Page 51

Fresh water had washed her blood from the silver crown. The shallow pool overflowed into a narrow channel that disappeared behind a wall of roses. Steam rose from the opening.

“There’s the spring,” I said. “It draws water from the rock under the estate. The royal family used the main pool for bathing and for recovering after a feeding. The spring is older than Adrian’s seals, so the water should be clean if the garden has kept the channel open.”

Bryony looked towards the dark passage. “Does the path continue?”

A new silver line appeared beside the water channel. It ran between the rose beds and stopped under an arch at the rear of the garden.

“It does now.” I touched the line with the toe of my boot. It stayed still. “The garden has finished accepting your claim. This section should be safe unless Adrian attacks the gate again.”

“You used the word should.”

“I’m trying to keep our relationship honest.”

She gave me a look that carried more amusement than concern. “Then we check it together.”

The path was wide enough for us to walk side by side. I kept hold of her hand while the chain followed, scraping across the paving behind me.

At the first bend, the throne pulled hard.

The chain crushed my ribs and stopped my next breath. My knees hit the path.

Bryony went down with me. She caught my wrist in both hands and pressed her palm harder against mine. Silver light flared between our fingers.

“Fuck. Stellan.”

I forced air into my lungs. “Stay where you are. The line is still clear.”

“Can you move?”

“Give me a moment.”

She stayed close without filling the silence. Her thumb moved across my palm once, then stopped over the broken seal at my wrist.

The court pulled again. Bryony’s blood warmed the silver path, and the pressure eased enough for me to rise.

I brought her up with me. My hand moved from her waist to the back of her neck, holding her steady until the garden settled.

“You kept the path open,” I said.

“I held your hand. Harrowmere did the rest.”

“It responded to you. If you’d let go, I would be back at the throne.”

She glanced at our hands. “Then I won’t dismiss it.”

I stroked my thumb under her hair and let my hand drop.

“We can turn back,” I said. “The court will keep trying to pull me towards the throne. You’ve already opened the garden and secured its gate.”

Bryony looked at the warm mist past the arch. “You haven’t been away from that room in a hundred years. If the path stays open while we’re touching, I’m not taking you back after five minutes.”

“You aren’t responsible for giving me freedom.”

“I know. I’m choosing to walk another ten metres with you. Don’t make it grander than it is.”

The answer was so like her that I laughed. It surprised both of us.

“Another ten metres,” I agreed.