Page 136 of Curse of Darkness
It’s interesting how the presence of both men seems to have raised her hackles. She certainly wasn’t like this in Ceres.
“We need to get our hands on a certain prophecy that is located in the heart of the Askan court,” I tell her, “and this meeting of the alliance is the perfect opportunity to do so. Maren’s dream thieves have filled an entire tower within the Askan court with glass-spun globes of dreams. One of them holds the words of the prophet who spoke it. It’s the only existing copy of this prophecy. If we can get our hands on it, we may be able to thwart the Horned One’s invasion.”
Lucere’s brows rise. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Every eye is going to be upon the two of you and your entire party. Maren won’t let you out of her sight for an instant. You’ll never get inside this tower.”
Thiago smiles faintly. “True.”
We both look at her.
“But neither Maren nor my mother is going to be watching their dear friend, the Queen of Ravenal,” I point out.
“Absolutelynot.”
“You want our help with Imerys?” Thiago says. “Then you can cursed well share your allotment of the risk. We need that prophecy, and you’re the only one who can get it.”
“I like my head right where it is, thank you very much.”
“Maybe the Horned One can appreciate your pretty face when he rolls right through the Seelie Alliance,” he snarls.
“We fought him off once.”
“We?You weren’t even alive then. It took everything the Seelie Alliance had to survive that war. The only reason we won was because of the gamble we took in locking away the Old Ones. Now we’re facing the entire might of Unseelie with a fractured southern alliance, two vicious queens who will stab us in the back the second we march north, and the only weapon I have right now is an untried Ravenal queen who couldn’t find her courage if she searched for it with both hands—”
“Courage?” Lucere’s entire face goes white as if he slapped her. “I amtryingto keep my sister alive. I amtryingto save my people. And I am doing it all with no fucking army, a treasury my grandmother bled dry, and an ally that dares—hedares—insist I take a risk when he’s the fucking reason we’re in this mess. If Adaia gains even the slightest hint I’m helping you, I am dead. And without me, my entire fucking kingdom burns. You think I care about the risk tomyself? I am theonlything holding my court together right now. I’ve had two assassination attempts alone this week, not to mention the past fucking three months. You don’t get to look down your nose at me. Youdon’t. You wouldn’t even be standing here if it wasn’t for me.”
“Thiago.” I rest my hand on his sleeve. We share a look. I understand his frustration and his desperation, but I’ve also been in Lucere’s shoes.
He breathes out a huff of air that says,you deal with her.
I go to Lucere. “It’s been a trying week for all of us. We understand that. And we are grateful for the assistance you’ve provided us so far.”
She cuts Thiago a look. “So grateful it’s practically dripping from your tongues.”
I capture her hand and squeeze it. “Ineed your help, Lucere. I need that prophecy. I need to know how to kill the Horned One.” And then I release a low breath. Trust cannot be won by force. It can only be won by extending an offer of friendship. And friendship is forged from truth. “When I bound myself to the lands, I was able to access the power of the leylines that runs through the Hallows. There’s a possibility I may be able to use that power against the Horned One.”
“The Hallow in Ceres?” Her eyes sharpen with interest. She’s only recently bound herself to Ravenal.
Another slow breath. “All the Hallows.”
The remaining color drains from her face. She said once she had not Imerys’s love for books, but she’s clearly well-read enough to understand what I’m suggesting. “That’s impossible. The only ones who could do that are—”
“The Old Ones.”
“Vi,” Thiago cautions.
A thousand emotions dance through her dark eyes as they dart between us. Knowledge dawns, dark and horrified. She sucks in a sharp breath. “There was always a rumor about the night your father appeared in your mother’s court. My grandmother’s little birds were the best in the realms. Connall of Saltmist sired you, they said, but according to Grandmother’s sources, Connall never crossed the seas.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “And you were conceived on Samhain, the one night of the year when the Old Ones can walk the realm.”
I squeeze her fingers. “If I can learn how to access the power of the Hallows, then there’s a chance I can kill him.”
“Why are you telling me this?” she demands, tugging her fingers free of mine and pacing. “I could destroy you with this knowledge.”
I go after her. “Because I’m not just asking you to trust me. I’m asking you to be my ally in more than mere politics. I’m asking you to be my friend.”
The words make her reel. Again, she shoots my husband a look. “I don’thavefriends.” It’s a rare admission. “Grandmother made sure of that. Imerys and Corvin don’t know how lucky they were not to be the heir. This goes against everything she taught me. Everything I believe.”
“You said you wanted to escape from her when you were younger,” I press. “Well, maybe, what you’re looking for doesn’t come in the form of a strange prince who might sweep you away from your court. Step into your power, Lucere. You’re only alone if you choose to be. Become my friend and maybe, if we survive all of this, we can both help to rebuild a new world.” I take a stab in the dark. “One where little girls aren’t locked away from their brothers and sisters and forced to become something they don’t want to be. One where they don’t have to bury their hearts because they’ve been told it’s only a weakness. One where our kingdoms can find peace. That’s what I want, Lucere. I want the chance to get to know my daughter. I want to know I never have to look over my shoulder for my mother’s knife ever again. I want to be free of her, but most importantly, I want to be free of her ghost—the one that impacts every choice I make, the one that whispers doubt into my ear every day and every night. I want to know who I can become without her influence. Help me, Lucere, and we’ll help get your sister back.”
Tears gleam in her eyes. “You’re going to get me killed. I know it. But there’s a part of me that actually believes… that we might have a chance.”
