Prager’s arm jerked toward him. Magic seared the space between them, a spear of light meant to silence him as easily as it had the high lady. I threw my shadows up to protect him while Lore's icy blades crashed against Prager's chest.
Gasping and with his arms flinging outward, Briscalar backed away. “She?—”
“Out,” Lore barked, his eyes never leaving the wizard. “Get out now.Allof you!”
Briscalar hesitated, but fear made him obey. With one last look at me, he retreated through the door behind the thrones in a panicked rush.
What was left of our court raced through the doors at the other end of the hall, and the panels boomed closed behind them, leaving us alone with a wizard seeking vengeance.
Prager’s face rippled again, the perfect symmetry of her features wobbling as if she was fighting against something internal.
Erisandra's features reemerged slowly, her lips forming strange, soundless words before she started choking. Her handsclawed at her throat as if she was trying to rip the wizard from deep inside her.
When she spoke again, she mangled the words, spitting them out broken and wet. “Find…the three. Split into…three.” Blood spilled thick and dark over her lips, gushing across her chin and the front of her gown as she swayed. “Before… Before it’s too late. Son. Love you…”
She convulsed, her legs buckling as she collapsed in on herself. As she tumbled to the floor, landing hard on her knees, Prager snapped back into place, taking over the queen mother’s body.
She lifted her head, her face radiating hatred. “It will not matter,precious,” she said with a sneer.
Precious…
The old woman at Lydel harbor who’d been desperate to buy Farris.
The drunk at Evergorne pier who’d staggered close to me. He’d broken a bottle and hurt me.
Now she was possessing the queen mother.
“You cannot stop me,” she shouted. “The curse will not waver. It will soon drown you both.”
Erisandra’s fingers spasmed, and her hands jerked up. She clawed at her chest. Her face rippled again, flickering between the two identities. Finally, her features softened, and her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto Lore with a desperation that made my lungs seize.
“I love you—” she croaked, her voice splintering with pain. “I didn’t—It wasn’t me!” Her words gurgled, choked off. Her body shook violently. Prager’s hold was tightening like wire around her throat.
“Mother. Fight it,” Lore begged. His face filled with steel, butthe way his chest jerked in and out told me how much seeing his mother like this gutted him.
Erisandra's hands smacked into her neck, her nails raking grooves in her skin as if she was trying to rip herself free from Prager’s grip.
I stepped closer, unsure whether I should shield her or us, but Lore caught my arm, holding me back.
Her lips bled as she forced them apart, shoving out each word in torturous pain. “Under—throne—find what was…hidden.” The words sputtered, and she gagged, spewing blood onto the floor between us.
“I’ll kill it.” The assassin I remembered was alive and thriving in Lore’s every word. “I’ll tear it out of you, Mother, piece by piece. I promise.”
Prager surged back, her voice cutting through the air in a sly, twisted way. “You think you’re strong enough to face me this time, boy?”
This time?
When he’d run away as a boy and stumbled upon a cottage in the woods…
My memory reminded me of Erisandra slinking into the forest, peering back as if she hoped not to be seen, perhaps knowing I was watching.
Prager all this time.
Precious…
This wizard had been following me, determined to make sure I didn’t break the curse.
Erisandra’s features contorted, her gorgeous face morphing into something monstrous. Her mouth curled while Prager took over her throat and spewed venom. “No savior now.” Peering around, she huffed out a gloated laugh. “I will destroy you like Idid every single male of your bloodline.” Her head snapped back, her gaze locking on us. “Even a willing bride cannot stop me.”
