Page 27 of Crown of Slumber

Impatience and confusion clouded my thoughts. I blew out an exasperated breath, knowing these two cryptic women would not answer any of my questions.

At long last, Aurelia bowed her head and said, “Thank you for your helpful information, Samiria. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Samiria inclined her head, too. “I will await your return, Lady Aurelia. I wish to protect this land as much as you do.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Aurelia grabbed my arm, all but hauling me out of the tent. The last thing I saw was Samiria’s knowing look before the tent flaps concealed her from view.

My head was spinning.

The blood of a Blue Amethyst.

Of coursethe only thing that could break this curse was the blood of a dying dragon.

And some witch had put a rune on me without my knowledge. It could have been recent. Or it could have been when I was a child. But what the hell did it mean? Did it have anything to do with my lack of fae power? Wasthatwhy I couldn’t perform magic? Was it the reason behind the explosive destruction I had caused the last time I set foot on the witch lands?

My thoughts spiraled as I trekked back up the hill to where Mal was waiting. It wasn’t until Fenn grasped my shoulder, halting me in my tracks, that I realized he was calling my name. He spun me to face him, his expression uncharacteristically somber.

“Aurelia,” he said. “What’s going on? What is a Blue Amethyst?”

I sighed. My instinct was to take this secret to my grave. It was my duty to protect my dragons, after all.

But if stardust was indeed the key to healing Azure, then the only way to get it would be to ask for Fenn’s help.

“It’s a rare species of dragon,” I said. “There is a hatchling in our nesting grounds, but she is dying. Without the strength of her mother, she cannot survive.”

Fenn was quiet for a long moment, his gaze turning wary. “Where is her mother?”

“I don’t know. Captured or killed, most likely.”

Fenn’s expression turned stony, his brows drawing together.

I continued, “My only hope of saving her is locating her mother… or accessing stardust.”

Fenn’s head reared back, his eyes suddenly guarded. “Stardust? Why?”

“The Blue Amethyst comes from the Star Court.” I couldn’t look at him as I spoke, so I kept my gaze fixed on my hands as I wrung them together. “The magic of your land can heal her. Samiria told me that stardust is the only substance that can cure her, besides the blood of her mother.”

Fenn was silent for so long that I finally chanced a glance up at him. His brow furrowed, and he frowned, his expression unreadable. “You need stardust,” he repeated.

“Yes.”

He shook his head and huffed a dry laugh. “You need something from me.”

My eyes narrowed. “Yes.”

The smirk that filled his face made my blood boil. “Howconvenient.” With that, he strode past me toward Mal. The dragon lifted his head, his golden eyes fixed questioningly on me. His back was rigid, no doubt from the tension between me and Fenn.

The prince moved toward Mal as if to climb atop him, but Mal growled, the sound a low rumble in his throat, stopping Fenn in his tracks.

“Fenn, wait,” I said, hurrying after him. Fenn was eyeing Mal with apprehension, but the steel in his eyes told me he’d probably try something stupid, like climbing on an angry dragon.

I tugged on his shoulder, whirling him to face me. His eyes were hard and unyielding.

He wouldn’t help me.

But I had to try.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please.This is my kingdom. My home. I need your help.”

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