‘It’s awfully convenient that Kahn Rennigan was the one who last reviewed it and was also the one who wanted it back.’

‘You’re thinking too hard into this; they’re protective of their family legacy.’

He slumped into the chair, a vein bulging in his forehead. He rubbed his temple, and a loose curl fell in his face.

‘It doesn’t sit right with me, but I’m sure if we ask Julius, he might let us know if it is supposedly the key to preventing the Blood Plague.’

‘I guess it depends on which side of the family got it; Elnora’s parents might not be that willing.’

He huffed out a breath. ‘Maybe, we should call Tharin, so he can ask. Probably has more sway than we do. Or Elnora?’

‘I would like to keep my friends out of the search. We should keep it professional,’ she suggested. ‘Tharin would be the better choice.’

Tharin’s father was good friends with Elnora’s. The Rennigans took more interest in Elnora’s friendship with Bethan once she started dating Tharin.

‘I’ll call him,’ she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Kellan stilled. Not wanting him to sense her fear, she avoided eye contact with him.

‘You don’t have to,’ he said sweetly.

‘He’d say yes if I ask. I don’t think he is your biggest fan right now,’ she explained, reaching for her mobile she had thrown on the desk earlier.

She flipped through her deleted contacts until she scrolled to Tharin’s name. She gagged to herself at the sight of the tiny red heart next to his name.

She would have to delete that later.

Her fingers reluctantly pressed on his number. She held the phone to her ear and listened to its ringing.

Her chest pounded to the rhythm of the rings. Kellan stared at her with a worried expression. It didn’t help that he clenched a fist, preparing for a fight.

She turned away from him and let out a small gasp when someone answered.

‘I have been waiting for you to call, Bethan,’ he said with a lover’s voice.

She shivered at the way he drawled her name and skipped the pleasantries.

‘I need you to ask Julius or Kai to grant us access to the Antiphonus,’ she said sharply.

He let out a disturbing laugh. She could imagine him slumped in a chair, smirking through the phone. She wished she could have Kellan’s flames to fuel her anger.

‘You’re closer than we thought,’ he said under his breath. ‘The Rennigans are holding a party soon; I can get you an invite, along with that fae prince too. I hear he follows you everywhere like a puppy; how adorable.’

She scoffed. ‘Thank you.’

She was about to hang up, but he spoke again.

‘You looked beautiful in our last meeting,’ he said.