He stood eerily still, like a jack-in-the-box who might spring up at any moment. Did he really think I’d obey him like a trained monkey? Raf wouldn’t tolerate Galen taking over my lessons and neither would I.
“I’m not going to stop training with Raf. I’ve been learning a lot from him.”
He flashed me a look that said,I’m sure you have.“We can discuss it after your bath. I’d like to make up for last night’s poor behavior. First with my hands, then with my tongue…” He gave me a seductive smile and I almost wanted to let it go, to accept his peace offering, but then Raf’s words came back to me.He doesn’t own you.
It was the reminder that I needed to speak my mind. “I don’t feel like having sex tonight. After last night, I need comfort. I want to feel loved, but I don’t want to make love.” I steeled my spine as he got up from his chair and approached me.
“You don’t want me to bite you… and now you don’t even want me totouchyou? Youaresleeping with Rafael. Don’t lie to me, damn it.” Heroared, throwing his wine glass at the wall, causing it to shatter. A splatter of burgundy wine stained the walls, dripping down like blood.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion after that. I peered down at my arm and saw a piece of glass protruding. The liquid sliding down my forearm mirrored the wine on the wall. I pulled the deep shard out with gritted teeth. I stared at the maroon blemish on the wall, my gushing cut, and then at Galen.
“Get out,” I said under my breath. So softly, I wasn’t sure he’d heard me. He rushed over, inspecting my arm, holding me by the wrists. “Don’t touch me.” This time, my voice was louder.
We locked eyes and his startled face stared back at me. He let go of me and went in for a hug. My magic reacted to the threat, throwing him back with an icy wind. He slammed against the bedroom door and I could almost feel Beira and Alya smiling down at me with pride. He looked at me in disbelief as he brushed himself off and stood back up.
“Marigold, it was anaccident.” He came towards me and this time I surrounded myself with a shield of ice.
“Get out! We’redone. You’ll never touch me again,” I hissed at him.
His eyes flashed with challenge and he collected himself, straightening the lapels of his jacket. “This isn’t over.” He left, slamming the door on his way out.
The sound rattled me and I ran to lock the door, even if it wouldn’t keep him out. Rafael was right. Galenwasdangerous. Even satiated with my magic, he’d turned into someone,something, I didn’t recognize. I didn’t know what had changed. Had he always had this side and I’d been blinded by lust? Or was I the one who’d changed?
Numbness settled over me, preventing me from feeling much of anything. I climbed into the steaming tub and let the blood from my cut run freely, watching it swirl with the bath oils. It would heal in minutes, but how long would it take for the rest of me to mend? I sank back into the water and decided tonight was my last night in the castle and there was one more thing I needed to do.
I waited until midnight, wondering if Galen would come to my room. The sharp, visceral rage from earlier had faded into a dull sadness. The howling winter wind inside of me thrashed, but I wouldn’t let it win. I couldn’t afford to break down. Not yet, at least.
I listened outside my door and heard nothing. I tested the door and found it locked.The cold-hearted bastard.I couldn’t believe I was still being treated like a common criminal. If I was locked in, at least that meant Robert was done standing guard for the evening.
I sent Rafael a silent,thank you,for the key and turned the door knob as quietly as possible. An empty hallway met me on the other side of the door. I grabbed the oil lamp that sat on my table and headed towards the Queen’s library. I hadn’t forgotten what Galen had told me: The library held information about how to break the blood curse—a prophecy scribbled down and forgotten. I couldn’t leave to Erador without it.
It was stupid of me—not asking Rafael for help with this—but he’d already done so much for me. Too much. And I couldn’t give him anything in return. I didn’t deserve his friendship… and whatever else he might feel. We hadn’t discussed the kiss and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to bring it up—to face him in the way he deserved. I shook my head, pushing thoughts of him out of my mind, as I padded down the silent corridor towards the Queen’s quarters.
To my relief, I arrived at the library without incident. I’d been wanting to come back here ever since my meeting with Sylvia. It appeared well-organized, which gave me a sliver of hope. I looked for anything handwritten instead of printed, like a journal or transcript. I found a box of handwritten notes and began scanning each of them; personal letters, accounts of battles, of policy and trade, of spells, but nothing about the curse.
Something caught my eye. The glare of my lamp had caught a shimmering text. I read the title,The Mystery of the Unicorn,and held back a gasp. A book on unicorns.I reigned in my excitement, trying to stay silent. I tucked the small square book under my arm and decided I’d have to enlist Raf’s help after all.It hadn’t been as easy as I’d hoped.
I’d spent too long searching and was beginning to worry that Galen might come back to my room and find me missing. Feeling defeated, I silently tip-toed out of the library, through the Queen’s wing, and up thestairs to the guest wing. When I was mere steps from my door, a hand covered my mouth before I could scream.
forty-four
“Going somewhere?” Galen whispered with hot, liquor-laced breath. My adrenaline spiked so high that I saw stars. He released me from his grasp and came to stand in front of me.
“Yes, to my room,” I said, panting. “You aren’t invited.” I tried to shake him off, but when I went to open the door, he stopped me, holding the knob.
“You aren’t going to your room. You’re coming to mine.”
I was so frightened that I didn’t protest. I had a better chance of this going well if I was agreeable. I let him lead me to a section of the castle that I’d never been to. The Princes’ wing. I wondered if Raf even had a room here, if he ever slept in it.
Galen opened a large wooden door and ushered me in. It was dimly lit, but I could see a sprawling four-poster bed and dark walls, nearly black, that contrasted with the rest of the castle’s white stone. He had an over-sized leather sofa that faced towards the largest fireplace I’d ever seen.
I scanned the room and saw another set of doors that led out to a balcony. I could see a view of the night-covered mountains out the glass doors.Why had he never taken me here?It was undeniably more lavish than my room.
“What were you doing out in the hall? Trying to escape?” His eyes were dilated, glowing like a predator’s in the night. But his voice… it was surprisingly gentle.
“No. I went to your mother’s library. I was searching for the journal you mentioned—the one with the prophecy about the blood curse.”
He scoffed, shaking his head at me. “You would’ve been better off coming to me, instead of scurrying through the castle, little mouse. I found it already. I hadn’t had a chance to give it to you.” He softly brushed my cheek with his knuckles before going to his desk and handing me a small book bound in dark, cracked leather.
