Page 14 of Merciless Is My Crown

“Without that magic under her control, the Oracle is weak. Vulnerable. Perhaps…killable.”

I barked out a laugh. “Weak? Clearly, you haven’t seen her lately. She’s anything but weak.”

But Torin was right about one thing. The magic had answered to me. Not that I knew what to do with all that wild power, except…the forest had listened that day. Helped free our friends.

“The alternative is to let the Oracle kill the king and take the Solarys magic. We’ll never stand a chance at ridding the world of her. Or her brother.”

“Sounds like bullshite to me.” Tavion stuffed a hunk of bread in his mouth. “I’m all for killing Serpens, but if this is another one of your ploys to get us to do your dirty work, Torin, you can count us out. All of us.”

Bexley, head bowed, glanced over to Torin, fear gleaming in his dull brown eyes.

“That ward separates the realms and the wild magic. Once Serpens is dead, the same ritual the Oracle performed can be recreated for the magic to be unlocked. Imagine all that power united once the wall is gone. Imagine how strong Anaria will become once that happens. She will be invincible.”

Tavion shot to his feet.

“Well, fuck doing this sober. I need something stronger than water if I’m expected to listen to this drivel.” Tavion strode to the cabinet and flung the doors open, yanked out a bottle of liquor, then popped the cork and sniffed. “If this is true, then why is Serpens still alive? The Oracle could have killed him long ago and taken over that entire realm.”

“The Oracle doesn’t know why there is no magic in Solarys,” Simon said softly. “Nobody does. Everyone thinks the wild magic was used up over the past millennium, like in Caladrius.”

The room went quiet except for the sound of Tavion aggressively filling up glasses. “Well, somebody must have figured it out since you’re spouting this theory of yours. Or is this bullshite, like everything else that comes out of your mouth?”

Simon lunged for Tavion. “You watch your fucking mouth, wolf.” Torin stopped him with a look. One look and the male halted, chest heaving in rage.

Torin tipped up her chin, looking every bit as queenly as she had the first time I’d seen her in the throne room. “The person who figured this out…his name is Cosimo, and he was…is a brilliant astrologer.”

“You’re telling me some astrologer figured out there’s magic in Solarys, locked beneath a layer of iron, when nobody, not even the Oracle, knows?” Raziel picked up one the glasses and threw back a mouthful of liquor, shuddering before he plunked his glass back down, nodding for Tavion to fill him back up.

“Like Tav said, sounds like a bunch of bullshite.”

Torin shrugged. “What can I say, Coz was…is fucking brilliant.”

“Is? Or was?” Tavion asked. “He’s either dead or he’s not. Trust me, there’s no in between.”

“Cosimo isn’t just an astrologer, he’s a celestial astrologer. Along with about twenty other specialties in the arcane and astral arts. He’s also the fucking smartest person I’ve ever known.” Simon’s cold smile matched Tavion’s perfectly. “Present company definitely included.”

Simon slung his arm around Torin’s waist, and for the first time, I looked—really, really looked—at them.

There was a jaded bitterness to them, as if they’d seen their share of battles, as if they’d been through the fire. Exhaustion painted fine lines around their eyes, dark shadows in their faces, like they’d seen too much death and grown used to the sight.

Something softened inside me, watching how protectively Simon acted around her. After all this time, they still had each other’s backs.

I respected their loyalty, even if it didn’t extend to the rest of us.

“Then where is Cosimo now?” I asked. “If he figured all this out, why isn’t he here, explaining this to us, instead of you?”

“Because the Oracle’s holding him hostage. Leverage over Simon and me, to force us to do her bidding.” Torin heaved a rough breath, Simon tenderly cupping her chin as he wiped tears away. “She’s held him prisoner for over three hundred years.”

“I’m…sorry,” I said awkwardly. “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

“Three hundred years. Since the night she trapped him in a pendant. Simon and I have worked every day since to get him free.”

“I saw that pendant, the day I first saw the Oracle when I came to Tempeste. You were there that day, remember?” I met Torin’s gaze. “A silver pendant with a glowing red stone.”

Torin nodded. “She would always wear that necklace, but not since the day you left Caladrius…” Her throat bobbed. “We haven’t seen it since.”

“How do you know he’s still alive if you haven’t seen him in…three hundred years?”

“We know,” Torin retorted stubbornly. “Cosimo’s alive. Still trapped in the stone. We just have to find where she’s hidden it.”

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