just ahead of Garreth, already around the corner by the time I’d spotted him.
Aeneas returned a moment later and handed me a simple cardstock folder. “That is all the information we have on the Moon Stone.”
I flipped open the folder and looked down at the paper, then frowned at how blank it was. There were only a few sentences, along with a picture of a glowing white rock that looked smooth as glass. “This is it?”
He nodded. “Records were not always very good in the past.”
“Perhaps the antiquarians should have left things where they found them,” I said.
“There is an argument for that, yes.” He nodded to the folder. “But as you can see, we don’t know much about it. I’ve got no idea why the thief would want such a thing when we have so many more valuable items here.”
That was what frightened me. Quickly, I scanned the document. The Moon Stone had been found in the center of an ancient building on the Isle of Wyre, one of the Orkney Islands in far northern Scotland. A man named Sir Lawrence Keith had discovered it on an antiquarian expedition. He’d dug it out of the center of the building’s floor, apparently.
“Wyre is one of the little islands, isn’t it?” Lachlan asked.
Aeneas nodded. “Barely inhabited, but it is home to only supernaturals.”
“What kind of supernaturals?” I asked.
“I do not know. But I would announce myself before stepping ashore.”
I nodded and raised the folder. “Thank you for this.”
“You’ll have to give it back.”
“Of course.” There wasn’t a lot of info on it, but I didn’t want to leave that behind, either. I pulled my mobile from my pocket. “May I take a photograph, at least?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “But be quick about it. And be quick about returning the Moon Stone.”
I nodded. I didn’t mind his grouchiness, and I knew I didn’t want Garreth to have the damned stone. Aeneas could have it back, for all I cared.
But then the cluttered glass cases caught my eye. Perhaps the stone didn’t need to be here, after all. Perhaps I needed to return it to its rightful resting place.
I shook away the thought. First things first, I needed to find the bloody thing and figure out why Garreth wanted it.
And I needed to find out if it could fix my magic. At the thought of it, pain sliced me so fiercely that I nearly went to my knees. I gasped, pressing a hand to my abdomen.
Something was very wrong.
I swallowed hard, knowing that my face was far too pale.
“Are you all right?” Lachlan frowned, worry flashing in his eyes.
“Fine.” My voice was reedy as I stood upright.
The Moon Stone had to be connected to whatever was wrong with me. Had to be. The coincidence was too much, and the seer said Garreth’s goal was connected to my magic.
Wishful thinking.
Fates, I prayed not.
Quickly, I handed the folder back to Aeneas. “We’ll be in touch.”
He nodded.
Together, Lachlan and I left the museum. On our way out, I saw Ralph rooting through a drawer in one of the side rooms. I had no idea if he was still on the mission I’d given him or if this was something personal, but I left him to it.
Outside, we paused on the pavement, and I looked up at Lachlan.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “Do you need to rest?”
“I’m fine. No time.” I frowned. “Strange that he trusted us right away. We’re not with the police or government.”
“Perhaps he doesn’t want them involved.”
I thought about the collection. It wasn’t usually illegal to have an old collection like that, no matter how ethically questionable it might be. As long as the artifacts hadn’t been taken recently—now that it was definitely illegal to take artifacts from ancient sites—he should be in the clear.
“I bet a lot of that stuff was bought on the black market,” I said. “The core of the collection is old enough to be within the laws, but there was a lot in there.”
“So he’s just grateful we might return the thing to him without asking too many questions.”
“I think you’re right. Have you heard of this Isle of Wyre?”
“Only in passing. It’s supposed to be dangerous.”
“It doesn’t matter. We have to go.”
4
Eve
* * *
Lachlan escorted me back to the Shadow Guild tower. Though he had to return to his own place, he insisted on walking me up to the courtyard where our protections began. We made the entire journey in silence, as if by unspoken agreement we