Page 57 of Turret

My only regret was that assisting Mother would require me to sacrifice the tower as she drained the last of its magic. I felt its reassuring pulses against my hands still framing the glass, its selfless acceptance of my decision.

I took a wavering breath. “Tell me what I must do.”

Her lips curled into a smirk. “I’m pleased you’re so willing to help your mother after everything I’ve done on your behalf. In return I will help you…though unfortunately, it will take time.”

My heart flared. “How much time?” The thought of Quinn enduring his blindness for even a minute more was unbearable.

She shrugged. “Magic takes time, but with the right spell I can create the healing you desire…though I don’t see why you should waste it on your guard when you could instead use it on yourself.”

For a moment I could only stare. Had Mother possessed the power to heal me all of these years and chosen to withhold it from me? Bitterness engulfed me at the thought, but I forced myself to push away the piercing betrayal. I wouldn’t be lured by any promise to heal myself. Quinn’s well-being was the most important thing in the world to me.

“Quinn has far greater need of your magic. Will you help him?”

“Certainly, I would do that for you…but first I have certain…conditionswhich must be met, and I’m not only referring to your assistance in helping me escape the mirror. I have plans which require my immediate attention.”

Foreboding knotted my stomach. “What sort of plans?”

Her responding smile was rather sinister. “Plans to take back the lands that anciently belonged to our kingdom, plans forpower. Malvagaria will once more rule the world, just as it did long ago.”

My heart beat wildly at her words, creating a crack in my fierce determination that had blinded me to the true nature of the deal I was striking and allowing my conscience to work on me. When I’d first made my bargain with Mother, I hadn’t allowed myself to consider the implications of freeing her beyond what she’d do for me, but now…

Mouth dry, it took a moment to find my voice. “You…want to take over the surrounding kingdoms?”

Her eyes narrowed as she detected the resistance I fought to mask. “I only want to restore what is rightfully Malvagaria’s. Surely your personal feelings on the matter are nothing compared to your need to help the man you love. Though I’ve never experienced the weak emotion myself, I understand how powerful love can be. Certainly nothing is more important to you than your guard?”

I remained silent, my heart torn between both sides of the inner battle raging within me. I loved Quinn more than anything and wanted nothing more than for him to be healed, but could I allow myself to put his well-being before that of the surrounding kingdoms? Though I’d spent years struggling with my role as a princess, in this moment I knew I possessed the heart of one—a heart that cared for her subjects as well as the people who lived beyond Malvagaria’s borders.

And yet…Quinn was blindand would be for the rest of his life unless Mother reversed it. I had no other way of helping him.

What should I do?

It wasn’t even a question. I saw the path unfolding clearly before me, and though I knew it was the correct one, the thought of walking it deepened my despair, even knowing that it was the one Quinn would want me to take. I couldn’t help him at the expense of others; it was the one price that was too high.

Mother saw my resignation and her expression twisted. “It appears I was wrong. Despite how delusional love can make a person, it’s not as consuming as I thought.”

“There are different types of love,” I said weakly. “And though I love Quinn with all my heart, I also possess a love for the people who will be affected by your thirst for power. Therefore I cannot assist you in whatever you’re plotting.”

I turned away, desperate not only to check on Quinn after being away from him for so long but to escape this conversation before my resolve faltered and she lured me into her plans, a cooperation I knew I could never give. I couldn’t sacrifice my conscience, not even for him.

Mother called to my retreating back, her tone riddled with disgust. “Are you truly prepared to face the dire consequences that will come from your refusal to help me?”

I froze with my hand on the doorknob. Heart hammering wildly, I slowly turned around to face her. “What sort of consequences?”

Her smirk returned. “I believe the correct question is: what consequenceswon’tyou suffer for your lack of compliance? You’re not the only one I’ve conversed with while within my imprisonment—I also have access to the mirrors at the Malvagarian palace and with them your brother, who just happens to be the king.”

I stiffened. Though my past illnesses had kept me from many of the goings-on of royal life, I well remembered that Briar had been in Mother’s pocket. Now that he sat on the throne, Mother’s manipulations over him were far more dangerous.

I swallowed. “What…would you tell Briar?”

“Not much,” she said, her tone far too innocent. “Just about your clandestine love affair with your guard.”

“But…he’s done nothing untoward—” I began, but my words faltered at Mother’s widening smirk.

“Oh, I’m sure he hasn’t…butBriardoesn’t know that. I could tell him all sorts of stories about what’s been occurring within this tower, ones he’s certain to believe considering he has no reason to trust your biased defense of the man you care for. Briar will be furious and will see to it that Quinn is banished from the kingdom.”

The thought of Quinn wandering blind and all alone twisted my stomach. “No,” I managed around a sob. “You can’t—Briar won’t believe you.”

Up went her eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? Briar has always been most obedient to me.”

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