I sighed and stared at the wall. There was a lot to unpack in that one note, and more than one red flag, but I wasn’t going to think about it. I had no intention of going inside that damned place, I only drew the runes on just in case since I had a moment of privacy.

“Francelina,” his telepathic whisper made me jump.

I hated the sound of Francelina on his lips now. I was Celina to him, even if I didn’t remember being her, but it helped clear the line of who I was and where I came from. And what I was fighting for. Because no matter how much I wanted to reclaim the life of Celina . . . I was Francelina now too, and that was the future I wanted to save.

“Sweyn knows new ticklings do not handle the Lore well, so she agreed to leave you behind.”

I nodded as if he could see me.

“Be ready to move when I tell you, as she will be eager to see her new little tickling the moment she returns.”

So Sweyn was obsessed with me no matter what I did. I put the notebook back in the bag then practiced changing the bag into other items with Tegan’s spell. But if I was going for the page then I needed the bag in its true form. Once I had that back in place around my waist I jumped to my feet and waited by the door. My lower stomach was tingly and hot from nerves. I didn’t need but a moment to grab the real page. At bare minimum I just needed to grab and run then worry about getting the decoy back in later. Everest wanted me to stay in my room until they were gone but it was taking a lot of self-control to keep myself in place.

“Now, my tickling. Make your move now,” Everest’s telepathic voice sent shivers down my spine.

I didn’t hesitate. I yanked the door open and hurried into the hall. The sun had already gone down which meant the hall reminded me of school between classes. Some of them headed for the salon in the opposite direction, or perhaps the privy, but most of them were headed upstairs with me. I followed a group of females who were deep in conversation and paid me no mind. When we got upstairs, I followed them until the hall branched off for the ballroom. That was where I’d seen the throne last before it was lowered underground for daylight. But as I entered, I discovered the entire room was empty. I turned and left immediately.