The next afternoonbrought a glimmer of hope to my fruitless time here in the castle as my mother and Henri returned. When I saw him sitting up in the cart, eyes open and not so pale, I rushed over to them.
“Henri! Mom!” My breath came quick as I met them across the grounds and hugged them like I hadn’t seen them in years rather than days.
Mom gripped me tightly. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No, no,” I brushed off her concern. “Henri. What happened?” I grinned at him. “You look so much better!”
“Ifeelbetter,” he replied.
“Elisabeth, the healer, was able to help him,” Mom said with bright eyes. “The fever is gone.”
“Oh, thank god,” I muttered, placing my hand on my chest.
Once Genevieve learned my family was back, she insisted they stay for a meal before they continued on home. After we ate sandwiches with tomatoes and greens from the garden, my mom pulled me aside and glanced around as if to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard.
“You can come back with us,” she said in a low voice.
“No.” I shook my head. “I can’t.”
She drew her brows close. “Why not?”
“Because…” I pursed my lips. “Because I made a promise.”
“You didn’t have much of a choice.” She placed one hand on her hip and huffed. “That creature…” She sneered with disgust.
“Mom, it’s okay. We made a deal and look at how it worked out for Henri.” I forced a smile. “I’ll be home before you know it.”
She studied me for several seconds. “As long as you’re safe.”
“I’m safe,” I assured her. “And eating well.” I tilted my head toward the castle. “How could I not with Genevieve’s cooking?”
“True,” Mom agreed. “I wish I could make you meals like that. At least I know you won’t go hungry.”
“And neither will you,” I said with a smile. “Let’s pack a basket for the cart. We have plenty of vegetables and beans and grains. Whatever we can pack, I’m sending with you.”
Henri wassafe and I was sure that he and Mom were back home by now. Yet after another day with no progress, I was succumbing to the fact that I couldn’t accomplish much to restore the wards on my own.
That meant I had to confront the source I dreaded most. My feet felt heavy as I trudged through the stone corridors searching for Victor. I found him tending the hearth in the great hall, the smell of woodsmoke thick in the air.
“Okay,” I said, my voice coming out more breathless than I’d intended. “I’ll do it.”
He arched his bushy gray brows. “Do what?”
I swallowed hard, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “Talk to Hadrien. How do I reach him?”
Victor straightened, brushing ash from his hands, and pointed up toward the vaulted ceiling. “Head outside before sundown. And call to him.”
That evening, I worked my jaw as I paced the perimeter of the castle like a sentry and wandered past the stone statues as the sun began its descent.
The sky turned from blue to purple to deep amber, escorting the soft glow of the moon. The shadows of the gargoyle statues stretched across the grounds, reaching for me.
Or warning me.
A crack above, and I jerked. I glanced up at the tower with the gargoyle perched above. At first, I saw nothing as my eyes adjusted to the dim light.
Then—movement.
The statue moved. Rose. Its wings unfurled across the night sky. A brilliant silhouette beneath the moonlight.
