Page 43 (1/1)

"Yes, for Rosario" I dip my quill and add his name to a different sheet of parchment

"And what’s that?" he asks

I blow on the ink, then hold it up "It’s a list There’s so et done I want to map the catacombs, find out if that inscription in the tunnel leads to another place of power--ates of power all over the world The Wallows are desperately poor, but full of good people--maybe I’ll establish a school there, or at least a library"

"If they could read, we could hire some of them to--"

"And how exactly did our ancestors mix our blood with that of the Inviernos? Why are some Inviernos born with Godstones, when ic? Was it God? If so, where do the in" My voice breaks off at the sound of chuckling

"You will acco you set out to," he says "Of that I have no doubt"

I regard hily "I know"

He indicates the Godstone with a chin lift "What are you going to do with that?"

I stare at it There is nothing beautiful or potent about it now "Maybe I’ll et around to it"

Gently, he asks, "Do you miss it?"

"No," I say honestly "My true poas never in rab it from the table, open the parchlides to the back, out of sight, and I slide the drawer ho of power" I rise fro his cheek, his throat, running my hands over his broad shoulders He buries his face in my hair

"It would destroy me to have you just a little," he once said to htfully At the time, he orried I had too ive him my whole self

"Hector, I have to ask Do you want to be an emperor? Because I could make you one You could be my equal in rank, with just as much authority Tristán still owes h--"

"No need," he says, reaching up to brush ood leader, but you’re a great ruler I ah--to be subject to you"

"Are you?" I arch an eyebrow at him

He scoops ently down, grinning enormously "I am"

"Show me," I command

He shows me