Warrior Witch (The Malediction Trilogy #3)(86)

The Duke had taken the bait.





Chapter Forty-Nine





Tristan





Our ruse had worked, instilling enough doubt in Angoulême’s mind about Lessa’s loyalty that he was willing to risk coming out in the open rather than jeopardizing his puppet prince. Tracking him in the fresh snow was easy, and he set a brisk pace towards Courville. Our entire strategy was dependent on him calling Roland out of the city in order to hide him while Cécile’s “potion” wore off, and I prayed that it worked. I did not know what I’d do if it didn’t.

We ran through the night and into the dawn, and I felt no small amount of relief when his tracks broke off the Ocean Road and moved down towards the beach. I crept slowly, relying on stealth rather than illusion so that they’d be less likely to sense my power.

I reached a clearing, and stopped in my tracks at the sight of Angoulême. But it was Lessa, not Roland, who approached and my stomach clenched. This wasn’t the plan.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“So surprised,” Angoulême said. “Is that because you believed me captured or dead?”

Her eyes widened. “Why should I believe such a thing?”

“Because you sent Tristan after me. Betrayed me.” So he had believed.

“I did no such thing,” she retorted. “I’ve followed every step of your plan. That’s why we’re here – we’re on our way to take Trianon. You told Roland it was time.”

My stomach clenched at that news, but now wasn’t the time to think about the other city. She’d said we, and that had to mean Roland. He was nearby. He had to be. And that meant I would have my chance to kill him with no fear of human casualties.

“One of the conditions of you keeping my daughter’s face was that you never lied to me,” he snarled at her. “You gave your word. Or does your human blood allow you to break that as well? Are all your promises lies?”

“I’m not lying,” she shouted. “What more must I do to make you trust me?”

I crouched in the trees, debating whether I should remain watching them on the chance Roland would arrive, or to go looking for him myself. It would be only a few moments more before Angoulême would suspect I’d duped him, and the first thing he’d do is warn my brother.

I scanned the terrain for any sign of motion, sending out delicate filaments of magic as I searched my surroundings for a source of power strong enough to be Roland.

Then my hackles rose.

Slowly, I turned my head, my eyes going up the slope until they came to rest on Roland.

He smiled. “Hello, Tristan.”

Attack, attack, my mind screamed, but I stayed frozen in place as he trotted down the slope toward me. I braced for a blow, but all he said was, “What are you doing here?”

I swallowed hard. “Looking for you.”

He cocked his head. “To kill me?”

Yes. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I said. “You’re my brother.”

Instead of answering, he sat cross-legged on the ground next to me. “I hate him.”

I risked a glance down at the arguing pair. “The Duke?”

Roland nodded, and his eyes welled up liquid bright. “He takes away my possessions. Makes me do things I don’t wish to do.”

“Like what?” My mind was scrambling. I’d come here to kill him, and in this moment, it would be so easy. He sat watching the Duke, entirely trusting that I would not harm him. But it was this very weakness that would not allow me to strike.

“He took mother.” His eyes flicked up to me as though trying to judge how much I knew before admitting his own guilt.

“He took her from me, too,” I said.

Roland picked at a leaf, chewing at his bottom lip. “He says that to be king, I’ll have to kill you, too. That it’s the only way.” He looked up at me. “But I don’t want to.”

“What do you want?” When was the last time I’d had a conversation with him alone? When was the last time I’d tried – really tried – talking to him?

“For you to tell the Duke that you don’t want to be king. That you want me to rule. Then maybe…” He sighed, pressing his hand to his head in a way that was familiar. The Duke had bound him so tightly, by name, by promises, that Roland could barely think. How much worse was his madness, his violence, because of Angoulême’s manipulation? Was it possible that once he was released from it all, that he’d be a normal little boy?

I hesitated, knowing that I was walking on dangerous ground, that the wrong thing said might trigger him. But the risk was worth it if it supported the kernel of hope growing in my heart. “If you were king and able to do anything you wished, what would you do, Roland?”

He rested his chin on one small fist, expression dreamy. “I would paint the world red.”

Foolish hope.

I rested my hands on his shoulders. They were bony, as scrawny as mine had been at that age, his unkempt hair brushing against his coat. One quick twist, and it will be over. He won’t even feel it. My fingers twitched, but he didn’t seem to notice, entirely lost in his daydream.

Do it, you coward!

I reached for his head, hating myself. Hating and knowing I’d never forgive myself for this.