Page 115 of A Baron of Bonds
“I hate you,” he managed to spit, his breathing heavy.
“You don’t need to state the obvious. But, since you’re feeling especially angry, this is the time to practice your magic.”
I pointed up to the willow branch wrapped around his foot. “You can come down when you break this.”
He bent his neck toward his foot to see where he was held. “How do I do it? And won’t I break something when I fall?”
I laughed. “Would you like me to get your pillow from your bed, Your Highness?”
He gritted his teeth and ignored my jab, reaching toward his foot, sparks of power flickering before sputtering out at his fingertips.
To his credit, he tried several times, ultimately failing and falling back down, his arms hanging while he closed his eyes to regain his breath.
I watched him carefully, fumbling with the rhyzolm in my pocket. It still buzzed behind me toward where Karus had left. I focused my senses and turned my power toward Philius to get another read on just how much magic he held.
The rhyzolm continued its slight pulse toward him. It hadn’t changed since we’d entered Felgren, unlike Mychael where it pulsed steady, and stronger than when he had been outside of it. Every channeler I had brought here had grown in their strengththe moment they set foot on Felgren’s soil. Every one of them but the Prince.
“I didn’t know,” he mumbled, swinging slightly upside down in the breeze. “I didn’t know you had to knock her down to break the spell. And I didn’t,”—his eyes flashed open to look at me—“I didn’t know she was the most powerful one here.” He scoffed, reaching up to try to break the vine again. “Maybesheshould be Baron.”
I grinned, letting go of the Rhyzolm and folding my arms at my chest.
He didn’t know how right he was.
He obviously loved his sister, just as he obviously did not really know her.
He fell back down to hang there, a grunt of exasperation sounding from his chest.
“Again,” I ordered, my stare unwavering. “Try it again.”
Chapter 50
Karus
BlottingPompeii’s forehead with a cool rag, I hummed something soothing while he tried to keep his eyes open.
I’d woken him from his sleep, knowing he needed to eat, and helped him to his washing room to relieve himself. He needed full support, leaning on me the entire way there and back, his steps shuffling along the soft rugs on the cold stone floor.
When back in bed, he’d had another fit of coughing, black sludge dripping from his mouth. My stomach churned and my heart raced, innately aware that time was limited.
“Pompeii,” I whispered lightly, “I promise you can sleep soon, but you must eat something.” I held a spoonful of light broth to his lips. He opened them slightly to take it in, most of it dribbling down his chin.
I sighed, frustrated at how helpless I felt. I hadn’t done it directly, but this illness came from me. Rev would argue it came from him and we’d both demand to take blame from each other, but I grew those trees in Viridis. I’d grown the new form of Blight and this was my power infecting my friend.
A knock came at the door, and I set the bowl of broth aside calling, “Who is it?”
“It’s Mychael. I—I have something that might tempt your Overseer to eat.”
Curious, I opened the door slightly, scolding, “You shouldn’t be here. You can’t come in. I won’t risk it.”
He chuckled sheepishly in an apologetic grin and held out a bowl for me to take. “I made this. It’s the only thing my companion could keep down when the Black Fever infected her.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t much help in the library and Lia let me into her kitchens to make it.”
“Well, that’s a miracle,” I admitted, taking the bowl and sniffing its contents. The savory scent of chicken in broth met my nose along with something sharp and sour.
“Ginger?” I asked.
“And lemon. Hopefully it can ease his nausea as it did hers. It usually takes hours to make, but did you know that Lia?—”
“Can quicken cooking times,” I finished, nodding and wanting him to leave to not risk infection. “Yes. Thank you, Mychael. This is incredibly thoughtful.” I smiled up at him as he towered over me with a good five inches.
