Page 8 of Lies Within the Darkest Tower

“Bring the summons,” Edred snarled, his tone clear that my disobedience was going to be punished and every second I hesitated the punishment grew worse.

“Yes, my lord.” I swiped my thumb over my bleeding lip then took the medallion with my other hand. I didn’t want to chance Lord Quill seeing the blood on my thumb and thinking I was pressing my blood on the medallion by accident.

This was a terrible plan.

But the other option was letting Sawyer die — and without a doubt, he’d die. My premonitions always came true, and this premonition was the strongest I’d ever had. Pretending to be Sawyer was the only way to save him.

I turned away from Lord Quill to face Edred, and cupped my hands together, brushing my bloody thumb against the edge of the medallion as I walked down the aisle.

Sudden heat swept over my hand. It burned around my wrist and up my forearm to my elbow, bringing with it a searing, fiery agony that made me stumble.

I bit back a gasp and fought to keep my balance. The heat burned hotter and I dipped my head down, hoping I looked obedient and not like I was in pain and forced myself to keep walking.

Slow and steady. Don’t let anyone see how much it hurts.

But it felt like I’d shoved my arm into a fire and was holding it there. Thankfully, just like the text had promised, my flesh looked perfectly normal, which meant so long as I managed to keep a straight face, no one would know the truth.

I reached the edge of Edred’s dais, dropped into a low curtsey — grateful the movement hid my trembling — and held out the medallion, presenting it to Edred. “The summons, my lord.”

Edred’s lips curled back in a sneer and he held out his dagger to Sawyer. “Make it quick. I don’t have all day.”

“Yes, my lord.” Sawyer took the dagger, pierced the tip of his finger, and marched down the three steps to stand in front of me.

I raised my gaze to meet his and prayed he’d see the silent plea in my eyes.Please understand and accept this. It’s the only way. Please don’t draw attention to this.He was smart. He’d catch on right away to what I’d done. He had to.

He pressed his bloody fingertip against the medallion and frowned, clearly not feeling the burn of the spell and knowing instantly that something was wrong.

“Look like your arm hurts,” I whispered.

His eyes widened in shock. “Sage, you didn’t.” He drew in a breath to argue — it was foolish to think he wouldn’t argue about this — but I jerked my gaze over his shoulder to Edred.

“Not in front of Edred. He’ll be furious we messed this up.” We could argue later, although there wasn’t really that much to argue about. The spell had been completed and the only way to deal with it was to go to the Black Tower. Right now, we needed to get out of the great hall and away from Edred and his men and finish solidifying my foolish, barely formed plan. “Please.”

CHAPTER 6

Sage

Sawyer’s eyesnarrowed and he gripped his arm and left out a strangle grunt, making Edred’s smile turned predatory.

“Thank you, Lord Quill,” Edred practically purred and my traitorous gaze slid back to the handsome fae. “Will you join us for the evening meal and stay the night?”

“No.” Lord Quill’s emerald eyes locked with mine for a breathtaking moment then he turned on his heel and strode out of the hall.

“See him off, girl,” Edred barked, and I scrambled to catch up with him, my arm still throbbing from the spell and my bruised chest aching with each breath.

Lord Quill was already a third of the way across the bailey by the time I’d raced down the aisle and out the large main door, his stride long and fast as if he couldn’t wait to get out of Herstind castle, something I couldn’t blame him for.

“My lord,” I called out, although I wasn’t sure what to say after that.

I couldn’t arrange to have his horse saddled, since it already was, and there was nothing else I could offer him. It seemed idiotic to thank him for coming like Edred expected of me. I’dalmost lost Sawyer because of him and I was about to take the largest gamble of my life.

Except that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t his fault Edred had manipulated the lottery and ensured Sawyer’s name was drawn.

Lord Quill glanced back at me, his expression stiff. “I can’t change the results of the lottery.”

“I know.” I dropped into a low curtsy, fighting to keep my gaze down, but just like before, my eyes lifted as if compelled by him. “This duty can’t be easy. Thank you for your service.”

Some of the tension melted from his gaze and for a moment I saw a glimmer of a brilliant, kind man — and I had no idea if I was actually seeing him or having another strange premonition.

---