Page 114 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Well…?Gray asked through the bond?

The sword hadn’t warmed. Not once.She’s telling the truth,Lea responded.

Gray squeezed her knee. "Lea had a vision and was taken back in time. She saw my father kill the queen. The baby?Sheis the reason that child lived." He turned to Lea. "Do you know how you took her magic?"

Lea looked up at him with wide eyes. "No, I thought she was attacking my mother. I just called her darkness to me. It was the last thing I did before I woke up in the meadow."

The room darkened a bit, and Lea could practically see the gears turning and the plans rearranging in his mind. "How did you find us?" Gray’s eyebrows lowered as he faced his mother, transforming from her mate into a soldier once again. "No one knows about this place."

"I saw you." Genevieve stood, brushing off her dress.

Gray’s shadows spread out as if searching for whatever caused the breach in their location. "Explain. Now," he ordered.

"It started a few weeks ago." Genevieve said. "If I tried hard enough and followed the call of my magic, I could see you. Well, not exactly you, but I could see through your mate's eyes."

"It was you, wasn’t it?" Lea’s mouth went dry. "You showed me Alaric trying to kill the king."

"I’m still surprised it worked. I started trying to show you things when you were still in the castle. I’d focus on Alaric coming to find you. Once, I tried to show you him pulling some servant behind him with a bucket of water. But it never worked. Seeing through your eyes was so easy, but getting into your mind? It was almost impossible." Genevieve wrung her hands together. "I know it was a violation to sneak into your mind, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was trying to warn you."

The queen’s eyes darted to Gray nervously as if scared of how he’d react to her confession. "You were still in Calir and I knew you needed to return to ready your army." She paused. "The king is dead." The room was as silent as a grave and Genevieve looked up, not a single hint of sorrow in her eyes. "I always thought I would be happy to say those words, but I’m afraid his death has only made things worse."

The breath was stolen from Lea’s lungs, her heart thundering in her chest. They’d known it was a possibility, a probability, even. But hearing it confirmed made her want to vomit as much as if she’d been told a meteorite was shooting toward them. Lea searched the mate bond, needing to check in on Gray’s emotions. She braced herself for an assault of shock and worry, but instead she only felt steely resolve.

"I suspected as such," Gray answered, his shadows twisting around him and brushing against Lea’s calves as if touching her could calm them. "My men in the castle said Alaric stopped requesting the poison. I assumed that meant he’d been successful in ending the king’s life once I broke the curse."

"He poisoned him to make him sleep. Every night he cast the spell to give your father the Lonely Death. He knew it was a matter of time before you broke the spell yourself. And so he was ready. And now Alaric has his power. All of it." The queen sat down, holding her head in her hands while Gray stood, swapping positions as he began to pace.

Lea had never thought there was any resemblance between them, but Gray’s mannerisms were identical to his mother’s as he stalked back-and-forth on the light blue carpet.

"Do you know Alaric’s plans? I know he’s rallying an army. My latest reports say he has three battalions of five hundred men. But he’s being tight-lipped, even amongst his most trusted advisors. I’d hoped we would have our army prepared and Lea in control of her powers, as well as Calir’s forces ready to join us before we marched on Auropera. I’ve been in the process of attaining catapults and weaponry. But I worry we’re running out of time." Gray paused his frantic pacing to wait for her answer.

"I’m sorry, but—you know everything I do. I fled as soon as I saw your father’s body cooling." Genevieve twisted her wedding ring around on her finger.

"How long do you think we have?" Lea asked.

"A week." The queen bit her lip. "Maybe two, if we’re lucky."

"My most recent reports support that theory," Gray added, turning to Lea. "I’m sorry I haven't told you yet. I was waiting on word to confirm my suspicions before worrying you."

A rush of shimmering day magic spread through the room, somehow finding its way throughout every inch of the cavern in a startling gust. Gray stood motionless for several minutes, his fingers flexing and jaw bunching. Lea could feel his nervous energy, his restlessness, but hiding beneath it was a shred of something lighter. Was it optimism?

"Lea, you took her magic. Mother could watch through your eyes because it was still a part of her, even if it was inside you. Do you think you could give it back?" Energy crackled through the room, Gray’s shadows swirling as if in anticipation of somethingbig.

"I don’t know." Lea’s eyebrows furrowed as she tried to remember exactly what had happened that night. "I don’t really even know how I took it."

"Our original plan had us taking the castle and capital city. But if Alaric is bringing the battle to us, we could use it to our advantage. You know this village better than anyone. If we could position rebels throughout the village and give bits of your power to them, if you could somehow see through their eyes, it could changeeverything." Gray’s words were animated, his spirit feeling lighter than it had in weeks. "It would be like we’re everywhere at once. Janelle could help us plan the safest place to choose to fight. And if you couldtakemagic…" Gray started pacing again, his shadows curling and filling every corner of the room as his eyes lit up excitedly. "If you could take Alaric’s magic, even just some of it, maybe we could actually win this war and limit the casualties."

Excitement burst in the back of Lea’s throat. Gray was right. If she could do this, they would have a clear advantage. Or at least achance. "I’m not sure how it works, but I’m willing to try."

"Mother?" Gray questioned.

"Yes,please," she breathed, and the queen's magic in Lea’s chest sighed in response.

Lea scooted to the end of the couch and patted the seat next to her. "Might as well get comfortable," Lea joked. "This could take a while."

"There’s no pressure here, Azalea." Gray lowered his chin, waiting for her to acknowledge him.

"I know." Except, did she? She could feel the pressure like a crushing weight on her chest. She wanted tohelp. Lea felt a wave of love flow through the bond and took a deep breath, then held out her hand, palm up, toward Genevieve.

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