“Writing SparkNotes would be a bad career choice for you, Silas,” Connor muttered. “No appreciation of abridgment at all.”

“Or sanity,” Adne murmured, and smiled at Shay, who laughed but tried not to meet Silas’s injured glance.

“Abridging is blasphemy,” Silas said.

I leaned forward hesitantly, not wanting another chastising remark. “I don’t get it. Shay already bears the cross. He has the tattoo.”

Connor laughed. “Man, I wish you’d taken that bet.”

Shay and I exchanged a confused glance.

Silas looked like a goose ready to lay a golden egg.

Shay frowned at him. “Well?”

“The tattoo is just a marker of who you are, a signal for those who sought you. It’s not the cross.” The gleam in the Scribe’s eye was almost too bright to look at it, particularly because it was so smug.

“Then what is the cross?” I asked quietly.

Monroe didn’t look at me; his brown eyes focused on Shay. A sober, almost regretful sigh emerged from his throat.

“It’s a weapon.”

EIGHT

“A WEAPON?” SHAY’S question emerged hushed, but not fearful.

“Technically it’s two weapons,” Silas said brightly. “But they’re meant to be used in concert. As a single force.”

“Two weapons?” I asked.

“Yes,” Monroe said, his voice still quiet. “Two swords.”

“Swords?” Shay frowned.

“The Elemental Cross,” Silas said. “One sword of earth and air, the other of fire and water. If you look closely at the mark, you’ll see that each bar of the cross has one pointed end. They’re sword points.”

“Swords,” Shay said again. He sounded frustrated and a little disappointed.

“What is it?” I asked.

He grimaced, looking at his hands.

“Shay?” Monroe leaned forward, brow furrowed.

“It’s just . . . so predictable,” Shay mumbled. “I never really saw myself fighting with swords. Particularly now that I’m a wolf.”

A warm current rushed through my veins at his last words, and I had to look away from his face to slow the sudden lurching of my heart. Maybe he does understand what it means to be a Guardian. If that was true, he could help lead my pack, which in my mind was worth more than any weapon.

“These aren’t just any swords,” Monroe said. “You’re the only one who can wield them.”

The only one? That was impressive. I looked at Shay; his expression was curious but wary. He laced his fingers together, frowning again.

I laughed, suddenly putting together his frustration and regret. “I’m sure it will be fine, Shay, but maybe not asexciting as a whip . . . or ice picks.”

“Ice picks?” Connor perked up.

Shay nodded but kept his eyes lowered.

“I bet you’re wishing you’d read more of those ninja comics now, huh?” I couldn’t stop my laughter.

Adne glanced back and forth from me to Shay. “What are you talking about?”

“Shay’s childhood aspirations,” I said, grinning. “And his favorite training manuals.”

“Swords just seem so . . . ordinary.” He shook his head.

“If you’re looking for graphic inspiration, Path of the Assassin or Shaman Warrior would be the best,” Silas offered. “Lots of sword fighting and dual wielding, which you’ll need to master. I could lend you my collections.”

Shay brightened a bit and smiled at the Scribe.

“We’ll continue the training you began at the Academy this week,” Monroe said. “It won’t be a problem. Connor can take care of it.”

“I can help.” Adne shot a dark look at Monroe. He frowned.

“She’s right,” Connor said. “I know she’s not a Striker, Monroe. But Adne’s got some serious combat skills.”

He winked at Adne. “I’m sure we’ll all be lined up to see your first match against the Scion.”

Adne grinned at him. “See, Monroe?”

“Very well.” He sighed. “Adne will help with the training.”

“We still have to get all four pieces of the cross before that’s even an issue,” Silas added.

Despite my anger, my thoughts were churning. Pieces of the cross. Shay had said there were four maps in the Keepers’ text. Was Haldis one of the pieces? And what kind of a piece was it? It didn’t look like any kind of weapon I’d seen . . . unless. The Elemental Cross was two swords. The cylinder we’d found in the cavern obviously wasn’t a blade, but I knew what it could be. Particularly since Shay was the only one who could wield the swords. And he was the only one who could touch Haldis. It had to be.

“No,” I said quietly. “We only have to get three of the pieces.”

The room fell silent, all eyes wide and on me.

“Excuse me?” Silas said at last.

“Shay and I went to Haldis Cavern,” I said. “He has the piece that was hidden there.”

Shay blanched. “Uh, I haven’t told them about Haldis yet, Cal.”

“I know.” I let my gaze tell him exactly what I thought of that decision. “It’s a hilt. Isn’t it? A sword hilt?”

“Yes . . . it is.” Monroe turned to face Shay. “What haven’t you told us about Haldis?”