The Blood Spell (Ravenspire, #4)(58)

“She died when I was seven,” Blue said quietly. “I don’t have any memories of her keeping potions around the house, and Papa never mentioned it.”

Dinah’s jaw clenched as she approached Blue. “All right, forget about potions. Think about where your mother kept things. Important things. Things she didn’t want to lose or forget or have damaged in any way.”

Blue’s heart lurched, a sudden, sickening ache in her chest, and she took a step away from Dinah. There were little reminders of Mama all through the farmhouse. A quilt she’d helped Grand-mère make one winter when Blue was a baby. The painting of a ship at sea she’d picked out for the room she shared with Papa. A pair of goggles hung on a nail in the kitchen where she’d sometimes done experiments.

But the rest of Mama’s things were packed up in chests and kept in the root cellar.

“You know where she kept things.” Dinah’s voice was flat.

“I’m not helping you look there.” Blue’s hands shook as she curled them into fists.

“Look where?”

Blue pressed her lips closed. Dinah rushed forward, grabbed Blue’s shoulders, and shook violently.

“Where are her things?”

Blue shoved Dinah’s hands off her shoulders. “No. You’ve taken my home, my grandmother, and my shop. You’ve hit me, pinched me, and burned me all while I’m trying to help you save your daughters. And now you want to drag me down into the root cellar to hunt through Mama’s things so you can sell one of her spells for a little bit of coin. I’m not going to do it.”

“The root cellar.” Dinah smiled coldly. “Was that so hard, Blue? We’ll search tonight.”

“You can search without me.”

Dinah slapped Blue, sending her reeling. “You’ll watch your mouth.”

“Lady Chauveau!”

Kellan’s voice, thick with anger, filled the storeroom. Dinah froze.

“Oh! Prince Kellan, how did you get in here? Not that you aren’t welcome, of course, but it is a surprise.” Dinah sounded flustered.

“I spent half my youth in this shop. The de la Cours are close family friends, and we have a key to both the farmhouse and the Mortar & Pestle. The true surprise is finding you in this storeroom striking my good friend Blue.”

Blue turned toward the sound of Kellan’s voice. He stood in the doorway, anger blazing in his eyes. Heat flooded Blue, a spinning, tingling kind of warmth that made her want to smile and cry at the same time.

“Blue is my charge now. Her dear mother left the girl’s guardianship to me.” Dinah all but simpered as she stepped toward the prince. “I’m afraid her father spoiled her, and I’ve had to take measures to teach her the manners and courtesy that a girl of her station should display. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She sounded as smooth and polished as river-washed stone now, but the fire in Kellan’s eyes remained bright and burning.

“On the contrary.” Kellan sounded as smooth as Dinah. “I’m glad to know exactly what kind of family the Chauveaus are. I have to take every aspect under consideration for my upcoming betrothal decision, as I’m sure you know.”

Blue blinked. Had he really just threatened to ignore Dinah’s daughters for her sake? The heat in her veins felt like sunshine, soft and pure.

What was she supposed to do with the reckless, charming prince who’d grieved with her over Papa, danced with her in a pub, nearly kissed her in the maid’s closet, and then stood up for her when she needed it most?

Dinah straightened her spine and spoke in a voice like honey. “If striking a disobedient girl upsets you, Your Majesty, then I will of course choose other ways to manage her.”

Kellan moved into the room, and Nessa hurried in behind him. She took one look at Blue and rushed to her side.

Are you hurt? The princess’s hands moved rapidly.

The pressurized pot behind Blue began rocking as the metal inside bounced against its sides. Blue took the pot off the burner and banked the fire before turning to sign to the princess.

It hurts, but I’ll survive. Why are you here? I told you to stay away from the shop until Dinah was out of my life.

Nessa’s face was grim. I don’t need your protection, Blue. She wouldn’t dare strike me. We’re here to take care of you. I told Kellan about you getting hurt, and he got mad and said we were going to find you.

Blue lifted her face and met Kellan’s eyes. Once again, he’d surprised her. She’d never dreamed she could count on the prince to be firmly at her side through the worst days of her life.

“I would appreciate it if you spoke clearly in front of me,” Dinah said, a gracious smile on her face, though her eyes were burning embers of fury. “I find it rude to have conversations going on that exclude some of the people in the room.”

And I find it rude that you’ve spent so much time in the castle as one of my mother’s closest friends and never bothered to learn a single sign. Nessa’s chin lifted as she aimed the signs at Dinah.

Blue opened her mouth to interpret, but Kellan got there first. “If your daughter is interested in being queen, perhaps she can learn Nessa’s signs. I couldn’t ever marry someone who didn’t make an effort to speak my sister’s language.”

That’s not what I said. Nessa glared at her brother.