leena leaned forward, drawing in her brows with determination crossing her face. “Then, if the red diary indeed has the map that will lead us to the Limitless Vessel, we will follow this map and release you from the demons.”
His gaze flashed to her at the wordwe.For a moment, looking at him—unable to look anywherebutat him—Leena began to understand the depth of his solitude. Of his loneliness. She remembered the way he had been back in Golborne, separated in his study, surrounded by those ledgers. All the while he’d been completely isolated, choked with his own secrets.
A hard realization shadowed his face.
“Leena—” He released a staggered breath at her name. “If this is all for the Limitless Vessel, that means that Hargreaves will send every man, every demon, every trader to hunt me for this diary.” His eyes swallowed every line on her face, the curve of her cheekbones, the shape of her lips, as if desperate to imprint them to memory.“You are not safe here. Should he get his hands on you, he will torture you, then kill you, to get to me.”
Then he averted his gaze, his voice turned detached, but the hand gripping the diary was still harsh and unyielding. “That means you must leave me. You must leave me immediately.” His throat moved.
“Leena Al-Sayer, I release you from your contract.”
