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“Yes, and I learned my lesson by suggesting that damn relic to you.”
Adira drew in a sharp breath. I’d left out the detail of Destin being the one to bring up the Well of Urd. No mistake, he now carried unspoken guilt with the result.
“It won’t happen again,” I said. “Besides I?—”
“There is no telling what will happen to her if her magic all at once flooded her veins,” Destin interrupted. Muscles pulsed over the hinges of his jaw. “If the goddess wished for her power to be restored straight away, she would’ve allowed it.”
I closed my eyes, head back, wholly aggravated. “Not everything relies on fate, Destin. Do you not think your goddess might want us to think for ourselves at times? You are allowing fear to cloud your judgment.”
He didn’t answer, but anger flashed in his eyes. In the next heartbeat, Destin softened his expression, painted a grin on his lips, and held a hand out. “Adira, you must trust me on this.”
She cast me a wary glance. “Prince Kage seems confident it will help.”
“Prince Kage is a Soturi. They are trained to act first and boldly, but often do not weigh the risks. He is also desperate, as I’m sure you’ve learned.”
“I would not risk her for my own healing,” I gritted through my teeth.
Again, my damn brother ignored me and tugged Adira away.
“I assure you, I shall not make your journey to the sanctuary of little value,” Destin told her. “Here we have grand repositories of all manner of magic. There are seers and mind workers who will guide you through meditations and inner searching. I’ve been assured by our most brilliant minds that restoring your full abilities naturally is the safest way to accomplish our tasks.”
“I thought you wanted the crowns,” I shouted.
Destin slowed his step. “I value her life more than a crown, Brother. I urge you to do the same.”
Remorseful as I’d felt upon arrival, now I wanted to crack a fist over his nose. “Don’t insinuate I do not care.”
“I’ve no need to insinuate, Kagesh.” Destin faced me at the doorway. Adira stood beside him, brow furrowed, as though utterly lost. Two guards stepped in front of them at Destin’s signal. “Your actions speak volumes on what matters most to you.”
“What about Kage’s life?” Adira whispered.
Destin’s brow arched. “Pardon?”
“The crowns. We need the power of the land to fight back against the degeneration. We need them to fight for Kage’s life.”
Destin’s shoulders slumped, but he continued urging Adira away. She continued to let him.
“I will do all I can for my brother, but you are here for the greater good of Magiaria. Not only for one life.”
With that, he spun into the sanctuary, the guards slamming the door behind him.
“Destin.” I made a lunge for the doors, but Hugo and his boulderish body impeded my path. “Move aside, Byrne.”
“Forgive me, My Prince, but I cannot.”
Cy gripped my shoulder, urging me back, but he faced Hugo. Flirtation, levity, all of it was absent in Cy’s face now. “You broughther to him, Hugo. You led her to where your heart said she would learn the most, yet you stand in the way now.”
Hugo curled his inked fingers at his side. Beneath the golden scruff of his beard, his lips pulled tight. “We all do what we can, Cyland. Then we must remember our place. Do the same.”
“Oh, I will, sweet one. And I will not forget those who put me there.” Cy tugged on my arm and lifted his voice for the folk beyond the doors could hear. “Surely the rest of this place still holds respect for their bone prince and will have his chambers waiting.”
Soon enough, a squirrely seer bowed no less than six times and assured us the royal tower for the second prince was always at the ready.
The room was spacious—a washroom with a gilded mirror, two sitting rooms, a guest chamber, and even a sparring chamber filled with blades, axes, garrotes, and targets. The bed was large enough in the main bedroom to fit five bodies. A cut at my character when Destin had felt particularly irksome several weaves back.
“We both know your proclivity to take several lovers,” he’d teased. “Might as well see to it your chambers, while visiting, are able to tolerate your activities.”
Where the rumors of my reckless bedroom antics began, I didn’t know. It was quite the opposite. Attempts that always failed, as though something, some force would not allow me to even consider touching another.
