Edge of Pathos (The Conjurors Series Book 4) by Kristen Pham Read Free Book Online Page B

said. “It will be a stain on your conscience for
the rest of your life.”
    “I’m not going to
hurt you,” Valerie said, releasing Willa once she stopped wriggling. “Why would
you think that? I’m here to ask you for a favor, not to take your life.”
    “Then what did you
bring him for?” Willa said, her eyes flicking to Thai. “I know he does Reaper’s
dirty work. When I visited Elsinore, I saw him taking away innocent Conjurors
who refused to support the Fractus in chains to Dunsinane.”
    Thai’s mouth turned
in a sharp frown. Willa had mistaken Thai for Tan, his clone.
    “This isn’t who you
think,” Valerie said, and explained Thai’s identity.
    Willa’s posture
relaxed, but she continued to eye Thai suspiciously.
    “Why are you
searching for me, then? I don’t have my father’s power to detect sources of
deep magic, if that’s what you’re hoping. My magic allows me to help things
grow, like flowers. Not very useful during wartime.”
    “We’re here because
of your connection to Al, the Grand Master of the Stewardship Guild,” Valerie
quickly interjected.
    Willa scowled. “That
traitor?”
    “We’re hoping you
can convince him to leave the Fractus,” Thai said.
    “Why would you think
that I would have any influence over him?” she asked, her brows lowering in
suspicion.
    “We discovered that
you two had a…connection. That he cares about you,” Valerie said.
    “How? No one knows
about that. We never even had our first date. I cut him off as soon as he put
his resources behind that monster, Reaper.”
    “My brother, Henry,
has the power to touch minds, to see inside–”
    “He invaded my mind?
Then he’s no better than the Fractus you’re fighting!” Willa said. “How could
you allow that?”
    Valerie was filled
with shame. She’d never considered that breaking into someone’s mind, reading
their most private thoughts, was no better than what Kellen had done to her
when he’d controlled her actions with fairy dust. In some ways, it was worse.
    Thai’s hand briefly
touched her back in support, and she straightened. She had to face her mistake
head on.
    “I’m sorry,” she
said, not allowing her voice to waver. “I try to be a good leader, but in some
ways I’m still a kid. It was a stupid mistake. I didn’t think. I apologize for
our invasion, and I understand if you don’t want to help us.”
    “I didn’t say that,”
Willa said with a reluctant smile. “I can see why the Conjurors follow you. And
I would do anything to see Reaper suffer after what he did to my father. But I
don’t see how I can help.”
    “Do you think Al is
a bad man, at heart?” Thai asked.
    Willa shook her
head.
    “Then talk to him.
You might be the only one he’ll listen to right now. If we can’t find a way to
end this drought, we’ll lose Silva,” Valerie said.
    “I know if it were
me, I’d listen to the woman I love and try to see things her way,” Thai added.
    “It is rather a
dream of mine to be called upon to change the tide of a war, like a hero of
old,” Willa said, her voice dreamy. “I’ll talk to the fool.”
    “Thank you,” Valerie
said. “I will not forget your noble service.”
    Willa grinned at
Valerie’s flourish with words.
    “I like
you, little vivicus. So I’ll solve this problem, one way or another. You have
my word.”
    After a long meeting
with Skye and Calibro about the progress the Fist’s Grand Masters were making
in their inroads into Dunsinane, Valerie walked home alone for the first time
in a long while.
    She breathed in the
still night air as she slipped between the buildings that formed The Horseshoe.
She was always on the lookout for attacks, but right now her instincts were
quiet.
    Which was why she
never saw the hand that reached from behind to grab her and tackle her to the
ground coming. Fortunately, her magic surged within her without hesitation, and
she grabbed the creature by his wrist and hurtled him over her shoulder. He
landed hard