Page 13 of Madness of Her Mages

Her eyes practically bulged out of her skull. “Why?”

Blaze cleared his throat. “Her mates were the sons of the Lupine kings.”

Malvolia looked from Blaze to me. “Killed in the attack?”

“Presumably,” Blaze answered for me.

Thank you,I said to him through thought, relieved I didn’t have to lie to the sorceress queen, for I couldn’t be sure if they were dead or alive.

“So she was plotting with the surviving lycans to kill Fachnan?” Malvolia asked.

I pushed parsnips and peas swimming in a creamy sauce around on my plate. “Yes.”

Malvolia gave me a long look. “But they never followed through.” It was a statement more than a question.

I set down my spoon, smoothing trembling hands down the folds of my satin gown. Here was my opportunity to talk about Thorin, but I would feed her information about the mind spinner in small doses. Eventually, maybe she’d believe me when I told her Thorin had altered her memories, too. That he’d altered everyone’s memories. “My parents told me Tari had been killed by a bear, but I later found out they had Thorin erase her memories and take her.”

Not too much,Drae warned me through thought.

I know,I answered.

“Of course they did.” Malvolia’s lips twisted into a snarl, fire flashing in her eyes. “They had to ensure she fulfilled the prophecy to help Fachnan kill me. And you said yesterday that Thorin’s spells last longer now?”

“Yes.” I dared not look in Drae’s direction, though I could feel the heat from his stare upon me.

Malvolia twirled the stem of her wine goblet in her hand. “How long?” she asked casually as if we were discussing the changing of the seasons.

“Days. Weeks. Years.” I took another sip of wine while averting my gaze. “I’m not sure.” A half-truth, for it was obvious his spells lasted years if Malvolia still thought my parents had tried to overthrow her. But what I didn’t know was if there wasany way to reverse those spells. If they lasted more than years. Centuries. I fought the panic searing through my veins. Forever.

Malvolia set down her goblet, her dark gaze sweeping the table. “The mind spinner was nothing more than an annoyance when I knew him decades ago, but with that kind of power, he’s far more dangerous.”

The others at the table mumbled their agreement, though my mates had gone eerily quiet, all of them looking at me like stag caught in a hunter’s crosshairs.

“He is,” I said to my aunt, wondering where I’d found the courage to speak. “Your mages shouldn’t hesitate to kill him.”

“They won’t,” she said while sharing looks with a few of the mages closest to us.

The mages let out low, deep chuckles that shook the marrow of my bones. One in particular, with russet hair and wings, unnerved me the way he so boldly looked at Malvolia as if he was mentally undressing her. Then again, many mages were looking at her that way, and I suddenly realized these weren’t just my aunt’s mages—they were her lovers, too. She smiled coyly back at him. Perhaps her good mood was an auspicious sign.

I could tell her now,I projected to Drae.She already doesn’t like Thorin, and I think she’d be open to hearing it.

Too soon,he answered, his gaze averted while he laughed with a few mages close to him.Let’s see if she reaches her own conclusion first.

I wrung my napkin in my lap. We were playing a dangerous game, and I wasn’t sure we would win no matter what move we made.

“I take it you dispatched of the giants?”

“W-what?” I stammered, looking back at my aunt.

“Yes,” Blaze answered her. “Shiri did.”

How does she know about the giants?I projected to all of my mates.

I don’t know,Drae answered. He was no longer laughing with the other mages, but looking down the long table at us, the overhead candlelight reflecting in his eyes.

She could’ve come to the conclusion after seeing all the flattened trees outside the castle,Nikkos said.

Possibly,Drae answered, though I could sense doubt in his voice.

---