Magnus regarded him skeptically. “How convenient, considering you were about to give it to me. Please, Father, spare me such acts. As if you’d hide that kind of a treasure in such an obvious place.”
“It’s not an act. It was here. I’ve been too ill to find a better place to hide it.” His expression darkened. “That little princess of yours stole it.”
It had to be a lie. Yet another lie. Magnus couldn’t believe otherwise, not over something this important.
Before he could reply, the king stumbled past him to leave the room. Magnus followed him down to the hall, where Cleo still sat with Jonas.
Magnus couldn’t believe his eyes. It took every last piece of restraint he had not to make Jonas his second kill of the night.
Cleo shot up to her feet at the swift entry of both the king and Magnus. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Did you steal the air Kindred?” Magnus asked, not liking the drunken slur to his words.
“What? I—I wouldn’t even know where it is!”
“Yes or no, princess?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she lifted her chin. “No.”
“She lies,” the king said.
“The king of lies wishes to accuse the princess, does he?” Jonas practically spat out, his hands fisted. “How ironic.”
“Where is your earth Kindred?” Magnus demanded.
Cleo’s brow furrowed into a frown as she slid her hand into her pocket, her eyes growing wide. “It’s gone. It was here, I swear it! I keep it with me all the time!”
A wave of nausea came over Magnus. There was a thief among them. And whoever it was would soon deeply regret their actions.
It wasn’t long before the loud voices drew everyone to the room, wondering what was going on. Both Milo and Enzo had their weapons drawn, ready for a fight.
Magnus scanned the group. Everyone was accounted for—Nic, Olivia, even Selia had joined them, her face flushed from whatever ritual tonight’s moon had earned. Everyone except one.
“Where is Prince Ashur?” asked Jonas, frowning. “He was here earlier with Cleo and me.”
“I haven’t seen him today,” Olivia replied. “Perhaps he’s gone out.”
“Perhaps. Anyone know where he went?”
Enzo and Milo both shook their heads.
Selia went to the pale king’s side as he made his way to a chair to sit down. “Gaius, darling, what are you doing out of bed?”
Magnus ignored them, his attention fully on Nic, who had remained silent. While the others argued about the location of the prince, Nic slipped out of the room. Magnus immediately followed him down a hallway toward the front door.
When Nic noticed that Magnus was close, his shoulders tensed.
“Looking for someone?” Magnus asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I want to go outside to get some fresh air.”
“He took both of the crystals, didn’t he? And he told you his plans.”
Nic shook his head but didn’t make eye contact. Magnus had no more patience for lies tonight. He grabbed the front of Nic’s tunic and shoved him against the wall.
“Where is Ashur?” he snarled.
“You’re drunk.”
“Extremely, not that it makes any damn difference right now. Answer me! Ashur stole the crystals, didn’t he?”
Nic gritted his teeth. “You think the prince tells me anything?”
“I have no clue what the prince whispers in your ear, but I’m not blind. I know there’s something between the two of you, that you’re closer than you’d like to let on. And I know that you know more about this than you’re telling me.”
Jonas approached from around a corner, his expression tense. “What are you doing to him?”
Magnus didn’t release his hold on the boy. “Nic knows Ashur’s secrets, and I’m going to find out what they are.”
“Answer the question, Nic,” Jonas said, his arms crossed over his chest. “Do you know where Ashur went?”
Nic scoffed. “What? Are the two of you working together now?”
“No,” Magnus and Jonas both said in unison, then glared at each other.
Nic sighed. “Fine. The prince left not long ago to go to his sister. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen to a word I said. He’s determined to do what he can to talk sense into her and if he can’t, he’ll claim the title of emperor.”
Magnus’s stomach dropped. “And he’s taken her the air and earth Kindred. What a lovely gift, considering Amara has the water Kindred.”
A glimmer of worry finally moved through Nic’s gaze. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t he?” Magnus tried to keep his grip on Nic’s shirt so that the fool couldn’t slip away, but his vision had started to swim. Too much wine, too quickly. It would take till the morning for its effects to wear off. “Perhaps Amara magically summoned the crystals out of their hiding places and they flew on the wings of summer butterflies to reach her.”
“I’ll say it one more time.” Nic’s eyes narrowed. “Let go of me.”
“And if I don’t? Will you call out for the princess to come and save you?”
“I hate you. I yearn for the day when I see you dead and buried.” He sent a dark look at Jonas. “A little help?”
“Nic, you need to think,” Jonas said evenly. “If Magnus is right about Ashur—”