My shoulders slump. Too much happened today. Time is my enemy. The elven army is about to attack the gargoyles for reasons that Grayson won’t tell me about. It can’t be as simple as revenge or he would have said so. But the gargoyles aren’t ready. Half the army was killed in the battle with the miners and most of the strongest males who were thrown into the mines are still recovering from imprisonment. They aren’t prepared for an attack and that’s on me. I chose not to warn them. It’s my fault and now I have to make it right. I need to buy time.
I turn back to Grayson. “If I promise to stay here while you go to battle, will you wait the month you promised?”
He is surprised. “Why would you do that?”
“Because that way the gargoyles have time to evacuate their children from the battle zone.” I glare at him. “There are villages close to the border, Grayson. Peaceful villages with families and little children. Families who have only just found each other after years of…” I curl my hands into fists, swallowing hard against the emotions rising inside of me. They are families I have just reunited. I won’t let them be torn apart again.
I say, “I will not allow children to die. If you want a battle, then let it be a fair fight between armies. Not a slaughter of peaceful villagers.”
His frown deepens. Emotions flicker across his face: surprise, distrust, deep thought. “It will be a slaughter if I’m there, Marbella, and that’s what you’re guaranteeing.”
“You’re forgetting Baelen.”
“Ah.” He grants me an acknowledging nod. It looks like he’s going to take me at my word that I’ll stay put, because he says, “Then a battle between armies it is. I will give your gargoyles a month. By now they will know about your disappearance, so I will send a messenger to the border stating our terms.”
“Thank you.” It’s a small victory but it gives me what I need: time. Time to locate Elise, Reisha, and my Storm Command. Time for the gargoyles to prepare.
Grayson strides to the door located on the opposite wall. Opening it, he gestures me inside. It’s a bedroom, equally opulent with a large four-poster bed draped in golden pillows and covered in a silken bed cover. Of course, there’s only one bed.
He points to a door at the side and then to various spots within the room. “Bathroom. Bed. Obviously I can’t sleep in it so you have nothing to worry about. Also, the bathroom has no openings to the outside so I have no concerns about leaving you alone in there.”
I ask, “What’s to say I won’t blast a hole in the side and walk out?”
“You could. But then our deal would be off. Our army is ready to attack whenever we give the word. I don’t think you want that to happen.”
I make a straight line for the bathroom, craving space.
“Stop.”
I freeze.
He strides to the closet and pulls out a towel and a dressing gown. “You can sleep in this tonight. Tomorrow I will arrange clothing for you.”
I gather the items into my arms. I’ve been sleeping in unfamiliar clothing for a long time now. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have my own clothes. This is my new normal.
Once inside the bathroom, I close the door behind me, listening as Grayson’s footsteps recede on the marbled floor. I’m halfway through showering before everything that happened today hits me. Then I curl down into a ball, letting the water beat down on me.
Baelen.
I want to scream his name. I want to blast this entire building into shreds. But I can’t beat Grayson. I have to play within his rules. I thump my fist against the bathroom tiles. All of my heartstones glow at once. They are trying to help me—to give me strength and heart, to help me think and help me heal—but it’s all too much. I crawl out of the shower and drag a towel around myself, drying my body before pulling on the dressing gown. I release my hair from its braid, letting it fall to my waist. Then I stagger to my feet, preparing myself to find Grayson waiting for me outside. The lamps have been dimmed but he’s nowhere to be seen. Filled with relief, I slip into the bed and pull the covers up to my neck. I ignore my empty stomach—I’ve gone longer without food before.
Somehow I manage to fall asleep.
* * *
I awaketo loud voices outside the bedroom. The door is open and it’s easy to see through to the living area where two males argue. I stay where I am, feigning sleep.
The newcomer is Elwyn Elder. He appears more hunched than the last time I saw him at Howl’s banquet. His face is red with anger. “Where is she?”
Grayson steps between Elwyn and the bedroom door, fists clenched. “She’s inside.”
Elwyn blusters. “You were supposed to take her to the prison!”
“Do not question me!” Grayson’s arm shoots out at Elwyn. Suddenly Elwyn is propelled backward, his robes flapping around him as he flies through the air. He thuds up against the opposite wall, pinned there, wincing.
Grayson advances on him, threat hanging between them. If Grayson is the second natural-born sorcerer in our history, then I don’t think Elwyn Elder is the first. Elwyn has nothing to kill to fight back against Grayson, but he must have some residual power because he manages to slide to the ground and take a step, pushing into the force around him.
Elwyn snarls, “You let her touch you, didn’t you?”
