“Thank you for telling me, Dritan… and I suppose the Sources must have seen something special in you. Lark’s AuntAsterie shares a similar story. You should join Lark for lessons sometime and ask her about it.” Aunt El lifted the stone from the pages and studied it, flipping it in her fingers.
Dritan turned a shade of crimson. She’d never told my parents, or anyone, of his involvement that night when we’d unbound Caym. Despite the pain the misfortune caused her, she forgave us for such a horrible mistake.
“This stone has a twin—inset into the Princess’s coffin. So, if this tale is true and if someone betrayed them, then the one in the tomb is a fake and this one may be the true waking stone,” Aunt El said. “Otherwise, we’ll need to go back to the burial site.” She shivered at the thought.
“Afraid of a few spiders?” I teased. Uncle Fen liked to recount that particular adventure and Aunt El’s terror.
She pointed at me. “They werehuge.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Well, the story says that a kiss to the stone, then to the cursed’s lips would wake them. We should try it before going back.”
“A kiss from the cursed’struest of heart,” Dritan added on.
Aunt Elsedora let out an exasperated huff of laughter. “And where might we find the Princess’ true love? That Prince would be long dead even if he were immortal. Most royalty didn’t survive the Great Wars.”
Self-preservation.
She may shield her heart from hope, but my enthusiasm only grew.
“The curse was recast on King Mattock. What if a kiss fromhistruest of heart will wake him?” I reasoned as Aunt El tilted her head, staring at the stone in her palm.
“Who do you think King Mattock’s truest of heart is?” Dritan asked, endearingly oblivious.
My aunt finally looked up and met my gaze.
“You,” I said.
“Your mother,” she said at the same time.
Her brow creased, and I’m certain my confusion showed too.
“What?” I spat.
She answered, “King Mattock was once in love withyour mother.Not me. That’s absurd.”
I straightened, surprised by her thought process.
I’d spent many years reading to the sleeping King. I could feel his roiling anger, his sadness and turmoil. The only time he felt at peace was when my aunt visited him. A swell of adoration rose whenever Aunt El was present.
She smirked, as though loving that she could keep me on my toes.
“If you insist,” I huffed out, doing little to hide my frustration with her lack of awareness.
She raised a brow. “I take it you’ll be the one to tell your mother that she needs to kiss an old rock and then her former lover on a whim?”
My cheeks heated. “I was hoping you would do the honors.”
She laughed. “It is worth trying,” she concluded. “With Angeline’s condition worsening, waking him would allow him to see her. I’ll talk to your mother. Hopefully she doesn’t smite the messenger.”
The warmth of hope emanated from her, laced with melancholy at the mention of the King’s mother.
Worst-case scenario, waking him now might give him the opportunity to say goodbye.
Best case, he would have more years with the family he loved.
“We’ve really found something,” I reassured her. “I know it.”
Chapter 29
