24. Chapter 24
24
Casimiro
T wo weeks passed uneventfully, with no report from Zara. I was growing impatient. She still roamed the palace, sticking more to the inside halls than the frozen outside ones. I yearned to know whether she sought another escape or simply the information I’d asked her to collect.
In the back of a seldom-used cavern reserved for the royal family’s relaxation, I was passing the dreadful daylight hours attempting to read the ancient agreement set down between my father and the dryads who kept the forest at the base of our mountain. They had been lax in their efforts to keep the other lesser fae from wandering too near the border. And while our mountain was invisible to fae and humans alike, the magic of the border was detectable by any high fae if they came into direct contact with it. Fending off an attack from the Sun Court wasn’t what I had in mind while Father was away. I had enough to worry about. But the wording of the agreement was so vague that my father could basically charge the dryads with breeching their bargain if and when he pleased. When I’d read the same paragraph three times, I gave up, letting the scroll roll up.
I sensed Felipe’s approach before he rounded the little bend that separated the reading space from the rest of the small cavern.
He was in his shadow form, an odd choice considering the hour.
He was also in a hurry.
His billowing shadow form swirled away from his body in little black tendrils, almost like he would blow away if I sneezed.
“You look terrible,” I said, standing to greet him. His shadow form was usually much stronger.
“I came this way because I couldn’t leave my other location. And I thought you would want to know what I discovered.”
“You know how I hate a dramatic buildup.”
Felipe laughed, wisps of smoke peeling out of his black mouth. “I found your mortal woman outside the throne room.”
A cough threatened to escape my lips, but I masked it by clearing my throat. “ My mortal? Is that so?”
Felipe’s darkened features cracked a smile. “You’re the reason she hasn’t been chosen as a table decoration yet. Admit it.”
I shrugged. “If I am, I have my reasons.”
In truth, it was foolish of me, but I couldn’t quite shut down the feelings of rage that swept into my blood when I imagined her shoved in a cage. And yet, I was the one who’d brought her here, to this palace, a cage all its own.
“Your father will find out, Cas. And when he does, he won’t make a charitable choice.”
My expression hardened. “She’s hunting for information about the poisonings,” I admitted. “If she thinks I’m allowing her that kind of humiliation, she’ll change her mind about helping me.”
Felipe nodded. “I can see her getting angry about that. She’s a fiery one. It’s why you can’t stop watching her.”
The spike of heat flaming through my hands proved he was right. “You’re wrong. She angers me.”
“You can call it that if you like.”
Blue light filled my vision as my magic flared in my veins. “I assumed she could learn something of value from the servants regarding who is planning an attempt on my sister’s life.”
Felipe finally had the decency to look down. “Of course. And your life. Don’t forget yours is in danger, too.”
I nodded. “Yes, but killing me early is a waste of poison.”
Felipe coughed and pinched his brow. “And did she find anything yet?”
“Not yet.” I stood and stepped around Felipe. “But if she’s found the throne room, I suppose she needs rescuing again.”
Felipe’s shadowy features curled into a smirk. “She does. But there’s no need for you to stop what you’re doing.”
Realization struck with a quiet jolt. “Ah. You plan to retrieve her?” A stab of unease shot through my chest. My father liked his throne untouched in his absence, and as such, anyone who touched the throne while he was away would suffer from a withered hand.
“What is she doing?” I asked, careful to keep my tone even and unconcerned.
“For now, only looking around. She hasn’t approached the throne.”
I scratched my chin. A beard was forming that I needed to remove. What are you up to, little spark?
“Want me to bring her back down?” asked Felipe.
“No.” The response was too fast. I tried to recover. “I will see that she doesn’t touch Father’s precious throne.”
Felipe nodded, hiding a smile. “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
As I moved out of the small cavern, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a reason to wrap my arms around her again or not. And the uncertainty of that brought a wave of pain as the curse surged in my blood.
By the time I reached the throne room, Zara was not there.
Her scent lingered on the cool air, and I searched for her with my magic. She was near, in the weapons training room.
Odd . She did all of her training outside, with the other entertainers.
As I approached the massive cavern, a smile broke across my face and I paused outside the room. Alba.
My sister’s magic resonated against my own from inside the room dedicated to combat training. Had Zara finally agreed to spar with Alba? I hoped Alba hadn’t used any coercive magic to push Zara’s stubbornness aside.
Part of me wanted to barge in and watch, and part of me wanted to let it unfold. I hesitated outside the cavern. If she befriended my sister, perhaps Zara would not think of us all as monsters.
My hand lifted toward the handle, but I never turned it.
Because I was a monster. I’d never planned to keep Zara alive at the end of my Father’s absence. Only Alba. Everything was for her, to keep my sister alive.
Everything Zara had said about me was true, and her words cut like knives, exposing me. I would search out the traitor in my court, the one who wanted to poison Alba and me, and I would do it without Zara’s help. She didn’t need to think of me as good, for I wasn’t. Despite all my elixirs and potions, I had no antidote for my father’s wrath. And if she was alive at his return, he would end her, without a doubt.