Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) by Suzanne Lazear Read Free Book Online

keep anything beyond recollections of the basic lore. If anyone should ever get ahold of some of my more sensitive findings, it could be the end of this realm.
    Steven scanned the pages for anything else regarding the staff, but found no further mentions. The journal dropped to his lap. The Staff of Eris was real, dangerous, and Quinn had indeed known about it.

    Steven’s fingers traced the sketch on the page. He’d gone back to Quinn’s earlier journals, from long before he’d come to the mortal realm in exile with his father. It did look as if some of the research was missing, or hidden, but he had found something of interest—a drawing.
    According to my research, the staff may look something like this , Quinn had scrawled. It was just a regular staff, like something a monarch might carry but lacking in decoration or opulence. Looks could be deceiving, especially in objects originating in the Otherworld.
    If one needed all the pieces for it to work, it would make sense that if even one piece were destroyed, then the staff would be useless for eternity.
    On the other hand …
    Over and over, he’d thought that there had to be a better way to nourish the magic than tricking mortal girls with the Spark into becoming the sacrifice. The Spark, that extra bit of “something” in some mortals, fed the very magic that made the Otherworld exist. When Noli had been mortal, she’d possessed it in spades. So had her friend Charlotte, who’d volunteered to be the sacrifice in order to save Noli. An act that James was still recovering from, since he’d been in love with Charlotte.
    Steven had hoped they could find more volunteers like Charlotte, rather than trapping the girls, but now the staff—if reassembled—seemed to offer a third option. No sacrifice at all. No need to hunt down girls and drain them of their blood just to keep the Otherworld alive. He hadn’t finished reading all of Quinn’s notes, but it appeared as if the staff wasn’t wicked in and of itself—in the hands of the pure of heart, it could be an advantageous tool. Something that could usher in a new age for the Otherworld.
    His mother and Uncle Brogan weren’t pure of heart in the slightest.
    Also, since it had been broken into pieces and scattered in the mortal realm, rather than destroyed, it seemed as if it were meant to be reassembled at another point in time.
    Could he wield such a thing? The idea of becoming supreme ruler of the Otherworld was certainly tempting. No one would ever be able to hurt him or those he loved if he were in charge and armed with such a weapon.
    Steven shook his head, expelling such an idea. He was no queen. A queen had always ruled the High Court. A queen with the ability to command all four elements. Someone like his mother … or Elise.
    His belly lurched. If Queen Tiana, or anyone else, knew Elise had the abilities of a high queen, two things could happen. Someone would kill her. Or someone would steal her away and use her.
    Bright Lady bless, he hoped Quinn and Elise were safe.
    “V?” Noli called from down the hall. “Are you still here?”
    “I’m in Quinn’s study.” He looked at his pocket watch. Goodness, it was late. His belly squawked in agreement. But Noli had stormed out hours ago. Would it be too much to hope that this time she’d brought supper?
    A moment later, Noli appeared. “Always with the books.”
    He couldn’t help but return her smile, since she no longer looked angry. “Please tell me that you’ve come bearing supper.”
    “It’s back at the house. Jeff and Vix are visiting; they brought it.”
    “They’re here?” Steven looked up at her in surprise. That wasn’t expected.
    “Yes. They bought the house.” Noli peered at the books on the floor. “Did you find anything useful?”
    “Perhaps. I haven’t examined everything yet, but I did find something that might be helpful.” He held up the journal.
    “You believe me.” Her entire face lit up.
    “I do,” he replied.