Page 54 of The Crown’s Temptation

“I still don’t understand.”

“No,” she said. “You don’t.”

She tipped her head back, studying the ceiling.

“Reaching the vault requires accessing the Vaultline. It requires information on access points and enough strength to open the vault itself. It is warded by powerful magic.”

I almost tell her that I don’t care, but I decide to remain silent.

“So you need him to help you open the vault?”

She smiled. “Something like that, yes.”

“So just ask him,” I said.

“It will not be that simple. He is clearly unwell.”

That part had not been clear to me, though I believed her.

“A feeder who has been using power incorrectly his entire life, who is then exposed to the magic of this place and then drains himself of power for the sake of a woman he wants to fuck, is most certainly on the brink of madness or already there.”

“Morrath was built against my people. Every safeguard favors feeders, even though it is the magic of Sarenal’s creatures that makes this kingdom so powerful. “

In truth, I did not care what Sarens do. All I can think of is Colsar, and Ari, and Kiss. I wonder if Kiss drank milk today or insisted on blood. I wonder if Ari missed his morning snuggles with me these past several days.

I wonder how Colsar is. If he blames himself even though whatever happened I know it is not his fault. I wonder what life is like now that I am not there. Every night we spend tangled together without clothes on. We talk about the day. We talk about the children. We kiss. We...we were perfect. Since we reconciled back in Shalvar, he hasn’t been able to go very long without having me near.

And now the thought of him alone breaks me in a way I cannot explain.

Dali is still talking. Something about Teorin and vaults.

"I do not care," I interrupt. "Just tell me what you want so that I can sleep in peace.”

"I will help you regain strength. Once you do, I will show you where to meet Eravic. You will meet with him nightly and allow me alone time with Teorin, enough time for me to learn him and learn how to get into the vault."

“If he has never been to Morrath, how would he know how to get into the vault?”

“He is a Rathmor,” she said simply. “Historically they have always been able to access the vaultline easily. I need uninterrupted access to him.”

“What do you need from me?” I said, now growing more impatient.

“I need you to go see Eravic in the evenings, so that I may probe him for information and convince him to help me retrieve what I need.” She paused. “I also need you, dear princess, to mind your business. Stay out of my business with Teorin Rathmor and my business here in Morrath in general.”

I stared at her. “You wish to seduce him.”

“I wish to have him give me what I need,” she answered simply.

I thought about Teorin sleeping in my bed with no shirt on.

“Do what you need to do,” I said.

I studied her.

“Why must I leave for this?”

She reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

I resisted the urge to slap her hand away.