Chapter 18
Vyrus unleashed a storm unlike any Eusis had ever seen.
His meteor lay in ruins, scattered across the surface of Evella’s beloved planet.
‘You will mutilate my world at your peril,’ she cried.
With a wave of her hand, she called forth all she loved about her precious planet; the joy, the love, even the grief, embedding it within the poisonous shards Vyrus had sent.
‘Your curse will save them. Those whom I deem worthy, shall be blessed by the splinters. They shall rise above all others, gifted, extraordinary, potent and mighty. They shall keep my planet burning till the final star stutters and infinity dies.’
— THE HISTORIES AND PROPHECIES OF THE STAR-CROSSED GODS: CHRONICLES OF VYRUS
Even the spicy scent of ginger wasn’t enough to soothe the tense grip I maintained on the mug as I sat alone in my chambers.
I’d drawn my curtains against the bright autumn afternoon, but the current headache making my eyes water wasn’t the result of too much wine.
Earlier that morning, for a few fleeting heartbeats, I’d believed the mouse listened and obeyed my command.
But then, my blood had splattered on the table, shocking the mouse who scurried away.
Pablo hadn’t even chased after it. He’d whined, nuzzled my cheek as I wiped dark crimson streaks from my nose.
My hand shaking, I looked up to see Glesni’s tight-lipped scowl.
That had been two hours ago, and the headache had worsened with every passing second.
A raging storm of nausea churned. What if this was it?
What if I’d left the training too late and the blight had burrowed deeper into the tissue of my mind?
I stared at my nails, wondering if I’d bitten them short enough to prevent me gouging the flesh from others when the time came.
Throwing back the cup and draining the last of the ginger tea, I summoned Pablo.
If time was indeed running out, then there was little point hiding away to wallow in self-pity.
Not when there had been another sighting of a ship off the coast of Asmar.
It wasn’t only me who was running out of time.
With extra Vyrium we’d have stronger weapons, a better chance of keeping Carush at bay.
And we’d have the upper hand over Drufaera for once.
Groaning, I opened the door and headed towards the library. The corridor swirled. I reached out, crying as I collided with a short plinth, my thigh burning with the impact. A vase of white lilies rolled. I hissed as they slipped past my fingers.
‘Got them.’ Ifan stood before me, stilling the vase.
I winced as his scowl wavered. Gods, I struggled to focus.
‘You need to look where you’re going.’
I rubbed my already bruising leg.
‘I thought we all knew that wasn’t my strong point,’ I joked, meeting Ifan’s blank stare. Gods, he must have swapped his sense of humour for muscles.
His eyes darted up, widening as a grey moth fluttered towards him.
He jerked back, knocking the vase once more.
This time I was the one to grab hold and settle it as he recoiled against the wall.
I shooed the insect away, trying to hide a grin as the huge form of Ifan watched horrified as the tiny creature headed towards a flickering lamp.
We all had our fears, I reminded myself.
‘I-I need to… bye,’ he said brusquely, sidestepping Pablo and stomping down the corridor.
I furrowed my brows. The youngest of the three Elmswoods was a rare sight in the palace.
He never dined with us or spent any time with either Matthias or Skye.
I wondered what rift had opened between the three of them to cause him to shun his older brother and twin.
What could have severed the deep connection they’d once shared?
I continued my walk towards the library, wondering if Matthias knew why Ifan had cast himself adrift.
But he already had his fair share of worries and responsibilities.
He’d always been the one to shoulder the load, even as a child.
If I told him about Ifan, he’d try and take some of those worries away by adding to his own.
No. As I reached the library, nodding my thanks to the blurry servants opening the door, I needed to keep this to myself. Maybe I’d be better speaking to Skye? She was Ifan’s twin after all.
Another stab of pain sliced into my skull, and I stumbled against the door.
Pablo stepped in front of me, stopping my fall.
‘Your Highness?’ The servant who’d opened the door took my arm. ‘Are you all right?’
I nodded, brushing him away. In the space of a few minutes, I’d fallen twice.
Closing my eyes, I heaved in a great breath. It was a headache – a simple headache. The lighting needed adjusting, and I was using borrowed glasses. It couldn’t be the blight. They may be getting worse, but I was training. I was trying. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’d try harder. I’d master this gift.
But if it didn’t balance?
‘There she is!’
I opened my eyes and spotted the forms of Skye and Asher. I dragged down all the fear and pain and pushed them away, forcing a smile onto my face.
Clinging to Pablo, I walked over to the table where they stood. Skye studied a map, held flat by dusty tomes at either corner.
I shook away the last of the pain and, taking the glasses I’d borrowed, peered at the map. I pushed them lower down my nose. Although they helped me focus somewhat, my vision still wasn’t perfect. The shadowy marks and swirls seemed to increase when I concentrated.
‘Is this one any use, my queen?’ Asher remarked, pointing at the map.
Scowling, I traced my fingers over the lines and leaned in, squinting at the various places.
‘If it doesn’t show any potential pestilence sites, I could always roll the map and shove it up your arse every time you call me my queen. Sorrow is fine.’
The rich sound of Asher’s laugh tugged up the corner of my own mouth.
I leaned in closer, my fingers tracking forgotten roads and faded labels describing land use. Tilting my head, I sighed.
‘It might be useful. If I could cross-reference with any records of what crops were being grown.’
‘Fascinating,’ Asher said, earning a bat on his arm from Skye, a blush spreading over her cheeks.
‘It’s not supposed to be fascinating,’ she said. ‘It’s supposed to be useful.’
‘Unlike me,’ he said as he moved closer to Skye.
I focused on the map.
‘As we all know, I’m both fascinating and useful.’
‘Just like an umbrella,’ I muttered under my breath.
A cough from the doorway snagged our attention. A young guard, a little out of breath, entered the library and approached Asher, handing him an envelope.
Asher grimaced as he turned it over in his hands.
‘From your father, Captain,’ the guard said, giving him a salute before she marched away.
Asher clenched the envelope tightly. I furrowed my brows as Skye paled and turned away from the captain. She went to the table across from Asher, unrolling another map.
Asher opened the letter, studying it, his mouth turning into a thin line, before he closed his eyes and crumpled it in his fist.
‘How is your father?’ An unusual coldness had seeped into Skye’s tone. Looking from one to the other, I wondered why a letter from Asher’s father chilled their playful relationship.
Asher’s nostrils flared, before he started towards the door. ‘You’ll find out later. He’s visiting for a few days. According to the letter, he wants to offer his king all the help he can. I need to prepare. I’ll see you later, my queen. Princess.’
With a stiff incline of his chin, Asher swept from the room; his footsteps pounded down the corridor. Skye rubbed her cheeks, sniffing, and I narrowed my gaze. There was some history here I knew nothing about.
‘Am I right in assuming Asher and his father don’t have the best relationship?’ I asked, wishing I could make out her features.
Skye grabbed the map and rolled it so carelessly I winced.
‘Not at all,’ she said, her tone clipped. ‘If you must know, Asher has nothing but respect for the man. He’d do anything for him. Sacrifice everything.’
She slammed down another, priceless, irreplaceable map. Why would the appearance of Asher’s father cause such anger – and carelessness? I couldn’t risk her ripping those maps. It was hard enough for me to read them as it was.
‘Let me look,’ I said gently, prising it away from her.
Pablo jumped as Skye flung it at me. I bit my cheek as my fingers curled around the thick paper. If there was one person in this palace I never thought I’d argue with, it was Skye. I exhaled hard before speaking.
‘What’s going on with you and Asher? Even I can see there’s something between the two of you.’
Skye stilled, fixing me with an icy glare. ‘What do you mean by that? We’re friends. Just friends.’ She grabbed the bridge of her nose. ‘Though sometimes I wonder if we’re even that.’
I crossed my arms. Surely she could see how Asher lit up whenever she was near? ‘He clearly likes you, Skye. Have you seen how he looks at you? It’s obvious he—’
‘And have you cared to notice how Matthias looks at you?’
I blinked, and a tightness grasped my chest. ‘Sorry?’
Ice spread across Skye’s features as she came closer. ‘Give me one reason why I should take advice on matters of the heart from you. The woman who’s married my brother and hasn’t shown him a single shred of love despite how he—’
‘Love?’ I didn’t like how my voice pitched. How dare she analyse my marriage? ‘Did you miss the part where I was denied the chance to choose my husband?’ Her harsh vitriol threw me and a hot rash tore through my blood. ‘We’ve agreed it’s a marriage in name only. It’s what Matthias wants.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’