“You’re feeding her energy,” the doctor said, stating baldly what Perian had been starting to think, but—
“Impossible,” Cormal said flatly.
Brannal spoke for the first time. “You said yourself that a carnalion cannot affect children.”
And they were right, weren’t they? He didn’t know all there was to know about carnalions, but everyone knew they couldn’t affect children. So that didn’t make sense, unless—
“Fire and water,” he whispered. “Renny. I’ve not… I haven’t been givingyouenergy.”
Her little face was tilted up to look at him.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “I feel so much better with you. All the time. I promise.”
He nodded. “No, that’s true, that makes sense. But, oh, Renny, just think of it. When did you get sick?”
She was frowning at him. “Almost seven years ago.” She faltered. “When… when we were attacked.”
“Yes,” he said, staring at her. “When your brother was attacked. Renny, why is he attached to you? It makes so much sense! He’s been pulling energy fromyou, and that’s why you were so weak. Because you’re keeping him alive.”
She stared at him, and then the tears spilled over her cheeks.
“And then you came,” she whispered. “And you could share your energy with him. And that’s why we feel better.”
He nodded frantically. “But I didn’tknowit, don’t you see? I was doing it accidentally. But now I could do it deliberately.”
He looked towards Kee, who was in a corner of the cell because of course he was in here with them. Perian still couldn’t see him, but now that he knew what to look for, he could feel something, almost a bit of a tug in that direction.
“Kee,”he said, “I’m sorry it took me so long to figure this out. I’ll give you all the energy I can.”
“What nonsense is this?” Cormal demanded.
Perian had actually forgotten they had an audience, and he startled badly. He was stunned they’d stayed quiet as long as they had.
“Renny wasn’t making it up,” Perian told them. “The rest of us can’t see him or hear him, but the Prince has been with her for the last six—almost seven—years.”
“You’re delusional,” Cormal said flatly. “This is complete and utter nonsense! I can’t believe you would stoop this low!”
“I’m not making this up!” Perian shouted. “Why would I make this up?”
“Because you’re trying to trick us!” Cormal shouted back. “Because you have some plan that will allow you to escape, and I’m not going to let that happen! You aren’t going to be allowed to do this to anyone!”
“I’m sorry,” Brannal said, “but—”
He was going to agree with Cormal, Perian could see it. This was one step too far.
“How dare you—” the Queen started, voice shaking.
“He tried to kiss you!” Renny shouted.
They all turned to look at her, confused. She was staring at Cormal. All gazes fell on Perian.
Chapter Twenty-One
He held up his hands, protesting immediately, “Whoa, no! I didn’t ever try to kiss Cormal.”
But Renny was shaking her head.
“Not Perian. Kee. Kinan tried to kiss Cormal. On his sixteenth birthday. That morning. Said it was his birthday and he should get what he wanted. You said he was a spoiled brat, and he should try to get some manners instead.”
