Page 72 of Queen of the Night
Tatania scoffs. “It seems you didn’t escape quite as unaffected as I’d thought. Beware the lies of the kings of Moneyre. I thought I’d warned you enough. You sound as if you spoke with him personally.”
She laughs, but when I don’t answer, she stops abruptly and narrows her eyes.
No need for her to know the depths I fell to with my wrong choices, but she’s right. I’m different because of it, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. At one time, I would’ve tried to mold myself back into the person the Tulips wanted me to be, but something about that feels wrong now. I’ve always trusted Tatania, and I believe she truly cares for us. Their protection is all I’ve wanted these past weeks… and I still want it.
Don’t I?
I eye the stack of money on her desk. Money I risked my life for.
“I was only curious,” I say, dodging her correct assumption with the most innocent smile I can conjure.
She nods as she slides the money toward her. “As I will inform the other Tulips, take further measures to hide until this settles down. I assume you’ll stay under the protection of Mama Tina?”
I nod.
For now.
Chapter 42
Ikar
Isit slouched in my seat at the high table, an elbow on the arm of my chair. The wax and wane of voices and laughter filling the air around me dulls my hearing until my thoughts flow freely. I recall the meeting held soon after we’d landed with several of my highest officers, Nadiette as head of the originators, and Jethonan. Discussions on the gloam masters lasted for far too long; the only solution decided on was to increase patrols and originators. It doesn’t seem like enough when I realize the danger of the enemy we face, but until I find a Black Tulip and bridge, there isn’t much else we can do.
It wasn’t until after the meeting, when I’d gone in search of Vera, that I’d found she’d already left. I think back on the first time we met, her boldness in soaking my hard-earned list of Black Tulip names in tea. Though I was enraged at the time, now a smile twitches about my lips. I never did get the information from her. Stubborn woman. Other memories come to mind, but the one that lingers is our kiss on the dimly lit second floor of Mama Tina’s house.
Jethonan’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as he leanscloser. “If I were to guess your thoughts, it would be that they center on a woman.”
His voice is just above a whisper, but Nadiette, who sits beside Jethonan stiffens, her spoon hitting the rim of her soup bowl before she recovers and takes a dainty sip. I blink as if merely bored.
“There is no woman of that sort in my life.” I make no effort to lower my voice, but I can’t completely hide the bitter note that tinges my tone. There is one woman I want, and she hates me for being king, which is just as well since nothing can come of the feelings between us anyway.
“But there was, until this morning? Hm?” Jethonan whispers.
A muscle in my jaw ticks, and I realize I’m clenching my teeth. How does he know such things? Blazing observant advisor.
“Your Majesty.” Nadiette leans a bit past Jethonan to catch my eye. “Might I have a word with you this evening?”
I incline my head, then take a long swallow of the wine in my glass. Fatigue burns my eyes. Now not only must I speak with Nadiette again, but I must speak with Jethonan about my wayward magic. I sigh and sink a little deeper into my chair. The evening drags on while I wait an appropriate amount of time until I can leave.
It’s easy to fall back into memories of Vera, but I catch myself this time. I focus instead on my broken magic. The mental energy to keep it wrapped so tightly the last several days around Vera has drained me. I cautiously loosen my tightly coiled magic just enough for it to move freely through my veins, ensuring I don’t offend any ladies in the room. I wait, ready to tug it back, but I find relief in the normalcy ofthe magic flowing through my body. I continue to relax my grip on it and find that it reaches for… no one.
I wait a few minutes.
Still, nothing.
I try to direct it toward Nadiette, but I find that that part of my magic, for lack of a better term, no longer exists.
Could it have simply returned to normal on its own?
I think back over the past day and realize that after days of having to learn to control it, I have felt no pull or draw since this morning. I need answers.
I take another long swallow and set my glass down hard before I stand and indicate that the meal can continue before I take my leave. Jethonan stands and follows after me. Once we reach his office and the door is securely closed, I turn toward him, frowning.
“There’s something wrong with my magic. Or, at least, therewas.”
“Explain so I may understand, Your Majesty.”
I start to pace from one side of the room to the other. “I spent days with Vera, and my magic never reacted in any way different. Then, several days before we returned, it did. It draws toward her as you described it should draw toward a Queen of the Night. But just now, at dinner, it’s normal. No drawing toward anyone. What could have happened?”
