His eyes flicker to the foul ghouls watching us. They stand there for long, uncomfortable minutes, while Azur still seems fascinated with my strand of hair.
I mean, it’s purple and pretty. I would be fascinated as well, if my survival instinct hadn’t taken over my mind.
Then again, he’s fae, so whatever he’s doing might be absolutely normal for them—or else he’s trying to tell me something with his gesture alone, but the meaning is murkier than muddy waters.
Finally, Azur gets closer to my neck and sniffs my hair. The ghouls standing in front of us leave, and he whispers, “Sneak out when I distract him.”
“Through that passage with the brilliant filaments?” I whisper back. “Won’t it open it for him?”
“It won’t make a difference.”
I don’t think there’s time for him to explain why, so I ask a simpler question. “Will you follow me?”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get out. Once the sun’s up, it will be safe for you.”
Is that why he wants to wait until morning? No ghouls are standing in front of us yet, so I take the opportunity to explain, “I can walk in the Shadow Lands at night. And bring someone with me. It’s safe. I’ve done it.”
Azur frowns. “You can be lucky for a while, before a soulsucker finds you, or you’re overwhelmed by ghouls or sand sprites.”
“No.” I recall my light staving off the ghouls, and I’m certain I could do it again. “It’s safe. Unless…”
Perhaps leaving in the morning is how we can guarantee that the Witch King won’t follow us.
Four ghouls stand in front of us, and although Azur is still at a whispering distance, I try to be more careful with my words. “If I were to open the passage in the morning, do you know if His Majesty would be able to leave?”
“His Majesty is already mighty and grows more powerful by the minute. Of course he can walk in daylight.”
My heart stills as I consider what he said. “More powerful by the minute?”
“He absorbs magic, Astra.”
My heart jumps as I recall controlling and transcending an entire castle.“Yourmagic?”
“It must be going somewhere.”
The thought is so disturbing that I need to control myself not to tremble. “He’ll be invincible.”
“Indeed.” His chuckle sounds like a wild creature moaning in pain. “Aren’t you delighted?”
“Obviously. Isn’t that amazing?” A glance tells me the ghouls walked away, and I take the opportunity to ask a more urgent question. “If I sneak out, won’t he continue to absorb your magic? Still be invincible?”
“While you sneak out, I’ll stop that from happening.”
“How?”
“Trust me.” His voice doesn’t have a single hint of fear or indecision. He knows what he’s doing.
Trust Azur. A tough thing to do, but then if I escape, I can get help, can tell the others, can at least get away from my maniac ancestor who could kill me on a whim.
The ghouls return to watch us, and I can’t risk saying anything in front of them.
“Well, I’m tired of waiting. We should help His Majesty now.”
“I’m tired of waiting too.” He finally lets go of my hair and leans back.
I should smother my sigh of relief but I’m too worried to focus on something so silly.
He looks around and takes that paper from his vest pocket, stares at it, then puts it back and turns to the ghouls. “I wish to speak to His Majesty.”
