“Whose is this?” he asked.
Irina’s smile was fierce. “It was left on a rooftop in Nordenberg by someone fleeing my spell.”
“How does that help us?”
“Because the person fleeing my spell was the princess. I’ve just seen the body of the boy who was caught by my spell. It was her brother. My magic just discovered her location in the Falkrain Mountains, and now we have her scent.”
Kol stared at the coat in his hands, his hearts pounding. Slowly, he raised his head to look at the queen. “Our blood oath still stands. I’ll bring the princess to the castle, and you seal the ogres back into Vallé de Lumé.”
Irina’s smile disappeared. “I don’t require all of the princess, huntsman.”
A chill raced over Kol’s skin. “I don’t understand. Our oath said—”
“Our oath said that once you do the task I set before you, my magic will deliver Eldr from the ogres. The exact wording of the oath itself must be obeyed, or your blood will turn to poison, and you will die.”
“I agreed to bring the princess back to the castle.” Kol met the queen’s gaze and worked hard to hold it.
She leaned forward, her eyes pinning Kol where he stood. “You agreed to do whatever I asked of you. And I am asking you to bring me the princess’s heart.”
The breath left Kol’s body, and his fists dug into the coat while his dragon heart pounded fiercely. “I can’t . . . I don’t hurt people.”
The queen’s voice was lethal. “Hurt one person, or lose your life and the lives of everyone in Eldr. It’s your choice.”
It was no choice at all. His kingdom was in shambles. His people were dying. Even now, the ogres could be at the capital. And if he refused, if he broke his oath, he would die, and Eldr would fall.
Kol turned on his heel and left the room to hunt.
SIXTEEN
LORELAI’S EYES OPENED slowly. The canvas ceiling of their tent stretched above her. For a moment, she expected to hear Leo complaining about how early Gabril had awakened them, but then the truth hit with a fresh wave of pain.
Leo was gone.
Her chest was a hollow, empty space that ached with loss, and she wanted to close her eyes again and let sleep take her.
Wake up, wake up, wake up, please Lorelai. Please. Just wake up.
She blinked, and tears stung her eyes as she turned to see Gabril kneeling beside her, his shoulders bowed, his face pressed into the blanket next to her shoulder. She opened her mouth to tell him that she was awake, but he was already speaking again.
I don’t know what to do. What do I do, Ada? Leo, my precious boy, didn’t come back, and Irina must know where we are since Lorelai touched the ground. Where do I take her when I can’t carry her? How do I keep her safe now? I’m so alone.
Lorelai frowned. It was Gabril’s voice, but it wasn’t like anything he’d ever say to her. And he was talking to Ada, the woman he’d mentioned when he’d been out of his mind with fever. Was he feverish again?
The queen will be coming. I know it. What do I do?
He sounded desperate. Lorelai tried to lift her hand to lay on his shoulder, but her body didn’t want to obey her yet. She settled for saying, “Gabril.”
Gabril slowly raised his head. “You’re awake.” His voice shook with relief.
How do I save her, Ada?
“Who’s Ada?” Lorelai asked seconds before an image of a beautiful black woman with two boys who looked remarkably like Gabril filled her head.
Lorelai’s mouth dropped open, and she shook her head in rapid denial as Gabril’s eyes widened in horror. She hadn’t been hearing him speak. She’d been hearing his thoughts.
“Oh no. I sent magic into you, and now I can hear your thoughts like I can with Sasha.” Her voice trembled. “I don’t want to be inside your head.”
His mouth tightened, and suddenly where his thoughts had been there was a blank wall of nothing. A frown pinched her brows together as she pushed to feel the connection between their minds and came up with nothing.
“Better?” he asked quietly.
“How did you do that?”
“I don’t know if you remember the Morcantian mountain woman we stayed with for a few weeks after we left the castle. I’d met her a few times before when I accompanied the king to Morcant. She gave me a rudimentary understanding of your magic and taught me how to block a mardushka from using a mental bond in case the magic Irina used to bespell me had given her the ability to hear my thoughts.”
“A bond is only created when a mardushka sends her magic into you and commands your heart,” Lorelai said. “Like what happened when I healed Sasha. I don’t think Irina would dare create a mental bond because it works both ways. She’d never let anyone know what she’s really thinking.”
“Better safe than dead.” His dark eyes studied her intently. “You’ve been asleep for two days. Thirsty?”
She accepted the water he offered.
“Leo . . .” Her voice, husky from disuse, cracked over her brother’s name, and then she was in Gabril’s arms sobbing.