Read Online The Onyx Vial (Shadows of The Nine Book 1) by Alexis Lampley - Free Book Online Page B

it you wanted to talk to me about earlier?"
    “Well, I'm afraid to ask, now,” he said.
    Ariana huffed. “Oh, just try me.”
    Hunter took a moment to speak. When he did, his voice was cautious. “Dilyn says your father was Master of Words.”
    Her heart jumped and she stiffened. Gorse, Dilyn . “Yes. That's true. But it's not something he should be telling just anyone.”
    “He only said so because he thought it might be helpful information for me.”
    “Oh? How so?” She kept her voice even, but her heart raced at the thought of the book. He had to be talking about the book.
    He dug his hands in his pockets. “He says you can read the Elder Script stuff you mentioned earlier in the Pass.”
    “Yes. That's right.”
    “And that it's really rare to be able to...”
    Ariana bristled. He needed to get to the point. Faster. “What do you want, Hunter?”
    “Your help,” he said, at least not flinching at her sudden bluntness.
    “What?”
    “I was hoping you could...”
    Translate the book for him? Oh, lawks, maybe this would be her way out. It would be harder, continuing to teach herself, but—of course! Pabl! Why hadn't she thought of him earlier—Pabl could help.
    “...write up a key for me?” he finished.
    The thrill snuffed out. Her skin flashed with heat and disappointment and frustration. “That's it ?”
    Hunter frowned. “Yeah.”
    “A key for what ?”
    “To translate—”
    She scoffed. "It's not that simple. Why not just ask me to translate it and save yourself a step?”
    Hunter shook his head so quickly she wondered if he'd listened past 'why not.' He pulled his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms. “I don't want to get you in trouble with your mom.”
    Ariana laughed mirthlessly, feeling a familiar anger flash-boil her blood. “Thanks for your concern, but I don't buy it,” she snapped. “You just don't want my help. Not really. Why? What are you hiding?” She'd taken three steps toward him before she was aware of doing so.
    Hunter drew back, but set his shoulders and dropped his hands. “Hey. Look, I would really appreciate your help and all,” he said, pointing a finger at her, “but I barely know you. I told you a lot more than you needed to ask about today. Why are you being so pushy?”
    “Because I don't trust you,” she blurted, surprising herself.
    “Then why should I trust you ?”
    “Because I haven't lied to you once since we met.” She pointed back at him. “You, on the other hand, agreed to be honest with us and yet you continue to lie, especially to me.”
    “About what?” He was frayed now, too. His eyes morphed to a vibrant green. She knew her own were lit like Fyrrenian fire.
    “Don't play null with me,” she said. “You're from Earth. You lied. You said Kansas in the Pass. Why make up a world if you're trustworthy?” A voice deep down tried to give her a logical reason, but her anger wasn't having it.
    He gaped, then shook his head. “You know, you aren't as smart as you think you are."
    "What?"
    "Kansas is on Earth. It's like your Provinces on Ionia.”
    Ariana's eyes widened, and her response died in her throat. After a moment, as the pieces fell into place, she said, “That's rarer than Tieren twins.”
    “What?”
    “It's an expression. Why didn't you say Earth to begin with?”
    The creaking of footsteps sounded from Bardoc's studio above them.
    “It was the first thing I thought. I've never had to tell anyone what world I'm from before. When people ask you where you're from, do you say Ionia? Or Ladria?”
    She wrinkled her nose in frustration. She hated to admit it, but he had a point.
    A clearing of a throat made them both jump. She whirled to the stairs, pressing a hand over her fluttering heart.
    “Hunter? Ariana?”
    “Yeah,” she managed.
    Dilyn's face appeared around the bend of the stairway. “Um... am I interrupting something?” He asked, lips twisting into a grin.
    She and Hunter regarded each other with varying