She scoffs. “Why, so you can run to your father?”
I tighten my jaw. Thatwasmy plan. I thought I could at least visit my father and brothers before returning to Lumenas. Maybe Father would tell me Nimue is wrong about her powers, that he has every ability to remove the curse she placed on me.
Then I remind myself my bargain has already been secured, and fae bargains are binding. It’s too late to go back. Too late to hope I can be saved. I must kill Dorian. There’s also the matter of my parents’ bargain. They agreed I’d be Nimue’s subject if I manifested dark magic.
Father can do nothing for me now.
“Fine,” I say. “Take me back.”
Nimue reaches into the pouch hanging from her belt and retrieves the silver compact.
“What is that?” I ask.
“It’s called a Chariot. It’s rare fae technology that allows instantaneous travel. It was invented around the time when the first fae war ended. It’s too dangerous to fall into casual use, so the Alpha Council allows very few royals to own these.”
“And somehow they thought it prudent that you should have one?”
She smirks. “They don’t exactly know. Let’s just say I went to great lengths to have this stolen.”
“If you have something as powerful as that, I don’t understand why you can’t use it right now to transport yourself to this Dorian boy and end him.”
“I already told you. This is your mess to fix. Besides, there are limitations to this technology. One can only use it to travel to a place one can physically see or has personally been. One must envision the place in their mind’s eye. Furthermore, it can only be used twice before it must be charged with starlight. This, of course, means I’ll be returning home the long way after I take you to Cape Vega, since Zara already used this to bring you to me.”
I frown. “That is quite a complicated contraption.”
“Yes, and don’t even think about trying to steal it from me or I’ll cut off your hands. Come. Stand close.” With a glower, I do as I’m told. Nimue places one hand on my forearm. “We must be touching to travel together.” With the other hand, she flips open the compact. Like when Zara opened it, a light begins to glow brighter and brighter until it’s blinding. I close my eyes and again feel a strange humming that reverberates through my bones. When it stops, the sound of waves fills my ears. I open my eyes and find myself on the narrow shore at Cape Vega. Nimue releases my arm and I look up at the sky. It’s as dark as it was when Podaxis and I returned to the Vulture’s Prose, speckled with stars, a strange contrast from the warm glow of the throne room. I feel like an eternity has passed since Zara captured me, but I suppose it couldn’t have been longer than an hour.
An hour that changed everything.
“I have one more enchantment to place upon you,” Nimue says.
“What do you mean?” I ask, shoulders tensing.
“You want me to hold up my end of the bargain, don’t you? If you want me to make it so you never have to kill again, you must give me permission to alter your magic.”
I recoil at the thought of letting her use her magic on me again, but I remind myself it’s what I want. Ridding me of my lethal power is the one good thing her magic can do for me. I shift from foot to foot. “You promise this will remove my dark power?”
“I promise that your next kiss will be the last that forces you to kill.”
With a deep breath, I nod. “Fine. Do it.”
She closes her eyes and steps closer. I flinch as she lifts her hand to my face, then presses her fingertip to my mouth. Like before, she begins to sing. As soon as she does, my lips start to tingle. When her song ends, the sensation remains. She steps back and I touch my mouth.
“Why does it feel like this?”
“It’s powerful magic,” she says, tone grave, “but it will end as soon as you deliver your kiss.”
The tangible reminder that I made a deal with the Sea Witch sends my stomach roiling.
“May your mission go well,” Nimue says in a formal tone. “Whether you succeed or not, I’ll meet you here at sunrise the morning after the contest ends.”
I nod and turn around.
“What, no hug for your mother?”
Ignoring her, I continue to walk away from the rocky shore until I reach the side of the bluff. From there, I climb. I don’t look back at the sea until I’ve reached the top. When I do, I’m startled to find Nimue still on the shore, watching me. Then, with a wave and a smile, she dives into the sea.
* * *
