Page 132 of Crown of Slumber

Mother stared at me for a long moment before sighing. “Stars above why did you offer that to her, Fenn?”

“So she would trust me. You know she cares deeply for the dragons. It was the only way.”

She rubbed her temples. “You are making this impossible.”

“Well, if you had told me your plan, perhaps I could have done better,” I bit out.

She glanced at me, her eyes sharpening. “What are you saying, Fennick? Do you expect me to believe you would have gone along with this? You were professing your love for the girl only yesterday.”

“That was before I saw her monstrous form.” My face twisted with disgust. “Do you honestly think I could love someone like that?”

“You were fighting for her,” Mother argued. “When I arrested her, you were fighting to free her.”

“I had to. I needed her trust.”

“Why?” Her voice was laced with suspicion.

“I’m the only one who can calm her. I know her better than anyone. You heard what those witches said. Aurelia can either be our savior or our doom. Which would you prefer? If you keep her locked away like this, it will only enrage her further, and I guarantee that beast of hers will tear the entire castle down, even if it kills her, too.”

Mother’s eyes grew distant as she considered this. After a moment, she shook her head. “No. I’m not worried about this.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“I have measures in place to protect us from that,” she said vaguely, turning back to the scrolls on the table.

I groaned in frustration. “There you go keeping secrets from me again.”

“What do you expect, Fennick?” she snapped. “You have never taken your duty to the crown seriously, and I honestly don’t believe that’s changed even now. Your feelings have clouded your judgment. If you truly want to earn my trust back, it will take time. Now, leave me while I make these preparations.”

“Mother, the bargain?—”

“Yes, yes, I swear I will provide better accommodations for the wretched princess.” She waved me off with a lazy flick of her hand. “Leave. Now.”

Biting back my frustration, I stormed from the throne room, my hands balling into fists. What was I to do now? I couldn’t persuade her with my fae magic, and I couldn’t convince her to trust me, either.

There could only be one thing left to do. The thought left me with a sickening sense of horror. I couldn’t—No, I couldn’t.

Something warm seared into my palm, and I hissed in pain, lifting my hand. A slow, black circle formed in the center of my hand, getting hotter and hotter until it took all my restraint not to cry out in pain.

I knew what this was. Runic magic.

Alarm raced through me, and I sprinted down the hall and up the stairs, gritting my teeth against the pain throbbing in my hand. It scorched my flesh, piercing through skin and bone, drivingwhite-hot knives right through me. Gods, the pain was unbearable. I had to—I had to?—

I staggered to my room, cradling my hand against my chest. My movements were clumsy as I pulled the brick free from the hearth and withdrew my chalk, drawing sloppy symbols on the stone floor.

When the circle was complete, the pain in my hand vanished, and the runes on the floor began to glow. A fog formed within the circle, and after a moment, the picture cleared to reveal a face I hadn’t seen in years.

“Fenn?” said a familiar voice.

My face broke into a relieve smile. “Marek! Thank the gods.”

Marek frowned, squinting at me through the haze of our portal communicator. His black hair was longer than I’d ever seen it, curling at the nape of his neck. “What kind of dangerous runes are you experimenting with? Your summons interrupted a meeting with the council. Everyone thought a clan of witches was attacking. It took us the entire day to quell the chaos.”

I flinched. “Sorry. It was an act of desperation. I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I have to ask you if you know where the Dream Mage is.”

Marek’s expression darkened. “Is this a joke? Because it isn’t funny in the slightest.”

My eyes grew wide. “Marek, no! I’m being earnest.”

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