The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(29)

“Amlon, you are convicted of treason and aiding the enemy of our land. You are native of Glis, and yet you have betrayed your countrymen by leading the Rivasan forces through Arovan. If not for you, Micah Arovan and Honor Hai’dia might still live. You have been sentenced to death, but you plead that you are innocent. Because of this, I give you another option.” Nicoli smiled coldly at the man as he slowly turned to look at Zoelyn. “The girl possesses unusual magic. Simply touch her so that we may learn the truth and you may win your freedom.”

Zoelyn stepped back quickly and shook her head at the prisoner. “He lies,” she hissed, her eyes widening.

“To insult a High Lord in that fashion is a grave offense, child,” Lord Blackwolf scolded, shaking his head in disapproval at her, though his serpent-like smile never faded. “If you are innocent you have nothing to fear, Amlon,” the high lord pressed and waved a hand in her direction.

Amlon looked between the High Lord and Zoelyn and then back, his eyes still wide with panic. “All I have to do is touch her?” he asked in a hesitant voice.

“Milord, please stop this,” Dominic begged, his eyes moving from Troyelle to Elijah and back.

“My son is dead and this man claims he is innocent,” Elijah began in a quiet voice. He regarded the prisoner with a cold stare and nodded to Nicoli. “I approve of this test.”

“I don’t!” Zoelyn broke in loudly as the prisoner took a step toward her. “Please don’t touch me. It won’t save you. I promise you that.” “You think he will die if he touches you, then?” Lord Blackwolf asked, holding a hand up to stop Amlon from approaching her any closer.

Slowly, the High lord rose from his chair and moved around the table to stare down at her. His every movement reminded her of a predator and it took all of her will to keep from stepping away from him. Had she moved, though, it would have put her even closer to the doomed prisoner and she knew Blackwolf himself wouldn’t get close enough to touch her. The desperate man might, however.

“I don’t know if he will or not, but I don’t want to risk it. I don’t like hurting people or animals or plants for that matter, Lord Blackwolf. I don’t want this test of yours,” Zoelyn cried, her voice rising as she searched the tent for anyone willing to help her escape his torment.

Blackwolf nodded slowly at her and lifted his hand. A pulse of magic filled the air and the earth bucked under her feet propelling her toward the prisoner. Stumbling, she tried desperately to avoid the man, but he was quicker and had balance on his side. Even with the manacles on his wrists he still managed to break her fall. The world seemed to slow as Zoelyn looked from his filthy hands grasping her upper arms tightly to his wide blue eyes filled with pain and utter confusion. She could feel her curse draining him and watched in breathless panic as his eyes glazed and his skin darkened. By the time she regained her balance the man was dead and she knew it had taken only seconds.

“Now, imagine a Blight with those powers, Elijah, because if they find out she exists, they will breed with her. We know they seek out the most powerful for their mates and after witnessing that can you truly tell me she is not powerful? She is Undrae. She is a servant of death. Her kind are a curse upon us and must be extinguished,” Lord Blackwolf said calmly as he returned to his seat at the table.

“I agree with you about the Blights,” Elijah Arovan began slowly, his gaze moving from the dead man to Zoelyn. His expression was much calmer than she had expected and still there was no loathing on his face despite what he had seen. “I do not agree with you on her death, however,” he continued after a long pause. All eyes in the tent moved to him as he let out a long sigh and offered her a faint smile. “You are terrifying, girl, but I saw how you tried to avoid that man even knowing he was a traitor. Given what I have seen, I have a question for you, Dominic.”

“Yes, Milord?” Dominic’s voice sounded faint and his eyes were locked on the shriveled husk on the ground before him. Both Dominic and she had always wondered how powerful was her power to siphon life. Now they had their answer.

Bile rose in her throat and Zoelyn stared down at her own boots in shame. It was bad enough knowing she had killed someone, but the feeling of energy and warmth flowing through her was even worse. She almost agreed with Nicoli on his reasoning for killing her. The Blights were creatures of impulse and if one had powers such as hers it would kill as quickly as it could simply to achieve the sense of wellbeing she had now. They were all right. She was Undrae in every sense of the word.