Page 2 of Spells of Shadow and Blood

I bit down on my lip as I listened, chiding myself. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to go to the castle. I was merely a girl, and mother was being summoned to heal the king. She would be back in no time, I assured myself.

The Shade nodded. “Alastir has summoned you. You will come to The Stone Palace and you will heal the King Osiris.”

Annelise nodded, biting her lip in thought. “Then I can return home.”

The Shade’s gaze fell to their hands once more. A long moment of silence passed as she studied their hands together in her own lap.

Whowasthis woman?

When the Shade didn’t speak, Annelise leaned toward her, voice urgent. “Then I can return home, right? Cirilla?”

Cirilla. That was the Shade’s name.

She bit her lip—hesitant to answer—before finally speaking. “I’m afraid the king may require…many healing sessions. Over an…extendedperiod.”

Annelise reeled back once more in surprise. “Is that what Alastir said?”

Cirilla nodded. “I’m afraid the king’s condition is foreseen to be…of a chronic nature.”

Annelise released a heavy sigh, her eyes downcast. Her face was drawn, her eyebrows pulled together in concern.

“You could always bring them…” Cirilla said, nodding toward the doorway where I hid. “Bring your family to Akra, move out of this cottage and leave Siraleth behind.”

Annelise shook her head fervently. “The castle is no place to raise a family, Cirilla. You, of all people, must know this. War, politics, violence…I don’t want her to be subjected to it day in and day out.”

“I understand,” Cirilla replied, her tone understanding.

“Donika is merely a girl. She needs her mother. Will I be granted leave to visit her?” she asked.

“I’m sure the king wouldn’t mind if she came to Akra tovisit—” But Annelise cut off Cirilla’s words with her hand outstretched as if she were going to physically stop her.

“No—no. The Stone Palace is no place for a child. Period.”

Cirilla nodded firmly.

“When do I leave?” Annelise asked.

“This day, I’m afraid,” Cirilla replied.

Annelise released a frustrated huff. My fingers curled around the wood doorframe in anger now. This woman, whoever she was, had come here to take my mother from me. Despite my better judgment, I trod into the room, throwing myself into my mother’s arms. She scooped me up into her lap, flattening my dress down against my legs in an affectionate manner as she buried her face in my hair. She rocked me back and forth gently, holding me in her arms.

She had to have known I was listening.

The Shade stood. “The horses are waiting outside. The king and his hand wish us to make haste. Another set of horses awaits us on the opposite side of The Shadow.”

Annelise nodded, hear eyes brimming with tears. She didn’t want to leave me, either. What about Father? What would we do without her?

I buried my face in her chest as she rubbed soothing circles into my back.

“You heard?” she asked, pulling away only enough to search my unwavering gaze. She placed a hand against my soft cheek. I nodded, tears brimming in my own eyes.

She pulled me against her, rocking me back and forth once more. “I will be back soon, my sweet girl. I promise.”

I nodded against her, the tears spilling over my cheeks and staining her tunic with wet droplets.

She rose, taking me with her toward the door. She didn’t pack a bag, only stopped in the small bedroom off the entryway to grab the Kotova grimoire. She walked through the doorway and placed me down on the front steps, securing the grimoire tightly into her jacket. Zion was already there in front of the cottage.

His eyes were sad, but his countenance remained stoic. Annelise explained the situation to him, and he grasped Annelise into a fierce hug against his chest before placing a kiss against her forehead.

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