‘That’s literally what I argue every day at work, if only the other minister was as smart as you.’ Circe reached over the table and patted him on his head. Bethan wished it was her ruffling his hair.

‘It’s nice to feel validated,’ Kellan said, making Agatha giggle.

‘Apparently, Kurai Rennigan blamed the witches for the Blood Plague, so maybe we are the ones that need to be punished for all those deaths.’

Kellan shot Bethan a sideways glance.

Let the real search begin, she thought.

***

Bethan and Kellan stood in front of Saskia typing away behind the marbled work desk. Bethan had rather abruptly demanded Saskia to gain access to the Antiphonus, which was likely locked away in the museum’s archives.

Saskia stared up at her with a raised brow.

‘Please,’ Kellan said with a polite smile.

Saskia pushed a dreadlock out of her face before searching. Bethan and Kellan leant forward in anticipation, unknowingly mirroring each other.

Saskia scanned the computer screen, her mouth agape.

‘I’m sorry, but it has been returned to the Rennigans.’

Saskia spoke with a certain softness in her voice. Bethan could only pin it down to disbelief.

‘Apparently, Kahn Rennigan, after he reviewed it, he petitioned it to be returned to the family.’

A feeling of defeat swept over Bethan, followed by a stream of unanswered questions that she wouldn’t share just yet. Kellan bristled beside her, the only indication of his feelings about having to go through the Rennigans.

Kellan didn’t speak until they got to her office. Well, it was more like their office, considering all the time he spent there. A cold draft wafted through the room from the open window. She shot Kellan a disappointed look, since he was the last to leave two days prior. He shrugged with a mischievous smirk.

‘We should be able to contact Julius to give it to us,’ Bethan told him.

He didn’t seem convinced.

‘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.