Page 60 of Blood Curse

“Of course.”

“We finally reached the spring.”

“And proved it works. You can take the relief and decide the rest after you’ve slept.”

The sensible answer tempted me. Fuck, I wanted the silence. I could stay against the silver until the cold drove me out, then return to the king’s rooms and enjoy silence for however long it lasted.

But the silence was temporary. The Crown remained fused to my head. If I left the carving, the voice could return before we reached the gate. By the next sunset, more of the court would arrive and give it more people to command.

I didn’t want fear making the decision. Relief couldn’t make it either.

“I want to continue,” I said.

Stellan searched my face. “Because you think this is our only chance?”

“Because it’s the first chance that belongs to us.”

“If the voice returns?”

“We stop.”

“If you change your mind?”

“I tell you.”

“And if I change mine?”

“I don’t take your blood.”

He nodded. “Then we continue.”

Elias approached the basin and opened his medical case on the stone. “I’d prefer to check your pulse myself.”

“You heard Stellan.”

“Stellan once declared himself healthy with a sword through his thigh.”

“It missed the bone.”

“You see my concern.”

I held out my wrist.

Elias pressed two fingers to it. “Human rhythm. Stronger than it was upstairs.”

“The spring is holding the Crown quiet.”

“For now.” He took a small clean blade from his case and offered it handle first. “You decide when to begin.”

I accepted the blade.

Stellan stayed beside the basin. He didn’t reach for his shirt or prepare his own wound. My blood came first. His would follow only if the Crown stayed silent and he still chose to give it.

I rested the edge against my palm.

The metal at my head remained cold.

My hand was steady.