AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pick at my food, not wanting to admit there are holes in my plan. Big, glaring holes that could leave me magicless and still kill Ezra if his curse is tied to the Soulweavers. “I have to try, and I have to start somewhere. Do you think you could get it to him?”
Riot hesitates, considering the risks involved. “Maybe, although I’m not sure he’d let me get close enough. The cursed tend to get violent as the magic weaves into their souls.”
“He might let me,” I add.
“He might try to kill you again,” Riot points out bluntly.
“True, but he can’t kill me if we’re prepared. I can inject him with a serum like Aisha did,and when he lunges at me, you can pull him off. I’ll be fine.”
Riot shakes his head. “It’s a foolish plan, princess.”
“It’s better than no plan… Tell me about your friends,” I deflect, changing the subject as I slip a pencil between the pages of the book and close it. I don’t want to think about what could go wrong. If I lived in the world of what-ifs, every man who set foot in Emberfell would still be alive. Ezra and I could be living together, stuck in a pattern of awkward pseudo-happiness. And Sage would still be breathing.
“Another time. Sasha will be in your room to get you dressed for dinner soon.” Riot takes my fork and stabs a piece of pork, then holds it up for me. “You need to eat.”
“You’re no fun,” I say, playfully pouting before letting him feed me for one singular bite.
I’m first to enter the dining room, something I never wanted to be, but with Riot by my side and my dagger strapped to my thigh I’m not worried about being caught alone with Graves. Based on our conversation in the library, I think Riot might let me kill Graves if the opportunity presents itself. Possibly even help me get away with it.
But killing the commander isn’t why I’m sitting at the dinner table fifteen minutes before anyone is scheduled to arrive, my leg bouncing uncontrollably, my gaze darting from one entrance to the other and back. I’m here because I want to see Jinx and not waste a minute before making sure she’s okay.
Laughter reverberates through the air as the Crown’s guests filter in first, drunk from their excursion to stars-know-where, boisterous and rowdy from their outing. The atmosphere buzzes with the scent of alcohol and the lively banter of those who have clearly enjoyed themselves a bit too much.
“Khiara!” Sutherland calls out, his palms outstretched as he walks toward me. As he takes my cheeks in his hands to press a warm, affectionate kiss to my forehead, he smells like rotting earth and sweat mixed with the bitterness of wine.
I rear back, away from his touch, so quickly I almost fall out of my seat. “Get a hold of yourself.”
“But Khiara, I’ve missed you! I was so worried you had died,” he slurs his words, his breath tainted by the scent of alcohol. His attempts to soothe me continue as he pets my hair, treating me like a lost puppy.
I swat his hand away, a disconcerting, inky feeling settling in my chest. “Go to bed before you make a fool of yourself.”
“Do you know what we did today?” Sutherland asks, ignoring my request. “We visited the runes! Did you know Central Arcane had runes?” He shakes his head, as if answering himself, having a conversation in his mind that I'm only privy to pieces of. “It was all in good fun, though.”
Sutherland reaches across his chest to scratch his left shoulder and his shirt shifts, revealing a freshly laid, blood-soaked bandage. “Sutherland, what happened to you?”
Instinctively, I touch his arm, and an unexpected surge of heat courses through me. It happens with an intensity I've never felt before, racing through my skin and seemingly flowing into my uncle's veins. His chalice falls to the ground, clattering as the metal bounces, and he lands unconscious beside it.
Andra's scream pierces the air, her accusatory finger pointing toward me. “She’s doing it again! She’s killing people with her touch!”
“Oh shut up, you dimwit,” Jinx retorts to Andra, strolling into the room, her head high, confidence unmatched even as her mangled hand is exposed for all to see. “The man is drunk, not dead.” With a commanding tone, she instructs her guard. “Get him to his room. The others, too, before they pass out from consumption and exhaustion.”
“Thank you,” I say, rising to my feet.
Jinx waves off Andra's accusations. "Andra is a bully. And..." She pauses, sniffing the air with an oddly keen sense. "You smell delightful."
"Uh, thanks," I respond, somewhat caught off guard. "You look like you're feeling better."
“I feel alive,” she says, grinning wickedly. “Turns out, all I needed was some rest and a date. Prince Sebastian is positively ravenous.”
“Oh,” I say, my cheeks flushing from secondhand embarrassment. “I’m glad you two had such a great time together.”
"He's..." Jinx trails off, staring off into the air with a wistful sigh. "Breathtaking, but I'm not what he's looking for."
I touch her arm, offering comfort. If I were here to win Bash’s heart, I’d be ecstatic, but Jinx was our best shot at a kind and open-minded queen. It saddens me that she'll be eliminated on Friday. “Are you sure?”
"Positive," she replies, her gaze returning to mine. "But don't worry,I'm not going anywhere. I've chosen to stay in Central Arcane and learn what being a Lady of the King's court means."
“Wait, the king is looking to remarry?” I ask, surprised by the revelation.
