A pink arrow popped up immediately, pointing directly to the page on the left. The one I knew to be the real one but was still relieved to have the proof. I nodded. Thanks, Lassie. I shoved the bracelet back into my bag then lifted the page up. I took a good look at it then carefully slid it into my bag, then tied the bag around my waist. To be on the safe side, I transformed it into a gold waist chain with a charm then tucked the chain under my clothes. We couldn’t risk someone getting that now that I’d gone through all of this to get it.

Everest snatched the decoy then lifted me to my feet. Together we hurried around to the front of the throne to place it when the throne shot straight up into the ceiling. Everest cursed and jumped up to try and sneak the page into the compartment while it lifted but the stupid door wouldn’t open. Everest snarled and dropped to his feet. He shoved the decoy page into the waistband of his pants then closed his waistcoat over it. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of Sweyn’s room.

The second we hit the main floor I heard the sound of Sweyn’s screaming. It was getting closer. Apparently, Cyrus had ungagged her. Hurried footsteps sounded in every direction. I heard the arcana ancient language being shouted down the halls in echo. Vampires shouted in alarm, no doubt in surprise to find The Coven at their door.

Everest yanked me down a narrow passageway behind a secret door that opened to the outside. He didn’t stop when our feet hit the snow either, he raced us over to the tree line at the far side of the property.

I yanked him to a stop, even though I knew he’d let me. “Everest, what are you doing? Stop. We have to get the decoy back⁠—”

“Go home. Now. I’ll put it back. I have it⁠—”

“What? No. Everest, no⁠—”

“Yes, you must. This quest was to get the real page, and you have it. You can go home now and put this whole mess behind us⁠—”

“The decoy⁠—”

“I will put it in the throne⁠—”

“No, I need⁠—”

“Please, go⁠—”

“Is this because of what Sweyn made me do to that guy?”

He flinched and then frowned so hard his brows pinched in the middle. Then he took my chin between his fingers. “Do you care what Sweyn has made me do? What I’ve had to do in order to survive?”

My eyes widened. “Everest⁠—”

“You told me five hundred years ago, you begged me, to do whatever I needed to do to survive–”