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“Why do you get a disguise, and I don’t?” I complained as we headed out.
“Because Opaline needs to recognize you and not me,” Araki replied. “Once we get into the city, I’ll fall behind and follow you through our bond. I’ll keep out of sight.”
I gazed at his profile, hidden in shadow beneath the hood of his cloak. “Stay safe.”
He looked at me seriously. “You as well. I would be very unhappy if I lost you now.”
I felt a twinge of guilt for lying to him. I bit my lip and turned away. As soon as we entered the market, Araki fell behind. I set a good pace, sensing his presence close tome and never seeing even his shadow. I worked through the maze of people and sellers. The night market was thriving, with brilliantly coloured lights and wonderful scents. The spices associated with Bonfyr were strong in the air. I took a deep breath as I got closer to a hidden door. Araki wouldn’t be able to follow here without seeing where I entered. The Nightshade was a master of hiding doorways to underground tunnels—and this one was a labyrinth beneath the city. I hoped he’d believe that’s where I went. With one quick prayer to the Gods to help me be successful, I slipped through the hidden door. And immediately teleported to another set of underground tunnels. Close, but not connected to the first set. These were the tunnels that the Nightshade brought me to when we were preparing for the first attack.
I created a small bubble of light at my fingertips, enough to see by. My magic was rapidly draining. The farther I was from Araki, the less magic I had. I raced through the hallways, knowing these passages like the palm of my hand. Up and down and making so many twists and turns it would make anyone else dizzy. I could sense Araki getting farther and farther away. My legs grew weaker, and my light winked out as I finished the last set of stairs. My magic drained once more.
Shoving my shoulder against the top door, I opened it. Moonlight streamed in from an open skylight in an old apothecary. I pushed the door shut and dropped to my knees, panting as my stomach churned. I felt like I had just undergone a rigorous training exercise rather than a few minutes' worth of running.
“Reilyn! My dear, you’re alive!”
I lifted my head. Relief broke over me as I saw the familiar white robes. Priestess Opaline fluidly stood from therocking chair. I pushed myself to my feet and fumbled out a bow. “Priestess Opaline.”
All my doubts were pushed to the back of my mind as I stumbled forward and fell into her familiar, motherly embrace. Tears burned my eyes as her scent overwhelmed me.
“I feared the worst when I heard that the Usurper was still alive,” Opaline murmured, stroking my hair. “I was shocked when I read your message… I feared it was a trap, but I had to take any hope to bring you back to the Coven.”
“Master Briggs is dead,” I cried.
Opaline stiffened, frowning. “Nonsense.”
“I… I saw him.” I pulled back to look at her, straightening myself. “Someone turned him into a Strigoi… someone has been killing powerful fae and using their magic to create vampires. So many members of the Nightshade. I saw them.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“I’m—”
Opaline grabbed my arm suddenly, her expression twisting. “Is that a Union spell I sense on you?”
I yanked away from her. My eyes widened as feral anger filled her gaze. She wasn’t the same woman I knew as I grew up.
“Priestess—”
Opaline tossed back her cloak and drew a sword. “It is. You’re linked to him. I kill you, he dies.”
I stumbled away from her, horror sweeping through me. Even though I’d known that she had to be behind it, I didn’t want to believe—and look where my foolish heart had brought me.
Opaline attacked, swinging her sword toward my head. I quickly withdrew my short sword, blocking the attack. She hissed and struck again, knocking the sword from my hands. I dashed out of the way, trying to bring up any trace of magic left in me. Nothing. If I could touch her, I could draw her magic out, teleport myself back to Araki… but Opaline moved so quickly, the sword slicing through the air, all I could do was try to put distance between us. I snatched a bowl off a shelf, flung it at her, and then knocked over the shelf, trying to buy myself space. It wasn’t enough. I jumped to the side as the sword came at me again. The tip grazed my thigh. Using the closeness, I twisted around, elbowed Opaline in the face, and slammed my palm into her wrist. The sword clattered to the floor, but she grabbed my hair, yanking me hard to one side. I wrapped my hands around her throat and kicked her legs out from under her. I pushed, reaching to collect her magic. It was dark. It rattled my bones and made my skin feel clammy and feverish, leaving a putrid taste in my mouth.
Opaline used the momentum of our fall to shove me. My hands yanked from around her neck, breaking the connection. Her magic seethed in me, feeling unnatural and wrong. I returned to my feet as she snatched up her sword again. She struck out once more. I jumped aside.
“You missed,” I taunted.
Opaline laughed as she backed away and sheathed her sword. “That was always your problem, Reilyn. You never think things through. Can’t you feel the poison in your body?”
“Wha-” I stammered and stumbled back as a wave of nausea washed over me. I jerked on the floor, my vision turning blurry. My knees went weak, and I slumped to the floor again.
“You turned too easily against everything I taught you,” Opaline peered down at me, sneering, “So easy to let your mind be swayed and become the King’s pet. I had high hopes for you when I found you. A street orphan little vermin, bedraggled, looking more like a drowned rat than a girl I have made you. I chose you for my work. And now look at you.”
My muscles started to seize. I tried to speak, but my jaw locked.
Opaline knelt beside me, a cruel smile on her once-motherly face. “Never mind. You will still serve my purposes, Reilyn.”
She spoke then. A terrible magic flowed through the air as she spoke words I’d never understood nor could I understand. I searched her gaze, pleading for any sign of the woman I’d known… the woman I loved like a mother.
