I come to with a gasp of air. Alice is holding onto my forearms, her light brows cinched together. “A vision?”
I nod, unease swirling deep in my stomach.
“We need to go find Cade and Elora.” Alice’s frown deepens, but she doesn’t argue as I begin to put on my cloak.
The squall of snow makes it difficult to see as we trek to the castle but the shouting from earlier intensifies.
Something is wrong.
The frigid air burns my lungs as I begin to sprint, each step a promise that I’m that much closer to getting my daughter. I make it up the main staircase and weave around the guards with ease. I’m almost to the ballroom when a heavy hand wraps around my arm.
“You are the Head Enchantress?” a guard asks, his voice deep.
“Yes.” My skin prickles as I glance quickly at Alice. She watches, her blonde hair tucked under her knit cap as she cocks her head to the side. The guard’s grip tightens around my arm.
“I’ve been instructed to take you to the prince.” He pulls me from the ballroom doorway.
“And where is the king?” Alice calls from a distance but the guard remains silent.
But he doesn’t need to tell me where the king is because I already know.
The king is dead.
Inside the castle is pure chaos. Women are crying, men are shouting.
“It was a setup!”
“Long live, King Silas!”
My nerves get the best of me as I enter a small meeting room where I’m instructed to wait. My knee bounces thinking of Elora. But I relax a little knowing she’s with Cade.
She’s safe.
“Lady Elwyn.”
I stand as Prince Roman enters the room.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Your Highness.” I drop to a low curtsey but the energy in the room thickens, making me fear what I’ll see when I straighten myself. “I only just heard?—”
“Please sit,” Roman says.
I take a deep breath and face the prince.
Only, he’s not alone.
The man from my vision stands at his side. His snowy hair and piercing blue gaze stirs something in me.
Don’t trust him, Corbin says. I’m startled by his abrupt appearance in my mind, but I push him away. He knows better than to use our bond now, after all these years of keeping my Dyrsjel lineage a secret from Elora. But his urgency has my hackles raised.
“Lady Elwyn, you have been my father’s Head Enchantress for all my life,” Roman says. His hands tremble as they reach for a pitcher of water. “But it’s time I let you go.”
My eyes widen and fear plummets in my stomach. “I beg your pardon? Silas would never?—”
“Well, he’s dead,” the blonde man says cooly. “And Prince Roman will be named King, so I’d think it wise if you listen to what he has to say.”
I glance between the two men, my stomach somersaulting.
“Starting immediately, Enchantresses will no longer sit on the council.” Roman’s voice is hollow, rehearsed.
