Fee isn’t a lesser woman. She didn’t break. And now she’s trying to save me from the same fate.
“What happened to the guards?”
Fee clears her throat, looking to the far wall. “My brother slaughtered them all. Together, he and Zeke hunted the halls for every single one of them who had my scent on them. When Kaden confronted Zelos, he said it was a way to prove as awomanIcould take any kind of abuse.” She laughs but it’s humorless. “Then he said Ifailedbecause I didn’t make it the full five days.”
My fingers turn bright red, my rage heightening my connection. Faintly, in the distance, a drumbeat alerts me to a strong heart. It’s just one, but my body wants to sag in relief.
It’s coming back.My magic is returning to me.
All because of my wrath to hurt those who would hurt Fee—my friend.
“That’s why I’m training you, Max.” Our gazes meet, and I see the pain behind her warrior mask. “It’s the same ploy. The same distraction. Zelos will try to hurt you and I refuse to let you suffer what I did.”
I don’t doubt for one moment that Fee would defend me. In the short time of knowing each other, I would gladly fight for her.
“Let’s go again.”
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
MAX
Days later, limping back to the bed chambers, I feel the oozing of various cuts on my back and legs beneath the leathers I wear. Fee wasn’t gentle with her lessons today, instead using me as a proverbial punching bag.
Between her and Oslo’s lessons, I’m so exhausted, my eyes can barely stay open.
The only bright side to the whole situation was it gave me less time to think on Oslo’s theory.
Was I meant to break Kaden’s curse? And what of the darkness that’s supposed to awaken? Will it occur if I break the curse or has it always been there?
Shaking my head, I turn down the hall, just steps from my door after Fee darted away. Reid is alone and we both know the trouble he can get into without a chaperone.
“Go to your room and lock the doors. No one goes in,” Fee commanded me before rushing off. I didn’t have the energy to fight her.
It can’t be me who breaks the curse. I’m a blood summoner, but even the Mad Witch didn’t know what I would do to this world. Saveit—or destroy it. Did that have to do with Kaden’s curse; would it destroy the world if Ididn’tbreak it?
Rubbing my head, I fight back the headache forming. This is too much.
A tickle of awareness caresses my neck like cold fingers as my ears sharpen, body jerking to stop. It’s the slightest relief, a barely audible thump that vibrates down my spine.
A drum, aheartbeat. Longing so intense rocks me and I still, body tightening with what this means. Mymagic, my abilities, they’re awake.Finally. No longer a distant hum, or a buzzing that wants to explode.
I haven’t heard anything since my talk with Fee and I practically weep with relief.
My magic writhes like a lethargic snake under my skin, begging for release. It wants out of its cage and so do I.
Glancing over my shoulder, I don’t see anyone, but Iknowsomeone is there. My magic doesn’t lie. There’s a heart, one it wants to use. And I’ve learned in my short time in this palace that my magic is protective. It wants to harm those who would harm me.
I never trusted in my magic before. But now? I do.
Waiting a few more seconds, another thump echoes in my ears. My magic is weak, tired but it’s trying. It cannot pinpoint where only one person darkens this hall and they’re stalking me.
Fee and Reid’s warnings echo in my mind: there are enemies everywhere.
Grabbing one of my daggers, I take three more steps before that thump echoes again, coming to me as if submerged under water.
It’s enough of a warning and I brace as hands grab my elbow, spinning me with a hard shove. My head cracks into the rough stone wall.
