“He was smaller before,” Marc said, anger replacing fear. “It doesn’t matter what size he is. Our plan will still work.”
I lowered my paw, settling into position in front of the node. “And what plan is that?”
Marc made a sharp gesture with his hand, cutting Cecily off before she could answer. “We aren’t telling you.”
“And I’m not letting you approach the node, so I suppose we are at an impasse.”
“There are two of us and only one of you.”
“Ah, but I have more impressive teeth and claws than both of you combined.” I didn’t move from my spot in front of the plinth, but if they tried to come closer, I would strike. I couldn’t take the risk of letting Cecily pass another Truth through the node.
I knew, without a doubt, that I had granted the aspekts of binding to Isa, but I wasn’t as certain that Cecily’s tie to the node had disappeared. Most likely, Isa’s interpretation of that Truth was correct, and only one person could have the extra node-tie at a time, but I would not test the theory.
Belatedly, I realized I shouldn’t have indulged my flair for the dramatic and revealed myself in the great hall. I could have locked the doors and confronted Cecily and Marc elsewhere. Then I could have locked them in whatever room I wanted. But in order to get them out of the great hall, I would have to move to a different room and summon them, and I could not guarantee that Cecily wouldn’t reach the node first.
We truly were at an impasse.
I shook my head. No. I was the Duke of Truthhold, with the full power of the node at my call. There might be limitations to what I could do, but I still had several options to tilt the scales in my favor. If nothing else, I would finally learn why Marc and Cecily had cursed me.
I pulled on the node’s power, flinging it out in front of me. Neither Marc nor Cecily had taken a step closer. The threat of my claws was enough to prevent progress, but not send them fleeing. Perhaps the threat of betraying their secrets would make them leave. I could run to another room and summon them before they reached the bottom of the hill. Then tomorrow evening I’d tell Isa about my prisoners.
I built node power up around Marc, but I knew it wasn’t a truth-telling spell. Not yet. If I wanted to force answers, I needed the power to pour over him, not just build up into a cage around him. My attention shifted to Cecily. Would she be a better target for my questions?
I had thought that it might be harder to use the power against her, as she was a truth-teller herself, but that slight shift in focus was enough to make the magic snap into place. A haze of blue covered her from head to toe in my magical sight.
I purred, the sound a menacing rumble in my new form. “Why did you curse me?”
“You were supposed to fall in love with me. Marry me. It would have been easier that way.”
“What would have been easier?”
Marc’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed Cecily’s arm, but she shook him off. “Gaining a tie to the node. Getting the power I deserve!”
“He’s truth-telling you.” Marc snarled. “Shut up.”
“I don’t care! What does it matter if he knows?”
To my surprise, Marc didn’t protest any further, though he glowered at both me and Cecily. I kept the stream of power pouring over her. “How did turning me into a cat help you gain power?”
“That wasn’t about power. That was revenge. How dare you consider yourself better than me? Marc was mad at me, but it was worth it.”
I wondered for a moment if truth-telling always resulted in people answering as if they were drunk, their thoughts coming in a torrent. Maybe it was just Cecily, taking pleasure in venting her feelings. “Why did you start rumors in Leort about Isa?”
Cecily laughed. “She was merely convenient. The point was to make people mistrust you. Then, once we’ve convinced the princess that you’ve been abusing your power, the royal family will want to strip you of the title. But they can’t. The node and the Truthholder inheritance contracts make the situation too difficult. That’s where I come in.”
Marc’s eyes glittered, and I realized why he had allowed Cecily to continue talking. He might not have explained the plan himself, but he wanted me to hear it. He wanted me to realize how brilliant he was and how trapped I was.
But I didn’t feel particularly trapped. Marc and Cecily were no match for me and Isa. Not in the long run.
“As your wife,” Cecily continued, her words bringing a growl to my throat, “one with a tie to the node herself, the royal family won’t have to worry about Truthholder inheritance laws. They can lock you up for your crimes and leave me in place as the duchess, since I’ll be able to perform your duties with regards to the node.”
I almost laughed at that. Marc wasn’t as brilliant as he thought. Cecily might have had a tie to the node, but she’d never be able to witness contracts unless I made her my proxy. Even if she married me, that wouldn’t grant her the primary node-tie. “How do you expect to make me sign a marriage contract?”
“I don’t need you to sign. I can create Truths with only my signature.”
“And how do you plan to explain my present form to Her Highness?”
Cecily pouted. “I’ll turn you back once everything else is settled.”
