Page 92 of The Rebel Seer

“You are not here to take her place.” Grenelda slaps a hand over her mouth as though she can’t believe the words came out.

I am so pleased I can’t begin to express it. If Rhys’s magic can break the king’s stranglehold, I can work with that. “I am not. I came here to see my mother-in-law and ask for her aid. You see, in my timeline, Myrddin Emrys stole my husband’s crown and twelve years of our lives with our kids. I need to find a friend of mine who might have the only magic that can counter him and free us, but I need the ancient amulet. The one the royals use to talk to their ancestors. I certainly didn’t come here in hopes of dumping the husbands I love in favor of a bad version of one of them. What do you think?”

I give her the question because I’m sure it’s easier for her to reply that way. Even without the spell, they’ve had years to learn when not to talk, when their voices could cost them much pain and suffering.

“I think he wears it most days,” she replies quickly. “I do not know how often he uses it, though. He doesn’t believe in listening to his ancestors. Especially when they give him bad news.”

“Do you remember the last time he did use it?” I’m surprised since at least in our time, it is only to be used as a last resort. Dev is worried they’ll be angry with us, but I don’t know where else to turn. Finding Sarah and Felix and Mia is the most important thing I can do.

She nods. “He asked how he could get back into his temple. He was so angry the day he realized he couldn’t even walk onto the grounds, and neither could anyone who follows him.”

“Follows him or is forced to work for him?”

“I cannot walk on the grounds, either,” Grenelda admits. “At least I couldn’t before. I am afraid to try.”

The spell would have the king’s signature on it. The temple’s magic would recognize it. “Do you know if Myrddin can go into the temple?”

“I don’t think so. The temple doesn’t seem to like what he does.”

“He destroys souls.”

She nods. “No one can know exactly, but there are dark rumors that the wizard has taught our king new ways to find magical energy in hopes of getting back inside his temple. I believe some of the lesser Fae still find ways. They enter to help the rebels. The king guards the lands around the palace vigorously, but it is said there are tunnels he has not found, and that is how they get in. Please do not tell him.”

“I would never tell him,” I vow. “I need you to understand that the lesser Fae are important to me. In my time I am their high priestess, and I love them. I honor them. What your king has done to you and them is evil. I will do anything to help you, but from what I understand there is no rebellion among the palace staff. Not among the sidhe. Could anything cause them to risk rebellion?”

She nods slowly. “Yes. I think what happened last night might sway us. Especially since that magic seems to have dimmed the king’s spells that keep us quiet and submissive.”

“What happened?”

A smile crosses her face. “The temple is alive again. We felt that sweet magic flow, and it filled my soul. I woke in the middle of the night and I felt…love and hope. I cried. I have not been able to cry since the king forced this curse upon me.”

I didn’t realize it went beyond ensuring obedience. He shut down their emotions? They haven’t had emotions in years until the night before when they felt the marriage of a god to his goddess.

“One more thing, Your Grace,” she says as I hear shouting out in the hallways. She leans forward. “I have heard rumor that there was a theft last night.”

Shit. All eyes will be on me then. “Of what?”

“The Goddess Chain,” she whispers as the floors shake lightly, a sign that someone is coming. “The one he should have offered Zandra.”

We don’t have much time left. “Do you know anything about my husband?”

Her lips curl up. “I know the guards are surprised at how little damage their torture did to him. They are not warded in the dungeons. They felt the full magic. The guards ran fleeing because they were in a full lust. Still, the injuries they gave to the Green Man should not have healed the way they did. And I heard Ostara was not there this morning at all. They fear the king’s anger at losing her.”

The door begins to open, and I whisper to her. “Pretend you are normal. Don’t let him know you can talk freely.”

Devilshea strides in, his face an arrogant mask.

I turn, offering him a deep curtsey which also gives him a good view of my breasts. “Your Majesty.”

He stops, and I can sense his irritation. “You…you look lovely this morning.”

“I want to know where she was last night,” a distinctly unwelcome voice says. Myrddin steps into the room, and he looks to Grenelda. “You, girl. Where was she last night? She is your charge, correct? You stayed in the outer rooms in case she needed something.”

The king sighs. “I didn’t want her to think I didn’t trust her. The guard on her door told me she did not leave.”

Grenelda stares at the wizard, a blank look on her face. “Yes. No. I was in the servant’s quarters.”

The words came out like she had to push them.

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