He breathed, picking up the book. She hugged her knees to her chest. ‘And now it’s gone again.’

‘If anything, this is a good sign. I’m so fucking proud of you.’ His velvety voice returned, sending flutters in her stomach. She pushed those feeling down deep inside.

‘Thank you,’ she said, patting him on his shoulder. ‘What does it say?’

He tutted, ‘I’m not sure if I should be reading her journal. It seems too personal.’

Kellan extended the book towards her; she grabbed it and flipped through the thin pages. Thankfully, Dana was meticulous and had dated everything; towards the middle was her last entry.

‘Kai and Julius Rennigan cornered me in my office today. They kept asking me how I found the Amulet of Pele. Kai asked me to visit them at Rennigan House. So, I did. And it went weird. They kept asking me about my powers; they asked me if I could do anything abnormal. They asked me if I had the telltale signs of Blood Magic or Green Magic. I made a mistake. I told them Bethan did; I don’t even know if she knows, but sometimes I see her use her Small magic, and it’s not the usual grey mist; it looks like a night sky. They got excited by that. Then they asked what I was hoping for. Julius asked if I could find the First Grimoire; I told them that the museum didn’t want to fund it, and they said they’d support my search personally, but I mustn’t tell anyone.

‘Gabriel told me not to; in fact, he begged me not to. I have to do it; it could help my family if I find it. Bethan could pay off her loans; Dad could retire. This could change everything for us. Not only that but imagine all the things we could know if we had that grimoire.’

He grabbed the book from her, not believing her words. He read the entry with narrowed eyes; he clicked his tongue.

She shook. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘This is the last straw; we can’t trust them.’

‘Trust who?’

‘Who else? The Rennigans,’ he said, standing up, running his hands through his hair.

The Rennigans wouldn’t keep information like that from her. Elnora would have told her if Dana wanted it or had it. Kellan was wrong; they could trust them.

‘The Rennigans have been nothing but helpful to my family.’

He shook his head; he wore fury on his face like the night with Canden.

‘Bethan, they were the ones funding her. Lenovik had a paper implicating them. They’re both dead.’ His voice grew louder. ‘It may only be a matter of time.’

Her palms sweated.

‘Don’t get mad at me,’ she pleaded.