Page 27 of Royal Fate

“Fine. Go to the greenhouse and get it,” I told her. “Once the mess downstairs is dealt with.”

Mirielle shook her head. “No, there aren’t washi plants in the greenhouse,” she replied. “They’re extremely sensitive and don’t travel well. You can’t move them without a whole event, or they’ll die.”

I stared at her suspiciously. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that you have to go get a washi plant—and preferably keep it where it is before you do anything with it. If you want to use it, you have to use it in place.”

I narrowed my eyes, unsure if I believed her.

“Agnan had it in a vial, didn’t he?”

“Agnan has years of dark magic behind him, passed down from generations. I only know what I know, being self-taught,” she argued. “If you want me to help you, I can only do so much. He knows more than me.”

“Can you help me?” I demanded skeptically. “Or are you just buying time?”

She met my eyes earnestly. “I can try. I want to help you,” she insisted. “Of course I want to help you.”

I did my best to ignore the plaintive note in her tone.

“Fine. Then let’s find the washi plant. Are they in the Bellewoods?” I demanded, keeping my own voice even.

A grimace fell over her face, and she shook her head. “No. That’s the other thing…”

“What?” I demanded, my patience thinning again.

“We’re going to have to travel to the edge of Silverhold to get it.”

A knock on the door prevented me from swearing aloud, but I cast her a glowering look as I stalked to open it. Isa stood outside, the relief obvious on her face.

“The Order of Souls has been overtaken, Alpha,” the Royal Guard informed me. “It is now safe to reenter the castle.”

“Any survivors?” I asked.

“A couple. They’ve been taken to the dungeon.”

“Good.” I looked around the hallways for Endora, who had vanished. “Send for the enchantress and have Calliver prepare one of the cars for travel.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I shut the door and turned to confront Mirielle again. She stood and wrung her hands nervously in front of her.

“I hope for your sake that this plant does the trick,” I growled.

“Me too,” she mewled. “Me too.”

Chapter9

Mirielle

“I’ve never heard of anything like it,” Endora said flatly, eying me with naked suspicion.

I smothered a sigh and shifted my weight from one foot to another.

“I’m only telling you what I know,” I offered again. “Agnan made a potion—”

“I heard what you said,” the enchantress cut me off, but her onyx gaze was fixed on the king. “I’m just not sure I’m buying into it.”

“Do you have any better ideas?” Zen asked flatly. “If not, we’re going.”

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