Page 124 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Found this one in the study. Just like you said, Mother.”

“Excellent.” Erissa clapped her hands with delight as Tharan took a seat next to Caiden.

Gideon ran a finger down my jaw. “Not so tough without your dagger, are you?”

My skin crawled at the sense of his touch, but I could not escape. Pooling blood into my mouth, I spat it at him.

Blood dripped down his muscled jaw. “You’re feistier than you were when we were together.” He wiped his face. “I like this Aelia better.” He pressed his lips to mine in a sign of dominance.

I futilely pulled at my chains, trying to push him away.

“Does someone want to tell me who this is and what is going on here?” Caiden said.

Erissa scoffed at the question. “Oh, Prince, do not act dumb. Everyone knows you and Aelia shared a bed for years.”

I closed my eyes. Nothing like having your romantic history laid bare in front of your current lover, your husband, and your ex-lover, whose mind you erased.

“He’s telling the truth, Erissa.”

The mage cocked her head to the side.

“I erased myself from his memory.”

Blinking, Caiden stared at me, his mouth twisting as he searched his mind for me.

A light brightened in her eyes. “You have become powerful since we last met. How fortunate for me.” She stroked the scorpion perched on her left shoulder.

“What do you want from us, Erissa?” Tharan asked as blood snaked its way down his face.

“Glad you asked, Alder King.” She nodded to Remus and Ramus, who placed an iron collar around my neck, holding my shoulders down.

Panic ran through my veins.

“Each of you has original blood in your veins. Meaning the magic flowing through you is older than time itself. Caiden, your bloodline is as close as we can get to the original sylphs. Tharan, you possess both elf and sylph originals in your bloodline, so you will make up for whatever Caiden lacks, and Aelia…” She turned to me, a wicked gleam in her eye. “Aelia has the blood of Fate running through her.”

“Why do you need originals?” Tharan asked.

Erissa laughed as if the answer was plain as day. “To unlock Trinity Wells. Where the ancient magic of Moriana is stored, of course.”

Tharan tugged at his chains. “Those are a myth, Erissa.” Fireburned in his verdant eyes. “What are you going to do? Pull the magic from our veins?”

“Precisely, my fair king.” Erissa held out her arm, urging the scorpion toward me.

A scream built in my throat as the insect crept closer. Its legs like tiny needles on my skin. Powerless, I could not stop the creature. Screams burned my lungs as I looked on in horror.

The door to the lab swung open, and two crossbow bolts flew through the darkness, hitting Remus and Ramus. They released my arm and howled in pain. Blood gushed from their necks.

I wiggled as best I could, trying to throw the scorpion off its course.

Reaching my elbow, the creature dug its tail deep into my artery, ripping my magic from me.

I screamed as pain spread through me like fire through a dry brush. Every nerve firing, overloading my system.

Time slowed.

I floated above my body, watching a fight break out below. Lucius freed Tharan and Caiden, and now all three battled Gideon, the twins, and Erissa.

Caiden’s lightning lit the room while Tharan unleashed a deluge of thorns onto Gideon and Erissa.

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