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I think I’m going to throw up.
“We couldn’t risk anyone knowing in case one of the royal line got assassinated in the way Crows like to assassinate their kings when they’re unhappy with the rule,” Royad supplies, cutting through the rising bile in my throat. “Our mothers made sure I was placed at court with one of the generals as his supposed son so I could be around and learn all about ruling a kingdom in case I was ever needed to … step in. Which I really don’t want to do. I’m content wielding a sword instead of talking politics.”
The smile he and Myron share says everything about the friendship they share even when they are blood, how Royad would gladly lay down his life for his king and cousin. I don’t know what it is, but the image of Myron the solitary king crumbles just a little with the thought of Royad having been here all his life. Alone, yet not. Sharing a fate, but sharing it knowing they weren’t alone.
Clio sighs through her nose. “Where were we? Ah yes, human magic.” She takes my hand, and from the corner of my eyes, I make out Myron tense and Royad’s fingers wrap around the hilt of his sword. “I won’t hurt her,” she reassures them with a roll of her eyes. “Just sharing historyyoushould have told her about since it’s your ancestors responsible for all the human bloodshed in the Seeing Forest.”
“I’ve never raised a finger to harm a human on purpose,” Myron grinds out, and I can tell he’s about to snap.
I’ll have words about that with him later since the last detail I need to piece together the puzzle is how all the brides died—the ones he’s wed. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ones of his father or other cruel Crows were the victims of their own husbands.
Clio rolls on, “But you were there when your father tried to kill the very human mage who defied all odds and survived a marriage with him.” She gives me a meaningful look, which I try very hard to read while I also try not to miss any reaction of Myron’s. “Another story better told when there’s more time. But the quintessence is that one human mage made a sacrifice by spilling his lifeblood, and by that, ended the second Crow War. You have magic just like those human mages. It runs in your veins. Who knows, maybe you’re from one of the ancient Tavrasian mage families who we thought extinct.”
“Mage families?” Questions over questions tumble through my mind, making my head hurt as I try to phrase them. At least, my stomach is forgotten for now.
A pitiful expression on her face, she shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore now that you’re here and have the power to control water.” Her gaze wanders to where her hand is resting on my wrist. “Your magic could be solely because you’re a Crow bride and the lake took pity on you.”
“How much exactlydoyou know?” I can’t control my questions as well as I do my magic, and I don’t care when my mind is racing with them like there is no beginning and no end to the stream of things I want to know. “You know what? Forget that. I want to know how to break the curse.”
Everyone goes so silent I wonder if I just sucked the air from the room with my words, but when I inhale, my lungs fill with cool breath.
“No.” Myron steps away from Royad, who’s turned so pale the blood relation is suddenly unmistakable—even to me. He’s in front of me so fast I almost hit the wall behind me as I shrink away.
“I don’t know how to break it,” Clio tells me while Myron’s icy gaze turns into the sort of storm capable of sinking ships. “And even if I did, it’s not my secret to tell.”
“It’s not anyone’s secret to tell,” Myron snaps, menace dripping from every word as he keeps his gaze locked on mine. “Now leave.”
I scramble to my feet, stunned into submission by the sudden outburst. I’ve never seen him anything but in calculated control, and this Myron—the one who threatened his own people that he would slay them himself if they snuck out of the Seeing Forest again… This Myron is one whose path I’m eager to get out of because this Myron’s ready to bring down whoever stands between him and what he wants.
I make it all of one step to the side when he braces his taloned hands on each side of my face. “Not you,” he whispers. “Never you.” Then he turns his head to give Clio a withering look. “Consider your side of the bargain fulfilled. Royad, show our royal guest out.”
My heart hammers in my chest like a herd of horses racing for an escape while I hold my breath, swallowing the mingle of relief and sudden heat at Myron’s admission. Perhaps he hasn’t noticed the meaning of his words, but I have—and I’m not sure what to do with the butterflies in my stomach battling away the former nausea. I don’t know what to do with my hands as they want to reach for him.
On her way out, Clio waves at me over her shoulder past Royad’s broad frame. “If you ever need a girls’ night, let me know.” She smiles before she turns to speak to the back of Myron’s head, for he hasn’t moved an inch since he’s bracketed me between a shiny black frame of feathers. “Last word of warning, Crow King: The Fire Fairies have been sighted both east and west ofyourforest.” The way she says it emphasizes she knows exactly that the Crows stole this palace from the very ones they are fearing now. “Make sure to keep your bride safe before she ends up like the rest of them.”
Her words hang in the air as the door snaps shut behind them. I still don’t dare breathe for fear Myron’s scent will overwhelm me—or the thought of fire fairies breaking in here to burn us all to cinders makes me scream and run.
For now, all that exists are his eyes—all-black, yet in a lighter way than I remember. A sheen of blue is shimmering around the center like the depths of a hidden ocean.
“How did they die?” I know I shouldn’t ask if I don’t want him to bleed again. I don’t want him to suffer, but I need to know what hand he had in those deaths now that Clio brought it up again.
Myron’s lids flutter, blocking out my gaze, and he groans in frustration as he tilts back his head, glancing at the ceiling instead. “Some were killed by the rebel Crows,” he sighs. “But you already knew that. Some before a wedding, others after. Some died in Fire Fairy attacks. Some found death a preferable option and took whatever opportunity arose to end themselves.”
A lump forms in my throat as I remember the moments I pondered exactly that thought—and dismissed it, decided to fight for my freedom instead because no one and nothing should be capable of taking away the will to live.
“Some were smart enough topretendthe way you’ve pretended. The more convincing a bride is when it comes to publicly showing her affections for her husband, the higher the chance that the traitors in this court won’t try to take her down. At least, then the attempts would be only on my life.”
I don’t dare speak a word for fear he’ll cease his own, think better, and change the topic like so many times.
“You’reexcellentat pretending, Ayna. Almost impossible to tell the act from reality.” His fingers curl beside my face, talon carving into the stone of the wall. “I wish I were as refined an actor as you.”
My heart drops to the floor, right into the puddle of water Clio and I were practicing with, and doesn’t come up again as his gaze finds mine again, features torn as if he isn’t certain he should say what he’s about to say.
Before he can tell me something he’ll regret, I rush to his aid, handing him a way out. “And the others? How did they die?”
I could swear the ground shudders as he composes himself, blowing out a breath and another. “The curse, Ayna. You’re a Crow now—not by blood, but you’re their Queen. And the curse demands there are no—” His breath hitches as a speck of blood appears at the corner of his mouth.
“No female Crows,” I finish his sentence, my understanding bringing instant relief for him. He didn’t tell me. Merely delivered enough of the truth to hook me onto its trail. He’s not paying for it this time. “The curse killed them.”
