Page 125 of Ravenous

Still nothing. Co?tin hadn’t returned in days, not since he’d lost Neculain’s favor for failing to find Emilia. Rumor held that the prince spent most of his time outside the kingdom.

She checked the bathing chamber. Empty.

Good.

She moved to the safe, pulse spiking. She knelt before it and examined thesmall sigil in the middle of the door. A golden needle with a small basin awaited an offering of blood. The gateway to his secrets.

Nadje unstoppered the vial and shook out a few viscous drops into the basin.

Nothing.

She grimaced. So help her, if this didn’t work because she’d waited for Inkletter…

She spat into the vial and shook it until the sludge loosened. Would Co?tin’s essence still be strong enough to activate the sigil?

Holding her breath, she poured.

Heartbeat.

Heartbeat.

Heartbeat.Too much spit, not enough blood. The story of my life.

Click.The sound was small and enormous at once.

She exhaled a shaky laugh as the door swung open. Inside: no jewels, no documents—only a battered leather journal. She retrieved it with her brows raised. Co?tin? A journal?

She flipped pages. He’d laid out military diagrams and maneuvers, but he’d depicted thousands of soldiers deployed on a battlefield.

Bloodreach’s army consisted of possibly a handful? The General of Nothing was crazier than she’d thought.

She flipped another page and read, frowning at the words. When comprehension struck, the journal shook in her hands. She whispered, “The quake beneath us. Heisthe epicenter—”

“What is this?”

A voice cracked the air. Co?tin had suddenly appeared in his room as if conjured.

“You?” he grated. “The Badlander? What are you doing here?”

“You cantrace?” she breathed.

“And youcan’t.” A predatory zeal lit his red gaze, and his fangs sharpened, slicing his lips as he smiled.

Her gaze darted for a weapon. None. The only escape was a window overlooking the Scarlet Shallows, ten stories down. She began to creep backward, ready to take her chances with all the sea monsters. At least they’d make it quick.

“How did you crack my safe?”

Brazen this out. Show no fear.“Cracked harder ones.”

He snapped his fangs. “The inquisitor said you were too stupid to help steal my Bride. But you’re not stupid, are you? You worked with that Berserker to capture my Lia.”

Nadje shrugged as if bored, kept backing toward the window. “And you have big plans yourself.” She tossed his journal to the bed with an unconcerned air.

“How much did you read?”

“Enough. But killing me won’t help you,” she said, her throat burning on the lie. Biting back pain, she said, “Powerful immortals already suspect you.” Surely. “Neculainsuspects you.” She had to believe this.

Co?tin’s eyes blazed. “Then my timeline accelerates.” He stepped toward her. “I’ll warm up with your murder. Fair warning: you won’t go easy. Your kind never do.”