The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 5 by Bella Forrest (best biographies to read TXT) 📗

did what I had to do. That’s as much as any of us can do here, to get through this. It can’t always be up to you, Alex,” she added, not unkindly. There was a soft affection in her voice, laced with a steely undercurrent.

“I didn’t say it was always up to me,” he replied quietly.

“Of course not, but I know what you’re like. You want to protect, but you forget that others can protect too, and sometimes you’re the one who needs saving.” She smiled.

“I just… I worry about you, that’s all.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping.

She squeezed his hand tightly. “And that is what I love about you,” she said, the word “love” flowing easily from her mouth. “It’s also what irritates the hell out of me. You just need to know I’m no damsel, and you’re no hero—we’re a team, a partnership, shouldering equal responsibility. Once you see that, you won’t worry so much.”

“I think I’ll always worry too much about you,” he said softly.

“Alex, look,” Aamir said, shattering the moment. He was pointing toward the side of the room, where a doorway had appeared. It hadn’t been there before, and Alex could feel the chill of a breeze wafting through.

Putting his arm around Ellabell, he walked toward the newly opened door, with Aamir bringing up the rear. It led out into the depths of the forest, the air growing still around them. It had started to rain, and a light drizzle met their faces as they rose from the underground tomb. As soon as Aamir was through, the side door slammed shut, closing the vault.

Ellabell glanced back, startled. “Where’s Lintz?”

“He sacrificed himself so we could have the book,” Alex explained sadly.

“He’s dead?” she gasped.

Alex shook his head. “No, not dead… Well, not exactly. He told us he looked the specters in the eye—I guess they don’t leave you alone once you’ve done that. Now, he has to stay in the vault, as the price for us taking the book, but I’m hoping we can free him, if we’re quick with the spell, and get the book back as soon as possible. I’m sure he can survive long enough,” he said, though he wasn’t convinced in the slightest. It stung to admit it, but he had a sinking feeling that Lintz was already dead. Even if they could return to the vault in time, he knew the specters wouldn’t rest until they dragged Lintz down with them.

It did little to comfort Ellabell, though Alex could tell she was trying to put on a brave face. It was what they were all trying to do, silently sharing the knowledge that the professor was likely lost to them.

“You three!” A familiar voice called to them from the trees. Hadrian crept from the darkness, his expression anxious. “You made it? Where is the professor?”

Alex gave another quick rundown of what had happened, and watched as Hadrian’s face fell. It seemed the royal had known it might have been the case, from the weary weight that made his shoulders sag and his brow crease.

“I’m sorry for that,” he said kindly. “The p-price is always high.”

“Did you know this would happen?” Alex asked, his tone accusatory.

Hadrian gave a slight nod, wringing his hands. “I had an inkling. It has happened before, but the game often changes, so I couldn’t be certain.”

“You didn’t think to tell us?”

Hadrian winced. “I couldn’t, Alex. The vault knows when assistance has been given. B-besides, what would you have done if you had known? Would you h-have given up the book?” the royal scrutinized him with nervously darting eyes, and Alex found he didn’t have an answer. In truth, no matter what the price, they would have had to pay it. It wasn’t just their own lives at stake—the whole picture was so much bigger than them, and as much as he hated to admit it, Alex knew they probably still would have had to go through, even if they’d known beforehand.

“I guess not,” Alex finally replied, though his eyes glanced back toward the vault door. “Are you sure I can’t just write down the spell and put the book back?”

Hadrian shook his head. “With this p-particular counter-spell, the book must bear witness—the book must gauge the s-sincerity of the performer.”

Alex clutched the book tighter in his hands. He would have to make sure he didn’t lose it, or let it fall into the wrong hands. If the book had to be present at the counter-spell performance, he was determined to keep it safe, leaving it under the watch of trustworthy guardians when it wasn’t safe for him to have it by his side.

“Will we have to return here when the spell is done?” Alex asked, reluctant to step away. It was stupid, but part of him felt like he was abandoning Lintz, and the pull of those ties was unbearably painful.

“Since it has never been successfully completed, it is not known. The book may need to be returned by h-hand, or it may disappear by itself, as it does when the spell f-fails three times,” Hadrian said, his eyes flitting toward the tree-line. “Come, we must get you to safety,”

Alex still felt reluctant to go, but the book was calling his name as the group followed Hadrian. It was a slow trek through the damp woods, the exit to the vault having popped up a long way from the pagoda, but eventually the grand structure appeared in the distance. Hadrian carried a small device, shaped like a long, slender pen, with him that seemed to scope out any traps or devices lurking in the dingy forest, its presence leading them safely back, without incident.

It didn’t deal with guards, however. That’s what Hadrian was for. Ensuring the coast was clear by sending several troops off to see to broken-down traps, the royal ushered them into the pagoda and up the stairs, to the very top floor, where he had had chambers prepared for them. It was a kindness