Page 20 of The Court of Secrets
I bit the inside of my cheek. It was created so we could be together and continue harnessing our magic even after we finished this life. I never presumed they thought themselves stuck. If they were, they didn’t show it. Perhaps my father and Edgar had when I briefly crossed over when I died during the battle, but they were exceptions. My father would hardly be happy about sacrificing himself to give back to the new generation. “I haven’t thought about it much, but I don’t know.”
The end, when he was dragged away from me into an abyss, flashed across my thoughts. “I’ve always known it as this wonderous place. It’s what it is. I’ve never questioned it.”
Until now.
“You could ask him,” Cedric said. “Your brother.” I sensed him drawing out his words, pondering them carefully before speaking. “He may be able to shed some light as a fellow luna. How often is it you can speak to the dead? This is an opportunity.”
My stomach swirled. “Usually, we can sense our ancestors’ spirits but never communicate. Only Vahaga and my father did. I can only talk to André, but if I’m honest, I’m not entirely sure that if I go back, he’d be there. The way he was dragged away from me at the end, it was unnerving.”
Cedric’s lips parted. He didn’t speak, instead let out a long exhale. After a few moments, he looked at me. “What did you talk to him about?”
I lowered my voice to a whisper, looking around for eavesdroppers as I did. “He told me to kill Vahaga, then to destroy… something. I didn’t catch what.”
His eyes widened. He dropped the pastry onto his plate, then leaned in. “He asked you to murder your high priest?”
“Yes.”
He whistled out a breath. “That’s quite an ask. Did he say why?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think he was supposed to tell me. Like I said, he was torn from me when he did.” The last seconds before André’s departure replayed in my head. “But I can’t consider murder, surely. I wish I could get some clarity. I’m nervous about going back. If he wasn’t meant to tell me that, then he won’t be able to tell me why. Morgana could help, but she’s been avoiding me.”
“You must find her.” His expression darkened. “Your brother’s words should be taken seriously. I agree Vahaga is a horrible person, but to kill someone? There must be a good reason for it. If he knows something, perhaps Vahaga is a danger. A threat. Why else would he tell you to commit such a heinous crime?”
My stomach knotted. “I’ll look for Morgana tonight.”
I lost my appetite and pushed the plate away from me. Everything was too much. I’d been lied to all my life, so the possibility I had been yet again duped was hardly a shock. I wouldn’t ignore it like I had before either. I’d find a way to find out the truth.
“You can eat all the food you want now that your mother isn’t here,” Cedric said, snapping me out of my mind. He pointed at my half-eaten waffles. “I remember you telling me she would always stop you from eating sugary things.”
“As queen, I can do whatever I want.” I gave him a small smile. “Anyway, as it turns out, I’m not as rid of her as I’d thought.” I looked at my food. “She’s on her way here.”
“Oh.”
“The lords and Vahaga sent for her to correct my image problem.”
He almost choked on his tart. “André’s offer grows more tempting.”
I knew he was joking, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. Not when the real idea of having to kill another person loomed on the horizon. Taking my father’s life was a darkness I couldn’t get rid of. A part of me wondered if whatever had attached itself to me when I died had done so because of the stain on my soul. Murder left a mark nothing could remove.
Cedric snapped his fingers. “Winter?”
“Yes. Sorry.” I looked at my waffles. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Sorry if I brought the mood down.”
I shook my head. “I’m under a lot of pressure. Vahaga and the lords also overturned my decision to send forces to Berovia to attack Kiros.”
Cedric’s eyes widened. “Are they mad?”
“Quite, but I hope I can prevent it. I only need to persuade one of the lords to change their minds about the vote to send men to fight Kiros, and the whole thing will be put to bed. I have Edur’s vote, and my best bet is Gregoir.”
Cedric raised his eyebrows. “And how you do you plan on making him do that?”
I pressed my fingers against my temples, closing my eyes for a moment to find comfort in the blackness. “He loves coin, and I will ensure his pockets remain lined and his lands intact if he goes with me on this. As a new queen, I have plenty to gift, inherited by my father. These parcels of land I inherited will serve as my leverage.”
“Cunning.”
“It’s not any different than what my father did, minus the threats, but for now, I need to keep my head above water until I can figure things out. Once I know what strings I need to pull on, who I need to bribe and befriend, the easier it will become.”
