Maybe it was something she would never be able to face.
She turned to the tent, taking small shaky steps until she reached the canvas flap. Sebastian picked up his stew container and pulled the flap back to allow her to slip inside.
Ciana didn’t hesitate as she collapsed onto her pallet, curling herself atop the padded surface. There was rustling behind her and then the feeling of a body close to hers.
“Ciana?” That same question still in Sebastian’s voice. It was laced with restrained awe and again something else she couldn’t quite place. “That… What happened out there. Was that?—”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said meekly. Her voice was so quiet and subdued she hardly recognized herself.
It was absurd, how one small encounter could reset so much within her.
Sebastian was silent for a long moment. The heaviness of his stare prickled her skin.
“I really think?—”
“Sebastian,” she interrupted him again. When would he let it rest? There was only one thing she wanted right then, and it wasn’t discussingthat.
“Please,” Ciana whispered. “Please, just…just hold me.”
A stillness filled the air. Sebastian released a heavy sigh. There was more rustling, a bump as another pallet met hers. A thin blanket was draped over her body; she was enveloped by warmth and safety and the scent of soap and parchment. A lamp was blown out, plunging the tent into darkness.
Slowly, her pounding heart settled. The trembling in her limbs ceased. Sleep crawled nearer, seconds away from claiming her.
“You are so strong, Ciana. I’m sorry that so many people have tried to steal your brightness. I promise, no one will ever hurt you again.”
An honorable oath.
Unconsciousness swept over her.
It would be nice if it were one he could actually keep.
Chapter 10
“Drink.”
The pewter chalice Lord Shawth offered was simple. Anniliese Hareth obeyed, swallowing its contents in a single gulp. The drink was bitter and earthy and not entirely unpleasant.
Only the effects of it were.
“Fascinating,” Kol murmured. He watched Anniliese from beside Shawth with detached interest in his burning eyes. “What do the Idrixian’s call it, again?”
“Uxosil, Your Eminence.” Shawth bobbed his head. “We first obtained it to aid us with our troublesome queen, but on Ksee’s suggestion we have found…otheruses.”
Anniliese was frozen by the drug, molded into perfect compliance, but within her mind she flinched.
Kol scratched his chin. “Why this girl?”
“She has newly come into her power, Your Holiness.” Ksee sauntered up beside Kol, a mad gleam of obsession in her eyes. “It is difficult for those like her to find the piety necessary for a priestess. Even the ones who come to us as children sometimesnever develop the proper temperament for it.” Ksee scoffed. “Perhaps further proof that Qhohena has long abandoned us.”
“Hm.” Kol still watched Anniliese. Her skin itched beneath the heady layer of the drug. “And how does it work?”
Shawth launched into a rambling tirade, explaining what he knew of the Idrixian poison. Anniliese hardly listened. She didn’t need to; not with the way the drug stole her body from her. Instead, she focused on Kol.
A part of her was fascinated by the god. He was nearly mad and uncontained when dealing with Andrian, but when he was away from the Armature his demeanor almost softened. Like the weight of his existence was crushing him and his sunfire kept burning only by stoking his hate.
Kol was silent as Shawth talked. He didn’t even react when Ksee rested a hand possessively on his shoulder.
“There is still one thing I don’t understand,” Kol said when Shawth finished. He finally shrugged off Ksee’s hand and stalked forward, circling Anniliese like a shark. “Why does this girl, so newly into her power, require assistance with compliance? She looks at least twenty. Unless I’m mistaken, most humans manifest their magic at around thirteen.”
