Page 75 of Blood Curse

“If it speaks while I’m asleep, wake me,” I said.

“I will.”

“Even if it uses my voice.”

“Especially then.”

“And if I tell you not to wake me?”

“I’ll assume you’re being unbearable and wake you anyway.”

“Good.”

His thumb moved once over the borrowed shirt. My body noticed. I let it notice without asking it for anything else.

Sleep came quickly.

For a while, there was only darkness.

Then I heard my voice from very far away.

My lips moved, but I couldn’t open my eyes.

“Stellan, bring me the dagger.”

14

STELLAN

Bryony’s hand rested under mine when her sleeping voice gave the order.

My body moved before the last word ended.

I caught the edge of the mattress with my free hand. My fingers held for one second. A silver link flashed around my wrist, cold and tight, then sank out of sight.

My hand released the bed.

Bryony remained on her back. Her eyes stayed closed. The Crown pressed into the pillow and gleamed in the firelight.

“Bryony.”

The name came out as a breath.

I tried again. My jaw locked.

The command would let me speak if the words didn’t interfere. It wouldn’t let me wake her.

I stood.

Every thought remained mine. I knew where I was going and what the broken dagger could do. Fear followed me across the room, sharp and useless.

My hand closed around the door handle.

“Wake her,” I tried to say.

My mouth shaped the first sound and stopped.

I opened the door.