“My parents kept this hidden from me.” Had my brother known? “ What if I’m about to learn something horrific?” Tarnishing my family’s image would kill me.
Kirk places a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t promise you it won’t hurt, but I think not knowing would be worse at this point.”
“I don’t want to ruin their memory,” I whisper.
Kirk wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into him. “We’ll do it together.”
Inhaling, I straighten up. “Let’s go.”
For once, Bo keeps his mouth shut, and I’m grateful. The closer we get the faster my heart beats.
I hold my breath. We step in front of the door frame. I see the room from my dreams. Sconces flicker to life, revealing the room in pristine condition.
Moving inside feels like trudging through water. The air is thicker than it should be. I exhale. Peace washes over me. The staleness is replaced with the scent of leather, old parchment, and lemongrass.
I feel like Belle stepping into the Beast’s library. Bookshelves, display cases with strange objects and a small apothecary section rest against the walls.
Bo releases a low whistle. Kirk heads straight for the apothecary. His brown eyes sparkle with delight as he runs his hands over the labeled glass bottles. Once a healer, always a healer.
I approach the shelf, and run my fingertip over the worn leather just as I did in the dream.
The gold lettering on the spine of a book shimmers and catches the light. The font changes to a symbol. I blink. The lettering returns to normal, and my fingers itch to hold the thick tome. I remove it.
The book falls open. Words appear on the blank page.
Our time has come again to protect Fenrir’s amulet. Keepers dedicate their lives to the safety of the pack under Fenrir’s blessing. Should you be found wanting, the great wolf will not come to your aid. His chains will be weakened and the end shall begin.
“No pressure, huh?” Bo reads over my shoulder.
“I don’t understand why the amulet isn’t here.” I glance around, seeking more clues.
“Maybe it is. There’s enough stuff.” Kirk thumbs at the cases on the other side of the room.
I groan at the sheer volume of artifacts. “It could take forever.”
“You have other plans?” Bo asks.
I glare. “You make it very easy to dislike you.”
He laughs, moving into my personal space. “All part of my charm.”
“Abrasiveness is not sexy.” I’m distracted by his warm breath caressing my lips.
“Plenty of people would not agree with that.” His lids lower to half-mast.
“I think I found something,” Kirk’s deep voice interrupts the charged moment.
Clutching the journal to my chest, I walk over to find him hovering over another book open on a table.
“According to the start of the chapter, during times of peace, they hide the amulet to prevent strife, and when it's needed again the ancestors of Fenrir will be called to find it. The chosen one will lead their people into a position of power to rule the others.” Kirk taps the spell. “They’re called the children of Fenrir.”
“That means others might be out there going after the same thing,” I say in a hushed tone. The thought is chilling.
“Yeah, my thoughts exactly,” Kirk turns the page.
“I saw this in my dream.” I study the detailed drawing of the silver coin with runes etched around the edges and a wolf howling in the center.
“Where did you see it?” Bo asks. “Maybe that was a clue.”
“I don’t think so.” I frown. “It was in a field of white ash oak trees. It fell into my hands when I caught a green bloom.”
“What else was happening?” Bo’s tone is serious.
“There were others there who were trying to capture the amulet.”
The boys exchange a concerned look. “It’s all here.” Kirk taps the book.
“Time to go!” Fell’s shout breaks the quiet tension.
“Take these.” Kirk closes the book and shoves it toward me along with the one I’m holding.
I tighten my grip on the tomes. We exit the room, and I shove our chance for answers in my hoody and sprint down the stone hall.
“You first,” Kirk insists.
I begin to climb. Sweat slicks my palms, slowing my ascent. My head pops up and Fell is there to help when I emerge, the others right behind me.
The second they clear the ladder, the door closes.
