Blackwood Treasure Maps 3 Novels & Stories

"I found the signature. And something more. There was a location marker in the memory. A symbol carved into a tree behind Annalise." "What kind of symbol?" Liora asked. "Old pack markings. Territorial claim from about fifty years ago." She pulled out a map. "If I'm right, this symbol belongs to the abandoned Blackwood territory. About thirty miles north." "The Blackwood pack was wiped out decades ago," Marcus said. "That land's been empty for years." "Which makes it perfect for someone who doesn't want to be found," Jolene said. "If Annalise is using that territory, and if she has the children..."

There wasn't any map in front of me that stood out. I got up from my seat and decided to walk around the archives, perhaps then I might find something. Shelves groaned under the weight of countless maps, and I fear one day these old shelves may collapse on a poor soul's head. Hopefully I won't be that poor soul today. I passed countless maps—maps to enchanted forests, mythic isles, cursed ruin, spirits grove. But even among those maps for spirits grove, Ember Hallow was not there. Then, as I turned a corner, something drew my gaze—a map sprawled across a wooden table, illuminated by a shaft of light filtering through a dusty window. It was unlike any I had seen before.

I looked down the hallway and through the other side, and there was actually no one in sight. My heart hammered as I approached the large double office doors with D. BLACKWOOD engraved on the metal plate. I forced my trembling hand to knock. No answer. Great. I knocked again. Still nothing. Screw it. I pushed the door open— —and froze in place. Damian Blackwood sat behind his massive black desk. Sharp suit. Cuffed sleeves. Jaw tight enough to crack a diamond. He didn’t look up at me. Not even a glance. I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by his deep voice.

Sylvia said through clenched teeth. "You never know what might happen the next time we meet. The tables could turn." Belle blinked innocently. "Oh, don't worry, Miss Smith." Her smile widened. "I would never burden you with my hand-me-downs. Especially not my husband." Sylvia's jaw visibly tightened. "I know your standards are far too high for that." Belle sighed dramatically. "Unlike me, I've always loved finding treasures in unexpected places." She paused before adding playfully, "Though if we're being honest, Ethan can hardly be called secondhand."

Night pressed against the house outside, thick as a doorman on the words that would be spoken within. Carrington set the satchel onto the chair, unbuckling it, and drew out a pile of heavy files. The papers looked ordinary, but they were packed with peril. "Samuel Blackwood's kingdom," he snarled on, "is here." Shayla crept up first, slit eyes covetous. Leya sat back, fists clenched in her lap before she reached out hesitantly to the top file. There were names, numbers, papers — but there, underneath, a map of power.

Repositories for unneeded items too valuable to be thrown away, these rooms had a sad atmosphere, keeping their secrets in dusky silence. Sinclair, hand cupping her elbow, led her to another room, reached by a short flight of stairs. Lamps glowed on sumptuous velvets, on treasures he had siphoned off from other parts of Blackwood Towers or acquired on his travels. The figures on the tapestries appeared to dance, huntsmen and hounds, deer and harbourers - shimmering, lifelike; foam-flecked horses, the fierce faces, the terrified eyes of prey with scarlet gouts of blood staining their hides.

Chapter 13: The Weight of the Crown The sun rose over the mountains. It cast a blinding white glare across the snowdrifts outside the cabin window. I sat at the rough wooden table. I held a mug of tea that had gone cold an hour ago. My eyes were fixed on the map I had spread out. It was a topographic map of the Blackwood territory. I had marked the potential breach points with red ink. There were too many of them. The territory was vast and the borders were porous.

Although part of her might have been happy to corner Lucian again, if yesterday's incident really leaked to the public, it would affect the company's stock price. Blackwood Corporation was not just a company, but a business empire that spanned across multiple fields—automotive, technology, finance, and even property. Behind its great name stood four main pillars: Blackwood Motors with its electric cars and self-driving systems, Blackwood Tech, which dominated AI and cyber security, Blackwood Finance in the world of finance, and Blackwood Real Estate, which dominated property.

"Three other packs supply us through existing trade agreements and Blackwood's real value is in our timber. The forest you see around us extends for miles, and the wood here is some of the finest in the North." I absorbed this information slowly. "I'd like to visit Blackwood Pack someday," I said. "Meet your people, see how they live." Liam said nothing, but I felt him stiffen slightly behind me. "Would that be possible?" I pressed. "Or is it too dangerous with the curse?" "We'll see." Which was clearly his way of saying no without actually saying it. We rode in silence for a while longer. I was just beginning to feel truly comfortable in the saddle when Liam suddenly tensed behind me.

She could hear Marcus and Victor in the kitchen, their voices low but excited. “You think he’ll pay?” Marcus asked, the greed thick in his tone. Victor laughed, a wet, ugly sound. “Of course he’ll pay. That rich prick thinks he owns her. He’ll empty his accounts if we threaten to put a bullet in her pretty little head. We start at ten million. Cash. Untraceable.” Marcus whistled. “Ten million? You think he’s got that kind of liquid?” “He’s got way more than that,” Victor replied. “I did my research. Blackwood’s got offshore shit, shell companies, the works. We squeeze him right and we walk away set for life. Then we disappear. Maybe head down south.”