“I feel kind of weird,” he groans.
An instant later, he bolts upright. His hand shoots toward me, and I’m hit with a magical sensation that splinters my skin. Will’s knees hit the stone floor like the final crash of an avalanche.
“Will!” My voice is swallowed as his spell takes over. I twist my palms before my eyes and watch as my whole body turns invisible, concealing me from view.
Not a moment too soon.
The antechamber door swings open, and a tall woman strides into the study, her pale skin still radiant in the fading sunlight. Her blond hair is styled elegantly; jeweled pins hold sectioned twists in place while loose waves cascade down a flowing mauve dress with long lace sleeves that end in wrists of silver bracelets. Her sharp chin is high and her shoulders low like she’s used to being in control. Like she’ll destroy anyone who gets in her way.
Will tries to get off his knees, but she frowns and waves a hand. A tendril of purple magic dances across her fingers and forces him into a slump.
“What’s this?” the woman says, leaning forward at the waist. She grabs Will’s chin and digs her fingers in. Whatever spell he’s under doesn’t allow him to fight back as she lifts his face to hers. “What could you possibly be doing in my chambers?”
Will smirks. The bold one, the one he uses to tease Bash. He’s going to play with her to help me escape. She doesn’t seem to notice me at all, but regardless, I’m frozen in place, my breaths shallow. My hand around my throat.
This must be her.
This must be Morgana.
What do I do?
“Just wanted a chance to meet the great Lady Morgana,” Will says, but the compliment doesn’t even graze her. She remains still and eyes the black cloth on the floor, the open book. Her mouth tightens. Holding back rage.
“Is that so?” she growls, and throws Will’s chin away.
A flash of magic strikes the air like a whip, and Will winces in agony.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to help.
“Seems to me you’re a little mouse, trying to steal from me,” she says.
“That doesn’t sound like me at all,” Will bluffs, like he’s in no pain whatsoever. He’s determined to keep that smile plastered on his face, even if the muscles in his neck stand out.
Morgana places both hands on her hips and studies Will with keen lavender eyes. “You must have an extraordinary amount of magic to have gotten this far.”
“One of my many…ah…ravishing qualities.”
“Indeed…” She pauses, deliberating. Then a shrewd look flashes over her face. “Magic I can put to use.”
She whips around to her desk, and Will uses the second to glance where I once stood. He doesn’t know if I’m safe or not. The invisibility must work on his eyes too. He wants me to run. Morgana is too powerful for us. But I can’t leave him.
“I was just about to depart for a wedding,” she tells Will cordially, reaching for a vial of green liquid. She pours a few drops in a goblet that she tops up with a bubbling golden elixir. “Your timing is serendipitous.”
Morgana walks toward me and I flinch. She reaches toward a shelf of dried flowers by my left shoulder and collects a few sprigs without any suspicion. The flowers she chooses—oh no.Back at the table, she crumbles a thistle between her fingers and adds it to the broth. Thistles are never used for anything but punishment. Dislike.Misanthropy. She adds a snowdrop. A bringer of bad omens. A bringer of death.
Ineedto get Will out of here.
“What are you making?” he asks.
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“I’m not drinking that.”
“You’ll do anything I want you to.”
An idea comes to me. If Will can keep her talking…I might not be able to stop her from making that potion, but I can add a security net. Luckily, Morgana’s flower supply is well stocked. I take the smallest pinch of heather, for luck and protection, and another of dogwood, to represent love that overcomes any adversity. Just as I thought, when I take the flowers, they stay visible. I don’t have long.
“My lady, you don’t need to cast a spell to get me to do your bidding,” Will says, laying it on thick enough that Morgana turns her head. “What is it you require?”
