Page 117 of The Princesses of Ruin
“The demon,” he says. “Yes. I’m a nomaj.”
“Or maybe you aren’t,” Adrik says as he brings a sanitary tray full of equipment to the table. “It may be that your mother’s protection runes suppressed your own magus abilities, too. You’ve been lettingthe demon out more and more with the war efforts. Perhaps your magic is showing as well.”
“That may explain some things, but…”
Zane wanders over to us, watching Adrik mixing something in a little cup. “What’s the intent here?”
“To get Kazimir to calm down enough to let us help him,” Adrik says, putting a few drops of something into the mixture.
“I am presently here,” I say.
“And so on edge you will flinch at the slightest movement,” he says.
“I will not—”
The spider in the corner jolts and so do I, reaching for my scythe with a, “Fuck!”
The creature adjusts its sitting position and settles back down onto the blankets, folding most of its legs under it.
I glare at Zane. “That was planned, wasn’t it?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know if he understands us. I can’t speak to him.”
I sit up a little straighter, eyeing the beast. “Then how do you know it’s an ally?”
“Scarlett has communicated with it using Alyse’s power.”
The spider clicks its chelicerae and waves the stub of what was once a forelimb at me…just the scarred nub wiggling back and forth. A shiver travels down my spine and I grit my teeth, unwilling to let my body react beyond that.
Adrik puts a tube into the cup and shoves the other end into the mouth hole on my mask. “Drink.”
I sip the liquid tentatively. It tastes like dirt, but once I’m drinking, I don’t stop. The potion gurgles at the bottom of the straw as I clean the last few drops from the cup.
“Good boy,” Adrik says as he pats me on the shoulder. “Now I’m going to need the spider’s help.”
“Why?” I jump out of the chair.
Adrik laughs and Zane is barely suppressing a chuckle.
“No, I don’t need him. Sit down.”
“Why would you say that?” I ask, lightning-like adrenaline running through my body.
“You’re so difficult to spook. It’s amusing.” He grabs my arm and pushes me back into the seat.
I furrow my brow and grunt in pain. “Who are you and what have you done to my brother?”
“This is payback for all the years ofdropping me,” Adrik replies in our native tongue. I hadn’t even realized I’d switched. My head is getting loose on my neck and it’s fun to roll it around.
Ceiling to floor to ceiling to floor.
Don’t let them take me off,Alyse whispers in my mind.
“What the fuck?” I mumble, touching the mask. “Why is it Alyse?”
“What’s wrong with him?” Alastair asks, his voice warbly and distorted.
“I’ve tranquilized him. He’ll be less likely to stab us or retaliate with magic.”
