If I could reach inside her soul and pluck out the dagger of pain afflicting her, I would relieve her of this burden. She did not deserve this agony.
Holding out my hand, I called my power forth, sending a breeze toward the fire and whipping the hot air back to where she slept. With each soft push of wind, her wet hair dried, and a soft blush crept into her ivory cheeks.
Satisfied she was sufficiently warmed, I walked around the drawing room needing to put distance between the queen and I before I did something foolish.
The lantern on the far wall moved.
Quickly unsheathing my blade, I positioned myself in front of the queen, shielding her from any potential danger. Anna flew out of the hole, and I put my sword away.
Moving to the back of the room where the pixie flew, I eyed her. “What are you doing here? The queen is sleeping.”
Anna looked at me then at her majesty, sniffling. “Do you think she’s safe?”
“I don’t know, and that’s why I don’t want to leave her side again.”
“That’s an impossible promise to make. If the king requests you somewhere else, you must go.”
“Then I will leave one of the blade dancers.” I leaned against the bookcase, staring at my sleeping queen. “I have yet to hear from the priest who was examining the body I need to know—”
“It was poison,” Anna interrupted.
“Are you sure?”
“Did you see her fingers?”
I paused, replaying the day’s events in my head. “No, I’ve been with the queen most of the night. The priests had removed the princess when I returned to the room.”
“Her fingers, near the nails, had a darker red color. Olivia said that’s a sign of chokecherry poisoning. No one knows poison better than her.”
“I found a broken vial in the secret passageway outside the princess’s room. Someone had tea with her that afternoon. We need to have all the food and drinks checked for poisons, but have Olivia do it, no one else. The guards are instructed not to let anyone in, but I’ll give them the order to allow her inside.”
The pixie nodded. “I’ll also have her check the passageway.”
I moved closer, my thoughts whirring. “What about the previous princess?”
“Sorcha had some type of lung sickness . . . didn’t she?”
“Yes, but is there a poison that could cause that?”
“I don’t know. If somebody is poisoning the royal line, Kane could be next! We need to get him out of here.” Anna’s voice rose and I shushed her.
“Quiet, someone could hear us. Kane is safe.”
Anna flew closer until she was hovering by my face. “You will protect Moira, won’t you?”
“Of course, I will.”
“You swear?”
I held out my hand and Anna sat on it. Lifting my thumb, she grabbed it and hugged me tightly.
“I’m scared. Nothing like this has ever happened before. What if we’re all in danger?”
Growing up in the castle, I had known the pixies as long as Moira and trusted them as much as the queen. With my finger, I gently stroked Anna’s arm. “We will discover the truth. I don’t care what it takes.”
With a gentle squeeze, she fluttered off my hand. “I’ll talk to Olivia, and I’ll come back and tell you what I learned.”
“Wait,” Anna yelped, her wings fluttering faster than normal.
