“She’s alive,” I hissed, knowing full well Ovailia had no idea whom I was talking about. “They both are.” The words were loud as I hissed, the desperation that the last few minutes had trapped me in continuing to grow as I paced the room.
“Míra succeeded? So we are safe?” Even through her confusion, her magic pressed against me as mine did hers, the two powers mixing delightfully. I had been right from the start; she would make a wonderful addition.
“Why didn’t you kill her?”
“Kill Míra? What are you talking about, Sain?” Her magic withdrew as her jaw tightened. Her demeanor was stoic, even though I could see the fear in her eyes. It was the same as I had seen when she had faced her father. It was beautiful to see her look that way at me, to adhere to me to such a degree.
“Kill Wyn. I fed her to you on a platter. I watched you kill her in sight. I saw her die. Your boot moved through her skull. But her skull isn’t so much as bruised.”
“She’s alive?”
Her shock angered me more.
“Yes, she’s alive! I need her dead. They should both be dead by now.” With a growl that ripped through the room, I spun toward Ovailia, my eyes wide as I did my very best not to attack her right then, something I wasn’t sure was the right choice.
Her eyes widened as she straightened her jaw, the tension in her body making her look like she would fly off the couch and kill Wyn now if I gave the word.
It was tempting, but that wouldn’t help, not anymore. One move, one foolish move, and everything had changed. It was too late to repair the damage that was done. Now I needed to find a new hand to play.
I knew what that move need to be.
“Can you walk?” I growled at the blonde beauty before me, and her eyes narrowed in obvious irritation.
“Of course I can walk; I’m not a child. Edmund may think my magic is weak and broken, but he underestimates me all the time.” Her voice was snide, powerful, all fear of the temper I had unfurled on her gone.
I smiled, the need to destroy her decreasing with the confidence she held.
“Wonderful,” I cooed, moving right back to her. This time, she didn’t shy away. Her magic moved right to mine as she sensed the change. “Because I am going to need your help.”
“Anything.” He voice was light, her eyes dark.
Before I knew what I was doing, I leaned down to her, pressing my lips against hers as our magic flared in a powerful jolt. I felt her lips, felt her touch against my neck, the small pressure sending a feral growl rumbling from the back of my throat as I pulled away, my eyes wide.
She looked at me with a hunger I hadn’t seen before, her eyes bright, her loyalty clear.
I didn’t think I had ever enjoyed a kiss as much as I had in that moment. I guessed I would keep her around a bit longer than I had originally assumed.
“Good,” I replied, making her smile deepen. “Because we need to see your father.”
“My father?” The hunger in her eyes vanished in an instant, hatred taking its place as she pushed herself to standing, her motions still a little stiff.
“Yes,” I whispered, taking her hand as my magic flooded into her, moving right to her spine, soothing the still tender tissue in hopes of making it stronger, at least for the next few minutes. “I’m going to need you to take out his guard. Can you do that?”
She looked at me in query, but I offered her nothing else. I needed her loyalty without question right now, something that would be put to the test shortly.
She hesitated, her eyes boring into mine as the thoughts moved through her until, gradually, the smile returned. Her hand left mine as she moved to the tall wardrobe at the foot of her bed. She rifled through boxes before she reemerged with a small vile clutched tightly in her hands.
“I will make sure they are as useful to my father as Thom is to Ilyan now.” She shook the contents, the thick fluid moving brightly through the tiny space.
“Wonderful,” I said, my magic flaring in acceptance and calm.
She smiled at the pretense, even though she had no idea that what she had said was a perfect remedy for what was about to happen.
“What do you want me to do?”
“You are a smart girl, Ovi. This, I know you can figure out. Protect our lives, and everything else will fall into place.”
Saying nothing more, I moved toward the door, breathing deeply as I prepared for what I was about to do. My heart thundered in a mixture of excitement and nerves I had never felt before that moment. It was an oddly intoxicating sensation.
“Take me to him,” I whispered as I shifted into a cower, my body folding in on itself as I began to shake, pushing my magic back down inside my heart, knowing that, if Edmund felt even a whisper of what was coming, of what I really was, none of this would work.