Page 69 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

I gave him the slightest shake of my head. I wasn’t the sweetest chap in the world, but even I understood this wasn’t the right moment to ask for details on the spell.

Cara slid her hand out of Irene’s. “It doesn’t matter because it didn’t work. I lost my powers for no reason, and I don’t know how to dissolve the fog or send those snakes back to Hell. They gave me the worst nightmares of my life. I can’t do anything to banish them.”

We all turned towards Darius, who arched his brow.

“Why are you all looking at me? Do you think I can solve this problem in a second?” He loosened the knot of his tie. “I feel enormously unappreciated. You seek me only when there’s a problem you can’t solve.”

“Because you’re the most powerful mage in the kingdom.” Irene flashed a charming smile. “If you can’t find a solution to dissolve the fog, no one will.”

“That’s true.” He sighed and fished his inseparable book out of his pocket. “I guess that’s the burden an exceptionally powerful mage has to carry.” He winked.

Cara watched the book with greed, and her pulse sped up.

“It’ll take some time, and I need food. Lots of food. The shield around Cara isn’t going to last. I’ll need to conjure another one, which means more food. Now let me study.” He walked out of the room, his nose stuck in the book.

I stoked the fire and lit all the candles I could find because the room was chilly and dark, even for my standards. At least the whispers had ceased. “Do you want something to eat, Carabosse?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Why are you so kind to me?”

“I know you didn’t do this for yourself, but for a girl called Aurora.” I stared at the flames on purpose not to pressure her.

Cara’s pulse spiked.

Irene sat on the bed. “Who was she?”

A long silence followed. Cara hugged her bent knees. It was the first time I’d seen her so vulnerable.

“A young princess I cursed and who died as a consequence although I hadn’t wanted her to die,” she said in a low tone. “Her father organised a huge celebration for her birthday. He invited all my sisters, but not me after I’d done my best to help his kingdom thrive. He said I was a horrible witch because I studied dark magic and that I didn’t deserve any friends. I grew angry and vented my anger on the princess. I barely knew her. She was sixteen when I cursed her.”

“Goodness,” Irene whispered.

The princess’s father had a point.

“You wanted her to return, didn’t you?” I angled towards her.

She shivered. “Better late than never.”

I wasn’t sure of that. Aurora might not want to return as a walking corpse. “That’s necromancy. It’s against the law.”

“What, are you squeamish now?” Her sharp tone was back. “Draining humans is against the law too.”

Irene pulled one side of her mouth down. “Let’s leave the law out for the moment.”

I agreed. “Right.” I brushed the ash off my hands. “How come Aurora’s remains are in our cemetery?”

Cara pursed her lips. “I took them from her family’s crypt.”

“You stole her body from her family, depriving them of the only comfort they had?” Irene was astonished. “Cara, this is⁠—”

“Terrible, I know.” Cara glowered. “I wanted to do something to make her come back, but it was more difficult than I’d thought, and it took longer than I’d planned to find a spell.”

I could bet. “We should return Aurora home. No matter how much time has passed.”

Cara punched the pillow. “I regretted having cursed her a moment after I did it. But the spell couldn’t be reversed. I made one mistake and paid for it all my life. I wanted the pain to end.” A sob shook her, but she collected herself quickly.

“You need to eat something. I’ll get you a tray.” Irene rose.

I followed her, but Cara called me.