Page 61 of Blood Curse

“Now,” I said.

I cut my palm.

12

STELLAN

Blood spread across Bryony’s palm and slipped between her fingers.

For one second, neither of us moved.

The cut was clean. The Crown remained against the silver leaves. Bryony’s face stayed loose with relief, and her human pulse kept its slow rhythm.

“Still quiet?” I asked.

“Yes.” She glanced at the blood gathering at the heel of her hand. “I expected it to be less red in the water.”

“Blood rarely considers the setting.”

“That sounded almost wise.”

“The cold has improved me.”

Elias crouched at the other side of the basin. “Press your palm to the carving. Keep the Crown against it and tell us if the voice returns.”

Bryony shifted closer to the wall. “If it takes my voice, don’t wait for me to sound frightened. Stop.”

“I will,” I said.

“That was for all of you.”

Mara raised her good hand from the gate. “Understood.”

Elias nodded. “Your pulse changes, your hand moves against your choice or Stellan hears an order. Any one of those ends the attempt.”

Bryony turned the question on me. “And you?”

“I stop if I feel the command touch me.”

“Even if the spring has started working.”

“Especially then.”

She took one careful breath. “Good.”

“Tell me what you need,” I said.

“Keep looking at me.”

“I can do that.”

“If I start sounding sure, don’t trust it.”

“I trust the woman who asks before she commands.”

“Hold onto her.”

“I intend to.”