“Morgana?” He sucks in air through his teeth. “I should have known he’d have gone to her at some point. Of course.”
“No, Bash—”
“I told Mother it was a bad idea to invite her to the wedding. Obviously such a power would tempt Will.”
I grasp Bastion’s forearms so tightly I can feel his pulse.
“Bash, let me talk!Please.”
“Fliss, it’s okay, you’re safe now. You’re home. We can protect you.”
He needs to listen. He never listens.
Bash’s dark brown eyes bore into mine. I know how I must look. A crazed animal with windswept hair, skin raw from riding. A pale withered plant that crawled through the forest, dragged itself through thornbushes. How could he ever understand in the limited time we have? Why can’t I choose the correct words to make him get it? My mind scrambles to grab the most important pieces.
“Morgana’s been poisoning the king!” I burst out with a wildness that feels rare. Precarious. An avalanche of unplanned words. “She cast a spell on Will. Some kind of potion. He’s not in his right mind. But I added some flowers to override it. And before that the bridge fell, and Lark and Howell might be dead, but I don’t know. I rode here as fast as I could to tell you that you can’t get married tomorrow or Card will die too!”
Bash exchanges a flash of apprehension with his fiancé.
“Fliss, you’re not making any sense…” the prince says. There’s a tinge of pity in his tone now, a sympathy full of sorrow.That poor girl. Oh, how far she’s fallen.He scans my face like a question. “What did Will do to you…?”
“I’m not lying! He’s on his way here now!”
Bash’s eyes suddenly narrow. That was the wrong truth to tell. It triggers him. Turns him impulsive and blind. He reaches for the sword again.
“I’ll alert the guards,” the prince decides heedlessly and flies to kiss Card’s cheek. “Head to the tunnels below the keep if it gets messy. That’s the safest place to be.”
No.I throw my arms out to block the exit. My legs are shaking, my heart thundering toward the edge of a cliff.Stop.Slow down.
“WAIT!” I shout, fighting against my trembling teeth. “You’re not listening!Why—Why aren’t you listening? I told you, he’s under a spell! If I come with you, I can activate the flowers I added—”
“You’re not allowed anywhere near him again. Either of you. That’s an order.”
A hint of Cardamine’s usual charm breezes across his face. He kisses Bash. “Come back.That’san order.”
I’m stammering, running low on fumes, wilting. The scar across my stomach pulls my skin like it’s about to snap.
“P-Please, stop, listen,please,” I repeat deliriously. This isn’t right. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.
Bash places me in Card’s arms. There’s a waft of buttercups and the slam of a door. The distant shout of rounding guards. Silence. Now that my adrenaline is waning and any hope I had of making Bash understand is extinguished, I don’t know if I can keep moving. Card tries to steady me.
“Come on, edelweiss. Show me your courage,” he says.
A sob breaks through. I don’t want anyone to get hurt—least of all Will. He doesn’t deserve this, and he’s the only one who knows exactly what spell Morgana is planning to use at the wedding.Bastion is sealing Card’s fate if he hunts Will down. A strangle of fear grips me, and when I open my mouth to explain everything, my truth comes out.
“I don’t want him to get hurt,” I say, and burst into tears.
The thought of Will in that prison again, bleeding and barely able to stand—
Card stiffens. He takes a small step back. His fingers run down the arms of my coat, to my wrists, my palms, then let go. The firelight paints shadows on his unusually hard expression.
“You…you don’t mean Bash, do you?” he asks, his voice low.
The flames crackle.
Outside, a guard shouts commands.
“W-What?”
