Page 96 of Merciless Is My Crown

“Another storm’s coming in a couple days.” Dane grumpily searched the sky, his head tipped back as he scented the air. “But my nose is telling me we have a clear path south and my nose never lies about such things. We’ll stay ahead of the weather until we reach Nightcairn. Then we’ll regroup before we make our final push into Solarys.”

“But say we did have to go north?” I wheedled. “How bad would the trip be?”

His lips flattened out. “But we’re not heading north, Anaria. We’re going south.”

I held in my frustrated groan, waiting for Vesper and Bella to bring me the information that would cement our final decision.

Whether or not the elders knew where the Oracle holed up in her downtime—did Old Gods even have downtime?—was a long shot. Although, if there was no pendant to steal, no king to kill, I would have spent the entire winter here at Stormfall. Gleaned everything I could from their library and had these witches teach me everything they knew about magic.

Blood magic, in particular.

But we didn’t have time.

We never had the luxury of time.

“Going north into the mountains right now would be suicide.” Dane kept his eyes on me as he yelled, “Tavion. Get your arse over here, nephew. We have a problem.”

“Traitor,” I hissed.

“Whatever names you call me, princess, are better than freezing to death in a mountain pass. Trust me, I’ve seen those poor bastards’ corpses thawing out in the spring. I have no desire to become one of them.”

My husband showed no hint of trembling, no signs of weakness as he strode across the frozen ground, every step so swift and sure my heart joggled in my chest, tears burning in my eyes before I blinked them away so I could see him in full, arrogant glory.

I caught his hand when he came close, pulling it to my lips and brushing a kiss across his knuckles. No tremors, only steadiness.

“Thank you. For what you did.” Tavion’s own eyes were lined with silver. Tears he’d wipe away as soon as he turned toward Dane, but a rare vulnerability he allowed me—and only me—to see. “For believing in me when nobody else would.”

“I’ll always believe in you, even when you act like a pompous arse, husband.”

His lips curved up at that. “I will try,” he said softly, “to not lash out in temper. An old habit, and one I would very much like to break.” He held my gaze as he wiped a tear from my cheek. “For you, Anaria, I will change.”

Dane made a gagging sound. “Enough of this. Tell him, Anaria.”

Tavion’s gaze raked over his uncle. “Tell me what? We’re leaving within the hour.”

“Your princess wants to go north, while I told her we’re going to Solarys as planned. We already have the route to Blackcastle planned, godsdamn it, and there is no way to get through those northern passes right now.”

“She’s your princess, too, you old wolf, and don’t fucking forget it.”

I ignored them as Bella hurried toward me towing a gray-haired witch I’d never seen before. She had those same scars on her face, her mouth clamped shut, and panic flooded through me as I replayed the bite of Solomon’s cold, sharp blade cutting across my tongue.

Close.

That had been so fucking close.

Dane grunted something about spoiled little princesses before he stormed off, taking his precious ego with him, and Tavion made to follow, but I caught him by the arm. “Stay,” I told him softly. “I want you to hear this for yourself. Help me decide if I’m making the right call.”

His eyes glowed before he gave me a sharp squeeze.

“This is Morgana.” Bella clutched the woman’s tiny, withered hand, and up close…gods, she was old. Ancient in a way few beings had the privilege of becoming in this wicked world. Experience seeped from her piercing gaze, in the hum of power that hung around her like a mantle.

She raked Tavion over with those assessing eyes, and I swore he trembled.

“My mother, as it turns out, never met the Oracle, but Morgana attended that first meeting and the ones that came after. She is a truthteller.” Bella slid me a sideways look. “Vireena didn’t trust anyone, not even the Oracle of Tempeste.”

“Well, Vireena wasn’t wrong in that regard, even if she was a cold-hearted bitch,” I offered begrudgingly. “May I ask what you overheard?” I asked softly, holding Morgana’s gaze. “Anything you might remember could be helpful. Even the smallest detail.”

Their eyes slid half closed and they remained like that before the young witch spoke. “The Oracle mentioned the high cliffs, north of here, beyond the mountains. No exact location but there were…other clues.”

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