Blakeshire (Insight #9)(32)
Preston giggled as he looked up at Zander.
I shook my head. Clairvoyants surrounded me, yet not one of them saw fit to tell me my future.
Preston signed, “I’ll just take cereal. You don’t have time to cook. Landen is coming to talk to you, and after that Zander is going to take you to get inked.”
“Inked?” I said, utterly confused.
They both glanced to my arm. I pulled up my sleeve and had to force myself not to gasp. Madison had used me as a canvas—in permanent marker, no doubt. My shower didn’t faze her marks on my skin. I barely noticed the names that were more symbolic than I could express. My eyes focused on ‘first, last, forever.’ Creator help me, I had actually made some headway with that woman. Why the hell did that terrify me? Oh, I know: because if this was all a game, I would be ruined for lifetimes to come.
“Not a game,” Preston signed. I moved my head from side to side as I gazed at my six-year-old brother’s innocence. He terrified me sometimes. He really did.
“It would be a nice gesture to make it real,” Zander prompted.
“You think you have to talk me into this? That I would not have found a way to ink myself?”
Zander shrugged. “You would not have had the idea if you were still asleep.”
“So now I am to thank you for pulling me out of the bed with Madison Marie?” I taunted as I made us all cereal.
“What did Alamos say?” I asked once we were all settled around the breakfast bar.
“Which one?”
I’d lost my appetite. I pushed my half-eaten bowl away from me. I was going to have to kill Alamos, and I didn’t want to.
“The evil one told me to bring you back if I wanted to keep my head, but the nice one hasn’t come out of his chambers; therefore, we are in the same spot as before.”
If Zander had something of Alamos’, he could cast a spell that would cause whomever was mirroring him to surface, ensuring that I did indeed strike the right man.
Preston pushed his bowl away and hopped down from his stool. “Where are you going?” I signed.
“Zander wants to talk about grown up stuff. I’m going to find Libby.”
“Are you allowed to roam here?”
“Just over the hill. Safe. Promise.”
He hugged me, then ran out the door. I watched him until he disappeared over the hilltop.
Just as I went to open the door and follow him to ensure he got to where was supposed to go, Zander spoke.
“He’s already inside Libby’s house. Safe and sound.”
I glared back him. In the palace, I never let Preston roam alone, and the idea that he could in this dimension caused jealousy to erupt in my soul. Perfect. Little. Chara.
“What grown up stuff do you want to talk about?
“Five sacrifices, but only three concern you.”
“Do what?”
“Your next trial, my liege.”
“You mean Willow and Laden’s trial. A curse that should be null and void at this point.” That curse was cast to ensure that Willow was my queen. Donalt had eleven shots at it. I knew it was also cast to ensure he had dwindled me down enough to take over my body, but I never really focused on that aspect; I had enough reminders of that siege.
Willow and I had both made a decision. I wanted that to mean the spell was over. I wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t that easy. I just wasn’t looking forward to being pulled to Willow’s side again. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t want her life at risk—and I knew if I was guarding her, Madison Marie was at risk.
“Not until it is fully played. This trial’s going to test all of you in some measure.”
“What three sacrifices are you asking of me?”
“I’m not asking; I’m warning.”
“Are you telling me she’s at risk? That I should run with her?” We both knew I was talking about Madison Marie.
“You cannot run, your—”
“My heir is not in place. I get it. Is she at risk?”
“I think she’s been coached. She should be fine as long as your temper doesn’t get in the way.”
“Mine? That woman makes me look like a lamb.”
A bellowing laugh that was out of character came from him.
“You cannot lock her down.”
“She is not roaming out of my sight.”
“Drake, she is not Clara, a toy you can put aside at will.”
Before I struck him, he held his hand up to tell me to let him go on. “Meaning she has a strong mind, one that will put your mother’s to shame. You hold her back, and you will put her in greater danger—force her to make rash decisions. If she is to be your queen, she has no choice but to be fearless.”
“A widowed queen,” I said, doubting my brilliant plan to bring her into my world.
He didn’t deny it. His stare was placid. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know how.
“For Creator’s sake, just tell me. If I only have days, I plan to enjoy them.”
“I’ve always told you to live in the moment.”
Yep, he did, and that advice pushed me to try and do things with Willow that I never would have done otherwise. If I were a weak man, I could easily blame Zander for my reckless actions. But they were mine and mine alone. I heard what I wanted to when I wanted to.