Page 61 of The Court of Secrets
“The important thing is you rest.”
I sighed. “No, go on. Tell me what’s happened.”
“We are handling it.”
“Blaise,” I said in warning. “Tell me.”
“With your coronation postponed−”
I clenched my jaw. “Blaise! If you don’t explain, I will go and find someone who will.”
He paused for a moment with conflict in his eyes but relented. “There’s been news from the docks.”
My heart skipped a beat.
He shook his head. “One of your ships was sunk.”
Pricks of shock ran through my body, standing every hair erect. “What ship?”
“The Marina.”
My eyes clamped shut. She was our biggest vessel. There must have been at least eighty men aboard. She was used to sail to Inferis and the other smaller islands surrounding Magaelor to bring goods back and forth. I didn’t need to ask any further questions. I already knew. He said the ship was sunk, not had sunk, meaning someone had brought it down, and only one person was capable of it: a mer. “Aqugar.”
“He got impatient.”
“I had a year.” A howl climbed up my throat, threatening to erupt from my mouth. I flexed my fingers, pushing myself back against the pillow.
He hesitated. A flicker crossed his stare, and a pang in my chest followed. “What is it, Blaise?”
“You focus on healing. I will manage everything-”
“You are not king of Magaelor!”
“I am well aware.”
“Queens don’t have time to heal.” I felt as if I were on fire. “I have to talk to him.”
“I can reach him on your behalf.”
I pulled the skin downward under my eyes, raking my fingers down my face. This was all such a mess. “Why did you hesitate? Tell me now because there’s no better time. I’d rather get all the bad stuff at once than spaced out.”
He sighed and cast his eyes downward. “I don’t want you to worry.”
“Have you not met me?”
I saw a hint of a smile, but it disappeared quickly. “The curse is getting stronger. I feel it in my bones. If I can feel it, then so can Aqugar. Loving you doesn’t help it. I’m going against the nature of it, and it’s torturing me. Somehow, it’s affected the curse itself which, inadvertently…” He looked at me. “Is making it worse for him too. For anyone whose been cursed by the Crown of Discieti.”
My eyes widened. I felt the blood drain from my face. “Well…” I spluttered, despising the thought of him being tortured and Aqugar bringing down more ships. “Stop loving me.”
He chuckled lightly, briefly touching my hand. “I don’t think I can just stop.”
“You have to try.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You must.”
“I can’t.” He looked worse with each passing moment.
