“Too long.” Her voice lilted, though not with the magicaltrill of the pixies. “And now, I must leave.” Frowning, she tilted her head as if listening. “I have to leave before he remembers.”
“He?”
“Simple forget spells don’t last long, you know.” She tapped her temple. “Only one version lasts longer, though he doesn’t know about those.”
I didn’t know anything about forget spells.
“Of course, he’d have to touch me to make his variety stick.” She shuddered. “I don’t want him to see me, let alone touch me, not ever again, so I have to leave now.”
Before she could flit, I grabbed her arm. “Don’t go yet. I have more questions.”
Her smile lifted, and it was sweet. It was nice to meet someone who didn’t appear eager to stab me—yet. “I’d love to talk more, but I have much to prepare.”
There was that word again,prepare.
“What in particular?”
She stroked my cheek with gentle fingers. “I appreciate your help.”
“The foretelling?”
“Do not seek to solve a riddle. Let the riddle solve you.” She nodded with a bright smile.
“That’s it? I don’t understand.”
“You shall.” A blink, and she was gone, flitting from here to wherever she had to prepare things.
With a sigh, I turned and left the room, pausing before entering the hall to make sure it was empty before stepping out and closing the door.
A subtle sound from my right sent me spinning, my blade lifting.
High Advisor Adwarin stalked toward me, his eyes blazing with power, a sneer suffusing on his face. He must’ve just flitted into the hall.
A flick of his finger, and my small knife went flying over the railing, clattering when it landed on the staircase below.
Drawing power quickly, I tried to flit to my suite, but nothing happened.
“Don’t bother,” he drawled. His mouth twitched, and I was locked in place by his magic. This was too much like what happened with Selitta except I didn’t have Drask to defend me.
I could only croak something to Vexxion, and I couldn’t tell if he received it. Could the high lord control what I did with my mind?
He lifted me and flung me against the wall. The wind whooshed out of me, and I couldn’t suck in anything to replace it. I remained stuck to the wall like the fairy in Ivenrail’s suite, pinned to a strip of wax, a trophy for this wicked fae man to play with.
Stalking closer with his star-strewn robe swishing around his legs, he stopped in front of me, our gazes at eye level. “I’d love to quiz you about the incident surrounding the death of my lovely daughter, Selitta, but I’m afraid the king expects me to arrive shortly in the throne room. He has a few matters to take care of, ones I’m sure you’d enjoy observing since you appear to savor things like that. I’m afraid, however, you’ll be otherwise occupied.”
He lifted his finger, and Delaine appeared beside him,dressed in leathers much like mine. She stared at me with a slick smile that matched her father’s.
“Do with her what you will,” the high advisor said. “But follow our plan.”
What plan?
He flitted from the hallway.
“My, my,” Delaine drawled. “Where’s your crow protector?”
I should’ve kept Drask with me at all times.
“Or your controller? It appears he’s too busy controlling other things to come to your aid.” She cackled. “My father told me I could do what I wanted with you, for a short time, that is. What shall it be? So many options, don’t you think?” She waved her hand, and I could breathe once more. “There’s no need to suffocate you, now is there? Not when there are more entertaining ways to kill you instead.”
