Chapter 26

Elara's POV

The next morning, I arrived at Zarek Vane's estate, the ancient sigils of the Steelbound Alliance etched in obsidian stone and silver above the archway. I clutched the rare tome—M's Bestiary of Skyborne Avians—wrapped in deep burgundy leather, still warm from the hearth in my study where I had pored over it all night.

"Mr. Vane," I said once I was shown into the marble-clad receiving c