Chapter 44
?PAEONIA
Pae’s lungs were on fire. She ran as fast as she could through the halls, Castor just ahead of her.
“Where are we going?” Paeonia shouted.
Castor slowed down, and Paeonia stumbled, halting herself before slamming against him. “I don’t know where else we could go in time,” he said flatly, standing before the observatory's door.
“What if we went to Findale?”
Castor shook his head. “You would risk stepping out into the night?”
“Won’t they be looking for me in here?”
Castor opened his mouth to speak, his lips parted, but no words came out. He seemed caught in a trance. The castle groaned.
“What is it?” Paeonia hissed.
Castor unsheathed the stone sword strapped to his hip. “Laurus. I think…I think he’s here?” he said more as a question.
Laurus. Laurus. Laurus.
Rowan’s brother’s name rang repeatedly in her mind.
Laurus. Laurus.
Why did that name feel so important?
Laurus.
Beyond that of Castor telling her of Rowan’s past. The name lurched in her gut, the syllables something she had heard from a far gentler lilt.
“You’re in danger, Peony. True danger if Laurus is here—”
Paeonia cut him off with a hand, her eyes gazing at the floorboards in concentration.
A cloaked silhouette in the recess of her mind, a stone face that she had once spoken to, gave her a chill.
Her brows narrowed. “Why would she have spoken about Laurus like he was around? Like he still lives here?”
Castor tilted his head. “Who?”
“That other Stoneborne.” Paeonia shook her head, ruminating, attempting to remember her exact wording.
“There was this Stoneborne—I never got her name, but she wore a cloak—and she had told me to go to the gardens. That Laurus would be waiting for me out there. All those nights ago. That is why I was out there when we first met.”
Castor let out a low sound. “You’re sure she told you this?”
“Why would I lie? I hadn’t even known who Laurus was at the time.”
“You sure she didn’t say Rowan? Or some other—”
“Castor, I’m positive. I remember how she said it, like she didn’t like me, almost upset that Laurus would be in the gardens waiting. Like she was plotting something.”
Castor shook his head. “No. That’s not possible.”
“What’s not possible?”
Castor paced back and forth in the small hallway.
“You’re speaking about Astara. She was alive when it all happened.
I remember her turning to stone soon after Rowan killed Laurus’ mate.
She had never told me why. She didn’t even know it had happened.
We’re not sure, but something happened when she turned to stone.
Whatever bargain she broke, whatever deal she made, it seemed to have trapped her in time. ”
“Do you think she knows something?”
Castor almost laughed. “I don’t know what I think any longer. But it’s worth a try. We should find her.”
Paeonia nodded. “How? Where would she be?”
“Ah,” Castor began, holding up his index finger, “that, my darling, will be done by the castle.”
Paeonia scrunched her nose, the castle’s air chilling, her nose likely turning red.
Castor led, and Paeonia followed. It seemed he wasn’t leading her anywhere specific, like he was turning bends without direction. No end point. “Where are we going?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What? We don’t have time—!”
Castor shushed her.
Voices filled the far side of the hall, and she and Castor slid out into a landing to find Sybil, Lord Olivander, and Astara.
Their discussions dwindled, all of them turning to face Castor and Paeonia one by one. When Astara turned, catching sight of the two of them, her mouth dropped before shifting into a snarl. Castor’s head looked between the two of them.
“Astara, do you know her?” he asked.
She laughed. “Is this a game? Of course I know Georgia.”
The other Stoneborne fell silent, all marveling at Astara, her words shocking them.
“Astara, that’s not Georgia,” Sybil began slowly. “She died over a hundred years ago.”
Astara turned more serious. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at.”
“Why does she think I’m Georgia?” Paeonia muttered.
Castor steadied his breathing, all too calm for Paeonia’s liking. “She’s stuck on that night.”
“Yes, we’ve seen her occasionally get stuck, but to confuse Paeonia for Georgia?” Lord Olivander spoke.
“That does not mean it can’t happen.” Castor turned back to Paeonia.
“She’s stuck on that night when Georgia died—or at least, she was that day when she told you to go out to the gardens.
” Castor quickly shifted his line of speaking to Astara.
“Why did you tell Georgia to meet Laurus in the gardens?”
She seemed taken aback, horror striking her gray features. “That is none of your business.”
Castor moved Paeonia aside, his hand wrapping around Astara’s throat, shoving her against the wall. “Tell me why, or I’ll shatter you right here and now.”
Sybil whispered Castor’s name in shock, but no one moved to help Astara.
Astara glared at Paeonia before reluctantly focusing back on Castor. “I made a bargain.”
“What kind of bargain?”
“You cannot tell anyone—”
“Do not worry. Trust me when I say it’s too late for that.”
She held her chin higher in Castor’s grasp. “I knew Rowan made a bargain with Georgia’s father.”
“You— What?”
“I knew he had to fulfill his end when her father betrayed him. I told her to go out to the gardens because I knew Rowan would be there. She had to be the first person he saw. Georgia’s father broke a bargain that would result in someone important being stolen from him.
If Rowan encountered Georgia first, that would be who he took.
He only had so much time to seal the bargain. ”
Castor released her and stumbled back. “You sent Georgia out there for Rowan to find?” He took a breath in, processing her words. “You… You loved him,” he said astonished. Like it was all making sense in his head. “You loved Laurus.”
Astara brushed off her skirts, righting herself. “So what?”
“You foolish girl! You got an innocent woman killed and Rowan imprisoned!” Castor faced Paeonia, grabbing her arm and dragging her down the hall. All but Astara followed behind them. “Gods,” Castor hissed.
“What?” Paeonia asked in panic.
Sybil and Lord Olivander were hot on their heels.
“You broke Rowan’s curse, Peony.” When he glanced over his shoulder, he must have seen her confusion and frustration.
“Laurus is here, which means he’s probably containing the curse before it can fully dissipate.
Rowan won’t be strong enough to hold him back.
Only once the curse has been lifted in its entirety, will he no longer be weakened by the garden. And he can stop Laurus.”
“How?”
“It means Laurus’ magic can be stolen, shifted, moved. It’s not set in stone, so to speak.” He cracked a grin. “Pardon the pun.”
Paeonia tried to get Castor to stop pulling her, but it was no use. “Where are you taking me?”
Castor seemed to stiffen more than he already was, apprehensive. “To Laurus.”