Chapter Thirty-Six
Aidan had one chance to honor Gil's sacrifice. Unfortunately, it involved getting close to Kieran.
Easier said than done. After Carys' outburst, all black eyes were on Aidan.
He found himself dancing with many bewitching maidens.
There was much interest in the Starlands prince who used a witch.
He needed to get close to Kieran without Nyx or Bradon interfering, and they had been watching him since Carys ran out.
His nerves burned as he whirled around the dance floor.
Reality seemed to melt away, all that remained were shadows, a blur of faces, and eerie green light.
Partners switched so often that he barely noticed when it happened.
As he whirled around, his heart almost stopped when he recognized the face of his current partner.
Keeva.
A demon siren, her skin icy, but body inviting. Her angular face remained fixed on Aidan as they swept across the dance floor. "How are you enjoying your time at Cinder Fortress?" she asked, acting like an ordinary hostess in the Starlands.
"It was all lovely until a rather reprehensible gift from the host." Aidan focused on anger, burying grief.
Her smile was like a foreign language, a mystifying meaning hidden behind the familiar expression. "Thieves are rather reprehensible, are they not?"
"Law of the Beasts."
"A shame that the weak must always suffer under the Law of the Beasts." Her smile melted away into thoughtfulness. "It seems that your marriage wasn't a willing choice."
He shrugged. "Carys may not have wanted it, but I am satisfied."
"Are you?" Keeva cocked her head. "Are you truly the sort of prince who can accept marriage with an unwilling woman?"
"I don't like it, but if it wasn't me, it would be someone else." He hoped his expression remained indifferent. "Carys never had a choice."
"You speak true." Keeva nodded. "My uncle and my own weakness worked in concert to make certain that I had no choice in the matter."
He bit his lip. "Your uncle arranged your marriage to Kieran?"
"I should say that he did." Another inscrutable smile crept upon her face. "Kieran is my uncle."
Aidan twitched, struggling to hide his disgust. Keeva was trying to provoke a reaction, always a favorite trick of Curselands' denizens. "Kieran is your uncle?"
She moved closer to him. "Does it bother you, prince of Dalon? Kieran prefers to keep powerful magic in the family. It's not as though such practices were unknown to the Starlands. There is a reason that your Star Magic is so pure in your blood."
He decided not to quibble on her incestuous accusations. "You do not seem to mind your union."
"No, I do not mind." She inclined her head. "I have a union with one of the most powerful Curselords. If I hadn't wed him, Kieran would have likely smothered me as he did my brother or that bitch Nyx would have murdered me in her quest for vengeance against Garvan."
"You are the daughter of Garvan?"
"Aye. Nyx was my wicked stepmother." Her hand trembled a bit upon mentioning Nyx.
"You've probably heard her tale of woe and think her quite the victim.
In truth, she embraced her role as Garvan's whore consort.
Many times, she tried to get rid of my brother and me.
She left us abandoned in the wilderness of the Curselands, not once, not twice, but a myriad of times. "
He inhaled. "Law of the Beasts."
"You say that as if you have true understanding of the meaning. You have sworn an oath to Meical that is much stronger than fealty, but have you ever questioned the things that he will make you do? Will you really just be growing apples?"
He stiffened. "It is not for me to question Curselord Meical."
"You do question, your honor requires it. You made a hasty agreement for reasons that were probably merited. Yet now you will suffer the consequences for that choice. You are cursed."
"Twice Cursed," he jested, pretending it didn't mean a fig to him.
"There is always a way around any curse. Even if you can't break it, you can escape it."
Rising hopes crashed when he remembered who Keeva represented. "You want me to seek the aid of the man who smothered your own brother?"
"My brother was weak." Keeva tightened her grip on him. "But I don't think that you really care about the fate of someone who died long ago. This regards Mona's bastard. Do you think Kieran doesn't know that Mona approached you? And he understands the soul of the Starlands."
"Does he?" Aidan asked.
"My lord's dearest daughter approached you because she believes you are weak. Honorable enough to save a babe, despite the personal cost for you."
"I am more concerned about the loss of Gil."
"Do you really fault Kieran? Meical plunged him down into that portal."
Aidan narrowed his eyes. "Your lord left him no choice."
Keeva's black eyes seemed to pull his soul into a bottomless abyss. "Curselord Meical could have done anything else. A clever Curselord could conjure up a reason to save the shapeshifter. Do you think it made Meical look good to do Kieran's bidding? So why did he?"
"I..."
His stomach lurched from the whirling of the dance and the swirling of lies.
"I cannot speak for Meical," he said. "And a slayer of babes isn't much better."
"Indeed." Keeva kept her hand on him as the music died. "Kieran would make an exception for the babe, for your sake. If you disavow Meical and join Kieran."
He held his breath. A chance to get close to Kieran. But if he made any seeming public moves against Meical, the Curselord would retaliate. He wouldn't even want the appearance of disloyalty.
"I am still cursed," he said, turning his head evasively.
"Mona has a bit of a gift. She can see glimpses of hidden truths, the only worthwhile thing about that girl." Keeva wrinkled her nose. "She looked upon Gil and saw what curse bounds you to Meical's plain sister. If you die, so will your truest love."
"That doesn't matter to me anymore," he lied.
"Are you certain?" She let go of his hand. "We have the key to your freedom. Your loved one needn't die. All you must do is partake of a potion."
"A remedy to all my ills? Is Kieran a common hawker?" he asked, determined not to show any interest.
"Your curse relies on love to work and this potion kills all love in your heart." She moved away, melting into the crowd. "Temporary to be sure, but it ought to do the trick. If the love is gone, the sister of Meical need only die. Then, and only then, will you be free of the curse."
It felt like the dance floor had opened up to the blood sea, and Aidan was standing on a ledge. No matter where he stepped, it would be the death of his honor. Meical, his tormentor, his oppressor, could be stopped. All it would take was one death.
Aidan saw Carys' crimson dress moving through the crowd. It seemed as if she was on a quest to fetch him, a huntress in red.
Could he live with his freedom at the expense of Carys?
For the longest time, Carys had done her best to make Aidan miserable. They were united through a shared friendship with Gil, and the hope of making the Curselands better. But now Gil was gone.
So what should he choose? Was Meical really worse than Kieran? Did it even matter anymore?
Aidan caught Carys' eyes, and he turned from her. Plunging into the crowd of fine clothing and foul natures, he made his way to Kieran. Keeva had joined Kieran, and both looked like they expected Aidan.
"Mona's child will be fine?" Aidan asked breathlessly.
Kieran leaned forward. "I will make a blood vow."
"What... what do you want from me?"
"No more than Meical wanted. I will make the Curselands a better place. But you will serve me and help me regain control of the Curselands."
"I won't be free," Aidan said.
"No," Kieran agreed. "But you no longer have to worry about your dearest princess or any that you love."
It was the best hope that Aidan had in this hell. He couldn't trust Kieran or Meical, but only one of them would have power over Aidan's loved ones. Aidan hoped that Meical would never put Carys in danger, but there was a great chance now that he killed Gil.
"What must I do to get that potion?" Aidan asked.
"Acknowledge me as your overlord here, in front of all. Get down on your knees and take my hand." Kieran leaned back. "Then Keeva will give you the potion. That is all it will take."
Aidan closed his eyes and lowered himself to his knees. A silence descended upon the ball. Even with his eyes shut, he knew Meical was staring at him in rage. This was exactly what Aidan wasn't supposed to do.
He opened his eyes to look into the merciless gaze. "There's a way around every spell?"
"Always."
Aidan reached up and took Kieran's hand. Then, fast as lighting, stone from the floor grew and warped, wrapping around their united hands and sealing them together.
"What is this?" Kieran demanded.
Little fractures appeared in stone as Kieran attempted to crack it with his power, but Aidan's power strengthened and reinforced it. He couldn't maintain the spell forever, eventually, Kieran would break it.
But he only needed a few moments.
Stone on the floor shattered next to Aidan. Kieran must have attempted to attack Aidan but redirected his magic after remembering the spell would harm him if he openly attacked a guest.
"What do you hope to gain from this?" Kieran snapped.
"You ask what I hope to gain?" Aidan asked with an earthly hollowness to his voice. "The one thing that I hope to gain is to dissuade people from thinking I will do their bidding with a threat. I hope that people will finally realize that I am done making sacrifices."
"I was giving you freedom."
"No, you were using my loved one against me!" Aidan snapped. "Never again. If I have to embrace the Law of the Beasts to get what I want, that's what I will do."
"This won't hold me forever."
"Indeed, it won't," Aidan said.
A loud boom tore through the main hall, and pieces of stone rained everywhere as the ceiling ripped apart. Many would have perished if someone hadn't had the presence of mind to hold off the debris with magic, but it didn't stop dust from raining everywhere.
It also didn't stop a shadowy shape from descending and blotting out the red sky.
The shape dove so fast that screams erupted from the cold-hearted mages.
It blocked so much light that shadows swathed Aidan and Kieran.
People ran as the creature approached, clearing enough space for it to land next to Aidan and Kieran. Keeva ran for her life.
But Aidan and Kieran remained stuck.
Warm air barraged Aidan and darkness grew as a large head with massive teeth settled above his head. Another head enveloped Kieran's face.
"What do you think you are doing?" Kieran asked, his voice muffled by the head.
"I am doing nothing." Aidan's stomach churned as rancid warmth wafted around him. "This is Spiky, a Curse Creature who is bonded with me. And Spiky has a taste for flesh."
"You can't attack guests here," Kieran said, his slimy tone smothered by the head. "You'll die."
"I am simply putting my sacrificial nature to use. I can't kill you, but I can command Spiky to kill myself. He will most likely bite down on your head as soon as he bites down on mine."
"You are risking a lot on the loyalty of a Curse Creature."
"There is no loyalty in the Curselands, only desire for power.
" Aidan shrugged, his skin crawling from the puffs of putrid breath.
"I can feel Spiky's desire for your power.
It's a curious sensation. Spiky is imagining your taste.
Now Spiky believes you would taste like fire seasoned with blood.
This beast wants to rip its teeth into your flesh and gobble you up as fast as possible.
I think you'll leave a foul aftertaste, but everyone has different tastes. "
Part of him was horrified at the words coming from his mouth, but a curious coldness stifled the horror.
It was nothing like the fiery rage within him since arriving in the Curselands.
He knew the coldness was from using Curse Magic, the twisted form of magic that controlled Spiky.
It didn't just drain him of his energy. It drained him of everything.
He never felt so free.
"I know that you are only down here for your true love. If you kill yourself, Princess Bella dies," Kieran said, not considering Carys worth a mention.
"Indeed," Aidan agreed. "But her life will ever be at risk.
I am tired of people using her against me.
The thing is, my lord, I never wanted to lose anyone, and now I have lost someone, one who sacrificed everything for his sister.
If I must sacrifice myself, it will be by my own design, and I will at least take one of you bastards out when it happens. "
A small clamor erupted behind him. Aidan allowed Spiky's heads to raise slightly, to have a better view.
The hellish breath burning his head reminded him death was close.
His eyes darted to the side and spotted Carys approaching.
No emotion showed on her wan face, only a hint of recognition for the gravity of what Aidan was about to do.
After all, it would take her life.
"What of you, Meical?" Kieran snapped. "Will you let your pet act like a mad dog?"
"He is not my pet, he is my brother." Meical gave a cold shrug. "He will do what he will. Law of the Beasts. If he were to die right now, I'd still have enough blood for my purposes."
"I don't know why you are even trying to appeal to Meical. You should see the beastly fraternal way he treats his sister," Aidan said icily. "And you are already showing weakness in appealing to Meical. Do you see him as your better?"
Now Kieran showed signs of panic. Not on his blank face, but a series of small spasms struck his entrapped hand. "What do you want?" he asked in a low voice.
"That would be the wrong question," Aidan said. "You can never grant me what I want. You should be asking what you can do."
Kieran's cheek twitched. "What can I do?"
"Your daughter wants to send her child to the Starlands in one of your Jumping Portals." Aidan clenched his hand. "You will allow it."
"Are you certain that is what you desire? The Jumping Portals can go anywhere. They might take that innocent babe to a den of wolves. I..."
Revolting breath and sharp teeth grazed Aidan's head. Spiky's other mouth covered Kieran. Only a second passed before Kieran was visible again.
"Keeva," Kieran said with no trace of emotion. "Get the child."
Practically a blur, Keeva bolted upon his command. An unnerving silence enveloped the room as they waited. The skeleton band's music ceased, leaving only the sound of occasional coughs and shifting people.
Long moments crept along, but uncanny calm lingered with Aidan.
A thunderous roar shattered his calm. He whirled to find a man behind him, dagger drawn, blade inches away from Aidan.
Fast and fierce, Spiky's third head rushed at the man.
Spiky's mouth opened before slamming its jaw shut around the man's head.
Two seconds later Spiky effortlessly tossed back its own head, a sickening crush echoing as blood sprayed Aidan.
He blinked away the red to find a headless corpse left standing.
It teetered, like a drunken man who lost his balance before falling.
Aidan stared at the twitching corpse for what seemed like an eternity before Spiky opened its mouth and tore into the body.
All that remained when Spiky finished was a half-eaten leg.
Spiky's breath sent a shudder rippling through Aidan. He unintentionally met Kieran's dark eyes.
"You are responsible for that death, you know," Kieran said silkily as if he hadn't just watched the same thing. "That is no way for a man to die."
Aidan's throat burned as he resisted the urge to gag. Only the Curse Magic coursing through his body kept him calm. "Yes, that is no way for a man to die. So don't trifle with me."
The mouth over Aidan's head made a little closing motion. For a moment, Aidan saw his own headless body collapsing to the ground. He tried crushing the thought, but it lingered. His heart jolted as he realized the image came from Carys, shared through their connection to Spiky.
It shouldn't surprise him. She would die when he did. But it wasn't her death that she was seeing. It was Aidan, over and over again.
A faint hint of Carys' emotions flowed through the connection. Absolute dread at the idea of losing Aidan, hope that Aidan somehow knew what he was doing. Fear that if this worked, Kieran would thrust his dagger into Aidan's heart.
He glanced sideways at Carys. Nothing indicated her torment as she watched the events with the interest someone might show for wheel repair.
Emptiness still enveloped Aidan, possibly the reason her emotions were hitting him so strongly.
His numb sense of the world allowed no fear for his own death or anyone else, only a mild curiosity on how the curse would work.
If Spiky's teeth clenched around his head, would his skin be unbreakable? Would Carys' head just fall off?
Would the same happen to Bella?
A small cry distracted him from his morbid musings. Keeva made her way through the crowd, carrying a bundled baby.
"My Cathan!" Mona ran up to the child, only to be seized by two of Kieran's men.
"Let her go to the child," Aidan commanded.
"You ask for any mercy?" Kieran managed a chilly smile. "Mercy is against the Law of the Beasts. This standoff won't last forever. Shall we show the powerful mages your weakness?"
In the past, Aidan wouldn't have cared. But the magic controlling Spiky drowned out his feelings. His only concern was success, so he disregarded Mona's pleading.
"Summon a Jumping Portal," Aidan said.
"That will take a great deal of magic." Kieran held up his hands. "Make sure your pet doesn't bite my head off before the time."
Aidan nodded. As Kieran chanted the words of his spell, the stone ground shifted and swirled, spinning faster and faster until a blur of color and light. The portal pulling at Aidan, urging him inside.
Heat and pain surged through his hand as a loud snap echoed.
Kieran's magic had cracked the stone binding them.
A great burst of magic struck Spiky, flinging the massive beast far into the air.
Screams resounded as people tried fleeing.
A thunderous crash boomed through the hall, and everything shook as Spiky struck the floor.
The world tilted, and Aidan's feet were no longer on solid ground.
Aidan didn't lose his footing because of the quaking, but his connection to Spiky. It felt as though a searing iron had been thrust into his stomach. Everything went black. When his vision returned, Kieran was standing over him.
"It seems you lose, my prince," Kieran said with a hiss.
Magic encircled Aidan, lifting him in the air. Kieran grabbed Aidan by the throat, gripping so hard that Aidan choked.
"Your mercy was your undoing," Kieran said. "Law of the Beasts. You failed."
"It seems you failed," Aidan gasped out.
His words were garbled but hit their mark. Kieran looked back to find Carys holding a knife to Keeva's throat. The connection to Spiky clearly affected Carys. Her hair was once again wild, her dress torn, and it seemed a struggle to stand.
But she didn't let go.
The upheaval of Spiky being flung across the room had given Mona the opportunity to slip away from her captor, sprinting over to Keeva and Carys.
Kieran grunted. "Let my consort go."
"Care for a consort?" Carys asked, her voice sounding dry and raspy. "I am shocked at your weakness."
"I will kill the prince. You know what will happen to you."
"Law of the Beasts." Carys exhaled. "You will kill him, but your consort will send the babe to safety before we die. She follows the Law of the Beasts and will value her own life most of all."
"Keeva, I will rip your heart out if you let that babe live," Kieran warned, abandoning his attempt to reason with Carys.
"I will slit your throat now," Carys told Keeva.
She sliced into Keeva's throat, a small ribbon of crimson cascading down the white neck. That was all the convincing that Keeva needed. She offered the baby to Mona, who took the child in her arms.
"What will you do, Mona?" Kieran taunted. "The portal will only stay open a few moments longer. Will you really condemn your babe to the unknown? Someone as soft as you?"
"You know me very well, Father," Mona said.
She looked down at the churning portal and jumped into it.
Kieran's hand tightened on Aidan's throat. "Well, you have sent my daughter to her death, so it seems fair that I should do the same to you."
"I can't die!" Aidan spat.
"No," Kieran murmured. "And I should really enjoy killing you.
But I suppose I must settle for disrupting Meical's plan.
Do you know what? I think you might have actually tried to kill Meical when you found out his plans for you.
I worked it out from what that Rali shapeshifter attempted to steal.
I would have enjoyed watching you two rip each other apart.
But it seems I must show you mercy to destroy Meical. "
He released his grip, sending Aidan flying. The eerie green light of the main hall disappeared, and Aidan fell on a soft green floor.
Ground. Green ground.
Grass.