My fingers lace with hers again. “Are you sure? This is really important, Sae.”
Saela’s fingers tremble against mine. “I swear, Meryn. I don’t feel anything.”
Would she know what to even look for? Is she being compelled right now and forced to lie about it?
For my own sanity, I need to believe that,no, he has no control over her. He can’t reach her and never will.
“You see,” Aldrich interjects. “It’s not just other humans at risk in the presence of a Siphon.” The way he’s speaking about her is so clinical that I’m starting to see red. The shadows in the dungeons begin to stir. “Youare at a unique risk, Your Highness. If he’s able to get into her mind, to compel her while she’s in your presence—”
“Enough,” I snap, shadows whipping themselves against the floor at the tone in my voice. Even now, without my crown on, they’re responding to me—but in a way totally out of my control.
Aldrich startles at the display, and guilt twists. I understand why he’s saying all this, of course. But it’s so much more personal than he seems to understand.
It’sSaelawe’re talking about, not some Siphon experiment.
Saela, whom I need to protect. Saela, whom I need to heal.
It’s my fault she’s like this in the first place.
Softening my tone and quelling the shadows, I continue, “Thank you for your counsel, Leader Aldrich, and for finding out all this information. Contrary to your belief, I think it would be best if Saela stays as close to me as possible, where she can be under constant supervision and where we can be alerted immediately if it feels like Killian is planning something.”
Aldrich nods tightly, then bows. “I understand, Your Highness. If that’s the case, then she needs to be somewhere that will limit her interactions with others and where we can keep an eye on her.”
Anassa speaks into my mind.“Bring Saela to our chambers. There is an additional bedroom attached, and I will watch over her. You can hold back Helene and Grigore from the front, as they know about her condition, and reassign them as watch. Cratos will speak to Stark about it.”
With this plan, Anassa can alert me right away if Saela’s control slips again. And beyond that, she can keep her fed when her hunger returns.
There’s something else there, too. Something warm and gentle. Anassawantsto watch over Saela.
We are family, the three of us.
I tell Leader Aldrich the plan and then say, “Please keep researching. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for us so far. I just… I need a cure. We need to find it.”
He flashes me a sad smile and then bows, departing the dungeons.
“Saela,” I say softly. She doesn’t look up at me. “Would you want to stay in my chambers?”
Saela’s gaze is vacant. Empty. The circles under her eyes darken when she weakly lifts her shoulders in a shrug. She’s tearing my heart out, but I don’t let it show. I don’t want Saela to know how afraid I am.
I’ll be strong for both of us. I always have been.
My mind returns to Saela over and over again throughout the course of the day. She’s with me through every task, an incessant hum.
Venna takes me to see the palace blacksmith while Saela settles into my quarters. He looks at my engagement bracelet and tries to get it off, but it once again tightens painfully on my wrist, cutting off my circulation. The blacksmith shakes his head, telling us he knows no magic like it.
And the Dire Blade? “This is no human-forged metal I’ve ever seen.” Ominous and totally fucking unhelpful.
At least the blacksmith provides me with a new sword to use in its place. Nothing as flashy as the Dire Blade, of course, or as laden with meaning… butit’s the perfect size for my frame and has better balance than my practice sword from the Trials.
Venna promises to dig into some Kryptos connections and keep looking for answers.
And I think—research, Saela would love that.
But, of course, my sister can’t help.
After, Stark marches me out to the courtyard to say goodbye to the newly Bonded forces deploying to the war front. I give them some completely milquetoast, barely rousing speech about bravery and war and duty.
And I think—Saela could have helped me figure out what to say.
