“You will find her. And you will bring her back to me. You will not step foot in this castle again until you do, but you’ll wish every night to sleep in your bed and have my forgiveness,” he sang.
I did not move. Did not breathe.
“The seamstress conspires with the rebels and is now in my dungeons. They will come for her and I will trap them all,” he announced across the room. “I am tired of insubordinate fae. From this moment on, if I even think you may be working against me, you will die. All of you.” Sweat glistened on his head that was not there before. His hands shook as he turned back to me. There was a weakness in his power.
“Get out of my castle. You may not return to your rooms.”
I turned and strode away. He had enchanted me not to heal myself and never took it back. If I hadn’t had my protection, I would have never been able to save myself again. He was getting reckless, and that was an extremely dangerous thing.
I ran the halls searching for Roe, healing myself little by little. I could not find him, but I did find Nadra wandering like she was lost, searching for something. Or someone. I finished healing myself, knowing I was still covered in my own blood. I pulled a flask from my pocket. “Drink,” I demanded, giving no other options.
She took it from my hands but did not drink.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a small cove. She weighed nothing and likely didn’t have the strength to fight back even if she wanted to. “Drink it.” I slipped the bracelet Oravan had given me for helping him join the rebels over her wrist.
“You watch me,” she said, tilting her head back and forth. “You watch me, but I am broken.”
Putting my hand on hers, I took a long deep breath. I needed to slow down. I needed the world to slow down for just a moment so I could make a new plan. She was here. Standing before me. And I had to do something. I felt her. Her spirit. Her soul. It was broken. Completely shattered into a million pieces, and that wasn’t something I could heal. I pushed my magic through her anyway. She had bruising below her rags, and I knew the king had been beating her. I healed everything the eye could not see, and she stood straighter, broken ribs mended.
“Drink,” I said again, softly. She lifted the serum to her lips and tipped her head back. When every last drop was gone, I pulled it from her hands. “Tell me everything the king has enchanted you to do.”
I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to know, but as I watched her, felt the bond between us, I knew I had to do this. She had to be released from him even if she would not feel the same pull to me.
She opened her mouth to speak but closed it. Squeezing her eyes shut, in the smallest voice she could muster, answered. “He has told me that I love him fiercely and want only him. I am not to ask my mother to join him but I will take her punishments if she doesn’t.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Why would he do this to me? He is an animal. My mother wants me to marry so badly. Why would she not give in to the king?”
I kept my tone soft, letting out a heavy sigh. “She was likely enchanted by King Coro not to work for another and doesn’t even know it.” I reached for her before shoving my hands in my pockets to resist.
“What is your name?” she asked.
“My name is Temir.” A clattering in the hallway reminded me that I couldn’t stay here with her. I may put her in danger by association if I was caught. “We don’t have a lot of time. I need you to trust me. I need you to listen.”
She nodded, and her honey-brown eyes watched me carefully.
“This bracelet will protect you from the king’s enchant. You can’t let him find it. I’ve given you a truth serum so you could retrieve the memories of what he has done to you. You must try to leave the castle. If you can steal a horse, try to find a servant named Iva. You need to get to Bryer’s Keep, and she can tell you how to get there. Once you are there, I will meet you and protect you from him. You cannot stay here. Do you understand? The king is using you to trap your mother. You must eat, Nadra. You must.”
“Okay.”
“I will meet you there. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” she said as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Take this.” I gave her the antiserum so she would no longer have to speak the truth.
“I know his plan,” she whispered and stepped away from me.
I ran toward my rooms, but guards were standing outside. The adda was in that room and I could not get to it. I only had one vial of serum left in my pocket. This was a disaster. I should have been more prepared. I ran to the stables to find Roe waiting for me with a fae horse already saddled.
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
“I’ve got to get to Bryer’s Keep. I’m going to have to come back for some things and you’re going to have to get me in. Please ask Iva to help keep an eye on the king’s ward. The red-haired female. As soon as you can get away, meet me at the Keep.”
“Take him. He is the fastest.” He handed over the reins. “Be safe.”
“You too, Roe.”
I rode as fast as that thunderous horse would carry me. I entered the rebellion headquarters in a flurry and pulled Rook from his bed that night.
“What is it, Temir?”
