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“You said you have iron?”
“I’ll find you iron. Paelonius iron will contain any magic, no matter how powerful. You’ll have to be careful, especially in court, and around Crux and Lyrae. If they discovered you’d claimed the magic…”
“Yes, I know. I’m dead.”
“No, not dead. Worse.” Zor shook his head.
“Right now, all Serpens wants is his brother’s head on a spike and to see Caladrius fall. But once those lands are his, the Shadow King will want more, because he always does. He’ll want that magic inside you. And Torin and the Oracle aren’t the only ones who can get it out.”
“Who else can perform that ritual?”
“I do not know, only that there are others.” Zor shifted on his feet.
“That magic has been passed from one Fae king to the next for ten millennium. No one knows where the power originated, only that each ruler sacrificed something precious to claim their inheritance. But this power…two kingdoms have warred for a thousand years over the magic inside you. Imagine what they would do if they discovered you claimed it for yourself?”
Not a question I wanted to consider right now.
“What should I do about Raziel?” I muttered, replaying the hurt in Raz’s eyes when he’d discovered my betrayal. I didn’t know why, but I had to make things right between us.
I’d felt something for him.
Too much, if I wanted to be honest.
“Raziel will not take being used lightly, Anaria.” Zor shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable. “I’ve known Raz a long time. He does not trust easily, but for some reason, he trusted you, and look where that got him.”
Something inside me died with those words. Some little spark of hope that I hadn’t hurt him as badly as I’d feared flickered out. Exhaustion crashed down on me, eyes and throat burning.
“I’ll find you iron.” Zor murmured and my shoulders slumped, the flash of courage I’d summoned moments ago fading to dull hopelessness.
I began braiding my wet hair. “I’ll think of how to apologize to Raziel.”
“You do that.” But worry flickered in Zor’s eyes before he vanished, and it wasn’t entirely directed at me.
* * *
By the time Zorander reappeared,the room—perhaps the entire Keep—hummed, my bones hurt from the power vibrating at my core, and I didn’t honestly know how much longer I could endure this.
He popped out of nowhere, tossing two enormous metal bracelets onto the bed next to me. I picked one up. They were huge, made for a male the size of Raz.
Or Tavion.
“Put them around your arms, you can hide them with your sleeves.”
“Sleeves?” I rolled my eyes. “Have youseenthe dresses they make me wear?” I gestured down my half-naked body, “I can’t hide anything.”
“Well, figure it out.” Zor snapped, keeping his gaze pointed toward the ceiling. “I can’t solve all your problems.”
“Fine. I’ll think up a suitable answer whenmy fatherasks why I’m wearing Paelonius iron. I’m sure I’ll come up with something.” I smiled sweetly at the general of the eastern armies of Solarys as his furious gaze landed on me once more. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, Zor.”
Two weeks ago, the fury on Zorander’s face would have sent fear spiking through me, but now his anger barely affected me. I’d changed, these past weeks and while I wasn’t sure it was for the better, I couldn’t go back.
“So, two slaves, the Shadow King’s general and a gambler headed for the gallows are going to remake a kingdom.” I slid one of the bracelets over my elbow until it caught on my upper arm. The intense pressure faded, enough that I could think over the roaring, managing to draw my first full, delicious breath of air since I’d blown up the little hut.
“I don’t know who’s crazier. You lot, or the Fae King.”
“None of us are what we seem, Anaria.” Zor said tightly, tracking my every move as I placed the second bracelet around my other arm. I stifled my sigh of relief when the last of the magic faded away, or rather, curled into a tight knot at my center and went to sleep.
My aching body relaxed and I was once again aware of the soreness between my legs, the price I’d paid to claim this power. Though for a few moments, what Raz and I had done hadn’t seemed like a price—it had been a reward.
