Moonlight Prince (Vampire Girl #4)(11)

I clenched my jaw. It was true that Dean and I had already begun to search and found nothing. But we had not strayed too far from the castle yet. My castle. "We must look farther north," I said. "We will leave today."

"And who will run Stonehill?" asked Asher. "Who will watch the Moonlight Garden?"

"I suppose it has to be you," I said. "Don't worry. It won't be all that difficult. The Keepers will tell you what needs attention."

Asher mock-laughed. "Not that difficult? Running three realms? You must be out of your mind."

Dean shrugged, pouring himself a glass of wine. "I find it pretty easy."

"That is because your realm is built on alcohol and sex," said Asher. "But other realms are not so simple."

Dean snickered. "Yeah, some are built on nail polish and flowers. So difficult."

Asher jumped from his chair and pinned Dean against the wall. He gripped him by the collar and pushed him up to the air. "You will not insult me again. Do you understand?"

There was a panic in Dean's eyes. And then it turned to laughter. "Smooth Asher losing his temper. Times are changing, indeed. What next, brother? Shall we jump into an arena and spar? I so look forward to kicking your ass."

Asher's eye twitched, and he seemed about ready to fight, but instead he sighed and let his brother go. "I have more important things to do than fight you, Dean." And then Asher left the room, avoiding both our gazes.

I kept my eyes on him as he disappeared down the hall. "He is acting strange," I said.

Dean nodded. "So you've noticed it, too."

"So have I." A third voice. A new voice. The Druid. Varis stepped in from the balcony, his white clock drifting in a wind I could not feel. His bald head gleaming in the torch light as his silver white owl perched on his shoulder. He must have flown there silently. How long had he been listening?

"Asher and I have spoken briefly," continued the Druid. "He was… nicer than usual."

I raised an eyebrow. "Nicer? And this is an odd thing between you? Considering you two were—"

"Yes. It is odd," said Varis, cutting me off. "After what we have been through, our talks are full of sorrow and regrets. At least, they used to be. Now he is too polite. Too formal."

Dean rubbed his chin. "Polite? You're right. Something is wrong with Asher."

"We should keep an eye on him," I say. A thought tickles at my mind. What if… no. It couldn't be illusion. He is too identical to the brother I know. It would take great knowledge and great power to cast such a spell. No one would be capable of it. No one I have ever heard of.

I turned to the Druid. "Varis, tonight we leave to search for Arianna."

He bowed his head. "Then I shall leave as well. Zyra and I will search the skies."

Dean looked hesitant. "So we leave Asher alone to rule our realms?"

"Only for a while," I said. "Besides, what harm can he do? The realms are ancient. They are hard to change from their ways. And if he does something disagreeable, then we will undo it upon our return." I pause. "Though these circumstances are not ideal, Arianna must come first. She must."

They both nodded, and then we parted ways. I packed my things for travel, and then I made my way to the healing tents. I had been there often of late. To see Kayla.

She wasn't in her room, so I searched for her in the healing tents. Perhaps she'd gone there for more medicine.

I did not expect to find my half-sister in a white bed, her skin paler than usual, her limbs weak from atrophy. The healer, Seri, stood over her, applying damp cloths to my sister's head.

"What is this?" I asked. "She was on the mend last I saw her. I was only gone a few days."

Seri gritted her teeth. "We found her like this in her bed. We cannot wake her."

I clenched my fist. "Why has she relapsed so suddenly? What did you give her, Fae? What?"

Fear appeared in her eyes. But then it passed, replaced with concern. "Nothing new. This must be a result of the concoctions the Prince of Envy gave her. They have assaulted her mind, driven her to hallucinations and madness. A relapse isn't out of the realm of possibility in a case like this."

"But she was doing better," I said, my voice loosing its thunder in grief and worry.

"She was running off a last burst of energy, my lord," said Seri. "But when it expired, her body shut down. She collapsed."

I looked at my sister, my dear sister who endured torture unspeakable. Torture that would have broken many I know. "When will she wake?"

"I do not know, my lord. She is fighting a difficult battle. A battle to regain her mind. It could take days. Weeks. Perhaps even longer."

My fist fell apart into a trembling hand. "But, she will wake, yes?"

Seri looked away, her eyes nervous. "It is possible, my lord. But it remains to be seen whether it is the Kayla you know who will wake, or another."

"No." I punched the wooden pillar to my side, breaking it in half and almost sending the tent falling upon us. But it held, supported by other beams. I looked at Kayla and thought of the story Varis told me, of his sister who was never the same. If only I had done differently. If only I had grown in my powers. Perhaps I could have ridden to Stonehill sooner. Perhaps I could have saved her.