Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian X Isolde, #2)(68)

***

When we returned to the castle, a pyre was being assembled in the courtyard in preparation for Violeta’s funeral.

“Does she have to burn?” I asked Adrian, watching the progress blindly.

“It’s safest,” he said.

I knew that, and I knew why—buried bodies could rise again, and while I did not wish that for Violeta, it felt wrong to reduce her to ash and bone.

“How will I visit her?” I whispered, my vision blurry.

Adrian lifted my hand to his lips, and I looked at him, swallowing hard as he kissed me.

“Why don’t we bury her ashes in the garden,” he said. “Perhaps, when we return to Lara, you can bring a few of your mother’s flowers.”

More tears gathered in my eyes.

“I want to see her,” I said.

Adrian froze. “Isolde—”

“You do not have to take me. I will go by myself,” I said.

He stared at me for a moment. I knew his hesitation came from a good place, but I wanted what I wanted. I was not delusional. I knew seeing her would be difficult. I knew it would be how I remembered her for the rest of my life, but I needed to say goodbye.

Adrian took me to Violeta.

I expected her to be in the old sanctuary, but she was prepared for her funeral in her chamber.

“I did not want the entire castle to gawk at her,” he explained, though I did not prompt him. And while I thought I could guess why, I still was not prepared when I entered her chamber. Though she was covered from head to toe in a black shroud, her body was bruised and swollen.

A dizzying wave of emotion brought tears to my eyes again and a tightening to my chest. I took a breath, but it left me in a huff, my mouth quivering.

I sat down at her side, staring at her face beneath the shroud.

“She died for nothing,” I said. We never even managed to finish the spell. “I should have never asked her.”

“You cannot blame yourself for her choice to help.”

“Perhaps I should blame myself for thinking we could cast a counterspell at all,” I said.

“Or you could honor Violeta and acknowledge that it was an incredibly brave thing,” Adrian said.

I took a shuddering breath, and I lowered the veil.

I could not describe the physical pain I felt once I could see her injuries in the full light of her room. She did not look like Violeta at all, her eyes swollen shut, her cheeks cut and bruised, her mouth sunken and torn.

I thought I could kiss her goodbye, but I only had the strength to cover her face again.

I rose quickly and faced Adrian, brushing the tears from my face.

“She was brave,” I said.

And while we had hung those responsible for her death today, the two I blamed most remained free—Solaris and Ravena.

“You said Solaris is awaiting punishment?”

“He is,” Adrian replied, his expression growing hard. I knew he was preparing to argue with me.

“Let me execute it,” I said.

Adrian stared at me, assessing. “Are you going to punish him or kill him?” Adrian asked.

I glared, and my anger burned my skin. I pushed past him and left Violeta’s room.

“Isolde!” Adrian followed close behind and reached for my arm, turning me toward him. I jerked away.

“When will the value of our people exceed the value of your agenda? When will my value exceed it?”

Adrian flinched.

“Solaris might as well have been in that grove himself, striking and beating and murdering us. Will you stand aside while he inspires another witch hunt?”

Adrian closed the distance between us, his hands on my shoulders. He spoke between his teeth, eyes flashing with fury.

“How dare you,” he growled. “How dare you.”

They seemed to be the only words he could manage to speak.

Then he released me and took a step away, vibrating with his rage. “If it will make you happy, I will kill him today,” he said. “But if what he claims is true, if he is a creation of Dis, you should know that I will suffer.”

I studied him, his face red, the veins in his neck and forehead popping.

“What are you saying?”

“You seem to forget I was created by Dis,” he said. “I am not completely free to do as I please without consequences. I do not want one of those consequences to be you.”

I studied him and then narrowed my eyes. “How much control does she have over you?”

His chest rose and fell heavily, and I knew he did not wish to say, but after a heavy pause, he spoke. “More and more each day.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

He said nothing. He had not wanted to admit this—he saw it as a weakness.

“How do we free you?” I asked, my voice a whisper, as if I could hide it from Dis.

He looked away, swallowing hard, and ignored my question. “Come, it’s time for Solaris’s punishment.”

***

Adrian escorted me to the dungeons, into a chamber furnished with torture devices and weapons. I studied each, curious. There was a box lined with spikes, a triangular beam supported by two columns, a rack with straps for the wrists and ankles. Then there were smaller tools—a collar of spikes, metal bridles, and various sharp scissor-like instruments.

“Did these belong to Dragos?” I asked.