Anassa lets it go, but she sulks the rest of the way to the Bonded City. Conversation is muted after that, and I’m guiltily relieved when Venna and I part ways with the rest of them for our errand.
I thought that keeping my friends here would be a source of comfort.
Maybe queens don’t have that luxury.
My boots have started to pinch my toes, and I kick them off when I enter my room. They land in a pile of discarded shoes that I know I should put away but can’t quite bother with.
I’m collapsing into an armchair when Saela comes out to greet me. I straighten, suddenly alert again.
I’m glad to see her up. We’ve been leaving Saela’s door unlocked recently; Anassa’s kept her fed on animal blood, and Saela’s shown no sign of mindlessly attacking anyone, so we’re reasonably confident she’s not a danger to us. Helene and Grigore are still doing guard rotation, of course.
We tell Saela it’s to keep others out, not to keep her in. I can’t tell if she believes us.
“Back already? How did it go?” Saela hasn’t shown interest in much since… since Killian did what he did. But she’s been darkly fascinated by the engagement bracelet.
Perhaps its removal will be one small victory over the shithead who ruined her life.
I hope it’s not more; that it’s not some part of her sire bond leaking through. Is Killian in her mind, directing her to pay attention to the bracelet? I can’t start thinking that way, or I’ll never be able to relax in her presence.
I beckon her over to the seat beside mine, and she gathers up the stack of clothing on the cushion and moves it to my bedroom before sitting.
“You can just throw that on the floor,” I say.
Saela rolls her eyes.
“Well, he confirmed that it looks like Siphon-made magic, which we basically already knew.” I sigh and stare at the bracelet, holding my arm out in front of me so we can both look at the ruby’s ominous sparkle. “He had no idea how to get it off, and he said I shouldn’t do anything drastic like cutting off my hand, either, because the magic could backfire anyway and kill me.”
Saela screws up her mouth, thinking this over. Her feet come up to tuck beneath her body. I hold back a smile. It’s good to see her engaged in something.
Even something so grotesque.
“And what about the sword?” Saela has been equally fascinated by my tales of the Dire Blade, asking Aldrich to bring her any legends he can find about it. She’s convinced that it’ll be important to my rule.
We all hoped we could find someone to reforge the blade from the shards that remained. However, just like with my bracelet, all the local smiths have turned us away, mystified. Now the shards just sit in a dusty sack shoved under my bed.
“This collector guy, Jorgen, said it doesn’t look like human-forged metal.” I chew on my lip, staring toward the window and the view of the pine trees beyond. “Seems like we don’t know much about anything anymore, to be honest. A lot of knowledge was lost because of the blood curse.”
Saela fusses with a loose thread on the arm of the chair, flattening it downonly for it to bounce back up when she moves her finger. Her face, hopeful when she thought I was bringing her new information, now holds a detached expression that’s starting to be all too familiar.
I frown, wishing I could do more to bring her back out of her shell. She’s been so focused when she has some kind of problem to think about, like finding out more about the Dire Blade.
My eyes fall to Mother’s necklace around her neck. The gem seems to have a soft glow even when the light isn’t hitting it.
Just like the opal in my crown…
Couldit be the same kind of opal?
A Goddess Tear, the Mother Priestess called it.
I haven’t been able to get any more information from her about what that means. In fact, we’ve barely even met to review the rituals for the coronation. I get the distinct sense that the priestess is avoiding me since I don’t meet her standards of a “true believer.”
I study Saela’s face. Perhaps another area where research would help?
It can’t hurt. I’d do just about anything to draw Saela out of her grief and depression.
“Saela… I need your help with something.”
14
