“I didn’t… the castle healers didn’t prepare it for me.” He scoffed as I went on, “It’s a draught from my homeland, brewed in accordance with our traditions.”
“So, I am to believe you arrived at this castle with nothing in your possession save for a leather pouch containing a contraceptive?” he sneered. Without waiting for my response, he went on, “I have eyes and ears all over this castle. Did you really think I wouldn’t have them trained on you?”
I raised the back of my right hand. “If I am a witch, where’s my mark?”
“Do you think I’m some naive mortal dolt? I know your kind can glamor your marks so they’re not visible.”
I couldn’t argue with that.Dammit. “I swear, I’m not what you think—”
“Enough,” he said, holding up a hand. “You may have fooled everyone else, but your lies will not work on me, witch.”
The world around me started to spin. I tried to think of something—anything—to say, but my mind was completely empty.
“Now, I am going to take this potion to my father. I think he will be most interested to hear my theory.”
I shook my head helplessly. There was no excuse that could save me now.
He raised his blade threateningly. “I suggest you leave this kingdom immediately and never return, lest you wish to face the gallows.”
Sword still pointed at me, he slowly inched towards the door, his cold eyes promising death if I made so much as a move. “Or, you could always wait to see what happens.”
He gave me one final, cruel smile and breezed out the door, taking my potion and any hope I had of remaining at the castle.
Chapter 24
I released the breath I had been holding. My mind was in a daze, but my body leaped into action.
If Hugo was heading to the king to tell him I was a witch, I didn’t have much time. I couldn’t risk waiting around to find out if the king believed him, not when Hugo had my potion. Without it, my tail would return and everything would be over for me. I had to get to the cove and return to the ocean before anyone discovered I was gone. Once I’d put enough distance between myself and Solvardunn, I would summon the Crow to return me to Vantillios.
I had failed. The only small mercy was that Hugo hadn’t found the bone.
I pulled on a pair of boots as well as my cloak and did a quick final sweep of the room, pocketing the bone that was still, thankfully, concealed.
Before I fled, a thought stopped me in my tracks. What would Tarben think when he returned from the border to find me gone? Would he believe Hugo’s wild accusations?That’s not my concern. Still, something about Tarben thinking I was a witch made me feel unsettled.
Against my better judgment, I hurried to the breakfast table and reached for the quill and parchment. My hands shook as I scribbled the words:
Tarben,
I can’t imagine what you must think of me. Just know it isn’t true.
Alara
I ignored my bewildering desire to write more—what more could I possibly say? Folding the note in half, I addressed it to Tarben and left it on the table. Hopefully Runa would find it in the morning. If she did, she would see to it that Tarben received it. I was sure of it.
Flying out of the door, I nearly bowled over a wide-eyed Runa in the corridor. “Miss Alara?”
“Sorry,” I called over my shoulder, without stopping.
Moving hastily through the corridors, I kept my eyes down and my hood up. On the way, I passed a handful of servants tending to the last of their nightly duties. I ignored them, desperate to get the fuck out of this castle.
Flames of Erasure, what a mess!
Now I would have to return to Vantillios and face my grandmother’s wrath. The worst part was, I knew Tarben was close to confessing his love for me. I would have broken the curse, if not for Hugo ruining everything. I may not have been a witch, but I would have loved to curse him. Something truly diabolical.
I had failed at my task, which left me bitter with disappointment. But I couldn’t dwell on the heaviness in my chest. Not now.
I arrived in a secluded hallway at the rear of the castle. It took me some time, but I found what I was looking for veiled behind a tapestry depicting a full moon beaming above a midnight sea: a hidden door. According to Tarben, behind the door was a secret passageway that led directly to the postern gate.
