Chapter 27
The moment Sybelle and Enzira vanished through the door, I had my hand wrapped around Warwick’s throat and pinned him so hard against the wall that the ceiling and chandelier rattled. Around us, the music stopped, and gasps filled the air.
But I only had eyes for Warwick. I bared my teeth at him, allowing the fury roiling inside me to burst free.
My fingers wrapped tighter around his neck, my claws drawing blood.
My shadows, which had already surrounded us, thickened and roiled like black smoke.
The lights were smothered, and it was only thanks to fae sight that anyone could make out what was happening.
But even as the black droplets ran down his throat, Warwick still managed to grin at me, a strained chuckle wheezing past his lips.
“You kill me,” he rasped, “and you’ll never know the answer.”
“To what,” I snarled, barely able to leash my temper. I was seconds away from slicing open his throat and watching him bleed out on the floor.
“To ending your curse.”
Everything in me went still at his words. Behind me, Murvo said in a warning voice, “Warwick, don’t .”
I could only stare at this soldier, who had a glint in his eye. He knew he’d won.
Still, I held his throat, keeping him pinned to the wall. I wasn’t ready to release him. Not when he’d threatened Sybelle. This bastard had no ounce of remorse.
He would do it again. I was certain of it.
“You’re bluffing,” I hissed.
“I’m fae,” he said with another hoarse laugh. “Can’t lie.”
“Then say it,” I bit out.
“Loosen your grip,” he choked out, “and I will.”
A growl rumbled in my throat as I glared at him. He gazed calmly back, as if I weren’t about to crush his windpipe.
He knew he had the upper hand.
Whispers and murmurs rippled around me. The revel had officially halted, and I was aware of every pair of eyes watching us.
Slowly, I relaxed my hold on him, but I kept my fingers on his throat, just to be safe.
“Talk,” I said.
Warwick smirked, his mouth curling in smug satisfaction. “I swear on my life and the fae blood coursing through my veins that I know the key to ending your curse. Something you didn’t know about before.”
What the hell was he talking about? And how did he know this?
“ Warwick !” Murvo barked. “That’s enough.”
I whirled, keeping a firm grip on the soldier while I glared at my captain of the guards. “Who are you to give him orders when his king holds him by the throat?” I roared.
“You are not his king,” Murvo said, his voice surprisingly bold. Not once had he ever spoken to me like that.
I froze, my blood chilling. If Warwick was not one of my subjects, then …
Slowly, I turned to look at the soldier, my nostrils flaring. “Who the hell are you? And why are you in my court?”
“Ah, well, those are questions that I can only answer when you aren’t threatening my life, good king.” Warwick offered a lopsided smile that only fueled my rage.
With my free hand, I rammed my fist into the wall just inches away from Warwick’s face. Fae screamed at the crash that echoed in the room. Stone crumbled, and my knuckles throbbed. But Warwick held my gaze, unperturbed.
“Murvo, who the hell is he?” I bellowed, my gaze never straying from Warwick’s.
“Remember your bargain, captain,” Warwick said loudly.
I scented Murvo’s fear, a putrid thing that swirled in the air next to me. “I—I cannot, Your Highness. I am bound by fae laws.”
I bit back a curse, resisting the urge to run my claws straight through Murvo’s chest.
“Varius,” said a soft voice to my right.
I didn’t need to look to know it was Clermont, trying to quiet my fury.
But it was far too late for that.
“Varius, you should let him go.” Clermont’s voice was stronger now. I wasn’t sure when he had appeared; perhaps someone had sent for him after Sybelle and I had made a scene.
Mother of Shade. Sybelle. Everything changed now that this soldier, this intruder was among us and knew about my curse. And with her here, it complicated things.
I couldn’t risk her safety.
“If he is from another court, he could be a spy,” I ground out. “I should throw him in the dungeons.”
“He could also be a nobleman or a royal,” Clermont said. “We cannot risk it. We cannot afford a war with another court! Release him, Varius. I am begging you.”
I knew him well enough to understand he wasn’t ordering me but pleading. If anyone other than Clermont had been speaking to me in such a way, I would have broken their legs.
“Swear you will not bring harm to Sybelle,” I growled, my eyes drilling into Warwick, “and I will release you.”
Warwick hummed as if considering this. He leaned forward, drawing my claws deeper into his throat and allowing rivulets of black blood to spill down his shirt. “No.”
My shadows exploded, and I unleashed a roar, shoving him to the floor and slashing my claws across his forearm. Blood spurted, soaking the carpet, and several screams rang out.
“ Varius !” Clermont screamed.
“I don’t care who the hell he is. Throw him in the dungeons,” I said to no one in particular. “And Clermont—see that Murvo is awaiting me in my chambers.”
I didn’t wait for anyone to respond before I tore from the room, flinging the door open and stepping into whatever place the castle deemed fitting.
Any room was preferable to this. If I lingered around other fae for much longer, I was bound to kill someone.
I found myself in my own chambers. It was just as well. I needed to be alone to compose myself, but I also wanted to be alert the moment Murvo was brought to me.
That son of a bitch. That lying piece of shit. I didn’t know what was going on, but I intended to inflict as much pain as was required for Murvo to give me answers. Fae bargain be damned.
I paced the length of my room, my steps hard and furious, my shadows spilling around me and swirling more violently than a rushing river. My fingers curled and uncurled into tight fists, and I couldn’t keep my arms from trembling.
I distracted myself by changing into a loose tunic and trousers, feeling ridiculous wearing my revel attire. When I finished, I found myself pausing at the adjoining door to Sybelle’s room. My hand stretched for the doorknob, prepared to open it and see if the castle would take me to her .
Seconds before touching the knob, I froze, my fingers stiff. With a growl, I withdrew and continued my pacing.
I didn’t need to be around Sybelle right now. She couldn’t see me like this. It would only frighten her further, and she was likely already terrified enough.
Besides, Enzira was with her, and she was quite capable. She seemed to sense when Sybelle needed assistance, and I respected her for that.
Fifteen minutes passed, and my anger only mounted as I considered every past interaction with Murvo. I trusted him. Relied on him. For a decade, he had proven his loyalty to me.
And he was betraying me with Warwick, whoever the hell he was.
When the knock sounded at my door, my shadows had thinned to a subtle mist that coated the floor. But within me, my anger continued to simmer.
I had just gotten better control of it.
Steeling myself with a steady breath, I opened the door and found a bound and gagged Murvo waiting on the other side. Behind him was Clermont, his face rigid and his jaw tense.
“As you requested,” my steward said tightly before shoving Murvo toward me. I caught the captain before he collapsed to the floor, then glanced at Clermont. “And Warwick?”
“In the dungeons, as you ordered.” Clermont wouldn’t meet my eyes.
He was unhappy with this situation. I couldn’t blame him. I expected a stern lecture from him later.
But for now, I only nodded once at him before shutting the door with my foot. I shoved Murvo forward, and he landed hard on his elbows with a muffled cry. One of his eyes was swollen and bloody, and a large gash on his shoulder bled freely.
I kicked him for good measure, then crouched before him, bracing my arms on my knees. He was whimpering, muttering something I couldn’t make out from behind the gag .
“You know what I am capable of, Murvo,” I murmured softly. “You know what my shadows will do to you.”
He nodded quickly, tears shining in his eyes. His entire body was shaking.
“So, you will talk?”
Again, he nodded vigorously.
“I will remove your gag. But if you scream, I will slit your throat with my claws. Do you understand?”
Another nod.
“Very good.”
Slowly, I slid the gag out of his mouth, and he coughed, then sucked in a ragged breath.
“Now, talk.”
I sat back on my rear, arms still resting on my knees, and waited. My insides churned restlessly with rage and violence, but I held my body perfectly still.
“There is little I can s-say,” Murvo sputtered, blinking more tears from his eyes. “Because of the b-bargain.”
“Then, tell me what you can say. When was this bargain struck?”
“T-Two years ago.”
“And you cannot say with whom?”
“N-No, Your Highness.”
“Can you tell me the terms of your bargain?”
He shook his head.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “What can you tell me? Does it involve another court?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me which court?”
“No.”
I mentally ran through my list of enemies.
The Earthen Court was high on that list, but they had no associations with the fae.
Could it be the Sun Court? They had been quiet for the past decade or so, but Father had had strained relations with them once.
Perhaps old grudges had been brought to light.
But with our shadows, who would seek us out? Who would target us? Most courts assumed the shadows belonged to me, and their fear kept them from invading. Anyone else believed a plague or blight to be upon our land and wanted nothing to do with us.
They weren’t far from the truth.
“Do you know anything about the curse?” I asked quietly.
Murvo met my gaze, his lip trembling. “I know… that there is more to it… than you think.” He gritted his teeth, and a vein flared in his temple. He shook, his face flushing as an anguished cry burst from his throat.
I had seen the effects of breaking fae bargains before. He was close to violating the terms of the agreement.
If the bargain killed him, he would be useless to me.
I gripped his chin with my hand, silencing him. “Don’t,” I warned.
He shook his head, his breaths coming in sharp wheezes. “He will kill me anyway. After this. It does not matter.”
“Murvo,” I said. “Do not do this. I can protect you.”
He barked a humorless laugh. “No, you can’t.”
My grip on his face tightened. “ Tell me what you can. I beg of you. If it can save my people, then…”
“I will tell you,” he rasped. “But you must listen carefully, Varius. Listen to me. ”
I nodded, my eyes intently fixed on him. My heart thrummed in anticipation, and my shadows billowed around us, forming a protective shield should anything or anyone interrupt us.
Murvo took a deep breath, then said in a rush, “Find the original script of the curse. In order to break the curse, you must… you must…”
“A human must willingly give her life for mine,” I supplied.
“Yes, but… there are terms outlining the—the—” He broke off with a grunt, then inhaled with a rattling gasp. “There is more… that you must do… to…”
Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.
Shit. The magic was killing him.
“To… end the curse?” I urged.
He nodded, more blood leaking from his nose. “F-For a spell of that magnitude, the witch h-had to… had to… include… terms…”
My mind was working furiously to fill in the gaps for him. “She had to include… certain conditions, or else the spell wouldn’t work. Is that right?”
“Yes. But… V-Varius, the most important thing… that you must do… The first condition… With her dead… there is… a…” He coughed, and blood spattered my tunic. But I didn’t care. I gripped his collar with my free hand and jerked him closer, our noses almost touching.
“ Tell me. ”
“There is another,” he choked out. “Someone… else…” He trailed off, his breath leaving him. Blood now leaked from his eyes, which rolled back. His body started seizing in my arms.
My eyes closed as I cradled him against my chest, trying to soothe him through it. He was too far gone now. I had seen this happen before.
Even with strangers, it was difficult to witness. But I had known Murvo for years. I had trained with him. Regardless of the secrets he had kept from me, I had once trusted him in battle. We had been brothers in arms.
Before today, I had considered him a friend.
Each strangled breath of his seemed to twist a knife deeper into my chest.
All I could do was hold him as the magic claimed him. He continued to thrash, the movements jerky and wild. His blood oozed from every opening of his body, seeping into my clothes. He started gurgling on it, struggling to breathe.
Tears stung my eyes, but I kept them closed, holding him so tightly my hands went numb. It felt like an eternity before his body finally went still.
And as my captain lay dead in my arms, I wept bitterly for him.