Page 43 of Reaper’s Curse

“I’m in no hurry.” I hadn’t planned on anything more than switching back and forth between the few items I had brought with me, anyway.

After the fitting, I met with Valen. This time, instead of pushing me to try and heal an afflicted, he granted me access to pore through the records surrounding the curse. All my research conducted under his watchful eye.

A day addressing the queen’s desire, a day addressing mine. I suspected we were setting a precedent.

I flipped through the pages of book after book, made a couple of notes, but discovered nothing eye-opening. At least not anything that should affect the ability to reap souls.

During those hours, and far too often for my liking, Valen touched me. My arm, my shoulders. Nothing beyond a pat, shake, or squeeze, with a slight tingle in the connection. As if he were trying to reap me, which made zero sense.

The uninvited infractions made me…uneasy…annoyed….infuriated. And I imagined punching him in his annoyingly straight nose.

Was it the lighting? I could have sworn his nose was crooked before.

“I know what you are.” I pulled my arm to my chest, away from his reach, then squeezed my elbows as if I could press out all the uncomfortable emotions.

The action brought little to no release.

Valen’s eyebrow arched. “Do you now?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “My father mentioned you in a correspondence.”

He stared at me blankly, and for some reason, I had a strong desire to lash out, but I held my tongue…and my fist.

“What are you doing here in the castle?” I asked.

“Trapped, my dear, like so many.” A knowing smile curved his lips. “Making the best of my situation.”

Maybe I should tell him about the route in and out of the citadel. The hole in the magical barrier Aoes led my team through.

Nah. Valen must know a passage exists, because…after all…I’m here.

I might be forced to work with the ex-reaper, but I was inclined not to trust him. At least, not completely. I suspected the feeling was mutual. Too much time had passed since he’d been trapped within the citadel walls, and whatever adjustments he’d made, be it to survive or otherwise, had turned him into I-didn’t-know-what.

But a reaper, not exactly. Not anymore.

Clamping down on my thoughts and my tongue, I worked through the record books in silence. I tracked family lines and studied a plethora of past events. The last large affair held in the citadel, before the kingdom became cursed, was a ceremonial offering to the goddess Demeter. More nonrelevant information.

I slammed the book I’d been reading closed and studied the lack of light shining through the windows. Anger simmered beneath my skin, and I didn’t know why.

“You know what I think may be more informative than the words transcribed on these pages?”

“Don’t leave me in suspense,” Valen deadpanned.

I shifted to face him. “The story of what brought you here. And when the curse befell the citadel in relation to your arrival.”

Valen hummed, leaned back in his seat, and tapped the arms of his chair. Beyond the walls of the room, the tower bells struck seven. As if signaled into action by the toll, Valen pushed back his chair and stood.

“A tale for another time. We’re done for the day.” He strode from the room.

As much as I wanted him to expand on my request, I was relieved to be free of his presence for the remainder of the night. I stacked the books from the day’s perusal at the end of the table and made a break for my rooms.

Lucas waited for me in the hallway.

“Fancy meeting you here, beautiful. Care to share about your day?” he asked.

“Nope.” My jaw tightened.

All the things I’d read, all the things not said between me and Valen… It was all leading me nowhere. Except, maybe, fueling negative emotions. Something I didn’t understand and didn’t need.