They were right here.
In her room.
She rose slowly, searching for a weapon. How did one strike a shadow? Fear crawled through her, threatening to paralyze, as she thought of that attack she’d witnessed against the king.
But these shadows didn’t attack her.
They seemed to be…waitingfor her. Whispering to her. Just soft rustlings of noise and nonsense at first, but then they twisted, thickened into clear words:What do you command?
She gave her head a shake. She had imagined that voice, she was certain. And yet she heard herself answering it all the same: “I command you toleave me alone.”
The shadows scattered into dozens of smaller puffs of black. She watched them dart for cover, most eventually disappearing into the streaks of sunlight filtering through the room’s curtains. Her breath left her in a slow, stunned exhale. It was a long time before she remembered to inhale—so long that she felt dizzy.
They hadlistenedto her.
All save for one.
The largest of the shade beasts remained on the silk rug before her. It was rising to meet her like a serpentine dragon arching itself, preparing to shoot off into the sky, to take flight at her next command.
Sephia wanted to look away. Why was she still looking at it? It didn’t have eyes, and yet she felt as if it was staring into her soul. As if it saw the Shadow magic buried deep inside of her, and it was being called by it.
This was dangerous.
This was different from the shadows Sephia had played with as a child. These were actual creatures. Sentient creatures that she had seen attacking a king, and that now apparently wanted to do her bidding—for reasons she didn’t know. And if she used them, if they could somehow go after the prince…
But that is precisely what they need to do, isn’t it?
She’d come here on a mission. She’d sworn to Nora that she would complete it by any means necessary. And here was a means, presenting itself on a silver platter.
It would be foolish not to at least makesomeuse of it.
She took a deep breath. Steadied herself. The beast wanted a command, so she gave it one: “Go see what business the prince is up to.”
Part of her still did not expect it to listen.
But it lowered itself—in a bow, almost—and then it slinked off, pressing underneath the door and heading into the hall.
Sephia watched it go with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She wanted to be cold, ruthless about the matter, but the truth was that the thought of spying on the prince suddenly made her feel…sick.
Sweat dotted her forehead. Her vision swam. She stumbled into the adjoining powder room, pumped water into the pedestal sink, and splashed several handfuls of it into her face.
Her vision finally cleared. She caught her breath, and then glanced at her reflection in the mirror above the sink.
And she realized, with horror, that her eyes had a blueish tint to them.
The witch’s spell was fading much more quickly than she’d expected. More quickly than itshouldhave.
“Perfect,” she muttered to no one.
Never mind those unwanted feelings she might have been developing for the prince.The only feeling she needed to be concerned with was the feel of an executioner’s blade against her neck—because that waspreciselywhat she was going to be facing if she didn’t get things under control.
The shade beast was gone. She couldn’t control where it went now or what it did next, perhaps, but she could control whatshedid next.
She went back into her room and found that book Nora had given her, safe in the spot where she’d tucked it underneath the bed. She took the hidden vials from it and wasted no time mixing herself a reinforcing potion.
It was worse than the first dose she’d taken.
As she finished off the foul-tasting concoction, the room felt as if it was closing in around her. She dropped to one knee. Tucked her head toward her chest and tried not to pay attention to the way the colors and shadows and sunlight shifted around her, as this did nothing to help her already aching stomach.
