26
Rose
The next morning hit me like a brick to the head. I woke to a metaphorical pounding in my temple and a literal pounding on my door—far too early after the events of yesterday.
“Go away,” I groaned, turning over and yanking my pillow over my head.
“Rosie! It’s us!”
I grimaced. It was Beau, probably the only person capable of getting me out of bed right now.
With great strain, I lifted myself into a sitting position and carefully pulled my shirt up, checking on my bruised ribs. The skin was a light brown color, almost yellow, with a sickly green indicating its rapid healing. It was truly incredible how well that tonic had worked. I hardly felt any pain when I pushed two fingers onto the tender area.
Another frantic knock sounded at the door. Brushing a hand through my disheveled hair, I padded across the room and opened the door. Beau’s extended fist fell forward and he tripped over the doorway. Instead of stumbling into my room, however, it was as if he hit an invisible barrier. His head and fist bounced off a solid shield of air, causing him to fall back into my aunt.
“Fates, I’m sorry, Beau Beau—that must be the wards.” I’d completely forgotten. Nox had said once I gave permission for someone to enter, the wards would be disabled for them for the rest of my stay. I quickly allowed them inside the room, and they both walked through tentatively, Beau’s face bright red with embarrassment.
Once inside, my aunt gave a sigh of relief. “How are you feeling, Rose? Are you alright?” She gripped my forearm, her concerned eyes searching my body for signs of injury.
“I’m fine, Aunt Morgana, I promise. A little banged up, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“How was the first trial?” Beau asked excitedly. “They wouldn’t tell us anything yesterday, and Ma wouldn’t let us go see the rankings.” He shot his mother an accusatory look.
“That’s probably for the best,” I said, shuddering as I imagined my little cousin and aunt surrounded by people like Callum, who wouldn’t be above using them against me.
“What was it like?” he pressed. “Did you have to fight anyone? Were theredragons?”
I laughed and tousled the top of his head, making him duck and shove my arm away. “No,Beau Beau.” This earned me a glare. “You know dragons aren’t real. But I did see a lot of the capital.” I continued to tell them a shortened version of the trial and the riddle I had to solve. When I recounted how the mausoleum had been a diversion and that Alaric had followed me to trap me inside, Morgana gasped.
“Alaric Rinehart!” she scolded. “The next time I see that man, I’m going to—to?—”
Beau snickered at his flustered mother. “What, Ma, curse him so his feet are cold forever? Put itching powder in his collar?”
Morgana smacked his neck playfully. “If you’re not careful, I’ll put itching powder inyourcollar, young man.”
“Oh, I’ll find a way to get him back,” I said with a chuckle, my anger from yesterday slipping ever so slightly as I watched my aunt and cousin bicker. Hearing her reprimand the great AlaricRinehart like he was some schoolboy, despite the fact that he was older than her, made me smile.
I continued to tell them about Rothy and her tea house in the central sector, and how she helped me find the memorial site. I left out the part about fighting Callum; I still didn’t want to face what I’d almost done. That the idea of killing him had briefly crossed my mind, paired with the murky memories of my father’s death and the blistering wrath that had consumed me. I could already see my aunt’s face if I were to confess how I’d nearly burned him alive. How I’dwantedhim to die, if only for a moment.
A moment was all it took.
Beau was infinitely impressed by how I solved the constellations puzzle and the creepy Oracle who’d been summoned by it. At the end, they were both beaming with pride, even after learning I’d come in fifth place.
“I knew you could do it, my dear girl. Your uncle would be proud of you,” she said, cupping my face between her hands.
Another knock came from the door. Morgana turned toward it, startled. “You’re quite popular this morning, aren’t you?”
I crossed the room and opened it to find Horace standing in the frame, wearing his normal gruff expression. I introduced him to my aunt and cousin, and he nodded politely before saying, “Sorry to take you away, but Lark wants to meet with you.” He gave me a pointed look, and I knew this wasn’t about the tournament.
Glancing back at Morgana, I could tell she understood, as well. Her lips moved into a grim line as she swallowed and took Beau’s hand. “We should let Rosie attend her meetings, Beau Beau. Maybe we can catch up with her later.”
“I’ll find you as soon as I can,” I promised, giving Beau a one-armed hug before pulling Morgana in tightly.
“Be safe,” was all she whispered. The two of them left, and Horace shut my door behind them.
“It’s not just Lark,” he said.Straight to business. “There’s several more who will be there. C’mon, get dressed.”
Disgruntled, I moved to my bags to pull out a fresh set of clothes. “Several morewhat? And where are we going?”
