Page 80 of Blood Curse

“You ordered me to bring it.”

“I was asleep.”

“I know.”

The Crown grew hot against her hair.

Bryony sat upright. “I revoke the order.”

The pressure around my muscles vanished.

Lenora entered, swept the dagger from the bed and wrapped the hilt again. “Any other commands?”

“I don’t know,” Bryony said. “I heard myself from inside the dream, but I couldn’t wake.”

“You woke when the dagger touched your hand,” I said.

“Did my voice sound different?”

“It sounded like you.”

“Did the Crown speak inside your head?”

“I only heard the order from your mouth.”

“Could you wake me?”

“It locked my jaw whenever I tried. Once I had nearly completed the order, it let me say your name.”

“And the chains?”

“One link around my wrist. It disappeared, but the command stayed.”

She looked at my chest. “Did I cut you?”

“The blade stayed wrapped.”

“Did you?”

“I kept it covered.”

Lenora held the bundle against her side. “I’ll move both halves.”

“Don’t tell either of us where,” Bryony said.

“I had reached the same conclusion.”

Lenora started towards the door.

“Wait,” Bryony said. “I need to know how he got it.”

Lenora looked at me.

I lowered myself onto the bed. “I took the key from her.”

Bryony’s face lost colour. “Did you hurt her?”

“Her shoulder hit my chest. I tore her pocket. That’s all.”