Page 180 of Disillusioned
“Nothing is wrong with me,” Piper snapped, scowling at Bastion. “That hunger I felt at the beginning was pure instinct and not at all driven bytaste, by the way. Compared to the slop you had your henchmen feed me at the mine, I suppose human blood is edible.”
Bastion’s hands went into his hair. “It’s what you’re supposed to eat.”
“Are you so sure?” Piper jabbed a thumb at Lilac. “Hers tastes like rotten milk on a summer’s day. Don’t really remember what her blood tasted like the first time in the forest, or before that, with the man in the vestibule. All I remember was that everything was cold and dark, as if a ghoul had draped itself upon the room. I was neither here nor there.” Her face fell at the memory, gaze distant. “Blood was the only vibrant thing there, but I can’t imagine it tasting as good as anything Hedwig’s made.”
“Garindoesn’t seem to think so.” Lilac pressed a hand to her chest, affronted. “And his tastes like figs and honey to me, yet I am not sustained on it.”
“Because you are not a vampire.” Bastion just stared at both of them in disgust, then directed an exasperated glare at Myrddin. “She isn’t one, is she?Modron, I’ll throw myself upon a stake.”
“No, she certainly is not. But Ambleside would love to have a good look at them both.”
Lilac threw her arms up. “No one is going to Ambleside. You two will drop the chest off at the willow tree. You are to return with a report as soon as you are done.” She pressed a finger into Bastion’s chest. “Watch over my friend. She mustn’t drink from anyone’s vein—you can either bleed them, or entrance them to do it for you. There are crossbows, hawthorn arrows, and blades at your disposal in my armory. Myrddin can at least teleport you there.”
“Likely not, Your Majesty. There is a sizable hole in the wall where your armory door once was, remember?”
“Why can’t you just teleport the chest?” asked Bastion. “We’ll babysit the queen. Then no one would have to take the journey.”
Myrddin snapped his fingers—and the amulet Bastion had just stopped fidgeting with shot into the air, straining against its string. The vampire gasped, reaching for it, but Myrddin pulled the amulet further. “That is quite enough. Your brother was reserved with the way he described you at the tavern. And it’s thanks to my debt tohimthat my power reserves are draining much quicker than they usually are. Even going to the inn to fetch Bastion was taxing, when these distances usually don’t phase me.” Myrddinwaved a hand; the amulet fell into Bastion’s palm, where he clutched it to his chest.
“Is it because he’s assigned you to chaperone me?” asked Lilac.
“That is what I suspect. Any extensive travel that sets me apart from you might exhaust me. Garin would kill all of us if I took you with me, away from your fortress without his permission—and he’d find a way tokeepme dead. I don’t want to find out what happens or where I end up if I exhaust my arcana reserves before I’ve rebuilt my stamina. I’ll teleport your friends outside the gate. Within the treeline, even. Lorietta has to have some sort of armory besides her wand and tonics—I suggest you stop there first.”
“Fine,” shot Bastion, casting an irritated glance at Piper. “She’ll make do with bottled blood. I can’t wait to hear what Garin thinks of her. His first sire, preferring bread and eggs. His own thrall, enjoying the taste ofhisblood? Abominations.”
“Thank you.” Relief washed over Lilac. She clasped her hands together at Myrddin. “I’ll make sure you get a private room here and that you’re well attended to after all of this.” As his eyes brightened considerably, she frowned. “Speaking of Garin, where is he? Did he end up running into you? Is he resting in his room now?”
“Resting?” Myrddin blinked rapidly. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him.”
It was like the breath had been knocked out of her. Lilac froze, already feeling a wave of panic cresting.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” said Piper, despite glancing nervously at the door.
He very wellmighthave been fine; knowing Garin, he was probably surrounded by Marguerite and her friends downstairs, spoon feeding them a detailed story of how Agnes had alarmingly departed the grounds in search of her dear husband.
But she couldn’t ignore the insidious dread burrowing into her chest—the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Or amiss. “Garin’s missing?”
“Now, now,” said the warlock, “don’t go jumping to conclusions. Just because you haven’t laid eyes on him, doesn’t mean he’s gonemissing.”
“You remember what happened the last time you lost sight of him?” Her shaking fingers dug into her palms. “He said he’d look for you in the courtyard. Left through the foyer doors. I assumed you’d ran into him before retrieving Bastion.”
“All is well,” said Myrddin, beckoning Piper and a wary-looking Bastion closer. “I teleported from the bailey to the inn shortly after discovering you two. Garin might still be outside. I will keep an eye out.”
“You will bring him to me if you see him,” she snarled.
He nodded, looking uncharacteristically unconcerned. “He’s bound to be around.” With a wink, he extended his arm to Piper. “Ladies first. Go on, then.”
Piper pursed her lips, glancing hesitantly at Lilac.
“You’ll be safe with them. I promise. I’ll have their heads if anything happens to you.”
“You’re a direct extension of Lilac,” added Myrddin. “Garinwill have our heads if anything happens to you.”
The moment Piper placed her trembling hand on him, Myrddin clamped his other palm onto Bastion’s shoulder.
In a blur of color and smoke, the trio was gone; Piper’s delicate scream immediately cut off.
The outline of the library door flashed violet as soon as they were gone. Wasting no time, Lilac strode across the room and jerked it open.
