Page 38 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

Caiden turned to Amolie. “Then we best not give her a reason to snoop around. Amolie, can you put a salt barrier around the inside of the house?”

Amolie nodded and headed upstairs.

“Aelia, I think it’s best if you don’t leave the townhome until we depart for the Court of Sorrows. Itra can bring your clothes here.” Caiden wrote a message down on a piece of parchment. “Have this delivered to Itra Davenport in the textile district.” He handed the paper to Ernie.

“Right away, sir.” Ernie took the parchment, the wax seal of the Court of Storms visible.

“And make sure it is kept discrete,” Caiden warned.

Ernie nodded.

After dinner, we gathered on the terrace of the townhome. The lights of the city twinkled below us. Roderick held Amolie close while Caiden, Lucius, and I gathered around a small fire.

I lit another cigarette, without dust to lean on, every emotion hit me like a tidal wave.

“I’m going to scout for Highland soldiers tonight. Maybe I can figure out why they are here,” Lucius said.

“Be careful. We don’t need to alert them to our presence.” Caiden took a sip of brandy.

Lucius gave Caiden a look that made my stomach turn. “I am your Master of Shadows. Please give me some credit.”

“You’re right.” Caiden held up his glass to salute his friend.

Pulling a dark cloak over his head, Lucius disappeared into the darkness of the night.

I bit my fingernails as memories bubbled to the surface like a boiling kettle, slow at first, then faster until I wanted to scream.

“You know, you can talk to me,” Caiden said.

I shut my eyes. “I’ve already burdened you enough.”

“You’re going to erase my memories, anyway.”

I pondered for a moment. Perhaps it couldn’t hurt to let Caiden in.

Amolie and Roderick were lost in their own world, holding each other tightly, whispering sweet nothings.

With a heavy sigh, I let some of the tension out. “It’s more than just the memories of abuse. It’s the shame that eats away at me every day. I let him in. Let him manipulate me.”Bile rose in my throat at the admission.

Caiden’s glance softened. “Your father had just died, and you had been ripped from your home. It’s not your fault he preyed on your sorrow. A leech doesn’t feed off a sick host, Aelia.” He pulled me in closer to him.

I rested my head on his shoulder—chest tight from the emotions building within.

“I know, but I hurt so many people.” A pressure built behind my eyes. “Includingyou.”

Caiden rocked me as I hyperventilated. “You can’t go back and change the past, but you can move forward with your life.”

Caiden had been my lifeline for so long.

A memory bubbled to the surface.

It was the day after my Promise Ceremony. Baylis had woken me early in the morning. Before the first light of dawn. “Mother needs us at the castle.” The fear in her eyes made my heart leap into my throat.

We ducked through alleys and back passageways to remain as hidden as possible.

When we arrived, my mother was waiting in our father’s study with a glass of whiskey. A glaze covered her emerald eyes.Her long black hair draped over her shoulders.

“He’s dead,” she said to no one in particular. “Your father is dead.”

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