Her silver eyes flashed to the door before returning to me. “There is one thing.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “If you managed to force your magic past the block, it would heal him. But our legends say that it would drain you of your immortality.”
In the silence, I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears. Alrec had been right. There was a way to save the king, but it would cost my mother her immortal life. As much as I had come to care for King Bedwyr as a leader and even a father figure, I wouldn’t trade my mother’s life for his. Perhaps it was selfish because he was a king, needed by his people, but I needed my mother more.
My mother gripped my shoulders, giving me a gentle shake.“You cannot tell the humans, Roisin. Do you understand?”
“I won’t tell, Mum. I swear—”
The door to the king’s chambers creaked open. Caiman came out, seeming startled to find us still in the room.“Lady Seren, may I have a word?” His black eyes flicked to me. “Alone.”
Gritting my teeth, I stomped to the door. I didn’t stop until I’d made it through the king’s study and into the cavernous hallway.
The sconces on the wall flickered, highlighting Alrec and Lord Kerrington deep in discussion next to a bust of a previous monarch. Broderick stood against the opposite wall, staring blankly ahead like the statue.
Alrec rushed to my side, collecting me in the warmth of his strong embrace.
“I’m so sorry about your father,” I told him. “So very, very sorry.”
“There’s no need to be sorry, my love. As your mother said, there is nothing to be done. My father is an old man. He’s survived four wives and lived a full and happy life.”
The end of a life, even a long and happy one, was still a tragedy. The twisting weight of guilt churned with my sorrow. My mother didn’t have to be the one to sacrifice herself. It could’ve been me.
“Come, you two lovebirds.” Lord Kerrington slapped my fiancé’s back. “Your father would want us to return to the party.”
Alrec laced our fingers together. I was about to go with him when my mother emerged from the King’s study.
“I will join you in a moment,” I told them, letting Alrec’s hand fall. He gave me a smile that set my heart alight before leaving with Kerrington and his silent guard. I hurried to my mother’s side, my worry compounding when I found her eyes filled with tears.
“What’s wrong? If Caiman was rude to you, I swear—” I’d do worse than throw him in the dungeon. I’d have the pig roasted on a spit.
“Rude?” My mother dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief that had a tiny black “C” embroidered in the corner. “My dear girl, Prince Caiman was the only one who thanked me.”
4
CAIMAN
As a little boy,I looked upon my father with awe. He was a giant among men. There was no battle he couldn’t win, no problem too difficult for him to solve. King Bedwyr appeared truly invincible. After last night’s sobering news, I had to come to terms with another harsh reality of this cruel world.
Even the most invincible man is still only a man—a bag of skin and bones encasing a failing heart.
My father was dying.
In hindsight, the revelation shouldn’t have come as a shock. Although he looked closer to sixty, the man must’ve been pushing ninety. I knew he’d been healed before by Lady Seren, but after speaking with her in the privy chamber, I realized my father had called for her services on numerous occasions, ridding himself of all manner of sicknesses. Chest infections, gout, cholera, whooping cough, influenza, and even an abscess tooth.
The one thing even King Bedwyr couldn’t outrun: time.
I squinted against the bright sunshine as I made my way to the stables, seeking an escape from the darkness that had fallen over the castle. Tugging my gloves tighter onto my fingers, I rounded the corner to find my brother seated on his white stallion. His white-on-white attire coupled with a ridiculous gold coat made him look like a bloomin’ archangel.
And wouldn’t you know, his fiancée had dressed to match, all white lace and gold accents, like a bride on her wedding day. The perfect pair on matching steeds.
Lowri’s green frock contrasted with Kerrington’s waistcoat the color of aubergines. Broderick and four other guards in red and gold livery rounded out the riding party. Although Vellana was relatively safe, we typically traveled with twice that many soldiers in case we met trouble. Perhaps they were going on a short jaunt around the castle.
I didn’t bother asking because I didn’t care.
One of the stable boys milling about the yard rushed to collect my horse from where she’d been tethered to a post, lapping at the trough.
Alrec’s icy blue gaze landed on me, and the smile that brightened his bearded face told me everything I needed to know about how this conversation was about to go.
“Ah, brother. So good of you to join us for our ride into the city.”