led over Cape Raven like the earth itself

Ashcombe private archives. Behind her, Faye crouched beside the electronic panel, h

tting her brow. "Helen's biometric code won'

shcombe Library-marble walls lined with paintings worth millions and silence

oor clicked

ng to her full height, "t

ete walls sealed in with pressure locks. Inside were temperature-controlled glass cases, oil paintings half-unf

sor light bu

pped into

nd," she whispered. "The forbidden basement

his house. And they're stac

blindfolded saint. "Vivienne always marked her pieces with a sigil," she explained. "A lette

e drawer. "So you thin

as leverage. Proof Vivienne's collection

ed open t

u

graphs. Black envelopes

th

d book. Edged in gol

vienne

it like it was

embled as sh

ages faster. A

ye whispere

ds: Ashcombe Collection - Lot

olish crypt. Sold via pro

a

: Jeffrey

rt stopped.

Faye said coldly. "He wa

h

cr

the ar

head up. "Did you

r coat pocket. She pulled out a smal

tst

a v

le

. Or I'll make sure neither

gnized from past events, dressed now not in

ried to be kind. Generous. I eve

to her chest. "And I declined, bec

istaken rebellion for strength. But th

ded to

ke

smashing it into the nearest guard's shoulder. He stagge

shri

ul?" she spat. "You're nothing. Bot

, breath ragged

e. You almost erased Vivienne.

. "You think

I've started fighting.

y r

op balcony above the east win

he journal in

o we g

h to the gardener's quarters. It leads straight t

back toward t

coming ba

met he

," she said. "Bu

d faintly.

ed out int

es holding

a wooden tab

iew the

Every name they list. Ever

to the press

e find 'The Raven's Mercy.' The painti

d J

ression is

lk. Or he

racked in t