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"But what on earth were you thinking?" Cedric blew out a heavy breath, then yelped and rushed to keep the candle before him from blowing out. "Joining the sorcerers' coalition?"

He could hardly believe what he was hearing. His own sister, siding with rebels and murderers. What would their parents think?

How had his family fallen so low?

The red flame of the candle flickered with Cordelia's perceived indignation. "She was my daughter, Cedric. I know you don't understand what that means, but I couldn't live knowing that one of my own people caused her death. I needed to know who was responsible, and joining was the only way to gain their trust again. It was worth the risk."

"But you learned nothing of value!" Cedric shoved his chair aside and paced around the room. He tried to remind himself that it was 3:00 in the morning and others were asleep, but he just couldn't manage his panicked energy. "You don't know who started the cult, and you don't know who informed Lord Gilbert, and you don't know who is blame for everything."

"I do know that our people are grieving, Cedric." His sister grieved as well. "Their children are dead, and they need justice and reassurance that all this will stop."

"Of course, they want that! We all want that! We have all lost someone or something in this war." Cedric could feel his hands shaking again.

"Not all of us." Cordelia's voice fell so low that Cedric feared the spell from the candle was fading already. They were already having enough difficulty maintaining it between them. "I have all the names of sorcerers involved in the coalition, and the names of those who sided with the royals or have resisted sides altogether."

"Well, what does that have to do with anything?" Cedric demanded, exasperated. "Are you planning on giving them all up as renegades or traitors…or whatever?"

"Never." She was proud and resilient. "They are still my people, no matter what decisions they have made."

"Then, what?"

"There is one family who has taken no part in any of it. No one has had any word or sign from them at all since this occurred, maybe not even before this happened."

"What does that even matter…?"

"Cedric, listen to me." The candle flame thrust high before his eyes before dipping dangerously low to the wick. "It's the former Headmaster of Hexley Hall."

"…Grimtrix?" For a moment, Cedric couldn't find his breath.

"And his close family. His father, his brother, his nieces and nephews…they just seemed to have vanished completely!"

"Vanished?" Cedric sat down in his chair again. "But people don't just vanish into thin air! Not even sorcerers! Surely someone would notice if Grimtrix had escaped exile…"

"My dear brother." The candle was going out. The spell connecting them was weakening. "Who would notice something that wasn't right under their very noses? Even sorcerers can't predict such evil."

"Cordelia, the spell is going." Cedric cupped his hands around the flame, struggling to keep the magic alive.

"None of the sorcerers I spoke to could tell me who was responsible for the assassin's attack in Enchansia. If Grimtrix is responsible for these dark deeds, then he will not rest until he has destroyed everyone who thwarted him. Cedric, my dear, you must be cautious!"

"Cordie." The candle released one final puff of smoke as the spell over it broke. Cedric held his hands to the smoke as it died away, craning his head to catch Cordelia's last words.

"I love you, little brother."

"I love you, too, Cordie." Alone again-very much alone-Cedric buried his head in his hands again, drawing in heavy breaths.

Grimtrix had vanished. Grimtrix had vanished. And he wanted revenge, of course, he wanted revenge, on those who had thwarted him. Anyone responsible for foiling his plans and exiling him, including Cedric and…

"Sofia!" Cedric cried, forgetting everything as he leaped from his chair and bolted for her bedroom. Sleep be damned! Sofia and Hugo must be warned at once.