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“I have no idea.”
“Hmm.” Broca frowns, clearly caught up in her own thoughts.
My patience slips another notch. “Tell me about Tori, and I’ll consider finding out more about Kendall.”
She huffs but doesn’t argue my offer. “She is your enemy then.”
“What?”
“Tori. She is your enemy. That is why you cursed her?”
“I didn’t curse her.”
Broca’s eyes flash. “What is this, some kind of test? Do you doubt my ability?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I didn’t trust your ability.”
“Then stop lying to me,” she snaps.
My temper threatens to unleash at that. “Watch your tone, old woman.”
To her credit, she doesn’t flinch. “Your bloodline has cursed that woman. If you don’t want to share your reasons, that’s fine by me. But don’t call me here to fix something you broke.”
She turns away, and I grit my teeth in an attempt to keep from yanking her back. “Wait.”
She turns back, scowling.
“I didn’t do this on purpose. Tell me what’s wrong with her.”
She studies me for a long moment, and I reconsider the idea of using physical means to draw answers from her. Finally, she says, “My ancestors called it poison-kissed. An ancient curse meant to torture and punish. A fate worse than death, they said. It’s a complicated spell requiring power even I don’t possess.”
I shake my head. “I’m no glaistig. How could I have done this?”
“Could be your family.”
I shake my head. “I have no family.”
“I don’t have an answer for that, but the curse is sealed with your blood.”
“How do you know it’s my blood?”
She grunts in disgust. “I can smell your demon blood from here.”
I ignore the insult. “How can I ease her pain?”
Her eyes glitter, clearly unconcerned about Tori’s pain. “Find out if Kendall has had training.”
I bite back the urge to drown her in hellfire. “Only if you tell me how to ease Tori’s pain.”
“Her pain will grow worse every time she touches another. Refilling the poison well seems to replenish what was lost. I’d start there.”
“You want me to keep giving her poison?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
I don’t answer, and she turns to go, walking slowly toward the far edge of the courtyard where a steep staircase offers the only way off the grounds.
“Wait,” I call again. “How do I break it?”
