Page 113 of A Cage of Crystal

“Is there a reason you’re proposing an isolated location for the meeting?” Ulrich said, brow arched.

Morkai lifted his chin. “Should there be?”

Neither man answered. They exchanged another questioning glance, but this time there was no trepidation. Only hunger. Avarice.

Teryn glanced at Emylia. “Is he using magic right now? A…glamour? Like what he did to Dimetreus?”

She shook her head. “He isn’t strong enough to create any lasting glamour. Not without a Roizan. All he’s doing is playing into their desires.”

Teryn shuddered. It was far more unsettling than if he’d been using magic, for this showed exactly what kind of men Kevan and Ulrich were.

“If you’d rather stand opposite me,” Morkai said, “by all means say so at once. But I’d rather have your support, Prince Kevan. And yours, Duke Calloway.”

Teryn was tempted to hold his breath for their answer, but he forced himself to keep his breathing steady, drawing air evenly into his lungs.

Kevan finally spoke. “Very well, Your Highness—”

“No. I’ll need you to address me as Your Majesty now. I will take my place as king from this moment on. We’ll keep it between us until after the pact has been signed. For now, it is enough that my heads of council name me king and show obeisance.”

Kevan flushed, jaw tense as if he were about to argue.

Ulrich shared no such hesitation. He fell to one knee, head bowed. “My king.”

Morkai nodded. “Duke Calloway.”

Kevan’s eyes were steely, but he bent into a stiff bow. “Your Majesty, King Teryn.”

“Thank you for your support, Prince Kevan.” With that, Morkai exited the study, a figurative crown upon his brow. One he’d managed to claim without magic. Without war.

The prophetic words Emylia had spoken in her memory echoed through his head.

To gain the power of the Morkaius, one must first become King of Magic, a crown given, not taken…

The prophecy had said nothing about official coronations or ceremonies. Had given no other stipulations. Which likely meant all Morkai needed was the outward acknowledgment of those qualified to give it. Based on the alliance terms Dimetreus had accepted, Kevan and Ulrich were qualified.

Morkai—with Teryn’s name and body—was King of Khero.

The sorcerer had only two crowns left to earn, and he’d make his move during this hunt he’d concocted for the signing of the pact. Teryn couldn’t imagine how the sorcerer would succeed without using force that would be consideredtaking, but after what he’d just witnessed, he harbored no hope that Morkai didn’t already have a plan.

45

Cora thought she might retch if she was forced to endure the swirling colors of the tunnel much longer. Green, blue, gold, and brown, along with the occasional brighter hue, whirled before her in a horizontal vortex as far as she could see. It looked as if the landscape and sky had warped and spun to form this strange passage. The sensation it created was like riding through the forest at a breakneck pace but significantly more disorienting. While the ground felt smooth and steady beneath her feet, she almost lost her balance several times. With her arms pinned to her sides, she couldn’t use them for stability. Instead, the only thing keeping her from falling was the invisible tug that forced her to follow in Fanon’s wake.

Cora was about to send a volley of curses at the Elvyn male’s back, demanding he slow down or free her from this nauseating place, when the tunnel ceased spinning. The greens and browns spread out like a wave from her feet while the blues and golds formed the sky overhead. They were in a dense forest, the mossy floor the brightest shade of emerald. The tree trunks were thicker than any Cora had seen, their branches towering high overhead. Some held clusters of glowing pink or white mushrooms that were nearly as large as she was, while unfamiliar birdsong filled the air. Tiny insects with jeweled wings flitted in clusters here and there, but none came close enough for Cora to get a good look. Were they pixies? She would have been enchanted by the stunning environment were it not for the current situation. The pain of the collar piercing her neck. The void she felt without her magic.

Fanon rushed on ahead, giving Cora and Valorre no time to adjust to the sudden change of terrain. His magical tether tugged them along, and now Cora had plenty of obstacles to avoid tripping over.

“Fanon,” Etrix called, still beside her. “Release the human and unicorn. Let them proceed at their own pace.”

“If the Veil is torn, we don’t have time to dally,” Fanon said.

Yet, despite his words, Cora felt that tug disappear. Though her arms were still pinned, she no longer felt as if she were being dragged. She paused to regain her equilibrium, but she managed only a single breath of relief before the tug returned. She was forced to step forward. This time the pressure disappeared as soon as she began walking on her own. Fanon’s unspoken threat was clear: stop walking and he’d resort to dragging her again.

That made any chance of running away impossible. Besides, where would she go? She needed to get back home. Find the Forest People. Return to Ridine. Save Teryn from Morkai. To do any of that, she needed to astral travel. Needed her magic back. Needed to free her arms and get this damn collar off her neck.

She glanced at Etrix, careful not to angle her head too far to the side. Any drastic motion sent a renewed sting of pain where the collar dug into her flesh. At least she felt no trickle of warm blood, which told her the wounds weren’t too deep. The Elvyn met her gaze with a tense smile. Whether he kept close to her out of care or caution, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that, so far, he was the only one of the three who’d shown her an ounce of concern. Perhaps he’d help her. First, she needed to better understand her situation.

“What is the Veil?” she asked.

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