“Well,” she huffs, looking at me. “You survived.”
“As I said I would.”
She waggles her finger. “Such confidence. And yet, you have the biggest hurdle ahead you. Using this,” she shakes a brown pouch, “on your mate.”
“Throwing Fairy dust on my brother?” Reid scoffs. “Finally, something easy.”
“It is not easy,” Aoife growls. “And it is much stronger than simple dust. It is pollen from the Noire Rose.”
Picking up the book, she taps the pages, scanning the words invisible to everyone except me. “On the full moon, in the most sacred of places, you must use this dust to paralyze him. Then, with a kiss under the full moon, give him the potion.” She throws the glass bottle at me carelessly. “This is your blood, mixed with ingredients. It will end the curse.”
“The most sacred of places?” I murmur, somehow grasping the bottle. ThankCellaI didn’t drop it. “Where’s that?”
“I leave it to you to figure out, Dark Queen.” Grabbing her skirts, she hurries away, not bothering to look back. “And I would hurry. Kaden only has a few hours.”
As soon as she departs, Fee curses, “Bitch,” under her breath.
I don’t disagree. Why isn’t she helping more?
Baris removes the hood enough to look at us. “Follow me. Keep quiet.”
Leaving the palace, we meet Mal outside in the gardens, entertaining the Hadeon. Or rather, admiring him, while the monster lounges in the shade. When they see us, they rush to catch up, but Baris doesn’t slow down. Not until we’re past the guard’s view, deep into the woods, does Baris turn around, whipping the cloak off his shoulders.
“I know where you need to bring Kaden.”
“You do?” I blurt out. “How?”
“The most sacred of places, is what we used to call our altar.” He points to the mountain behind us. “It’s where we would pray to the gods.”
“That seems like a far stretch,” Fee comments, crossing her arms. “Anyone could call their temples or altars the most sacred of places.”
“Trust me.” His dark eyes find mine. “This is where we need to get the king if we’re to break his curse.”
I know nothing about my father, but he’s trying to share. He’s trying to show me things, without endangering me. If I trust him in this, it’ll be the only chance I make. If I don’t, I risk not bringing Kaden to the right place and wasting valuable time.
Do I trust my father?
So far, he hasn’t lied to me. Not told me everything, yes. But he hasn’t lied.
“Alright,” I says slowly. “We’ll head to the altar on the mountain. We will set up a plan on the way. Get a lay of the land.”
“I’ll grab Zeke.” Fee jerks her thumb. “The rest of the guards too. We’ll need them.” There aren’t many, but we could use more swords. “They’re not exactly happy you keep losing them on your missions.”
I can imagine.
“Apologize to them for me and remind them why I’m doing it.” Hopefully they’ll understand.
After Mal gathers supplies, we head with our guards up the mountain. None of them talk, keeping close to us, with their eyes on the forest. The Hadeon sticks to my side, all three heads on a swivel.
We might be here to save Kaden, but we all know what he’s capable of until then.
“Thank you,” Baris murmurs. At my raised eyebrow, he waves his head toward the path. “For trusting me. I know it was a large concession. I understand the need to do right by your mate and family. I’m just glad you trusted me with this.”
“I do trust you,” I admit. “But it’s fickle. I’ve made myself a promise, to wait and see things like a leader. Not to rush off, as I’m prone to do.” Kaden is laughing somewhere at the irony. “Why did you stop me in the palace?”
“About the book?” He cast a glance around us, but Fee and Reid are talking to Mal about her newfound magic and how hot she always is. It’s amazing that she too has magic, that I’m not alone. “You saw the writing, didn’t you?”
“Yes. But Reid didn’t.”
