Page 141 of Crown of Briars
The shelves rattled, and a heavy book dropped to the floor next to me. I picked it up, finding the place where I had left off before and re-reading the passage with greater interest.
The most powerful witch enchantments were anchored to an object or person, which fueled its power, allowing it to survive as long as the object or person remained healthy and intact. Trinkets, coins, heirlooms, and gemstones were commonly used. The rarest of spells were able to harness the power of a witch’s lineage in order to fuel the magic.
I froze.
A witch’s lineage…
I had told Varius that fae magic could not outlive the one who cast the spell. But, according to this passage, a rare spellcouldlive beyond a witch’s death… through her lineage.
Was I right? Had there been survivors?
What if the witch who cast this spell had had a child? A child that Ragnus did not know about?
I pulled out the scrap of parchment I had tucked into the bodice of my dress. On it were my notes from the rose jewel’s vision.
I scanned the parchment, searching for my hasty scribblings of the witch’s spell. I had only recalled bits and pieces, but it was better than nothing. If that damned jewel hadn’t mysteriously vanished, perhaps I could jump back into the memory and recount the events myself.
I glanced over my recollection of the witch’s curse.
…shadows turn poisonous, destroying lives…
…bodies cursed to beastly forms…
…never speak of today’s events…
…stone of shadow and blood…
…one of my kind gives up a life…
…curse will live on as my line lives on…
…blood of witches will poison the land…
I chewed on my fingernail as I studied the words. My blood ran cold when I found what I was looking for.The curse will live on as my line lives on.
“Holy shit,” I breathed, my hand shaking as I covered my mouth. “Holyshit.”
This meant at least one of the Shadow Court witches was still alive.
I spentmost of the day poring over letters from my spy network that Clermont had delivered earlier today. No whispers of any approaching army.
However, the soldiers who had been loyal to Warwick had been arrested and interrogated. And they were not giving up any information as to who in the Earthen Court they had been working for.
It was clear they were willing to die with their secrets.
I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I had spent the night here in the study, and the firm cushions of the sofa were not nearly as comfortable as the one in my chambers.
But I couldn’t bear to share the space with Sybelle. Not again. Not after our kiss.
If I did, I might cross a line I could never come back from.
Things would end so much more painfully if we let this continue. The curse would either claim my life or hers.
Or both.
Each of the human brides had died from giving too much blood to the ravenous shadows.
And, soon after, the kings had died, too.
