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Revel repeated the rigging on the opposite tower, and the three of us rolled the net up neatly so it could be ready to unfurl at a moment’s notice. Revel mentioned he’d talk to Mayor Harvet and let him know the plan.

Lyric headed off to do chores at home, and Revel and I walked back home. Omni flew ahead of us. “What do you think?” I asked him. “Will it work?”

“Only one way to find out. Either way, no one will be put in harm’s way, so it can’t hurt to try. It’s a good plan, Whisper.” His tone had an edge of pride that made me take hold of his hand. A few people took notice, so I quickly released it.

Revel walked me to the cottage. Enzo was waiting on the front stoop for lunch. Omni landed on the front gate and made a cooing sound to let me know he’d appreciate some treats as well.

Revel and I walked inside, and he quickly pulled me into his arms for a kiss. I instantly became a quivering mess, and all I could think about was having him carry me into my room to strip me naked and make love to me. Neither of us had spoken much about that day. After Raina died, I convinced myself that her death was punishment for doing something I shouldn’t have done. Since then, I’d convinced myself that that was a bunch of bogus bullshit. How could being intimate with the man who owns me, heart and soul, be wrong?

We stood there in each other’s arms for a few minutes. I could have stood there all day. “I’m scared about the day at the Triumvirate. They didn’t mention anything about bringing assistants. I guess that means I have to go alone.”

“You’re not going alone. I’ll go as your chaperone. They can’t complain about that. As

for standing in front of them … Whisper … I can’t give you up. I haven’t figured out a way out of this. All I know is you were fated to only one person, and I was fated to only one person, and she’s standing in my arms right now.” His mouth came down hard and urgently over mine. Tears burned my eyes as I thought about being ordered to leave him, to leave Norvale, to leave my home … again.

Thirty-Four

I stared at the dark blue dress I’d chosen for my meeting with the sorcerers. I’d considered wearing my breeches and cloak to show them I was truly a Valian and that I wanted nothing more than to remain in Norvale. But I knew my fashion choice made no difference on the fate I’d been handed, so I opted for the dress that seemed most appropriate and demure for such a somber occasion.

Lyric and Madigan had insisted they wanted to be there for support, but since the order sent by the sorcerers didn’t mention assistants, I begrudgingly had to leave them behind. Revel arrived early, and his mood mirrored mine: grim and, frankly, in a state of disbelief. Troikana’s archaic rules of fated mates and criminalizing a woman for saving her child made the whole place less appealing. From what Raina had told me about the history of the region and the constant wars and battles, it sounded like the sorcerers had been an open-minded force for good. They’d removed the shield of immortality that had made warring such a cavalier, easy option because they wanted peace in the land. It had been a wise and productive move. Deep down I hoped I could appeal to their more progressive nature and help them to see that this double fate had been a mistake from the start.

Revel hopped down from the wagon box and put his arms around me for a quick hug. “I know I’m not much comfort today, but I’m with you every step of the way on this. I will do whatever it takes to keep you here, with me.” His words almost had an ominous tone, and for a brief moment, I wondered if it would have been better to leave him behind. He had as much at stake in this decision as me, only he wouldn’t be bound to an unhappy marriage. He’d be free to move on and fall in love and marry someone else. And that notion took my already dark mood down a few more notches.

It was a gloomy day with dreary wet clouds that looked ready to unleash a fury of rain on the two mostly silent travelers. There wasn’t much to say, and Revel and I had learned to communicate without words. We always knew what the other was thinking. Right now, we were both thinking the same thing. This sucks.

“How is Kya?” I figured an off-topic question would help lighten the heaviness weighing us down.

“All of the dragons are getting in tiptop shape.” He nudged me with his elbow. “Thanks to you. I’m a little worried that they won’t be able to contain their energy. It’s crucial that we keep their return to health and our new lion’s bane fields a secret.”

“Of course. That makes sense. I feel bad for the poor creatures. They’ve really become pawns in a game they wanted nothing to do with.” I sat up. “Fudge and Twinkies … the rut.”

Revel’s face popped up. He quickly moved the reins so the donkeys could pull to the side, avoiding a deep, wagon wheel-damaging rut on the road. Crisis averted, Revel steered the wagon back onto the path.

“Those five seconds do come in handy,” he said. “We’d have been late if I had to stop and fix a wheel. The sorcerers would have taken it as a sign of disrespect.”

I rolled my eyes. “They don’t have to work hard to lose my respect. The fact that they can’t see past their old traditions and antiquated ways to free me from this ridiculous fate makes me wonder if it’s not time for them to retire. How long do sorcerers live anyway?”

His mouth turned up on the side. “A lot longer than you and me.”

“Darn it. I was afraid of that. Calista was a sorceress, a powerful one. How were they able to execute her?”

“I didn’t say they couldn’t be killed, but it’s hard. Their magical powers make them pretty impenetrable. My grandfather told me the story of Calista. It took all three sorcerers to subdue her long enough to incarcerate her, sentence her and burn her at the stake. That is the most effective method for executing a person with extreme powers. Even then she managed to send off one last spell, the Krakatow, before the flames consumed her.”

“I do worry that my big, brilliant plan will be useless since the fish were conjured by magic.”

“Only one way to find out.”

I sighed. “I can’t believe I’m actually eager for a tidal surge again. No, that’s selfish of me. Forget I said it. Ugh, I’m turning into a monster. This whole thing is making me unhinged. And the poison—I wish I knew who was responsible.”

Revel was quiet for a moment. Then he looked over at me. “Guess that would make your choice easier.”

“My choice? Easier? No, the easiest thing would have been if the poison just killed me.” My shoulders slumped. “See what I mean about being unhinged? Months ago, I was a perfectly stable woman—” I sighed again. “Scratch that. I was never perfectly stable. Sorry I snapped at you. I’ll try to become more uh—hinged, I guess.”

“I like you just the way you are.” He leaned over and kissed the top of my head.

A few drops fell, but it was not a downpour. The sun never so much as poked its bright head through the shadowy forest. The odd little building that I now knew held a magically enormous interior came into view. I sank down farther on the seat, wishing I could vanish entirely. There was no sign of either prince. I was glad to get there first. The whole thing was awkward, and it put me into such a painfully stressful situation, I was glad not to have to interact with either of them. Revel seemed calm enough, so I put my mind at ease that he wasn’t planning to stir up any trouble. It would only make everything worse if he were to do something that got him thrown in the Vault.

Revel pulled the wagon over to the side of the clearing where the building sat. I climbed down and spotted a large stone platform in another clearing. A tall, blackened post stood in the middle of the platform. A deep chill ran through me, and I felt hot, then clammy.