“What do you—or the people you work for—know about the Sword of Darkness?” Cynwrig asked, with an understanding glance my way.

“Only that it was hidden by its original wielder and now lies in Tywyll’s temple.”

Surprise leapt through me, though it really shouldn’t have given the strength of her second sight. Riayn hadn’t really been wrong when she’d said that Tia was the better candidate when it came to the Eye. “You saw this in the codex?”

“No. In my focus stone.”

“Then what did you see in the codex?”

Her gaze came to mine. “Your death.”

For several seconds, I could only stare at her. I’d seen death too, though it had been unclear whether it had been mine or Lugh’s.

“Did it involve a sacrificial stone darkly stained with eons of bloodshed?”

“Yes.” Her gaze swept me. “You’ve seen it?”

“I saw the ceremony. The face was unclear.”

“Ah. Well. That’s the difference between strong sight and weak. You’d best back away from this hunt, Bethany, or that death will claim you.”

For no real reason, my gaze rose to Cynwrig’s, and an odd sort of strength ran through me. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but I suddenly knew that for as long as this man stood by my side, that death would not find me.

The problem was, of course, that he would not always be by my side.

I crossed my arms and lightly rubbed them in an effort to ward off the chill creeping through my veins. “While I might not be able to fight that destiny, it has nothing to do with this hunt.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure of that?”

“Yes. Do you know where Tywyll’s temple is?”

“At some place called Draig Y Môr.”

“And where is that?” Cynwrig asked.

“Fucked if I know.”

“Your focus stone or the codex didn’t provide a location?” I asked, a little surprised. While I understood the codex being of little use, she should have been well versed in understanding and mitigating the limitations of a focus stone. They were, in most respects, a lesser version of the Eye.

Not that I knew or understood a whole lot about either. And that made me a little mad at Mom. She should have told me so much more about my heritage even if she’d truly believed I would never be a part of it.

“No,” Vincentia said. “But it won’t matter, because there can’t be too many places named after sea dragons in the UK.”

“Did you see anything else? Like where in the temple the sword might be stored?”

“No, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find. Temples dedicated to minor gods or saints generally aren’t too big or complicated.”

“You’ve passed on the information to your employers?” Cynwrig asked.

Her gaze flicked to his. “Of course.”

“When?”

“A few hours ago.”

Meaning they might not be too far ahead of us for a change. “What about the crown? Do you know where it has been shifted to?”