Page 71 of A Castle of Broken Memories

“Lo siento, lovey, but I’m afraid that won’t work. The portal magic is”—she shrugged—“different from the barrier’s. The ring won’t pull anyone through with it.” She grimaced. “Trust me, I tried.”

Disappointment dragged my budding hope right back down into the mud.

“However,” Abuela continued. “None of that matters, as I know exactly what we need to do to reach the Sky Castle. So.” She set her mug down with a decisive clack. “You two eat whatever you can find in the fridge to fuel up with, and I’ll pack. We’re going to be running nonstop for a while, and I’m going to need you both in fighting form when we arrive.”

She stood, grabbing a dark green cloak similar to my red one out of the closet, and a whisper of hope bloomed in my chest once again as she slung it over her shoulders. “When we arrive where?”

“Why, Mondue, of course.” She wiggled her fingers, showing off the etched gold band on her own left hand. “I’ll lend Calum your abuelo’s ring so he can pass through the barrier into the forest with us. I’m assuming once we’re inside, you’ll be able to call for the rest of your pack?”

“Well, sure, they’ll be able to hear me, but… why Mondue? I already told you, the beanstalk was destroyed.”

“And what were-witch worth her salt doesn’t know how to grow a beanstalk?” Abuela pulled a glass mason jar from the top shelf of one of her cupboards and shook the dried green beans inside. “I may be out of magic beans, but I’ve got ample normal ones. All they need is a little assistance from a few capable witches.” She winked. “Now, go on and eat up. You’re going to need a full stomach if we want to reach Mondue by morning.”

She was serious. We were actually going to do this. Adrenaline raced through my limbs like wildfire, and I leaped to my feet to do as she said. Halfway to the refrigerator, however, I paused. “Wait—you keep saying we, but in the note, you claimed you were too frail to pass through the barrier anymore.” I eyed her petite figure, looking for signs of weakness she might be hiding. “Are you sure you should be coming with us?”

She smirked. “So I lied. Sue me.”

“Abuela!”

“What? I’m old. It’s my job to play matchmaker. And given how mulish you are, I doubted you’d go up there if you knew it was Jack I was sending you after. Now, no more questions. You eat, I pack. End of story.”

I shook my head, but dutifully remained silent while I began assembling the sandwich material Calum had already taken from the fridge. She was right. All that mattered now was getting to Jack.

And hoping to the goddess that he was still alive when we arrived.

41

Live bait—that’s what the last few days, hours, or however much time I had left in this world had been reduced to. I’d been stuffed into the human-sized equivalent of a birdcage and mounted on a post surrounded by guards in the middle of the main foyer, all because one spoiled little prince was upset he’d lost his favorite toy.

The joke was on them, though, because if Tenebris held up his end of the plan, there was no one in the castle to lure out. I was the only one left. Dangling alone in a cage, waiting to die.

Gods, that was a morbid thought.

Then again, it was hard to feel heroic with your knees tucked up to your chin and wearing nothing but short pants. Because imminent death wasn’t enough, they had to add a little public humiliation to the pot as well.

My spiraling inner diatribe was interrupted by the thumping of spears—meaning, the queen was coming. Huzzah. The top of her crowned head hovered just below the cage, and the two giants standing sentry beneath it stepped aside when she approached, her hard, flat face twisted in triumph.

“Congratulate me, bloodsucker. My patience is about to be rewarded.”

I kept my expression impassive, despite the gnawing worry her words produced. “Congrats.”

Her borderline manic grin fell into a harsh frown, and she smacked the side of the cage with her scepter. “Insolent leech. I’m going to line my stockings with your guts.”

Turns out sixty years spent fluttering about the castle at night as curse bats and the like had left the giants a little…unhinged. The guards kept their crazy eyes somewhat in check due to years of training, but the queen and her demon spawn? Not so much. Speaking of which…

“I. Want. My. Harp!”

The prince’s bellowing whine literally shook the floor, and the guards’ faces tightened from the effort not to flinch. Even the queen mother herself cringed at the sound of it. Turning her attention toward the six-foot child bounding down the stairs, she called, “Mommy’s working on it, sweetheart. Go back and play with your toys.”

“Don’t want toys,” the prince screeched. “I want my harp.”

“And you’ll have her,” the queen soothed. “Why, at this very moment, the red-caped werewolf approaches through the clouds. No doubt to broker a deal to free her lover. Once she sees him here in this cage, she’ll trade your harp for his life in a heartbeat, I guarantee it.”

The prince’s ugly face twisted. “That nasty wolf who bit my ankle? I’ll bite her back.”

“Of course you will, darling,” the queen replied. “But first let’s get your toy back, hmm?”

He folded his pudgy arms over his chest. “And if she doesn’t trade?”