Page 82 of Crown of Slumber

“I—I’m wondering if, perhaps, I have witch blood in me. If that’s why my powers are so volatile, and that’s why this rune is on me, to protect others from my dangerous power.” She paused, then added in a rush, “It’s a silly theory, but I’ve been turning it over in my mind ever since the incident with the goblins.”

“So you think your familiar is a dragon?” My eyes grew wide. “You think it’s Mal.”

She nodded. “It would explain why I feel such a connection with him.”

I sighed, absently swirling my fingers in the lavender oil once more. “It’s up to you if you want to try the spell again with your blood.”

“Yes,” she said at once.

“Aurelia, it could be dangerous.”

“I need answers. And to do nothing more would drive me mad. Please, Fenn.”

There was that damned word again, tugging on my heart, making me powerless before her. I closed my eyes, willing the gods to give me strength to withstand this woman.

“All right.” I drew my short sword, and Aurelia stretched out her hand. With the sharpened point, I pricked her finger and allowed several drops to mingle with the oil in the saucer. The mixture sizzled with each droplet.

I swirled my fingers once more, then painted the rune on her shoulder again. The crimson liquid stained her skin, and it glowed gold just like before. But this glow burned brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire room, brighter than the sun at midday. I shielded my eyes from the intensity of it, and Aurelia’s back arched, her head thrown back as she cried out. Her body went rigid, her arms stiff at her sides.

“Aurelia?” I asked, panicked.

She said nothing. I set the saucer down and came around the bed to face her.

My heart seized in my chest.

Her eyes were all green with black slits in the middle, like a snake. I had seen her eyes once like this before—when she’d set those goblins on fire. I had thought I’d imagined it, but this confirmed it.

“Aurelia,” I whispered, reaching for her hand.

When my skin met hers, she hissed, baring her teeth at me. Long, pointed fangs lengthened from her canines.

I jerked back, afraid she was somehow venomous and would poison me. Like a prey facing a predator, I held perfectly still. All it would take was a single thought to set me on fire, just like the goblins. She was staring at me with those all-consuming eyes, looking at nothing and everything all at once. She cocked her head as if considering me.

Was she going to lunge for me? Was she merely assessing an opponent?

“You know me,” I murmured. “You know who I am. I am not your enemy.”

She didn’t move. Her body remained frozen with preternatural stillness.

“Aurelia,” I said again, my voice firm. I had to bring her back somehow. Mustering all my courage, I said in my most cavalier voice, “Don’t make me kiss you again, because I will.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, the usual blue crept into her eyes before the green devoured it once more.

Half my mouth quirked upward in a smile. “You liked it, didn’t you? My mouth on you. My tongue. Admit it. You want more.”

Her eyes closed, and she shuddered violently, her shoulders trembling from the motion.

“I’m here, Aurelia.” I took a chance and brushed my fingers against hers again. She jerked, hissing once more, but when her eyes opened, they were blue and full of confusion.

“F-Fenn?” She shook her head, her eyes shifting from blue to green and back again. “Oh, gods, what—what is happening?”

I stepped closer, clasping both her hands tightly in mine. “It’s all right. I’m here. Nothing will happen to you. Come back to me. Come back, and we’ll figure this out together. I swear it.”

She inhaled a shaky breath, blinking rapidly as if to clear a strange fog from her mind. She wet her lips, and my stomach churned at the sight of herforked tongue.

Holy gods.

I forced down my horror and fear, determined to remain stoic and strong for her. She was terrified, and she needed something to anchor her in this moment. I needed to be that anchor for her.

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