Page 115 of Alchemy of Souls

“And I’m saying, you’re excused. Go help on the wall. Now,” she says, and the younger Guardian grumbles and walks off.

She swings the door open for me and takes up the younger Guardian’s post. Which is bad news all around. I could take down an average Guardian or two if need be, but if Akari follows us into that Archive Room, we’re screwed.

“Grayson,” my uncle says, leaning back in his desk chair, and the door clicks shut behind me.

I can already scent his anger.

“I came as soon as I could,” I tell him. It means nothing, but it’s true.

“As soon as you could?” he scoffs. “Miss Belrose wasstolenfrom the dining hall and yet you cameas soon as you could. How generous.”

Odd. I figured his first move would be to demand to know where Eloise is, especially given that Akari saw us both enter the Archive Room.

“I was searching for her,” I say simply, again waiting for him to start screaming about Eloise.

His anger spikes and he flicks his wrist in my direction, his spell gripping my chest like a giant fist. I suck in breath. But despite the increasing pressure, I know better than to try to counter it.

My uncle pushes back his chair and stands, straightening his suit jacket. “You know how much I hate to repeat myself. I very clearly remember telling you not to leave that girl alone.Ever.”

Here it comes.

“Would you like to explain then why youweren’t therewhen she was being taken by the goddamn Lawless?” he asks, and now I’m doubly confused why we’re still talking about Eloise’s capture. Even if Akari didn’t realize the training room door led to the Archive Room, which I find unlikely, is there a world in which Akari wouldn’t tell him that Eloise and I were there? Because it’s starting to sound like he doesn’t know and that makes no sense.

The pressure increases around my ribs and I wince, trying to pull air into an increasingly tight space. “I wasn’t there because I got hung up on the way to the dining room,” I say, buying myself time to recalibrate.

His spell cinches tighter and I feel my ribs bending, on the verge of snapping. I buckle over as he comes around his desk. “I also hear you were spotted bringing Maggie O’Donnell to the healers’ hut? Care to explainthat?”

My control over my emotions slips. This bastard better not have hurt Maggie.

He moves closer to inspect me, a small smile on his lips. “Angry with me, Grayson? Whyever would that be?” he asks, far too pleased with himself. “What does some low-level Illusionist matter to you?”

I grit my teeth. “Maybe I’m angry because you’re trying to break my ribs,” I grind out.

“Maybe,” he says like it’s an interesting word. “Or maybe we should summon the Illusionist and play a little game.”

Despite my best efforts, my emotions slip again.

“Concern now, Grayson?” my uncle chuckles. “Well, I dare say this is getting interesting.”

Which is when I decide to call it quits on his interrogation. “I have…,” I say in a wheeze.

“You havewhat,Grayson? What is it that you are so desperately trying to bargain with? Hmmm?” he says, leaning over me as I fight for breath.

“The… Key,” I say in barely a whisper and it does the trick.

He releases me from his spell’s grip and I gulp down air.

My uncle watches me carefully as I straighten, my torso probably bruised to hell. And for the first time in many years, I scent shock on him.

“Give it to me,” he commands.

I hesitate, warring with myself. How can I give this monster more power, how can I even risk it?

“Reluctance? Anger? Come now, Grayson. You’re better at guarding your feelings than that. If you keep going down this path I might think you’re not happy to follow my orders.”

Bastard.

“Careful now,” he warns, and I can scent his enjoyment. “Or maybe I’ll even think you meant to betray me.”