Page 7 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Psh. Neither my sister nor I can see into the future.”

Caiden shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s been years since any of us have seen Baylis. Perhaps her powers manifested, after all.”

The last time I saw Baylis, we were lowering our father into the ground.

“If Baylis had powers, I would know.”

“We all know Gideon has ways of manifesting powers,” Roderick said, tapping his temple.

“You don’t have to tell me how Gideon can manifest powers.” I traced my finger down the side of my face where a glamour now covered a jagged scar. “Great, tell me where she is, and I’ll go rescue her.”

“I know you’ve been on your own for a while, but I need your help with this. I have an oath to fulfill, too, if you remember,” Caiden said.

“Oh, the oath you took before you sent my sister into the wild by herself?” I took a drag off my cigarette, letting the smoke fizzle in my lungs.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers, Caiden sighed. “If we’re pointing fingers, why don’t we talk about who leaked theinformation to Highlands leading to the downfall of your kingdom.”

A challenge. I let out a long, billowing plume of smoke.

Pressing my palms onto the table, I pushed myself up. “You don’t know what it was like in that palace. Under Gideon’s thumb. I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t even know what I was doing.”

“Oh, don’t give me that excuse. We always have a choice.” He shook his head, dismissing my pain.

He thought he had me, but I knew where to twist the knife.

“Just like you had the choice to save me, and you didn’t.”

His face went pale.

That’s right, I know which scars to reopen.

“I’ve apologized for that a million times. I can’t go back in time, Aelia. What do you want me to do?”

A wave of emotion washed over me at the thought of our final goodbye all those years ago. Why was this happening now? Why did I let him affect me after all these years? I took another drag off my cigarette. Anything to distract me from the emotions bubbling in my stomach. The events of the day, combined with the alcohol coursing through my veins, made me emotional. Exhausted, I gave in. “Fine, tell me what you know.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “We believe she will be offered at the Alder King’s Yule Revelry. Though there’s one tiny hiccup.” Caiden scrunched his fingers together. “We don’t have an invitation… yet.”

I leaned back in my chair, praying for something stronger than a cigarette to ease my nerves.

“Yet?” I asked. “The son of a high lord can’t get any invitation he wants? I have not been an emissary in a long time, but I remember you can’t go anywhere near the Alder Palace without an invitation.”

Mischief gleamed in his blue eyes. “That’s why we’re going to have to steal one.”

“Ah, no. I’m a telepath. I’ll find a way into the Alder Palace by myself. Thanks.” I headed toward the hallway.

A hand grabbed mine. I turned to see a curvy witch with curly brown hair and a face full of freckles bound through the door.

My heart lightened at the sight of Amolie, my trusted friend and confidant.

“What are you doing here?” I said, half-mad, half-relieved to see my friend.

“Caiden invited me. He thought you would need someone with my set of skills.” She wiggled her fingers at me.

Turning to Caiden, I said, “I’m assuming this is how you found me.” I noted they hadn’t sent Amolie to confront me. Lucius must have wanted the pleasure of that all for himself.

Caiden would not meet my gaze. “It’s not importanthowI found you. What’s important is we leave at dawn, and you need to be ready.” Caiden stood, straightening his embroidered tunic.

“You’re not going to tell me the plan?” I tried not to wobble, but the liquor poisoning my blood made the room spin.

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