I can help you, Chalice,he repeated while speaking with Tarian physically. That ability was beyond her.Tarian does not know all you can do. Purposely. My order protects the sacred scrolls and all that lie within. We merely guide. We only reveal as much as the gods will. The fae would use you for their own designs, but you were always meant to have a choice: to increase and expand power to unbelievable heights…or to wither it away entirely. Balance. That is why the crystal chalice was always meant to be a thinking, rational, logical being—or as close as a human can get. A being not of Faerie, not raised in Faerie, and without the pitfalls of life here. You are the balance, Chalice, and you are needed now more than ever, the gods willing.
Wither it away entirely?she asked him, knowing he had heard her directed mental voice a moment ago but wondering if he could also hear her thoughts. Wondering if the magical mental shield was working, because if not, Tarian could just shoplift this information from her mind anyway. Telling her like this made very little sense.
My kind are not hindered by magical mental shields,he replied.The gods will it so. No information is kept from us. No information can be hidden, except what we will. He cannot access this conversation unless you verbally reveal it. It is locked in your mind, safe, unless youchooseto impart it.
Then why would he want to keep this from Tarian if he knew Tarian’s real plans?
Because fae cannot be trusted, especially in this court where the magic is so horribly twisted. This ability, this burden, falls at your feet. You alone must choose which is a worthy cause, and which is not.He paused.If he truly wishes to enter you into the court games, then you must make your way to me quickly. Your life is at stake.
Cold slithered down her spine at the thought of going up against fae whose magic made no sense to her. At the reality she was facing but had been damn slow to notice. She’d always figured she’d find a way to protect herself. She always had in the human world.
But in the human world, she had backup. She had Zorn standing guard, she had excellent preplanning, and she’d never really been on her own. She’dneverbattled face to face without the element of surprise. If this character could be believed, she wouldn’t have that luxury here. The games—and the king—would make sure she was exposed. She wouldn’t stand a fucking chance, or even have the knowledge to evade. She was battling blind in a land of dangerous creatures. What had Tarian been thinking?
Eldric made a frustrated gesture at Tarian, crinkled his scrolls, and turned away. He walked swiftly down the hall.
“Come now, little pet.” The magical leash on her neck yanked her into motion. “We must not dally. I have matters that need my attention.”
You are very stuffy when you’re speaking like a member of the court,she mentally murmured.
She felt his magic move over her body deliciously, followed by the press of phantom lips on hers.I’m not in the human world. I can’t use the slang I’ve picked up there or I’ll be ridiculed.
Her body heated, but her mind drifted. Wither away magic? That meant null it, right? She could essentially render a magical person…not magical?
Butterflies swarmed her belly as she vaguely noticed the halls around them. Unlike with theFallen, or with the fae a moment ago, servants didn’t just look down and hurry past when Tarian was in their vicinity. No, they pushed to the wall and tried to slink by. Some stopped completely and faced the wall so they couldn’t make eye contact. One male shrank into a crouch, head down, making himself as small as possible. Tarian might be the butt of jokes in the court, but his power, and his viciousness, made him a terror.
Her mind returned to the matter at hand. Each facet of this chalice magic essentially had to do with another entity. Either she boosted their magic (you’re welcome), or she took it away entirely. And while one wasn’t all that exciting because it was making someone else that much better, the other…
She blinked rapidly, suppressing a smile. Hiding the excitement bubbling in her gut.
The other would level her playing field. It would, for the first time, make her an equal to magical people. She could step upto a fight knowing it was skill that would win the day, and skill alone. Her training…against theirs.
Could that scroll-carrying fae be believed? He knew what she was, so he had more knowledge than the blue fae that had abducted her, but he could want to use her for himself. He might lure her with promises of withering magic, only to cage her and use her against Tarian. To strengthen his king’s throne.
If there was one thing she knew already, it was that she would never,everchoose to strengthen that fucker’s anything. She’d been here a day or so and already his antics turned her stomach.
Her thoughts ground to a halt when a door opened down the way and billowing silks stepped out of the opening. The mauve dress flowed around pink-slippered feet—the first mistake—followed by an enormous shawl that looked like a parachute in a plain and yawn-worthy jet black. Mistakes two and three.
Actually, that shawl was so gods-awful that it was its own bad decision. It crawled onto the neckline with strange orange twigs and berries, or some horrible equivalent, and made way for a surprisingly intricate bodice with beads and pearls and some nicely textured patterns. But here was the kicker: the bodice was in bright orange to match the fucked-up berries.
Did a trapped human describe a circus tent before they died as fashion vengeance or something? There was no way that outfit was made from an experienced hand.
Please stop,Tarian said with a tight mental voice.You’re starting to break my court façade, and I can’t be seen laughing at such a prominent lady. Not until you best her champion.
That dress alone should break your court façade, as ridiculous as it is.
Seriously,please,you’ve got to stop.
Why are you hearing my thoughts, anyway? Is the magical shield not working?
He didn’t get to answer, because Ms. Prominent Lady and her bad fashion choices sauntered into his path like the hallway had been put there just for her. He veered to the side, making way even though he was supposedly royalty. He bent his head slightly, showing deference, and Daisy’s insides started to boil as a smug expression crossed the female’s face.
Then Daisy had to control her widening eyes.
This female’s skin was a grayish hue that looked off-putting and unnatural. Lines of black formed an almost solid mass across her forehead and around one deep blue eye. Streaks of black formed under the other eye as though she had permanently running mascara, and more lines ran around her mouth and down onto her neck. They weren’t wrinkles, those hardly having formed, and they gave the impression of sickness. The sight of them made her nauseated, and as the lady neared, an acidic wave crawled through her insides. Something about this female was badly wrong.
“My, my, look who it is…” The female’s hips swung from side to side in an exaggerated sweep. “If it isn’t the king’s mongrel come back from the human world. I wondered when you would show your face after what the princess did to you.”
“Lady Nyvarie.” Tarian offered her a shallow bow.
