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Well, your heart gets quite loud and thuddy whenever you or I mention him. And I know you often think about that time when he put his mouth on your mouth—
“How do you know about that?”
Ah, yes, and then you get angry and admiring the same way you did whenever you saw him without a shirt—
“Let’s stop talking about Teryn.”
Valorre obeyed her request for all of five seconds.But you do miss him, don’t you?
“No. I…why does it matter?”
You’re my friend. He’s my friend.
Cora waited for him to continue, but it seemed his explanation ended at that.
I’ll make a bargain. Admit you miss him, and I’ll let you ride on my back.He lifted his head, radiating pride if not a little arrogance.
Cora hadn’t intended for a midnight ride when she’d planned on sneaking out of the castle. All she’d wanted was to greet her friend, surround herself with trees, and drink in moonlight. That and find a quiet place to perform an energy clearing ritual on the crystal, of course. She’d made a habit of shoving her hand in her pocket to remind herself of its existence. It continued to unsettle her how easy it was to forget.
Still, it wasn’t absolutely dire that she perform the ritual right away. She could ride first. In fact, it might help her find the perfect place to proceed with her chore. The thought of speeding through the trees on Valorre’s back, neither racing for their lives nor traveling with any destination in mind, was too good to resist.
However, something told Cora the unicorn wasn’t going to compromise on his terms.
“Fine, Valorre,” she muttered through her teeth, “I miss Teryn.” She’d meant for her words to be meaningless, a way to get Valorre off the subject, but as soon as she said it, a thrum of truth warmed her chest, steadying her. Memories melted over her, of her and Teryn rescuing the baby unicorn. Of the two of them standing close while she used her magic to hide them under the tree. Of his lips on hers before she escaped the dungeon. Of the split second when she thought Queen Bethaeny was proposing a marriage alliance between Cora and Teryn.
I thought she meant you…
“I miss him, all right?” she said, voice firm and devoid of the emotions still playing inside her. “Are you satisfied now?”
Quite. Now climb up and I will remind you why I am so much stronger and better than the brainless creature you traveled here upon.
A wry grin curled a corner of her mouth. He really was a prideful creature. But if it garnered her a stolen moment of unbridled freedom, she’d play into that arrogance.
Valorre ducked his head, allowing her to gather his mane in her hands. No sooner than she was properly seated did he take off into the night. Shadows streamed past as the thud of the unicorn’s hooves filled her ears, resounding against the beat of her heart, the exhilarating rush of her blood. Moonlight speckled the forest floor, and Cora let herself pretend—for a short time at least—that this was all that mattered.
* * *
Cora was fullyready for sleep by the time Valorre returned her to the castle wall. The ride had been exactly what she’d needed, and now she felt rejuvenated in a way that left her equally exhausted. Only when she was halfway back to the castle, hand tucked in her pocket, did she realize she’d never performed the clearing ritual. She’d forgotten about the crystal again.
She halted, glancing back at the wall. Her bones begged for sleep, and she had to admit her weary state would likely hinder any ritual she’d perform. Starting back toward the castle, she told herself she’d have to try again the next day. A day that was soon approaching dawn, now that she considered how long she’d been out. If she didn’t get some sleep soon, she’d be miserable come morning.
And yet…
A strange feeling settled over her. Not for the first time she wondered whether the crystal was enchanted, making it slip from her mind far too easily. Just the thought of being touched by leftover strains of Morkai’s magic made a shudder run through her. Her eyes flicked up to the North Tower Library, barely visible behind the other turrets and crenellations—
She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Subtle illumination flickered beyond the library window, soft like candlelight. It was so faint, she tried to convince herself she was imagining it. But the longer she looked, the more certain she was. Someone was inside Morkai’s tower.
* * *
It’s probably nothing,Cora tried to tell herself as she made her way through the lower levels of the castle, past the kitchen and the staircase that led to the keep. But the hair bristling at the back of her neck, the hollow pit in her stomach, told her it wasn’t nothing. This feeling wasn’t just a tinge of unfounded fear. It was a clairsentient warning.
She hoped she was wrong. She hoped there was a reasonable explanation for why someone would be in the library—the very room Lurel had claimed was forbidden to castle staff—well after midnight. And someonehadto be in there. Why else would there be a candle burning in a forbidden room at this hour?
Nausea turned her stomach as she reached the dark stairwell that led to the tower. She placed one foot on the bottom step but found her body unwilling to move. Breathing deep, she called upon the elements to steady her—air to fill her lungs, earth to anchor her feet, water to calm her emotions, and fire to fuel her resolve. It smoothed the edges of her growing fear, but pain pulsed at her temples, pounding with the effort it took to ward off darker memories…
Of her and Morkai, sitting in the room at the top of these very stairs…
The hulking shape of the Roizan curled on the floor…
