A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)(88)

“Better up than down,” Barnabas said, nodding sympathetically.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“What? I’m here to help you through. It’ll take you a while until you’re able to handle your drink. But it’ll happen.”

Maddox pressed up against the stone exterior of Camilla’s cottage, then slid down to the ground and rested his head in his hands.

“Oh my,” Barnabas said. “You’re in terrible shape, aren’t you?”

“The worst.”

“It’s not just the ale. It’s the girl, too. Am I correct?”

Maddox rubbed his eyes. “Have you ever been in love, Barnabas?”

Barnabas paused, as if in solemn thought. “Is that what this is with the spirit girl?”

“I don’t know what it is. I’m just asking you a question.”

That pained shadow he’d seen yesterday crossed Barnabas’s expression again.

“Yes, I’ve been in love. I know how it feels. That all-consuming sensation like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. The terrifying knowledge that you would live and die for this girl, if only she’d give you the chance.”

“Who was she, this girl you loved?”

Barnabas turned his faraway gaze to Maddox and finally smiled again. “We should get you back inside, my young friend. There’s a warm cot with your name on it in the back room. You can sleep this off.”

It seemed Barnabas didn’t want to talk about such private things, which was probably for the best. Maddox knew he’d likely be lying anyway.

“Sleep sounds good,” Maddox agreed.

“It certainly does.”



It was well past dawn when Maddox finally woke. Opening his eyes, he felt as if someone had placed a thousand-pound weight upon his head while he slept.

“Ughh,” he moaned as he pushed up from the cot.

“I bet you have a hell of a hangover this morning,” Becca said. She stood by the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.

“I wasn’t hanging over anything, was I? Were you”—he hesi-tated—“watching me sleep?”

“Um.” Her cheeks reddened. “More like waiting for you to wake up.”

“Is everyone else awake?”

She nodded. “They’ve been up for hours.”

Maddox rubbed his forehead, trying to will the crushing pain away. He peered at Becca through his fingers. “My deepest apologizes for my behavior last night.”

“No apology necessary.” She searched his face in silence before turning away. “I’ll leave you to get dressed.”

When she left, he forced himself to get up and get dressed, and reflected on all the idiotic things he’d said to Becca last night. At least, all the idiotic things he could remember. With one last groan, he left his little room to join the others.

Camilla tossed him a roasted chicken leg as he passed through the main room of the cottage. “Get something in that stomach of yours.”

Barnabas sat at the table, inspecting the book.

“Are we planning to test the book’s magic this morning?” Maddox asked.

“Yes, we certainly are,” Barnabas replied.

Sienna entered the room, smiled at them all, then turned to warm her hands by the fire. “Good morning, sister. Good morning, Barnabas, Maddox. A lovely day, isn’t it?”

Barnabas closed the book. “Not nearly as lovely as you are, Sienna.”

“My, you’re a charmer, aren’t you?” said Sienna.

“I certainly try.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Who could that be?” Camilla asked, frowning and scratching her wart-covered chin. “I’m not expecting anyone.”

“Perhaps you aren’t,” Sienna said. “But I am. Seems they’ve arrived earlier than I expected. They must have taken very swift horses.”

“Who’s that?”

“Some friends of mine who are interested in what your friends stole from the goddess.”

“What?” Camilla exclaimed. “What are you talking about?”

Sienna closed the distance between them, showing a flash of silver in her grip, and Camilla gasped as Sienna sank her sharp dagger into her soft belly.

“Did you really think you could steal from Her Radiance and get to live another day?” Sienna hissed as she let her sister fall to the floor in a heap.

Maddox watched in silent shock. He met Becca’s stunned gaze with wide eyes.

“Maddox,” Barnabas yelled. “Run!”

The wooden door split and crashed inward as Valoria’s guards poured into the cottage.

Maddox tried to summon his magic, but he was too flustered, and too ill and weakened by all the ale he’d consumed last night.

“That one.” Sienna pointed at Maddox, her expression now void of any kindness. “Valoria will need him when she arrives.”

The heavy weight of a sword hilt struck the side of Maddox’s head, and darkness once again filled his world.





Chapter 24


CRYSTAL



Crys visited Becca Saturday morning. It was just the two of them, and Crys sat in the chair and studied her sister’s face.