Alice's phone rang while she was dealing with blood from Faydor's wrist. She set her phone to silent, but it rang again. It was Sky.
"Sky, I thought you were busy with Esther. Why are you calling me at 3 in the morning?" Alice groaned.
There was the sound of clothes rustling and muffled noises on Sky's end. "The Book of Mordune has been stolen. Esther and I are heading back to the palace. Come back quickly," Skylar said.
Alice froze for a second. How did she know? Did Kristen ask her for help? A flurry of possibilities raced through her mind.
"Um, I'll be there in 30 minutes," Alice replied. Just then, there was a knock at Faydor's door. Luna called for Faydor.
"Is that Luna?" Skylar asked incredulously. "You're at Luna's? What if someone saw you there? It will be news, Alice. How many times do I have to tell you not to go there?" Skylar almost screamed into the phone. Faydor muffled a laugh at the spectacle.
Behind Sky, Esther said, "Don't shout at her through the phone, love. Talk to her when she's back."
"I'll be at the palace," Alice cut off the call. She shot glares at a still-laughing Faydor. "Shut up," she sighed.
"Sorry, but that was quite a spectacle. By the way, Skylar was at Esther's place if you couldn't tell," Faydor said, still chuckling.
Alice stared at him, astonished, but filed the information away for later. She paid twice the amount—once for Luna's account and the other for Faydor's. Then she drove back to the palace, parking her favorite bike in the garage. She didn't like anyone touching it.
After parking, she walked into the hall. Skylar and Esther were sitting on the sofa, and a girl was standing next to them. All Alice could see was the girl's back.
"So, what's the trouble?" Alice asked.
As soon as she spoke, the girl turned around, her expression a mix of anger and shock. It was Kristen. What was she doing here? Couldn't Sky have mentioned on the phone that Kristen was the one who informed her about the theft?
Trying to remain calm and composed, Alice acted as if she didn't know what they were talking about or who this new person was.
"Sky, who's this?" Alice asked.
"She is—" Sky started.
Before Sky could finish, Kristen had Alice pinned against the wall, her sword at Alice's throat. Yes, she was angry about me taking the book, Alice thought.
"It's her. She stole it," Kristen told Skylar. Skylar looked flabbergasted, while Esther turned around to see what was happening. He had been annoyed before for interrupting his time with Sky, but now he shared the same shocked expression as Skylar. "Are you sure it's Alice?" he asked.
"I'm sure. It's her," Kristen said, glaring at Alice.
"If you wanted the book, all you had to do was find me. Why did you have to involve them in our little tryst?" Alice whispered just loud enough for Kristen to hear.
"If I could find you, I wouldn't have to include them," Kristen whispered back.
"Do you have the book?" Skylar asked, looking displeased.
"No, I don't," Alice replied.
"Don't believe her. She has it," Kristen insisted. She stepped back and rolled up her sleeves to show Skylar the burn marks to Skylar.
"Fine. I have it," Alice admitted reluctantly