The Serpent's Curse by Lisa Maxwell (read an ebook week .TXT) 📕

had come to unlocking the true power within the Book, only to fail. The weight of what he’d been attempting had nearly driven him to madness. In the end, Newton had turned from the occult sciences and back to a safer and far more pedestrian path. Apparently, he had been too weak to handle the enormous potential of what he’d discovered. Instead, he’d given the Ars Arcana to the Order, along with the stones, for safekeeping.

As Jack closed the Book, his mind was still clouded with the haze of morphine. He considered the symbol carved into the cover, and as he meditated on it, he traced its intricate lines with the barest touch of his finger. In and out and around, following the figure as it doubled into itself over and out again, infinite. Impossible. Beyond his reach. Jack understood there was some larger secret here, but the Ars Arcana was not ready to reveal it.

It would soon enough. Jack had utter confidence that once he proved himself worthy, the Book would reveal everything. Until then he would focus on his machine and the destiny before him. Once he had the power contained within the Delphi’s Tear, he would finally finish his great machine and show the world what could be achieved when power and science coalesced. Luckily, the old men of the Inner Circle had put Jack in the perfect position to make all of that possible.

THE DRAGON’S PEARL

1952—San Francisco

As the taxi glided through the streets of San Francisco, Harte tried to focus on the bright lights of the city instead of the gown Esta was wearing beneath the folds of the soft strip of cashmere she’d wrapped artfully around herself. All his life, Harte had wanted to see the world, to escape from Manhattan and explore the land beyond the Brink, but nothing could have prepared him for the amazement he felt seeing the sleek motorcars speed along. They flashed like schools of impossible fish beneath the city’s lights. Nothing could have prepared him for the astounding wonder of it all. But somehow, nothing seemed half so astounding as the dress Esta was wearing.

From the front, the neckline of the frock skimmed her collarbones and was demure as anything she might have worn in his own time, but the back… Esta had asked him to pull the most ingenious little sliding fastener up to secure the dress, but even fastened, the back dipped nearly down to her waist, exposing an expanse of her smooth skin. The sight had been enough to rob him of words and make his palms sweat.

Her mouth had quirked a bit when she’d noticed his reaction, but Esta hadn’t said anything as she’d tucked the leather pouch with Maggie’s concoctions into her beaded evening bag. Just to be safe, she’d told him. Harte didn’t argue with her logic. After they’d been followed earlier, it made sense not to take any chances. They might be followed again, and if that happened, they wouldn’t be able to risk returning to the hotel.

Esta had used up most of the Quellant in those early days to be sure that Seshat would remain quiet while she’d taken care of Harte. Now there was only one tablet left, and they knew they had to save it until they were ready to return to 1902. Without the Quellant to leash her, though, Seshat prowled freely again beneath Harte’s skin. She’d been mostly quiet, but he could tell that she was only waiting for an opportunity. He wasn’t about to give her one, not when he was so close to protecting Esta for good.

Once they had the real crown and after they’d located the Book, they would use the last of the Quellant to go back to 1902 and retrieve the ring from Cela Johnson. Once Esta had all five of the artifacts, Harte would take care of Seshat so Esta wouldn’t have to. She would be left with the Book and the power within it, and with that, she could defeat Nibsy Lorcan. She would be safe. For good.

And until then? Harte would be content with being an arm’s length away from her, caught up in the sweetness of her perfume as they floated along in the plush comfort of this strange, quiet machine.

Without even thinking, Harte lifted his fingers to rub at his lips, but he could no longer resurrect the memory of the kiss they’d shared two days before. It felt like it had happened in another lifetime. He let his hand fall back into his lap and studied the passing streets as they rode on in silence until the taxi stopped at the address Esta had given the driver.

It had been far easier than Harte had expected to find his brother. Esta had located a telephone directory once they’d returned to the hotel the day before, and from there it had been a matter of sorting through the various entries to find Sammie. That had taken a while, but eventually they found a person who might be Harte’s brother—a Sam Lowe, who owned a nightclub just outside of Chinatown.

Once out of the car, Harte felt the crisp snap of autumn’s chill in the air. He could hear the sounds of an orchestra filter through the heavy golden doors each time they opened to admit another couple. On the enormous marquee above, the nightclub’s name glimmered: THE DRAGON’S PEARL.

“It’s too perfect not to have some connection.” Esta glanced at Harte. “The crown is here. It has to be.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Harte said, wanting her to be right and also not wanting to be disappointed. “First we need to see if the Sam Lowe who owns this place is really my brother.”

Esta linked her arm through his and paused, as though to confirm that this was okay—that Seshat was calm.

“It’s fine,” he told her. “I can handle this.” The power inside him was rumbling at Esta’s closeness, but with the