Chapter 40
My head was still reeling from what had happened with Sybelle in the bedchamber when I made my way to Tislora’s apothecary.
Sybelle had been acting so strangely when she dismissed me. I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment over her dream or shock from what had transpired with the gem and the shadows.
Or perhaps she had been acting odd because there was more she wasn’t telling me.
I clenched my teeth. She wasn’t the only one who was keeping secrets.
I still hadn’t told her that breaking the curse would claim her life.
“Back so soon?” Tislora asked in a bored voice. She was lounging in an armchair by the window, reading with her legs propped up. Her thin eyebrows shot up at my entrance.
“Do you live in this room?” I asked, glancing around. A woolen blanket at her feet implied she often curled up in that very chair to sleep.
“When I have a grouchy king constantly barking orders at me to make more elixirs, then yes.” She swung her legs down and straightened. “I’m assuming that’s why you’re here?”
“No.” I paused. In truth, I was here to ensure the enchantments around the castle were in place, in case of an attack from the Earthen Court.
But unbidden, Murvo’s words rang in my mind. Find the original script of the curse. Despite my searching, I still hadn’t found any record of the sorceress’s spell.
“Do you have any records from past sorceresses?” I asked.
Tislora went very still. The hairs on my arms stood on end at the almost predatory way she seemed to freeze. Like she was waiting to strike down her prey.
“Why are you asking me that?” Her voice was quiet, but lethal.
I hadn’t told her about Murvo yet. There hadn’t been an opportunity. I didn’t know much about her background as a sorceress; all I knew was she had faced much persecution because of her magical heritage, and that trauma was still fresh.
To bring this up would likely reopen those wounds.
But this was of utmost importance. After all, she was bound by the curse as well.
After a deep breath, I filled her in on what Murvo had told me. Her mouth formed a thin line, her eyes darkening as she listened.
When I finished, she said, “I could possibly cast a spell on your blood, since your bloodline is entangled with the curse. It may bring forth the original terms of the enchantment. But… it would be extremely painful. And, with centuries between you and the curse, there’s no guarantee it will work.”
I nodded without hesitation. “Let’s do that. Do whatever you need to prepare.”
“Very well.”
When I continued to stand there, unmoving, she cocked her head at me. “Was there… something else you needed?”
“I need to ensure our magical wards are intact. There may be a threat approaching.”
Her expression sobered. “What kind of threat? ”
Recalling our earlier argument, I hesitated. If I said a human army , she would scoff and blame my human wife.
So, instead, I said, “There’s a spy among my soldiers, feeding information to another kingdom. Word has it he’s planning to draw them out, and I need to make sure we are properly protected.”
Her brows lowered. “My wards are always intact.”
“Go check them anyway.”
She glared at me. “Is that an order, oh great king?”
“Yes,” I bit out.
She exhaled in exasperation and rose to her feet. “Really, Varius, is it going to be this way?”
“If you continue to insult my wife and accuse her of treason, then yes.”
“Weren’t you speculating about her duplicity mere moments before she arrived in this kingdom? It’s hardly fair you would pass judgment on me for thinking the same thing.”
“Things are different now. We have taken our vows. She is my wife . And… I trust her.” I surprised myself by uttering those words. But they were true. I wouldn’t be able to say them if they weren’t.
Tislora blinked, clearly just as stunned as I was. “Wife or not, she has not been coronated. She holds no authority over this court or me.”
I bared my teeth at her. “Why are you doing this?”
She drew closer to me, her silver eyes sharpening. “To protect you. You are blind when it comes to her, Varius. If you won’t see clearly, then someone else has to.”
My shadows coiled at my feet as anger bubbled within me. “Just check the damn wards,” I said through gritted teeth.
Before Tislora could respond, someone knocked at the open door, and we both turned. Clermont stood at the doorway, panting, his eyes wide.
“What is it?” I demanded, my body tensing .
“Warwick,” Clermont said. “He’s—He’s escaped. He killed Tavish.”
My blood chilled. Tavish was the fiercest fighter I knew. How the hell had Warwick overpowered him?
“Shit.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Where was he last sighted?”
“Just outside the training yard.”
“Your trousers are glowing,” Tislora said.
Clermont and I cast her matching looks of bewilderment. When she gestured to my thigh, I followed her gaze. Sure enough, a warm glow shone from inside my pocket. As silence fell, a muffled voice filled the air.
“You don’t want to do this,” said the voice.
My blood chilled. It was Sybelle speaking to me through the amber stone. I’d forgotten it was in my pocket.
I withdrew the gemstone and lifted it to my ear. The glow vanished, and her voice rang in my mind.
“Warwick, think about this. If you hurt me, Varius will kill you.”
A menacing growl rumbled in my chest. “Warwick,” I snarled. “He’s with Sybelle.”
“Where?” Tislora asked.
I shook my head, uncertain. I clutched the amber so tightly that the edges dug into my palm. “Sybelle, where are you?” I asked, not sure if she could hear me or not. Perhaps the amber stone worked both ways. She had mentioned she’d used it to communicate with a friend.
“What are you even doing out here in these woods?” Sybelle asked. “Aren’t there supposed to be enchantments to keep fae out?”
I bit back a roar of rage. “She’s in the Noxen Forest.” What the hell was she doing there?
I was moving to the door when Tislora stopped me.
“I’m coming with you.”
“The hell you are,” I barked.
“You have no idea how many soldiers he has with him,” she said, already drawing her black cloak around her shoulders. “If the human’s life is at stake, you could use my power.”
I whirled to her, fangs bared. “And how can I trust you won’t aim that power at my wife?”
She leveled a cold look at me. “I swear on my fae blood that I won’t. Is that good enough for you?”
“Varius,” Clermont said before I snarled at Tislora. “If Sybelle is in the Noxen Forest, you’ll need powerful magic to help you.”
I resisted the urge to ram my fist into the wall. Clermont was right. The moment the defensive enchantments of the Noxen Forest were activated, I would be unable to help Sybelle. The shrill ringing sound would render me helpless.
“Fine,” I growled. “I don’t have time to argue. I hope you’re up for flying.”
Tislora gave me a sinister smile. “I always am.”