Page 19 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

Hazel’s face paled and horror hung from her features. “No, Gray. No one told me that part.”

I relayed the events that occurred between Griffin and me, explaining how close I came to death on the train and then awoke healed in my bed.

“Black crystal and Kinetic-infused magic should not affect you like that. There has to be more to this than we’re seeing,” Hazel said, her brows pinched low as she thought out loud.

Despite the new information that Hazel passed along, I was left with more questions than answers. What were my father and Amethyst up to? And where did I fit into this? Why did Slate not warn me when he was alive? And where the fuck were the king and Amethyst now? Surely, they were searching for me.

It didn’t entirely surprise me to learn the king wanted me dead. Another part, the part of me who had always sought her father’s affection and approval, felt betrayed…and angry.

That part was the loudest.

“How did the king poison me with redfern at the revel without affecting others?” I asked.

“Mills,” Scarlett scoffed, her own form of betrayal coloring her stark features. She shook her head in disappointment. “It’s so sad because I had such high hopes for him.” Her expression then shifted to something akin to approval. “Although, I didn’t think he had it in him to pull something like that off. Peculiar little guy, huh?”

Hazel, Cotton, and I leveled her with flat expressions. Hazel rolled her eyes at our friend’s overactive sex drive. “I overheard the king informAmethyst that ‘the boy’ would lace your drinks, as he predicted you’d rebel and get drunk tonight.”

The pieces clicked together. All the signs had been there the entire time. Amethyst had been all too eager this morning to allow me a good time at my revel. I knew there’d been ulterior motives, but murder wasn’t on my list.

“I assume you swiped a dose of the antidote?” I asked, my brows raised.

Hazel nodded, looking pretty happy with herself. “Yeah, I stole a syringe of blended nickel from my aunt’s office. I saw it on her desk this morning, which I found odd.”

“I forgot how brutal it is to watch the nickel work the redfern from your body. We had to restrain you to keep you from hurting yourself,” Scarlett said, a haunted expression on her face.

Cotton sat in his usual stiff silence, his jaw flexing.

I nodded and thanked them, realizing where my hoarse voice came from.

“If people spotted you and Cotton carrying me from the ballroom,” I said, looking at Scarlett, “then, won’t my father and Amethyst know you two are involved?”

“Not necessarily,” Hazel answered. “They left just before you collapsed. That’s how I was freed up to join y’all. It was chaos. But of course, there were a few people who took notice.”

A heavy silence fell over the four of us, while my anger rose with each beat of my heart.

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I said. I stared at the gray carpet, mentally praising Cotton for how clean it was, despite my growing anger. “And that psychopathic bitch, too.”

“I’m pretty sure I don’t need to list all the reasons why that’s a terrible idea,” Scarlett said.

I stood up, unable to contain the sea of emotions raging within my body. “And I’m pretty sure you know why I don’t give a shit.” I returned my hands to the back of my head and snatched the remaining pins loose. My marbled hair fell in matted waves down my shoulders. “I’m done, Scarlett. And I’m done falling in line. I don’t have to anymore. He needs to die, ifonly to protect others from whatever insane plans he has for the world. He has done nothing but put me through hell my entire life. But now, I can fight back. And I’m fucking done playing his games.”

“We understand, Gray,” Hazel consoled, moving to stand beside me. She placed a gentle hand on my forearm. “And you have every right to be upset right now. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling, but you shouldn’t act rashly here. It could play right into his hands.”

“So, what are you saying? I’m supposed to walk around here and pretend my father didn’t just try to kill me? That he’s probably pissed I survived this attempt? Am I supposed to just sit around and wait for him to try again?” My voice rose with each question, my breaths coming in harsh. The longer I remained in this room, the more trapped I felt.

“Absolutely not,” Hazel said, looking at Scarlett then Cotton. A silent communication transpired before me as they spoke through their eyes and facial expressions.

I watched the odd scene unfold. After enough time had passed, I cleared my throat to garner their attention. “Well?”

Hazel quirked the corner of her lip and a single eyebrow. “We’re getting you the fuck out of here.”

Chapter 9

Griffin

My veins itched at the absence of magic my bracelet stole from me. I needed my power back. The effects of the white powder I’d inhaled earlier began to wane, leaving me jittery. The drug didn’t take it all away, but it helped give my thoughts some concrete direction and shut out the taunting voice that never ceased to shut up.

I needed my violin to channel my fracturing thoughts and emotions. That always seemed to bring me some peace.

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