Page 81 of The Court of Secrets
I scoffed. “What are they going to do? They’re spirits. He could use their power if he has a channel for it, but he won’t, not if he doesn’t have his staff, which is why it’s so important you take it before he grabs it.”
He ran his fingers up my arm, tracing them lightly against my skin. “So it is a good thing I came.”
“Luckily, I found use for you,” I teased, and he walked his fingers up to my neck. A playful grin curled his lips.
A twig snapped from close behind us, and Blaise’s hand shot to my mouth, covering my yell as he pulled us into a bush. Pricks from thorns dug into my skin, making me curse against his palm. His eyes were wild as he hushed me, slowly removing his hand from my mouth. Pressing a finger against his lips, he slowly turned his head. A voice sounded from outside the large thorny bush.
“Do you thinkHis Highnesswill be done soon?” a man said, and another chuckled.
“If he hears you call him that, he’ll have you thrown in the dungeons.”
The other man clicked his tongue. “He shouldn’t act like it then. He expects us to bow at his feet as if he is king.”
“The ancestors gave him his position,” he said, followed by a long pause.
The other man whispered, “Do you think they can hear us?”
Neither spoke, but through the gaps in the bush, I could make out their red uniforms. Royal guards. Of course Vahaga had men patrolling this part of the forest, but it was so big, I’d presumed they’d be in a different part. The high priest usually worshiped or spoke to the ancestors alone. I didn’t move an inch, out of fear of another thorn piercing my already-spotting skin, and also because I didn’t want to make a noise. If I were found out there, with a dagger in the middle of the night, stalking Vahaga, he’d have grounds to have me arrested, even if I was queen.
I let out a long, shaky exhale. How were we going to attack Vahaga if they were waiting for him? Blaise clearly had the same thought. His hardened eyes met mine, his expression cold and daring.
A splash jolted me, and another thorn dug into my hip. I pressed my lips together, sucking them back behind my teeth. Digging my nails into the ground, I gazed through the gaps. The men turned their backs. Vahaga must have been climbing out of the river.
We’d missed our chance.
“Your Excellency,” one of the men said. He was shorter than the other, from what I could make out.
“Did you see anyone else?”
The taller of the two spoke. “No one out here but us, except for a few rabbits.
Vahaga didn’t look impressed. “We must get back to the queen’s party.” He said my name with the same look as if he’d eaten rotten eggs.
“Excellency, we will accompany you back.”
“Watch the forest,” Vahaga said icily. “There was an intruder last week. One of the other guards said they saw a woman coming in here. I can’t have anyone come in. Not even the—” He stopped himself, I imagine thinking better of it. “No one. This is sacred ground.”
More like he didn’t want anyone to stumble upon Magaelor’s best-kept secret… The spirit realm was a prison, and the elder ancestors were the ones keeping it that way. Vahaga and the priests or priestesses were all frauds.
There were so many secrets kept by those at court, whether it was earth-shattering ones like Vahaga’s, deadly ones like my father’s murder and Morgana’s decision to bring me back from the dead, or less dark ones like Lord Abor’s indiscretions. Everyone had something they didn’t want anyone to know, and as queen, their secrets belonged to me.
I was about to add the biggest secret to the list. Who killed the high priest? If I could make it. Vahaga walked into the trees, and the guards followed him. Once they were gone, I moved to get out. Blaise took the brunt of most of the thorns, shielding me as I climbed out. He healed quickly, and it was only me left with the cuts to show where we’d hidden. I was sure there would be a pixie flying about somewhere, but we didn’t have time.
The river beckoned me, luring me to enter it instead of going after Vahaga. My heart tugged me toward my brother, whom I could see, and ending the high priest’s life. Hearing the water crash over rocks reminded me of when I’d first entered the forest. My heart sank.
Blaise’s hand squeezed mine. “Love?”
Tears watered my eyes as I looked over the river and clearing. “I’d believed for so long in our ancestors and the magic that came from the dead. It was such a big part of my childhood. It shaped who I was, and for it all to be a lie…” I hadn’t fully let it in yet. Anger had propelled me forward, but it was hitting hard, like a hand squeezing around my heart. “I’d wanted to come here for the longest time… The people deserve better, Blaise. They’ve died for their beliefs, and none of it was real.” The cut of betrayal ran deeper than I knew it could. A tear trickled down my cheek. I sniffed and wiped it on the back of my sleeve. “I’m going to kill him for it, then I’m going to end all of this.” I pulled the dagger from my boot and white-knuckled it as I entered the trees, gritting my teeth.
“Calm yourself first, love.”
“Why?” I scoffed. “I’m murderous again. Be happy.”
“Stop,” he commanded, grabbing my shoulder. He spun me to face him, his eyes wide with concern. “Even the best assassins make mistakes when they’re angry. If you let rage guide you, it could cost you your life. You need to be focused.”
“I am!”
“You’re not.” He held me back, and I wanted to punch him for it.
