15
ELOWEN
I gasp and jerk back from theGrimoire, my heart leaping into my throat.
For one wild, awful moment,I’mcertain it’sSisterAgathabehind me—thatI’vebeen caught–that everything is over.Thethought hits so hard it’s almost a physical blow.Myconcentration shatters and the silence spell collapses at once, the invisible bubble popping like a soap film in the air.
The alarm cuts off abruptly.
At the same time, the shimmering rainbow barrier reforms around theForbiddenGrimoire, sealing it once more in its protective sphere as though nothing had ever touched it.
Relief floods through me—sharp and fleeting.Becausethe momentIturn around,IrealizeIhave far worse problems than being caught.
I have company…Grizalyn.
The witch stands only a few feet away from me and she looks even taller than whenIfirst saw her—tall and terrible in her black lace gown.Herdark hair is coiled like a nest of serpents around her shoulders and her purple eyes glitter with cruel intelligence.Thescent of her hits me a moment later—something acrid and bitter, like burned herbs and spoiled perfume.
Her perfectly shaped lips curve in a cruel smile.
“Clever little priestess,” she says softly, her voice like silk dragged over thorns.“Andyet…not quite clever enough.”
My mouth goes dry.Itry to speak, to say something—anything—but nothing comes out but a faint, broken sound.
Grizalyn takes a step closer, her gaze raking over me in open disdain.
“Tell me,” she says, her lips curling into an angry sneer.“Howdid you evade my curse?”
“I—I…”Myvoice trembles.Idon’t know what to say.Idon’t know what she wants to hear.Mythoughts are scattering like frightened birds, impossible to gather.
The witch’s expression hardens.
“Enough,” she snaps.“Iwill find out myself.”
She lifts one elegant hand and points one perfectly manicured finger directly at me.Magicgathers at her fingertips—dark and pulsing, like smoke given form—and then she speaks.
“Tongue unbound and truth laid bare,
No secret kept, no thought to spare.
Speak what was done, conceal no part,
Let truth be torn from mind and heart!”
The words wrap around me like chains, andIfeel them dragging the truth from my lips.Itry to resist but my paltry magic is no match forGrizalyn’sgreat strength and years of experience.
I gasp as something tightens in my chest, slides up my throat, and settles heavy on my tongue.Itry to clamp my lips shut, but they part against my will.
“I—Iwent to the tavern,”Ihear myself say, my voice shaking.“Ifound him—theDrakeShifter—the one you…you meant for me to choose.”
Heat floods my face, burning hot and humiliating butIcan’t stop talking.
“I asked him to…to take me,”Igo on, the words spilling out faster now, unstoppable.“Buthe didn’t—he didn’t want to hurt me.Hehelped me instead.He—he stopped before…”Mybreath catches, my cheeks flaming even hotter.“Hedidn’t give me his seed.Hemade sure he didn’t.Somy eyes didn’t change, and my belly didn’t grow.”
I want to stop talking now–gods,Iwant to stop.Haven’tItold her enough?
Apparently not, becauseIam compelled to keep talking.
“He was kind to me,”Ifinish helplessly.“Hedidn’t treat me like—likeIwas nothing.Hehelped me come and that broke the curse.Fora while, at least.”