I scowled, and grandfather’s lips twitched. “I already knew of your trip to the bowels of this castle. Did you think my guards wouldn’t notify me? They see and reporteverything.”
That sounded a lot like a threat, and something twisted in my gut. Something that wanted me to throw back my head andscream.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I should have asked you to escort me.”
“Yes, you should have. Did you see what you needed to?”
His eyes were intent on my face, and I kept my tone light. “Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking going down there. It was cold, and damp, and miserable. From now on, I’ll stick to the gardens.”
“Good choice. You need to remember to keep yourself safe. Our enemies grow ever bolder. They would take this palace if they could. They would kill all of us. And it wouldn’t be a quick death. No, they would make it last. That silver-eyed bastard would torture every one of us.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. And grandfather tensed. He’d noticed.
“What is it, Danica?”
“Nothing.”
“Do not,” he said silkily, “lie to me.”
I swallowed. “It’s just… silver eyes.”
He leaned forward, and I suddenly felt like prey. I shook it off. This was mygrandfather,after all.
“I had a strange dream,” I said lightly, getting to my feet. “That’s all.”
“Sit. Down.”
I froze, but complied, shaken by his tone. We sat in silence for a few moments, and grandfather studied me as if looking for any hint of weakness.
“Grandfather–”
“I’m continually astounded by the lengths our enemies will go to in order to hurt us,” he said softly.
“You’re scaring me.”
The bone bracelet encircling my wrist seemed to throb against my skin as a knock sounded on the door. Grandfather waved his hand, and the door opened.
“You called?” Gloria stepped into the room. Her eyes met mine, and my earrings burned my earlobes until it felt like they had been dunked in acid. I wanted to rip them from my ears, but grandfather was still watching me carefully.
“We have an issue,” Grandfather said.
I imagined my hands around Gloria’s throat. I would squeeze until she turned purple. Until the light faded from her eyes.
I glanced back at my grandfather, and he smiled at me, running one finger over the hilt of the jeweled letter opener on his desk. “Feeling… murderous, granddaughter?”
I swallowed. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
He ignored that, turning to Gloria. “You gave me your word.”
I enjoyed watching the blood drain from her face. I didn’t know why, but it pleased me to see the terror on the witch’s face.
“She must be stronger than anticipated.”
“Bolster your spell, witch. Or die screaming.”
I shot to my feet. “Grandfather–”
He ignored me. Gloria walked in my direction. She was just as frightened as I was. I could see it in her eyes. She reached into her bag and pulled out several stones, along with a blood-candle, which she lit. Then she pulled out a jar of some kind of liquid, which glowed like captured moonlight.
