Did he keep his collection inside the bedroom? If he had a book about collars there, I needed to steal it. Reyla wasn’t the only sneaky rider.
Vexxion told me to stay away from the king’s bedroom, but I’d do anything to help my friends, even search there.
“Your turn.” He eased away from Reyla to stand in front of me, giving me a smile that must charm the ladies of the court, as Vexxion once told me. I could see where my love got his gorgeous appearance, though Ivenrail’s nasty soul shone through, tainting everything about him. “I’d ask if you’re ready, but it hardly matters. Soon, you’ll forget everything, even this conversation.”
He placed his thumb on my forehead in an almost delicate manner. His eyes closed, and he sighed with bliss.
Like before, I felt nothing.
The shield appeared on the Wraithweave board, standing behind the high lady.
He wrapped his arms around her.
He guarded her as he had at all times.
He would do so until death came to claim him.
26
VEXXION
Ivenrail was foolish to think I’d remain chained to the wall in his dungeon, awaiting his pleasure.
After he left, I closed my eyes, drew on my power, and traveled to his sitting area, arriving in time to ensure the high advisor’s head hit the wall hard enough to stun him. When he staggered out into the hallway, I lifted him and tossed him over the railing. He dropped five stories, sadly using some of his power to slow his fall, but he landed on the marble floor of the foyer with a satisfying smack. All without seeing who’d done this to him.
Traveling was only in my mind. I took no physical form when I appeared elsewhere, but I could still use my magic when I reached my destination.
I had Fury and Reyla to protect.
The only reason my mother hadn’t traveled while he tortured her was because that would’ve meant leaving mebehind. She couldn’t flit, and she couldn’t take anyone “traveling” with her.
My current bindings did not allow me to flit, but I’d inherited all of my mother’s skills.
The king was greedy tonight, taking and taking from me when he believed he was draining Reyla. A braggart, he talked about his collections, his love of books with Tempest.
Did he realize I’d borrowed the book with information about collars? How else would I learn about how to release them? Since he’d tossed it into a cabinet near the fireplace, I doubt he realized I’d read and returned it.
“Your turn,” he said, moving on to Tempest.
By the time he’d eased away, a sly smile on his face and his cheeks glowing with the energy he’d drained from me, I could barely hold my spirit in the room, let alone try to give Tempest reassurance with the Wraithweave gameboard.
Ivenrail left the women still bound to the chairs, drifting into his bedroom to collapse on his bed. Like many times in the past, he’d fall into an indulgence-induced slumber. If I knew him, and I did all too well, he’d sleep until morning and wake with a headache from all he took from my well.
Tempest’s gaze remained on the shield as I slipped away, unable to hold the travel spell any longer. I jarred back into my body, still chained to the wall, and hung there, unable to support my physical weight. If someone came upon me . . . I didn’t want to think of what they might do or the fact that I was so drained, I wouldn’t be able to host enough power to defend myself.
My fury was aptly named. She appeared in front of me withtears in her eyes and storm clouds gathering on her face. She stomped over to where I hung on the wall and shook her finger at me. “You were in the king’s living area while he attempted to drain us.”
I nodded.
“He took no power from me.”
“Good,” I said.
“You revealed yourself as the shield, and you left not long after Ivenrail did.”
I could only grunt in agreement.
“I followed you.”
