Page 77 of Kingdom of Locks

Amell blinked. He could see the truth of all those descriptions, if he was being brutally honest. But he’d never thought of his sister as unattractive, and he’d had no idea she was dissatisfied with her own appearance.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” he said carefully.

Tora sighed. “I’ve tried being myself, Amell. I’ve been doing that for twenty years. The point isn’t whether he likes me. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t, and I’m not foolish enough to think any silly stunts will change that. The point is how to get him to admit it if he does.”

“Well, I don’t know what to suggest,” Amell said apologetically.

“I know you don’t,” Tora assured him. “I wasn’t expecting you to solve my problems.” She sent him a sisterly glare. “Just stop getting in the way.”

And with that, she tripped lightly away, leaving Amell blinking after her, unsure whether to feel sorry for her or for Furn.

Chapter Sixteen

Aurelia screwed up her face in distaste, wishing Cyfrin would hurry up. He had his hand on her scalp again, and it made her skin crawl.

“Why are you flinching away from me?” the enchanter demanded. “I’m being gentle.”

“It’s taking a long time tonight,” Aurelia said by way of answer. “Haven’t you moved all the magic from my hair to my core yet?”

He gave a patronizing laugh. “Honeysuckle, you foolish child. I’ve moved less than half. And I’m not going to move it all. I prefer not to have all my eggs in the one basket, just in case.” She couldn’t see his face, but she could hear the smugness in his voice. “Not that I anticipate any hitches. You just need a little more time.”

“Aurelia,” said Mama Gail sharply. The older woman was hovering nearby, glaring not at her daughter but at the enchanter. “Do you think you could fetch a brush from the room? I think I left it near the bed. Your hair needs neatening after all this carry on.”

Aurelia frowned. “But—” She encountered a look that made her decide it wasn’t worth arguing. It wasn’t as though she was sorry for the excuse to pull away from Cyfrin.

“I’m not finished yet,” the enchanter complained, as Aurelia moved away from him, her hair trailing behind her as she crossed the tower toward the bedroom.

“That can wait,” Mama Gail snapped, her voice so quiet Aurelia could barely hear it from the bedroom. She could see no sign of the brush on her mother’s bed, so she got down on her hands and knees, searching underneath. Still nothing.

She could hear her mother’s low, angry voice from the other room, and sighed. Mama Gail had gone a surprisingly long time without ranting at the enchanter. But it had always been only a matter of time. Perhaps her mood had been bolstered by Amell’s visits, the same as Aurelia’s had. For a moment Aurelia forgot what she was looking for, her thoughts drifting to the prince. It had been three days since they’d seen him, and it felt like an eternity.

She finally hunted the brush down in a drawer next to her own bed. Clutching it, she moved back toward the main room, pausing in the shadows next to the doorway at the sound of her mother’s words.

“—and I tell you, it’s gone far enough, Cyfrin. Too far.”

“On the contrary,” said the enchanter coldly. “I’ve barely begun the process.”

Aurelia frowned. What process? Was he talking about transferring the magic into her core?

“Are you really stupid enough to think you can convince her to willingly—”

“Why should she not wish to?” he retorted. “It would be an excellent thing for her.”

“Over my dead body,” Mama Gail burst out, her voice quiet but passionate. “Do you understand? Over my dead body will you—”

“What an apt choice of words.” The enchanter’s voice was as smooth as glass. “You wondered how I would convince her if it came to that—you have your answer. I think a threat to the life of her dearMama Gailwould be enough, don’t you?”

Aurelia froze in horror at the cold words, but Mama Gail just let out a harsh laugh. “I thought it had to be her choice.”

“Did I say that?” drawled the enchanter. “I don’t think so. Certainly an easier process is preferable, but her choice is still her choice, however we arrive there.”

Aurelia frowned, thinking of the principle stuffed under her mattress.Power willingly given is more potent than power forcibly taken.She had no doubt that coercing her with a threat to a loved one’s life would count as forcibly taking. But it was also easy to believe that Cyfrin wouldn’t be convinced of that. He’d always had the attitude that whatever he wanted was his by right.

For a moment panic clouded Aurelia’s mind. She’d been so sure she’d never perform whatever action Cyfrin chose as the key, and thereby give him extra potent magic. But if the alternative was letting him kill Mama Gail, how could she refuse?

She took a deep breath. She wouldn’t give in to despair. She had a choice. Whether Cyfrin truly believed that or not, she did, and that would have to be enough. She wasn’t alone. She had Mama Gail to help her, and Amell. They would find a way.

“So I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you,” Cyfrin was saying in a tone of finality, “that it would be in your own interest to encourage her in that direction.”

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