Crowned (Beholder #4)(54)

“I didn’t do this. I can’t cast any spells right now.”

“That gateway wall is smashed,” said Kade. “How did it get that way?”

“Yes, I can pull power into my body, but I can’t recall how any incantations.” I shook my head. “What I’m about to say may sound insane, but if you’ll just let me hold the Sword for a moment, I swear, you’ll remember exactly who I am and why we’re really here. It’s this spell from Mlinzi and Walinzi. It affects not only Rowan, but all the Casters except Jicho.”

“You’re right,” said Amelia. “I don’t believe you.”

Amelia had been my friend through many adventures. Her mind was analytical and sharp. I needed to keep appealing to her logic.

“Will you answer me one question, Amelia?” She didn’t reply, so I took that for agreement. “How did you know where to find me?”

Kade stepped forward. “That doesn’t matter.”

“No, I think it matters quite a lot. If I’m right, some Necromancer spell led you here. Perhaps you even knew it was cast by Viktor himself.”

Amelia tilted her head. “What difference does that make?”

“Don’t listen to her,” warned Kade.

“Think, Amelia. You’ve the greatest mind I’ve ever known. If Viktor wants me dead or captured, doesn’t that make me your ally? Isn’t it worth a test just to let me hold the Sword for a moment?”

“And again, it all comes down to getting the damned Sword,” said Kade. “Release my brother from your magick!”

“I told you. It’s not my casting. It’s Viktor’s. You must recognize the spell signature, especially if you saw it in whatever casting led you to me.”

Amelia eyed me up and down. I knew that look; she was considering my every word carefully. “You’re a kidnapper and a thief. You deserve to die.” Her words lacked the bite of just a few moments ago, however. The light barely shone on her skin. I took that as progress.

“Shouldn’t Rowan decide my fate?” I asked. “He is your king, after all. Only he can decide executions.”

“Rowan isn’t here,” stated Kade. Even so, his words lacked the bite they had a moment ago. Kade could lose his temper when he felt his loved ones were threatened, but his anger was quick to cool. Hopefully, that was taking place right now.

“But one of these gateways could very well lead to Rowan. We can all approach him together.”

Amelia smiled, but it was a look laced with despair. “I don’t know…”

Kade moved to stand beside Amelia. “Maybe we should wait. She isn’t attacking and it’s against our code to kill in code blood. Let’s find Rowan. My brother will know how to help Jicho and his friends.” Kade nodded to the warriors in the back of the chamber. They had strapped Nan and Mrefu onto stretchers.

“Yes, we should wait.” Amelia tried to drop the Sword, but the item flashed with blue brightness, just like nay other totem enacting a spell. Blue mist poured off the Sword, encasing Amelia in a sheen of azure brightness. Instead of dropping the weapon, Amelia raised the Sword high. Blue light poured from the blade. The weight of magick filled the air, enveloping me in its power.

I tried to move. I couldn’t. Back in the Cloister, I’d read about layered magic totems like this one. If the right person touched the correct item, a spell became cast on both themselves and whoever they targeted. In this case, that would be Amelia and me. The only consolation in this spell was that although I couldn’t move, I could still speak.

“This isn’t right, Amelia. Don’t you see that magick? It’s making your decisions for you.”

A magickal blue light now gleamed in Amelia’s eyes. “I detect no spells.”

“That’s because the spell doesn’t want you to.” How many of Amelia’s forebears had been compelled to kill? “You must stop this.”

When Amelia spoke again, her voice was a low monotone. “No, you must give your magick back to the world. I will kill you and place your body on the gateway.” The light from the blade glowed more brightly as she closed the space between us. My legs buckled on their own. Before I knew it, I was kneeling on the stone floor with my neck exposed, ready for her to strike. Cool waves of panic moved over my skin.

Amelia paused before me and raised the Sword high above her head. “This is for the good of all.”

Suddenly, a voice rang through the temple. “Stop. She is not to be harmed yet.” It was Rowan and his casting arm was bright with power as he spoke a quick incantation.

“End this.”

The orb of red energy sped off his palm and into the Sword, landing onto the blade with a crackle of magick and light. The blue sheen of possession magick disappeared from Amelia’s skin. I found that I, too, could move again.

Next Rowan himself stepped through the arch and into the temple. He seemed all things kingly and strong as he scanned the scene. After taking in his warriors, Jicho, Kade, and Amelia, Rowan’s gaze landed on me.

“Everyone, follow me through the gateway.” Rowan glared at me, hatred blazing in his green eyes. “I’ll bring her.”

I quickly considered my options. I still couldn’t run from this temple—there were about twenty Caster warriors around, and I wasn’t able to speak a single spell. But I had Rowan with me again, and we shared the power of mates. Maybe that would be enough to somehow set me loose, if only I could get him to willingly share power with me. Hybrid magick was also the best way to heal the gateways.