“You must give Angelique a kiss of true love.” Evariste broke away from the spell, his chest heaving as he tried to contain hisemotions.
It can’t be true. She’s lying about the terms of the curse. Angelique has nothing to do withit.
“What is your wish, Lord Enchanter?” Liliane asked. “Murder? Mayhem?Power?”
It’s love. Evariste closed his eyes and was unable to keep his shoulders from drooping.Which might not be so bad…if I didn’t know that Angelique will disdain me forever forit.
She had told him plainly in an argument that she didn’t need him. And he’d seen it again and again in her eyes. If she noticed any hint of his feelings for her, she’d leave him in asecond.
Moreover, the Veneno Conclave wouldmakeher leavehim.
A relationship between a master and a student? It was inappropriate to say the least. And Evariste had the sinking suspicion that most wouldn’t blame him, but that it would be Angelique who would pay the price for his traitorous heart. That it was thedarkestdesire of his true self wastelling.
Kissing Angelique might seem like an easy price to pay…but I wish it was something—anything—else.
“Why tell me this?” Evariste asked. His voice cracked, and the dagger made another cut in his throat, but he didn’tcare.
Liliane patted his shoulder and backed up. “I believe in the fairness of letting you know just what a bad spot you are in. You can’t escape, Evariste. Given that you will be our companion until I decide you are no longer useful, I thought it best to lay a foundation ofhonesty.”
I don’t believe her for a minute. Why would she tell me the truth? If I give up trying to escape, it will only make it easier forher.
For a moment, his hopes soared.Yes, that’s it. This whole spell is a lie. She’s just trying to cow me intoapathy.
“Now then, althoughyoucannot use your magic, I intend to make certain that my people can make use of it,” Liliane said. “Your powers are so vast and potent, it is simply marvelous. I can see why many called you a prodigy and a legend.Acri?”
The war mage stood and strode behindEvariste.
A moment later, Evariste felt a sharp prick between his shoulder blades. “Walk towards the mirror,Lord Enchanter,” Acri saidmockingly.
Liliane tapped the frame of the full-size mirror with a smile. “This shall be your prison. Without magic, you cannot escape it, and it will make it easier—and less dangerous—for us to drain you of your magic for our use. I wish we could do something that might be more comfortable for you, but you are too strong and too full of your own self-righteousness. Perhapslater.”
“You’re going to put meina mirror?” Evariste managed toask.
“Yes. With the right spells, it’s rather easy to doso.”
Mint-green magic flickered around Liliane’s wrists, and she spoke in the language of magic—not the black words of dark magic, but phrases Evariste recognized from his ownstudies.
How can she—only enchanters or enchantresses could use their magic likethis.
Mint-green magic twisted around Evariste—who was still shocked by Liliane’sskills.
“Now, Acri,” Lilianeinstructed.
Acri kicked Evariste in the lower back, throwing him against the solid surface of themirror.
“Prepare yourself, Evariste. This will hurt quite a bit,” Lilianesaid.
White bolts of magic sizzled, traveling up and down the mirror and making the jump toEvariste.
It felt like his blood was boiling, and his innards were being ripped apart. Pain consumed him. He couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything except try tobreatheas it knifed through hisbody.
Angelique. Her name was on his lips as he felt his world fracture around him.Angelique.
Chapter 3
Spring turned into summer,and the weeks ticked by. And yet any kind of progress on finding Evariste—or those who had taken him—eludedAngelique.
She had tried tracking spells, location charms, had even returned to Evariste’s home and—upon finding a young unicorn and a water dragon that were frequent visitors—asked them for aid in finding Evariste. But even they were unable to locatehim.
