Page 70 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“What’s the catch?” I asked the voice.

‘Don’t you want to be the Queen of theDead?’

“Queen of the cursed is what you mean.” I ran my fingers over the inscriptions carved into the hilt. Pure power radiated from the scepter. A lesser woman would jump at the chance, but I wouldn’t tie myself to the damned for an eternity.

The voice hissed at me. ‘Hard as you may try, Aelia Springborn, you will command the dead.’

A gust of wind blew through the tent, extinguishing the last embers of the fire, slamming the box shut.

A long breath escaped my lips. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Was I delirious? Had my drug-addled brain dreamed this up? Hopefully, a good night’s rest would solve my burning mind.

27CAIDEN

Lucius tossedhis thick braid over his shoulder. “Gideon left the Court of Sorrows after we did, leaving the scraps for other lesser courts to pick at.”

“Meaning theywerethere for the scepter.” Caiden bit at his cuticles, carving off tiny pieces of himself.

Lucius gave a curt nod. “I believe so.”

Roderick entered the tent, whistling a cheery tune. “The legion is prepared.” He picked up the scepter, twirling it in the air.

“What are you doing?” Lucius shouted, grabbing the scepter from Roderick’s powerful hands.

“Just testing it out. You said it won’t work without a sacrifice, anyway. It’s useless to us as is.” Roderick plopped onto Caiden’s bed. The mattress strained against his giant figure.

“I said itmightrequire a blood sacrifice. I’m still deciphering the runes.” Lucius held the carved bone close to a lantern by the bed. The ancient script glowed eerily in the light.

Roderick leaned over. “Amolie could look at it. She researches ancient texts for her spells.”

Lucius wrinkled his nose. “Absolutely not. The last thing weneed is Aelia finding out how the scepter works and doing something rash.”

Caiden’s blood boiled. “That’s enough.” He slammed his fist on the desk. “I will not have you speak of Aelia as if she were some impulsive girl. She nearly killed Gideon in the Court of Sorrows and hasn’t touched dust since we got to Ruska. Give her some credit.”

Lucius threw up his hands. “If you want to put your faith in an addicted, traitorous queen, then so be it.” He pointed a slender finger at Caiden. “But I will not be a part of the downfall of our kingdom.” He stormed out of the tent.

Roderick plucked an apple from a nearby tray, biting into it. “Dramatic.”

“He lets his hatred for Aelia cloud his judgment.” Caiden sank into a leather chair, letting his exhausted body finally relax.

“And your love for her clouds yours,” Roderick said, taking a bite of his apple.

Caiden buried his face in my hands. “You’re right.”

Roderick sat up on the bed. “You have a decade-long history with Aelia. It’s natural these feelings would resurface after Cassandra’s death.”

Caiden let out a long sigh as he fiddled with the gold ring around his fourth finger. “I feel guilty every time I think of Aelia…”

“Cassandra would want you to move on with your life.”

Caiden shrugged. “I suppose you’re right.”

“It looks like there is a decent showing of courts here,” Roderick said, changing the subject. “Court of Rabbits, Court of Flies, even a few human kingdoms.”

“The Alder King likes an audience,” Caiden said, running his fingers over the bone scepter.

Roderick moved beside him. “With the Army of the Dead, you could be more powerful than the Alder King.”

Caiden’s mouth straightened into a thin line. A look of determination crossed his face. “Fetch Amolie to decipher these inscriptions. Make sure she can keep a secret.”

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