Page 74 of Kings and Monsters

Rosa hadn't thought of Cecily when she had woken up, only seeing Balthasar.Did she even know she was back?

"I'll give Mom a call. I can't go to France. I need to be in Glastonbury at the next full moon," Rosa argued.

"And after that?"

"I'll think about it." Rosa rested her head against his shoulder so he wouldn't see the lie in her eyes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Three weeks after their return to Gwaed Lyn and Bleddyn was no closer to unraveling what was keeping Balthasar locked into his beast form. The puddle of silver on his chest dug deeper every time it was touched, even though Bleddyn knew that it was the key to unlocking the spell. It was fae in nature, and so he was resorting to the only person who knew more about fae magic than he did.

"My Lord Seren Du." Bran's disheveled reflection bowed in the surface of the mirror.

"How are you, old friend?"

"Being kept far too busy with this council you implemented," he huffed. "These children know nothing about governing. The fae are struggling with the idea of voting for members and not fighting to the death for a position."

Bleddyn couldn't help but laugh. "How is Daesyn?"

"He is spending a lot of time at the Day Court, assisting Fintan. They seem to be inseparable these days, and between you and me, I think the summer knight is a bit in love with him. Daesyn has a smart head on his shoulders, and it will be good for the fae to see that you can get along with each other and have it not result in bloodshed."

"If you tire of them, you know you are always welcome here, Bran," Bleddyn offered.

Bran studied Bleddyn and even with worlds between them, he was uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "You didn't summon me to talk of the Courts, Bleddyn. What's wrong?"

Bleddyn explained the nature of Balthasar's curse to Bran, discussing in detail everything he had tried to do to reverse it and Merlin's suggestion that the magic didn't belong to the queen at all.

"He is right there," Bran agreed, pulling at his beard. "This isn't simply fae magic. This is god magic. Otherwise, you would have broken it weeks ago. It's a curse for punishment, not servitude."

"Is there any way to break it?" Bleddyn asked, his heart sinking even further.

Bran pulled a face. "The only thing that comes to mind is to identify which god's magic it belongs to and petition them to break it as a favor. Bargaining with gods is bad business, but I don't see any way forward. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, Seren Du."

"No. You have been a great help. Thank you, Bran."

"Bleddyn, you are exhausted," Bran growled. "This isn't something you should be doing alone. If the worst should happen…"

"It won't," Bleddyn said fiercely. "I can't fail, Bran. He is my son. If I need to hunt down every damn god in the Aos Si, I will do it."

"Of course, Bleddyn. How is the princess?"

"Rosa is…not coping well. It's a trial to get her out of the cells long enough to be able to work on the spell at all."

Bran shook his head. "You need to send her away for her own mental wellbeing."

"I know, but you know what it's like with stubborn women," Bleddyn hesitated before asking, "How is Eirianwen?" He hadn't heard from her since returning to Gwaed Lyn, and it was eating away at him.

Had he just been unfinished business to her?It hadn't felt like a dalliance, but the blood she had taken from him could've made her momentarily infatuated. He smothered the thought, unable to consider it.

"She's constantly traveling between the Courts. She has taken your absence poorly, though she would kill me if she knew I told you that. Have you tried reaching out to her?"

"No, but then, she hasn't either. I can't control Eirianwen any more than I can control Rosa." Bleddyn laughed helplessly. "I have to go, Bran. The full moon approaches, and if I don't get Balthasar back to his old self, I fear Rosa will take him and join the Hunt."

A week later,Merlin was sitting outside the Wylt cottage, smoking a cigarette with Nimue and waiting for Rosa to make an appearance.

"Do you think I should go and find her?" Nimue asked nervously. "She might still be with Balthasar."

"Arthur will coax her away. He's the only one she doesn't seem to snap at," Merlin replied. He had tried to keep Rosa positive in the past few weeks, but the longer Balthasar remained a creature, the angrier she was growing.

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