I hoped to be far away whenever she got it on with Merrick and Laurent.
Lenna, to my left, was deep in the Prism, slack jawed and dazed as she practiced filtering back to the memory of my parents’ murder in anticipation of finding it quickly when the time was right to project it to the court. Adara set us up nicely for that part, unbeknownst to her, by forcing so many beings to attend her farce of a full moon celebration. Instead of just snagging the minds of the assembled court, Lenna would be able to push the memory into the minds of the courtandall families with a titled bloodline in the Opal Kingdom.
Couldn’t get more of a credible witness pool than that.
I sent a prayer to Carra, asking her to watch over Keerian in these last couple days before I would see him again. Going this long without him had pushed me past my breaking point, fracturing and reforming me all over again, casing my heart in rough stone that wouldn’t crack until I was once again in his arms. I could tell by the ease I killed Adara’s warriors that I was ready to wreak havoc on anyone who dared to keep us apart.
Interrupting my contemplative silence, Sparrow asked quietly, as if the words were too heavy to speak out loud, “Have you decided what to do about Adara?”
Keeping my eyes focused on the portal, I found myself unable to take in Sparrow’s expression. I kept quiet.
“Youaregoing to kill her… Right?” Merrick tuned in on our conversation. “She’s too dangerous to keep alive.”
Flicking my eyes up to Merrick, I gave him a slight nod, which Sparrow spied immediately. “No,” she snapped, “if you kill Adara, how are you any better than she is? Killing and taking over the throne?”
I inhaled sharply through my teeth as my temper slammed its horns deep within my flesh. “I’m already better than her,” I growled at Sparrow. She glared at me, the rage in her blue eyes cutting me to my core, before she rose in a fluid movement, storming out of the house. Merrick frowned, brow furrowing, torn between following her or staying in the living room. I jerked my head towards the front door and silently, he strode after Sparrow.
Brooding, I sipped my drink, not tasting the bitterness of the red wine.
“It’s none of my business,” Laurent said lightly, causing me to startle. Not taking his eyes off the portal he continued, “but you will never be able to please everyone when you take the throne.”
“I’m beginning to notice that,” I mumbled, leaning my head against the back of the couch. Defeat swirled around me, threatening to hang its heaviness around my neck as I pushed it away, burying it deep beneath my hardened heart.
The portal started hissing and sizzling, the white and grey smoke turning a viscous, poisonous green. Laurent’s hands trembled with the strain of controlling his magic. The mist turned into a sludge–stickingto itself and slowing down. Laurent’s face screwed up in a snarl, his teeth flashing as he grunted, the soft blue magic at his fingertips pulsing at a furious rate as he drained himself.
I was on the edge of my seat, hovering, worried and unsure how to help until Laurent huffed, “I’m fine. This was expected.” Sweat dripped down his face, soaking the neck of his pale orange robe. “I must build the portal past Adara’s wards, and there’s a lot of them. Seems she found a trick or two in that spell book to make it near impossible to break through.”
The toxic color must have been visible out the front window, because Merrick rushed back into the room, Sparrow close on his heels. Her eyes were wide with fear as Laurent calmly explained what he was doing and the complex wards. Sparrow gently touched Lenna, and the Oracle gasped, her eyes rolling back into her head as she arose from the Prism’s depths, quickly assessing the scene around her.
I heard Sparrow quietly filling Lenna in as vivid green light bathed the room in a venomous glow.
“Impossible?” Lenna blurted out, eyes wide as she gripped onto my arm, shooting her gaze to the thrumming portal.
“Nearimpossible,” Laurent chuckled, the sound falling flat as he winced with pain, a silent curse appearing against his curled lips. His hands shook more, the thick green smoke bucking and fighting against the command of his power. The plant pots on the bookshelf behind the portal began rattling. Books thumped off the shelves. My magic rose in my veins, ready to attack an invisible foe. With a strained growl, Laurent slashed his hands at the portal and….
The smoke sped up, and the poisonous hue dissipated, leaving only white light behind.
“Whew,” Merrick breathed, plunking back down by Sparrow on one ofthe poufs. “That was intense.”
“We’re through the wards. The ride may be a bit rough to get there, though.” Laurent’s concerned eyes met Sparrow’s, and she fluttered her eyelashes at him in return.
“Nothing we can’t handle. Rough is fine,” she said innocently. Laurent audibly swallowed. Merrick glowered. I assumed him trailing off after Sparrow hadn’t gained him any favor with her.
I cleared my throat, the apology I owed Sparrow anxious to come out. Sensing my intentions, Sparrow stepped forward, interrupting me. Her eyes were soft as she looked at me, and somehow that hurt worse. She already forgave me, and I hated that the pity reflected in her eyes was directed at me. “I have news.”
“You were on the front porch with Merrick for ten minutes, how did youget news?” Laurent asked, his eyebrows notched with confusion as he looked from fae to gargoyle.
Sparrow flicked her eyes to me. I knew how she got information, but if she wanted to keep her powers a secret, I wouldn’t rat her out.
“Through the grapevine,” she hedged, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, before taking up residence on the arm of the couch. Her blue eyes were solemn, immediately putting me on high alert. “Townsfolk in the Opal Kingdom are disappearing.”
“What do you mean…disappearing? What townsfolk?” I questioned, a hollowness filling my chest.
“Here and there, a few at a time. But those numbers are adding up to a glaring issue. Beings are being taken. By something.”
“My guess is by Adara,” I clarified, feeling my magic thrashing under my skin.
Merrick hissed low. Next to him, Lenna looked petrified, clutching the Prism tightly to her body.
