Page 152 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
“You truly believe you can convince an ambitious Adept of Alchemy to give up—”
“Yes,” Noble interrupted. “Phina endures the long days and oppressive oversight because she believes in her work, but I know for a fact that she hates the lifestyle. If we communicate to her that her program is corrupt—”
“You mustn’t give her the cure,” Kalden insisted. “It will advance the Lord’s research in creating the weapon he seeks.”
“Phina doesn’t have to know,” Noble said.
“She will, though,” Hattie cut in. “As soon as she sees you, she’ll know.”
“How?”
Hattie grazed her fingertips across his collarbone, sending a shiver through him. He’d almost died, but he never felt more alive than when she was near. “Your Oath tattoos are gone.”
His hand flew to his throat, as if he could feel the missing mark from the Order of the Morta. His skin was smooth—same as always—but when he turned his attention inward, the old magical tether was oddly…nonexistent. He felt like a dog whose collar had been removed, its absence more noticeable than when it had still been wrapped around his neck. When he checked his wrist, his Oath of Allegiance tattoo was also gone.
“How will Phina know that’s a result of the cure?” Noble asked Hattie.
“Because Anya and Idris lost their Oaths, too—as soon as their blood mingled with the water from the Well of Fate.”
A sudden clamminess swept over him. Noble stepped back from her, as if seeing her from a different angle might help him understand her words better. When that didn’t work, he sank to the cot, disbelieving. “You mean to tell me…” he trailed off.
He had water from the Well of Fate in his veins?Thatwas how Hattie bound Gildium to Hylder? How she altered the Arcane magic of his curse? The notion seemed to go against the Fates themselves, and yet—it madesense. Hadn’t his monstrousness gone against the Fates, too? Why wouldn’t the cure be just asunnatural?
Hattie sat beside him and rubbed his back. He allowed himself a moment to recover, then looked to his father again.
“Phina won’t want a discovery like this to fall into the wrong hands—even if those hands are that of her Lord,” Noble said. “Even if those hands are her own.”
“You mean to tell me that Phina Farkept would be content with never learning the cure, purely for the sake of undermining her Lord?” Kalden asked. “Her brother is a Major of the Mighty in Fenrir.”
“Their allegiance is with their territory, not the corrupt headpiece pulling their strings,” Noble said. Of that, he was certain.
But Kalden shook his head. “I can’t put my trust in an alchemist I’ve never met. Not when the Fate of the realm is at stake.”
“I understand,” Noble said, “but can you put your trust in your son?”
Kalden—who’d been scratching his beard—let his hand fall to his side. He regarded Noble—really, truly regarded him—and Noble felt as if he were sixteen again, standing before his father with a practice sword. Only this time, it wasn’t approval he sought from his father—it was respect.Faith.
“I will trust you in this, Noble,” Kalden began slowly.
From beside him, Hattie let out a whoosh of breath.
“But I have a duty to my king. I cannot allow my affection for my son to endanger—”
Noble chuckled. He couldn’t help it. “Since when has your affection for me ever clouded your sense of duty?”
Kalden’s eyes cut to Hattie, then back to Noble. It was barely a glance—a fraction of a second—but it was enough to tell Nobleeverythingabout how that fateful day nine years ago had gone.
Kalden—Noble’s own father—hadwanted to eliminate Hattie for the sake of Raina’s safety and the security of the kingdom’s future. He might not have made the call, but he’d considered it—perhaps that’s why his subordinate had taken charge.
Yet Kalden Asheren had held back. He’d spared Hattie and sent her away instead. For Noble’s sake. A trade of deep grief for a lesser sort. Hattie’s death would’ve broken Noble, but never seeing her again…that had been Kalden’s attempt at mercy.
Noble wasn’t heartened by the realization, but knowing his father had chosen his son’s feelings over the most secure outcome for the realm…it did help Noble see his father in a kinder light.
Noble stood to face his father. “What are your conditions?”
Kalden squared his shoulders. “I will have knights ofmyregiment—not Brendan’s—standing by. One hint of Phina Farkept’s recalcitrance, and she will be dispatched. Do you understand?”
Noble nodded. “It won’t be necessary; she’ll comply.”
