Page 3 of Hallowed Games

I raised a gloved hand. “As you say, my lord. Lydia and Anselm are perfectly suited. And if the Archon above had wanted me to marry, he wouldn’t have cursed me.” I cleared my throat, because technically, Lydia was as much of a witch as I was. “At least, not with lethal magic. Now, I’m destined to remain a spinster. It is the Archon’s will.”

Another dramatic sigh. “You’re not really young anymore, either.”

I was only twenty-nine. But in Merthyn, you were supposed to be married at sixteen.

From across the desk, he studied my face, trying to read subtle signs of anger.

I showed him nothing. After all, I’d learned from the master of deception. I’d learned from him.

“Of course, my lord,” I added calmly. “It would be easier for me to protect Lydia if I knew what the threat was. I assume there is one, or you wouldn’t be talking for this long in the middle of the night.”

His jaw tightened. He didn’t like my directness. “Today, Lydia and Anselm went for a walk in the weald.” He arched an eyebrow. “A nighttime forest walk. Archon knows what they were up to. Of course, they should be chaperoned before marriage, but they are deeply in love, so who am I to stand in the way? You must remember what it’s like to be in love. Hard to keep your hands off someone.” The corner of his mouth curled. “You probably ruined yourself a long time ago.”

This time, I could feel my body growing hotter, and I could only hope it didn’t show as heat in my cheeks. Ten years ago, Anselm and I had lain beneath the shade of a yew tree, and he’d covered my neck in soft kisses and told me our love was written in the stars.

“What is the new problem, exactly?” I asked, the tightness in my voice betraying some of my irritation.

I slowed my breathing, trying to force the memory out of my thoughts. When the Baron knew my true feelings, he always found a way to use them against me.

“Lydia brought her hound on the walk with Anselm.” His eyes were narrowed as he stared at me. “You know, she brings that mongrel everywhere. And it seems while they were walking, Hector ran ahead. A wolf attacked, ripping into the hound’s neck.”

My breath caught. “Did Lydia heal him, my lord?”

The Baron nodded. “Of course. The dog is fine. But Lydia believes someone saw her using her magic. While she was tending to the hound, Rufus Wrenbrook passed by. You know him?”

“I know of him.”

“If he sells this information to the Order, not only will Lydia be thrown into the trials, but they’ll likely come for me, too. The Order would love to get their hands on this estate, turn it into another institute for their witch-hunters.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Of course, if they find Lydia, they’d likely discover your dark magic. And that orphan boy? He’s been marked by them, hasn’t he? A little suspect, that one.”

My blood pounded hot. Here it was—my worst fear spilling out before me.

I’d been looking after Leo since the Order had burned his parents, and I now loved him like a little brother. Back then, the witch-hunters had marked him with a little tattoo on his wrist. Everyone in the family of a witch was considered suspect—even a sobbing two-year-old who just wanted his parents. I wanted nothing more than to keep him safe from the Order, and the Baron knew it.

It was the strongest weapon he used against me. It was how he kept me here, working for him, protecting him at all costs.

“You want me to kill Rufus, I take it.” I flexed my fingers.

“You’ve been one of my most trusted soldiers for the past nine years. And your powers are incredible—when you’re willing to use them. As they say, one man’s curse is another man’s gift.”

No one said that. I’d literally never heard anyone say that.

I flashed him a small smile. “Thanks to your training, Baron, I am skilled in many other ways of killing that do not risk losing my soul to the Serpent.”

“Fine. I don’t care how you take care of it. But it must be you. You’re the only one in the barracks who knows about Lydia’s…situation. But Elowen? I don’t want you to kill him tonight. Rufus isn’t the real risk. The Order is, and what I need is information. I want you to follow Rufus and listen in to hear what he says to the Order. Find out what they have planned for me.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You want me to go into the heart of the Order? Into the Dome of the Archon itself?”

He nodded. “After the visit today, I think I could be a major target. Their Luminari soldiers go after the poor, yes, because the poor are a nuisance. But now they’re going after the wealthy, too. They want to confiscate all our property. The Order grows rich off our land. If they are coming for me soon, I plan to flee across the sea to Aquitania. But I need the appropriate warning. That’s where you come in, Elowen, my most loyal soldier. You can get me the information I need.”

My stomach tightened at the thought of this mission. The Baron wanted me, a Serpent-touched witch, to walk right into the Ravens’ headquarters. Right into the Order’s army.

I inhaled deeply. “And if Rufus informs one of the Order’s Ravens, what should I do? Kill them both right there, in the Dome of the Archon? If I’m caught, the entire Luminari army will descend on me. The Raven Lord himself will be there.”

He stared at me. “So don’t get caught. Elowen, why do you think I’ve spent the past nine years training you? Why have I kept you fed and safe in my barracks all this time? Why have I allowed you the indulgence of keeping your orphan boy? This is exactly why you’re here. You can kill better than anyone, and I can trust you.”

By “trust,” he meant “control.”

“I’ll go to the Dome tomorrow.” There was no other option.

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