Page 3 of Stars May Fall

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, almost as if he were humoring a child. Then he frowned, disapproval creasing the corners of his eyes. “When did you become closely acquainted enough with the general to be able to negotiate with him?”

I lifted my chin. There was no way I was going to admit to him that I’d thought it was a good idea to track Kasten with the kryalcomy device Lyrason himself had given me months ago. Not to mention I had then challenged the general directly, thinking he was behind the halfsouls, only to discover he wastrying to stop them. Lyrason and probably every other noble in the palace would be mortified. “That’s not important. Do you have the cure or not?”

Again, he seemed to consider. Faint cracks were appearing in his calm demeanor.I wanted to shake him until reality hit him. At last, he sighed with a faint grimace, his voice becoming low and soft, meant only for my ears. “As far as I know, there is no cure.”

My heart sank. Kingdoms, this was bad and not just for poor Sophie. I firmed my lips. I wouldn’t give up on this. Not when so much was at stake. “Well, you need to come up with one fast.”

He took a deep breath and straightened his jacket, once again seeming completely collected and in control as he met my eyes. “I doubt you need to be so concerned, my dear. If the general turns up here with an army, he will have signed his own death warrant. He’ll likely be stopped outside of Adenburg before he gets close to my door.”

I turned away and started to pace, wavering about what was best to do. I’d warned Lyrason who would now send word to the king. But if he informed Father that Kasten was coming with an army, and then Father raised his own troops, surely that would escalate matters and make war even more likely. And I doubted Kasten was going to waste any time in saving his wife. After what I had seen the last few nights, he liked to do things efficiently and personally.

I met Lyrason’s calculating eyes, trying to mimic his calm despite the fact my anxiety had just been on full display. “I will stay here for now. As I said, if Kasten arrives, I may be able to calm things down. You should find a cure and prepare it.”

Lyrason tilted his head and gave me the humoring smile once more, backtracking from his brief moment of honesty. “My dear, I know the creatures you speak of, but they are not my doing. How would I know what cures them?”

I gave him a hard look and folded my arms. “Kasten believes it’s your doing, so he will believe you are the only one who can cure his wife. Nobody is going to change his mind now. Trying to convince me is useless.” I dragged in a calming breath and looked away. “I will take breakfast while we wait, and I will write a letter to my father.” I didn’t give him the chance to disagree.

I satin the garden room listening to birds singing to the morning sun from Lyrason’s lavish grounds. Everything seemed too peaceful for my racing heart. What was Kasten up to? He wouldn’t waste a second when it came to saving Sophie, and five hours had passed since she was bitten. So what was delaying him? My trepidation grew until it felt like ants were crawling under my skin.

Lyrason stood looking out the window, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. Every now and again he would try to engage me in trivial conversation. I suspected he was more nervous than he appeared or why would he stay with me rather than going about his normal business? He had given orders for all of his personal guard to be ready, just in case, and now and again, alert patrols crossed past the windows.

A servant walked in with a letter on the tray. I recognized my father’s seal. Lyrason cracked open the wax and frowned as he read. Tension appeared in his jaw. I stood silently and walked behind him before he could notice, craning to see the words, which were few.

‘Deal with it. Don’t involve me. Send Annabelle back to the palace.’

He hadn’t even signed it. I frowned. Why hadn’t Father replied to me instead of Lyrason? And why was he so curt?Was Kasten right to be suspicious that Father was involved somehow? But he would never allow halfsouls to be made from his civilians.

I moved before it was clear I had read the letter and pretended to look out at the gardens. Lyrason turned to me, crumpling the paper in his fists, the action not matching his polite tone. “Your father says you must return to the palace at once. Let me send some men to escort you.”

I shook my head, clenching my jaw in frustration that neither Lyrason nor Father seemed to be listening to my warning. “I will delay a little longer. I…”

The door crashed open, and a guard ran in. Lyrason straightened. “What is the meaning of this?”

The guard gave a hurried bow. “General Kasten is here, my lord.”

My heart rate shot up. Lyrason remained composed. “How many men has he brought to our gates?”

The man shook his head wildly. “None, my lord, it’s just him. And he’s already through the gates.”

Lyrason took half a step forward, his eyes widening. “What do you mean he’sthrough the gates? Who let him in?”

The guard bowed his head again, and his hands were shaking. “Nobody, my lord. He destroyed the gates. They’re mostly rubble. The guards posted there are all dead.”

I licked my dry lips. I had vaguely assumed Kasten would sneak in and corner Lyrason once he was inside the house, only taking out a few guards. If I stuck close to Lyrason, I could negotiate between them when he entered. I hadn’t expected…this.

Lyrason had gone very still. “He destroyed the gates and killed the guardsby himself?”

“Yes, my lord. He’s using some sort of strange kryalcomy. At least I assume that is what it is. Nobody can get near him. And Ibarely outpaced him on a horse to reach you. He will be here any minute…”

Lyrason gave me a panicked look as he smoothed back his hair. “What sort of kryalcomy is this?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea.” I dragged in a deep breath. This was what I had come here for. I could do this. I could do anything I set my mind to. But a little voice asked what would be the cost if I failed? “I will stand at the doorway and try to talk with him. Youmustfind a cure.”

Lyrason had gone very pale and leaned against the wall. “Curse the king! Why isn’t he here to help?”

I pretended I hadn’t heard the words and hurried to the atrium wishing I still had my crossbow. Not that it would be of any use. But just holding it made me feel safer, stronger. Annabelle the secretive and deadly vigilante felt very different from Annabelle the inexperienced and sheltered princess.

A tremble ran up my arms as guards with bows and arrows appeared and stationed themselves at the windows. Swordsmen crowded the stairs. Lyrason had a lot of guards for a noble based within the safety of Adenburg. But then, if Kasten was right and he was behind the halfsouls, he had a lot to hide.

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