I considered his words. “When Stryder took me from the castle, he said the king was supposed to die the night of the ball. That the poison used on him was strong enough to kill a full-size monstrous boar with a single drop. And the king hadfivedrops. He blamed it on my coffee.”
“My theory holds merit then.” Briar nodded. “It also coincides with what I’ve read of the other saints. Each had the power of purification. The ability to chase away darkness, counteract poisons, lift curses, and destroy dark miasma.”
“Dark miasma?” I asked.
“Energy that corrupts everything it touches,” he explained. “The former demon lord, Lord Malachi, used it in the human and demon war. It tainted the hearts of Bremloc’s forces, creating chaos among the ranks. Turning soldiers against each other and driving others mad.”
Lake’s ears lifted. “Did a saint help back then?”
Briar nodded. “Saint Vera. Based on my research of Bremloc’s history, Vera had been a shipwright’s daughter from a neighboring city. Grew up poor. Then, in the midst of the war, her powers awoke, and she helped the kingdom by dispelling the miasma and defeating Lord Malachi.”
Lupin had told me the former saint came at the height of the human and demon war. I just hadn’t known the details.
“How did she defeat him?” Rowan asked.
“She purified the darkness in him,” Briar answered. “In other words, she tore the mana from his core and destroyed it, stripping his powers and making him defenseless. King Paris then took his head.”
After meeting Lord Onyx, the details of his father’s death filled me with conflicting emotions. Sure, it sounded like he’d been pretty ruthless with the whole dark miasma thing, but which side had started the war in the first place?
Every villain was the hero in their own story, after all.
“Not sure I’m cut out for this hero thing,” I said, resting against Rowan. His peppery scent calmed me. “Definitely don’t see myself purifying darkness or facing down armies. Have you seen me with a sword? Callum has. Just ask him how that went. Or, better yet, ask his foot. I dropped the sword on his pinky toe.”
Callum breathed out a laugh. “It left quite the nasty bruise.”
Maddox stood with a defeated set to his shoulders. My rambles hadn’t helped dissolve his tension or worry. “When does a saint’s power fully awaken?”
“I couldn’t say.” Briar adjusted his glasses with a tremble in his hand. “However, when they do, every nation will fight for the chance to claim Evan as theirs.”
Silence filled the space between us. The only sound in the room came from the faint crackle of flames against the firewood.Expressions were pinched, probably everyone processing everything that we’d learned.
“Enough of this talk.” Maddox squeezed both hands into tight fists at his sides. “Our priority for now is what we’ll face insidethisrealm, not what lies beyond it.”
“Aye.” Baden nodded. “Evan is our prince, and we’ll protect him from any who dare tries to harm him.”
I sighed. “No one will be harming anyone here. Lord Onyx said—”
“That you’re his prisoner,” Maddox snapped.
“Honored guest who’s forbidden to leave, actually,” I corrected.
His eyes narrowed.
“You know.” I grinned. “You’re really handsome when you glare at me like that. All snarly and stuff.”
Maddox lost some of his ire. The man was the embodiment of one of my favorite book tropes: the grumpy one who was soft for the sunshine one. All it took was a smile and bat of my eyelids, and he was puddy in my hands.
Well, most of the time.
“The hour is awfully late.” Duke whistled under his breath. “Suppose we should be heading back to our room?”
“Aye,” Baden responded.
“I’m good here,” Quincy said before being shoulder-checked by Duke. “Ow.” He rubbed at his arm before his eyes widened. “Oh. I mean, aye, we should retire to our room before that demon returns.”
The three of them tossed us grins before excusing themselves from the room and shutting the door. Heavy steps echoed down the hall before growing distant.
“I thought they’d never leave,” Rowan muttered, hopping down from the windowsill. He gave me a look that had all myblood rushing south. “Now let’s find out if you taste as good as I remember.”
