Page 57 of MidKnight
“But he could get caught. He could get hurt! He could—”
I’m glad you think so highly of my skills, Dove.
That’s not it and you know it!I snarled.
I’m just checking on those so-called sick princes. And looking for where Raj might have stuffed that damned dragon and Avia. The sarding assholes haven’t left a trail as pretty as I’d like.
You’d better be careful.
Gotta go, Dove. Spotted a dragon. Uh-oh! He’s after me! He’s—
You are not funny!
I’m hilarious. Go sit in your meeting and let me focus.
Stay safe.
Quinn didn’t respond and I let Connor lead me into a morning full of polite drivel.
The polite nothings gave my thoughts a chance to spiral into worries: Who has Avia? What are they doing to her? Does she know she has magic? What kind of magic does she have? Is that dragon keeping her trapped in an underground cave or something?
Blue fluttered from my shoulder to my lap, sensing my agitation. Shiter was hopping around the room, soaking up pets and treats from the various duchesses and living up to his crappy name.
The bear, who I’d yet to name, sat off in the shadows. He’d discovered it was best not to move too much, or hysteria ensued. Poor man. I assumed he was a man. I hoped he was a man. I hadn’t asked yet.
My thoughts went from Avia to my awkward magical menagerie. What about all these poor people who’ve ended up spelled? I wondered: Who’s enchanting them and why? What could they have done to deserve it? Did they see something they shouldn’t have?
I started and stared down at Blue.
I was an idiot. I was a fool.
Only a powerful magical being could control a djinni. Control a dragon. Turn people into animals permanently. How many beings that powerful were out there?
It had to be the same person. It had to.
I wanted to stand up immediately and drag my animals off for an intense and possibly annoying session of yes and no interrogation.
But I was trapped.
Duke Aiden’s heavy-lidded eyes stared at me, watching me disdainfully. I petted Blue’s head gently, trying to smooth my face back into the placid calm that court functions required.
Watching the duke, his smug pock-marked middle-aged face, reminded me that I needed to speak with Declan about the coins Willard had found. I gave the duke a fake little smile while I imagined Quinn locking up and punching Aiden until he revealed whoever he’d worked with to set the dragon loose.
Two leads. I had two possible means of finding out who had plotted against Evaness and stolen my sister. I had the djinni and Aiden. I needed to pursue both.
I took a deep breath and reached down for my teacup. This horrific waste of a morning was giving me time to think, to make connections.
I gave a real smile to the half-fairy who managed the Cerulean forest. Fer smiled back at me.
Connor’s smooth voice trailed on about something and I’d nearly managed to get lost in thought again when Jorad arrived, interrupting us with a haughty bow.
“Why don’t we all pause for a moment,” Connor said, “We can resume after we’ve all taken some time for refreshments.” He gestured toward a spread at the back of the room that would have fed an entire orphanage.
The courtiers nodded and stood. There was little else they could do. Connor followed Jorad to a small alcove, where Jorad handed over a scroll.
Only Sunya approached me. The slight pixie used Connor’s distraction with the messenger to her advantage. She flew over to hover next to me.
“What’s this I hear about building a tributary for Rasle?”
