“You should thank us for all our help,” Lila says.
“Thank you for…whatever you think you’ve done.”
The wisps spin with a wild chortle, nearly making me miss the rhythmic sound coming from inside my room.
The door.
My heart hammers fiercely at the thought of Franco returning. I all but sprint back into my room and nearly open the door in nothing by my sheer silk robe. Thinking better of it, I throw a thicker robe over it and slip the glamoured shoes onto my feet. Until Franco and I have a solid plan, it’s probably best if no one sees my real face. Not until we figure out what to do about my stepfamily.
The three wisps whirl about my head as I make my way across the room, glamour in place. “Will you go away already?” I say with a laugh.
Then I open the door.
Imogen stands on the other side, lips lifted into a smirk. “Hello, Ember.”
44
FRANCO
Pain continues to sear through me as I make my way down the halls. The walls feel as if they’re closing in on me, turning, spinning. My legs feel weak. Gasping for breath, I blink to clear my vision of the ever-creeping darkening blur. I reach a staircase, one I know leads to my destination. Agony writhes through my stomach, and I double over, grasping the railing to keep from falling. Then, one trembling step after the other, I make my way up the stairs and down the hall.
When I arrive at the intended door, I slam my fist into it. Every move feels heavy, unwieldy. The door opens seconds later. Or is it minutes? One look at Brother Marus standing on the other side clears a fraction of my pain. I let rage build inside me and erupt in the form of shadows. With a growl, I charge Marus, pressing my forearm against his throat as I turn him toward the wall and pin him there.
“Revoke it,” I hiss through my teeth.
Marus’ eyes are wide, his movements frantic as he tries to push me off him. “Revoke what?”
Pain continues to tear at my insides, but the taste of his fear acts as temporary fuel, nourishing me, battling the detrimental effects of the promise I know I must break. “Tell me you revoke what you asked me to promise.”
Indignation darkens his expression. “No!”
I press my forearm firmer into his throat. “Revoke itnow!”
“I’ll do no such thing,” he says between gasping breaths, voice strained. “You promised me you’d turn her over. If you know where she is, then tell me.”
I let my shadows darken, send them digging into his skull. I try to summon my glamour, but my magic doesn’t seem to obey. Already, my strength is beginning to wane. Especially as his fear shifts into anger, giving me less potent food to take in. My forearm slips, but I feign purpose and dig my elbow into his chest instead. My next words come out tremulous. “Revoke it or I will kill you.”
“You must be out of your mind, Your Highness. How dare you threaten me in such a way? I’m the queen’s favorite.” He tries to push my arm away. I’m only barely holding on…
“You’re no favorite of mine, Marus,” comes Nyxia’s voice, calm despite the panicked energy I sense from her. “I hardly even like you. Now, Franco, get off him and tell me what this is all about!”
I clench my jaw and hold Marus’ gaze. Sweat drips into my eyes and I realize my face is covered in a cold sheen of it. Another invisible dagger slices through me. I wince and pull away from him, panting. My strength drains even further. It takes all my determination to remain on my feet.
“Yourbrother,” Marus says like a growl, “promised he’d turn my fiancée over to me as soon as he learned of her presence in the palace. And now he’s trying to get me to revoke my side of the promise. I won’t do it, Your Majesty. She’s my fiancée. You said I could have my choice of bride and that you’d support me.”
“I did say that.” Nyxia’s tone is dark, her annoyance swirling against the tides of her concern for me. “Franco, why would you try to get out of the promise you made him?”
“I love her.”
Marus scoffs. “You love her? How can you love her? She’smyfiancée. You don’t even know her.”
Nyxia faces me, concern shifting into terror. “Franco, you aren’t making any sense. If this girl is Brother Marus’ fiancée, he deserves to see her. You’re overreacting.”
I sway on my feet and feel Nyxia’s hands come to my shoulders to steady me. My heart pounds hard in my chest, but the beat is slow. Waning. I try to shake my head to clear my thoughts, but it doesn’t help. Is Nyxia right? Am I overreacting? Nothing makes sense…
“Just tell him where she is,” Nyxia says.
“Talk,” I manage to whisper. “That’s what I promised.”
