Forsaken Secrets: A slow-burn new adult fantasy romance (Isle of the Forsaken Book 1)

by Olivia K Moto

  Well, that could make sense …

  "But surely the Empire would have already put out a permit for the area? Wouldn't Reapers have already found it if it existed?"

  "I thought the same, but as far as I can tell, there were very few records of the library." Eli's voice was full of restrained excitement.

  If this were true, there really could be a fortune there. Artifacts, books, maybe even relics …

  My heart raced. Could it possibly be true?

  No. I'd hunted the whole area since I moved here at seven. There was no secret library! Unless … could that be the ruins I'd seen when we'd fallen?

  No. I didn't have that kind of luck.

  Still, though … I thought back to the board at the Harlsteds and ran my finger along the front of the book. What if he was right, and there were tempered relics down there?

  If it was an experimental area, it was definitely a possibility …

  That could give us the money we needed!

  Nervous excitement flaring in my belly, I looked up at him, the small book carefully balanced on my palm. "Where did you get the book? How do you know it's accurate? It certainly doesn't seem that old."

  He shrugged, eyes dropping to the right. "Does it really matter?"

  "If you want me to trust you, it does." I'd need to tell him about those ruins, and I didn't want to do that without fully understanding the situation.

  He let out a deep breath and adjusted the collar of his shirt before speaking. "I can tell you that no one will come after us. It was from a … family library, of sorts."

  I studied his face for a moment, then pursed my lips as I slipped open the cover and stared at the first page. It was a black-and-white picture of two men, their clothes dating back to before The Fall. One faced away from the camera, his dark hair cut short, and his shoulders stiff. The other man had long curly hair and grinned widely as he held up a stack of books.

  Who were they? What had happened to them? If Eli was right, could they be the Druid and the Drake?

  I flipped through the book, my excitement growing with each new page.

  There were diagrams of all kinds of relics, with strange strings leading in and out of them, and pages of notes! Some things were in Fae, but most was actually understandable.

  I couldn't say no to this …

  It would be fun, and it had the potential to help us with our debt. Worst-case scenario, we spent a few days searching and found nothing.

  We'd be no worse off than we were now.

  "You'll need to find a Reaper and a permit," I said, words clipped. "I don't want this coming back to bite me in the ass later."

  His lips twisted into a grimace and he muttered, "I am one."

  "A what?"

  "A Reaper."

  "A Reaper?" My mind raced. "But how … I mean, you're awful at everything! Why not work with one of your own people?"

  He chuckled dryly and shifted on his feet. "I'm still new and trying to prove myself. So, if I hire someone outside the Guild, I'm able to keep the credit for myself. Plus, I'd give you part of the money to repay my life-debt AND we'd get to spend more time together. It's a win-win situation."

  Spending more time together was exactly what I'd hoped to avoid, but the rest made sense. Of course a rich lordling could get a license without putting in the real work.

  "How do I know that you're telling the truth? You could just take the relics and leave without me getting any compensation."

  "Hmm. I'll admit that I hadn't thought of that. But of course you wouldn't trust me. You don't even know me."

  He didn't know half of it!

  "What if you kept some of our find and let the Harlsteds sell them for you? My aunt mentioned you letting them do that before?"

  My stomach knotted at the risk they'd be taking, but they had done it for us before, and had assured me many times that it wasn't any big danger for them …

  "So, assuming you're right, we'd grab the relics, you'd sell your portion, and I'd sell mine."

  He nodded enthusiastically, and a knot in my stomach relaxed a bit.

  There was just one more BIG problem. "What about the supplies?"

  His smile fell, but an instant later it was back. "I'll just borrow them from my aunt and uncle, then give them to you." He grabbed my arm, pulling me towards town.

  I yanked back hard. Gods, I hated people pulling me around like that. "No!"

  It felt too much like I was cheating … I'd just sold my gear to them and now I was having their nephew borrow more?

  No. I stepped away from him, shaking my head. That would be wrong.

  He tried again, face earnest. "What if I pay the Harlsteds for the supplies? Then I can loan them to you for the job? You'd give them back when we finish and could feel no guilt because my aunt and uncle wouldn't be short any money."

  My stomach relaxed a bit, and I considered his proposal.

  "Besides, a good employer provides his employee with top-notch supplies," he continued, motioning widely.

  I chuckled and shook my head. "Good contractors provide their own tools, Eli. We both know that."

  "Does it really matter?"

  Not really. He'd answered every question I had, and to a level that I felt comfortable.

  So, why was I still saying no?

  If it worked out, the money would be enough to pay off the debt entirely.

  A satisfied smirk twisted my lips as I imagined how it would feel to pass the entire sum to Lady Ellingsworth. Her eyes would widen in shock and maybe she'd even drop the payment as she realized what it meant. All her plans … broken in an instant.

  What harm could come from at least going down there with him?

  "Fine. I'll do it. I'll help you get down there. If there are as many relics as you say, I'll keep helping. Otherwise, you'll pay me for my time, then you're on your own, and I'll need to find another way to help my aunt."

  His mouth split into a wide grin, and he let out a loud whoop. I laughed and covered my ears, eyes stuck on the laugh-lines creasing the sides of his eyes and lips.

  He held his hand out to shake.

  I looked down at it warily, then slipped my hand inside. Heat spread from the contact, and I swallowed down the fluttery feeling in my chest.

  His palms were rough with odd calluses and scars that only came with pretty intense work. Perhaps he really was a Reaper.

  18

  Kaiya

  We talked most of the way into town, and Eli explained what he'd learned about the secret library so far. The cheery companionship felt … nice.

  By the time we reached the Harlsteds, though, I was starving and ready to get to the ruins. Unfortunately, the doors were locked. "Eli, I thought you said they'd be here?"

  He shrugged and dropped to one knee. "They probably ran out for a bit. Sundays are when they visit Ellesmere and help with the sick. We can still go in."

  I stared at him, wide-eyed. "Go in? Do you have a key?" He didn't reply, just stared at the lock as though it were some kind of puzzle. "Wait. Are you going to break in?"

  He looked up at me, mock-surprise staining his handsome features. "Break in? Whatever would give you an idea like that? Do you think I'm some kind of criminal, my lady?" He slipped a small set of picks out of his pocket, then winked and bent down to the lock. After wiggling them around a bit, the door clicked open. "See? It was open already."

  "You can't do that!" I choked out, checking our surroundings to make sure no one had seen him. Sure, the Harlsteds were his family, but most people would report Eli before even thinking to ask. There was no way I wanted to get caught inside without their permission. "We should wait for them to come back! Like you said, they never stay out for long …"

  He'd already slipped through the now-open door, though, and was motioning for me to follow.

  I stood there, frozen with indecision, when he shook his head and stepped out, gently pressing his palm into the small of my back to lead me through the door. My heart galloped and time stood
still as heat spread from his hand across my back.

  "You know, Kaiya, sometimes you just have to act without thinking through the consequences …" then the door closed behind me and we were engulfed in darkness.

  My heart stuttered, and heat suffused me.

  Desperate to escape my confused body, I strode towards a lyphos lamp and tapped it. Orange light flooded the room at the same time as Eli pulled open the curtains in the front window.

  I turned to see him staring at me with an odd look in his eye. Did I have mud on my cheek again? I wiped at it, but he'd lost interest and was now humming to himself while he grabbed items from the display case.

  "What will the Harlsteds say when they get back and see so many supplies gone? Surely we should just wait and ask? I don't want them to think that they were robbed."

  He cocked a brow. "You really don't trust me, do you?" He pulled a small bag from his pack. "This should be more than enough to cover it all, along with a note explaining the plan."

  "I see." Of course he wouldn't leave them wondering.

  My stomach took that opportunity to let out a loud and very angry growl. Face hot, I turned to a bookshelf full of old books and blindly ran my finger down the spines, praying he hadn't noticed.

  "How about if you choose the supplies and pull out the money to cover it as you go? I'll see about pulling together some food." I looked over to see him wink, then pat his stomach. "We need to keep these growling monsters happy, after all."

  I smiled weakly. "I suppose that's logical," and motioned towards the cabinets. "You'd better not go too far, though. If your aunt and uncle come in, I do NOT want to be stuck here trying to explain it all to them."

  He chuckled and slipped through a door behind the counter.

  Irritating lordling.

  It took a while, but eventually I had a pile set up for each of us. "Eli! It's ready for you."

  A door slammed in the back and a few moments later Eli popped out, chewing something. "You spend all my money yet?" He carried a small wooden basket and looked very pleased with himself, those green eyes sparkling happily.

  I held up the mostly full purse and shrugged. "We don't actually need that much. Extra supplies might make things easier, but they usually aren't worth the weight."

  He strode to my side and looked at each pile, then back at the display cabinets and finally at me. "If you had unlimited funds, what would you grab?"

  My eyes slid to the shelf full of high-end equipment, but I shook my head and motioned to the piles in front of us. "These are plenty. Besides, more gear means more weight, and I don't know about you, but carrying around a heavy pack makes everything harder."

  He nodded, but walked to the display case and removed four more items. "Look. I want to do this right, and I have the funds to make that possible. We don't have to go crazy, but surely we need first aid equipment? And what if a gremlyn appears and chases after us, so we have to climb a tree to save ourselves? We need supplies for that, too."

  I narrowed my eyes at his ridiculous scenario. "So funny. Fine. A few more supplies, but not much."

  He grabbed two nice harnesses, a high-end belay device, some anchors, and a pair of ascenders.

  They were perfect. I stared at him, curious. "I thought you said you had no training?"

  Cheeks red, he shrugged. "I said I had no training, but I never said I was inexperienced."

  I tilted my head to the side. So he'd learned some other way? "Were your parents Reapers, then?" Many of the titled lords and ladies in the Capital had started out as Reapers, collecting enough relics that they won favor from the Kings.

  It was a plausible way to become a Reaper without gear or training …

  His flush deepened, making those distracting freckles pop out again. Were they all over his body, or just his face? No. I wasn't going there right now.

  "I — think we should focus on the gear rather than my boring life."

  I stared at him, and he shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Finally, he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, then met my eyes. "Look. This library project is more for me to prove myself than anything else. Jaiel, my partner, usually does the exploration work, but he got called away and I'm stuck copying ship manifests until he gets back."

  That made sense. He had said this was an unsanctioned mission.

  "No one believed me when I told them about the library. I need to get proof and show them they can trust me."

  Ahh. "Well then, we'd better work hard to get those answers and prove them wrong."

  His lips twisted in a smile as he bent to sort through the pile, humming to himself while he worked. He examined a few items, then pulled some more from the display. I counted out the value for each and set it by the cash register.

  By the end, the purse was only half its original weight. But Eli seemed happy, and I couldn't stop the smile that formed as I imagined using the tools he'd picked. They were better than anything I could ever afford, and light enough that it wouldn't be too much of a burden.

  We packed our bags, and he slipped a small envelope onto the register before striding off through the front door.

  I followed closely behind, looking around to see dozens of families spread across the road. "Wow. There are a lot more people here than usual!"

  Eli nodded, eyebrows drawn together. "It does seem like a large turnout … unless your vicar is really something special …"

  Well, he was that, alright. I grimaced and studied the people more closely as we wove through them. Most carried small bundles beneath their arms. The food he'd mentioned providing after services, perhaps?

  A man drifted closer, his bundle half-open, and I slowed enough to intercept him and peer inside. There was a small loaf of bread, a few jars, and — "Did you see how he healed that man with the plague?" the woman at his side was speaking to someone else, but I couldn't help overhearing. "I didn't believe the rumors, but perhaps the gods really have blessed him …"

  My toe caught on something and I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before bumping into another couple.

  Both women glared at me, then grabbed their husband's arms possessively. I rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I was going to steal their men!

  What had that woman been talking about? The vicar was healing people now, too?

  Missing Seekers? Healing vicars? What was happening around here?

  I'd have to ask Aunt Grace if she knew anything about it.

  "Kaiya. You coming?" Eli's voice carried over the crowd, and I realized we'd gotten separated in all the commotion.

  I held a hand up and waved, then pushed my way to his side. "Sorry."

  He shrugged, and we slipped out of downtown, lost in thought.

  19

  Kaiya

  The forest sped by as we walked, creatures peeked out occasionally, but none dared to approach.

  We'd tried discussing the weather, but I was terrible at small-talk, so we'd fallen into a companionable silence.

  A low voice spoke as we drew close to the ruins. It seemed to come from the clearing …

  I looked at Eli, but he just shrugged. Had someone else seen the cliff face and guessed what was underneath?

  Surely it was too soon for that …

  We crept closer, searching the clearing until we glimpsed a sliver of orange light splaying from one of the collapsed alcoves.

  I motioned for Eli to follow, and he dropped behind me as I snuck through the ruins.

  Lynk sat atop a weathered bit of column, muttering as he sorted through piles of paper. He'd let his hair free from the leather, and I had an odd urge to see if it felt as soft as it looked. The heat from before unfurled in my belly …

  Gods! What was this? First Eli, and now Lynk?

  No. No. My body would not get the best of me.

  What was he doing here, though?

  "Are you two going to just stand there and watch, or can we start hunting?"

  I stared at him, jaw agape. "Wai
t … what?"

  He just quirked a brow and grabbed another piece of paper. "Well, when the two of you practically yell your plans while you tromp through the forest, what do you expect?"

  We hadn't been that loud, had we?

  Eli stepped in front of me, arms across his chest. "What were you doing on her land, mage?"

  Lynk's brow lifted as he looked Eli up and down. "I was hunting — as one does, being a monster hunter and all. Besides, I thought I was the mage who saved your sorry asses from falling off a cliff yesterday. So, maybe you should be a bit more grateful. Unless that was some other set of idiot mageling kids?"

  My heart leaped into my throat, and I stared between him and Eli.

  Did he just call us magelings? Us? As in me and Eli?

  Eli's shoulders stiffened, and he sent a questioning look back at me. I just shrugged, hoping he'd take it all as the ramblings of a crazy man.

  But it made me wonder …

  Could Eli be a mage?

  No. Surely not.

  I'd have felt something sooner, if so. Wouldn't I?

  I hadn't really pushed to check his korra, though. I'd heard it was risky when there was a chance other mages were near, so I tried to use my magic as little as possible.

  "Kids? Did you just call us kids?" Eli's voice interrupted my thoughts.

  I stared at him, mouth agape. That was what he'd pulled from the conversation? That Lynk thought we were kids?

  Lynk just went with it, though, shaking his head and looking back down at his papers. "Are you not a kid?"

  "No more than you're an old man," Eli said, tilting his head to the side as his lips turned into a devious smirk. "Then again, that does have a certain ring … old man."

  Lynk growled, but Eli just turned back to me, face serious. "What do you think, Kaiya?"

  Nope. I was not getting involved in this weird showdown between the two of them. They could do that on their own time.