Page 41 of Reaper’s Curse

Hopefully. If I can manage to flag down a crow.

“Are you most certain I cannot be of assistance?” she pushed.

“Quite.” Because the matter of crow-delivered notes was not to be shared with anyone outside of myself and Chace.

Or Curse Chaser, as he had dubbed himself in his message.

Beyond my bedroom chamber, the front door closed with a clunk. Not so loud to be obnoxious, but enough noise to make the newly arrived presence known.

“Is she ready?” an unfamiliar male’s voice asked.

“Is that you, Lucas?” I called as I opened the terrace doors.

In one hand, I held the parchment and in the other, a handful of breadcrumbs left over from my breakfast.

“Yes, it is I.”

“As I told Neive, I’ll be but a moment, and then my time is yours.” Or Valen’s or whoever’s.

No sooner had I stepped onto the terrace than a sea of black exploded from the surrounding rooftops. Crows took to the sky in a swirling circle that reminded me of the rotunda’s high ceiling at the Hall of Reapings Requirements and Acquisitions. Crows were always circling and circling in that space, their caws echoing off the stone walls and floors.

Only I was not currently at the Hall of Reapings Requirements and Acquisitions, and I had no crow clicker in my hand. The presence of so many crows shocked my system and snagged the breath in my chest.

Separating from the mass of black orbiting over the castle, a solo form broke free of the chaos and hurdled straight for me. The bird landed upon the terrace railing and, with a tilt of its head, eyed me expectantly. Could he be the same crow from the day before? If so, I would make good on my promise.

I tossed the largest crumb upon the table, and he quickly snatched and swallowed the morsel. With the bread in his belly, he bobbed his head toward the parchment held in my hand.

My intentions paused as I studied the bird more closely. He was larger, much larger, than the other birds. His bill and tail shaped slightly differently. My eyebrows rose in high arches as understanding bloomed. The bird before me was not a crow, but a raven flying with a shadowy expanse of another kind.

The bird that had collected my first message sent from the citadel―the message to my father―had been a raven. What were the chances it was the same one?

I released a tiny snort of a sound.

Raven, crow, the kind of bird doesn’t matter, I told myself. As long as my message is delivered.

“Would you take this to Chace Badden?” I whispered, stretching the offering forward. The bird’s claws clamped down on the scroll, but I continued to hold tight. “Only Chace Badden. My fellow reaper. Understood?”

The raven released a croak of accord then launched into the sky with the message in transit.

Before stepping inside and reporting to Neive and Lucas, I tossed the remaining crumbs into the air. They showered around me on the terrace, and a sea of black wings descended.

“We have a little over an hour before the grumpy buzzard expects your presence in the archives.” Lucas led me down one of the lower-level hallways on the backside of the palace.

The monstrous place had so many rooms and passages that it would take me at least a week to memorize the layout. So, for today, I was thankful to have Lucas as a guide.

The buzzard of discussion was Valen, and I couldn’t help but huff a laugh. “Your tongue appears to lack respectful restraint with regard to said buzzard.”

“Please.” He waved a dismissive hand. “I may be employed here at the palace, but I am not afraid to speak my mind. Prince Winter is very familiar with my ways. That’s why he placed you in my care. I’m not afraid to go toe-to-toe with that buzzard of a royal healer should the need arise. And I will not bore you with any of that stuffy, ‘Yes, my lady; no, my lady; what can I get for you, my lady’ gibberish.”

I gaped. “Oh-kay.”

“You’ll only hear that kind of talk from me when we’re around stuffy staff or royals, minus Prince Winter, of course.”

“Wow.” I glanced over Lucas as if seeing him for the first time. “You’re quite unexpected. How familiar did you say you were with Winter?”

“Oh no.” Lucas shook his head. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not nice to kiss and tell?”

My mouth dropped open.