The Blood Spell (Ravenspire, #4)(87)

“And it didn’t hurt that you got to spend the day with Blue.”

His pulse jumped, and this time he couldn’t stop himself from tugging at his collar.

“Son, I’m not blind. I see the way you light up when you talk about her. I noticed how you two looked at each other yesterday. I adore Blue. But she’s a commoner. You can’t fall in love with—”

“We found the children,” he blurted, as much to get the news out as to stop her from saying what he didn’t want to hear.

He knew he wasn’t allowed to be in love with Blue. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure his heart was paying attention to the laws of his kingdom.

“You found them?” The queen took a step toward him. “Where?”

He met her gaze and tried to keep his voice steady, though the horror of what he’d seen was a slick, oily rock lodged in his stomach. “At the wraith’s gate.”

She stumbled back, hit the edge of the settee, and sank onto its cushions. “No.”

“It was horrible. There were . . . someone has been feeding the wraith all this time.” His voice shook.

“All this time,” she repeated, staring at him with horror in her eyes. “The gate?”

“Still closed. Locked securely, as far as I could tell, though I’m not an expert.”

“No, but Blue is. Her mother created the spell that locked it. Did Blue seem to think it was weakening?”

He was in no mood to discuss Blue’s strange reaction to the wraith or the gate or whatever had happened to make her stretch her hand out toward the lock. “She didn’t say anything either way.”

The queen drew a shuddering breath. “The wraith—Marielle, that cursed witch—cannot be loosed again, Kellan. It took Valeraine, Marielle’s sister, and nearly one-third of your father’s army working together to lock it away the first time. The streets ran red with blood spilled by that creature.”

He nodded. “Then we have to figure out who is feeding it. Stop the food supply”—he choked over the memory of all those small bones and cleared his throat roughly—“and you weaken the wraith. Maybe even starve it to death.”

“I’ll order the magistrates to continue efforts to round up any homeless children in their quarters. I’ve already found acceptable housing for them. For now, I’ll send some of our staff to run the children’s shelter, and after the ball, we’ll figure out how to make it all work so they can be safe and cared for.”

“I’ll talk to Blue and—”

“I think you and Blue have done enough talking for now.”

He fell silent. She was right. He knew she was. But his traitorous heart wanted to argue. Wanted to sneak out of the castle window and go see Blue again that night.

His mother stood and nodded toward his bedroom suite. “You’re dismissed. And if you disappear off these castle grounds again anytime between now and the ball without my express permission, I will make your life absolutely miserable. Are we clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and made a hasty escape to his bedroom. He shut the door behind him, allowed his valet to undress him, and then dismissed the man so he could fall onto his bed and close his eyes.

So many bones.

Blue reaching for the gate, a fevered light in her eyes.

The way she’d leaned toward him in the meadow, her lips parted.

He should have kissed her. He was never going to get another chance, and he’d spend the rest of his life regretting it.

A hand tapped his shoulder, and his eyes opened. Nessa stood there in her pink nightgown, fluffy white slippers on her feet. Her hands flew.

You still know how to make Mother angry.

He sighed. “I know.”

Was it worth it?

“Maybe.” He wasn’t going to tell his little sister about the graveyard of children’s bones. About the wraith kept strong on the blood of innocents. Or about wishing he’d kissed Blue just once.

She hopped up onto the bed beside him, and he scooted until he was sitting with his back to the headboard to make room for her.

Who are you going to choose at the ball?

He closed his eyes again. “I don’t know.”

She smacked him lightly on his knee. He opened his eyes.

Pay attention. I’m going to help you.

He smiled, though it felt so much harder to do than it had a few weeks ago. “My little sister is giving me marriage advice?”

I’m old enough to understand how love works.

He ruffled her hair, and she batted his hand away. “So what is your advice, O wise one?”

Which girl would make you want to move back to Loch Talam if you had to sit across from her every morning at breakfast?

He laughed, and Nessa’s eyes sparkled. “I’m not going to answer that in case I end up having to choose one of the girls who makes that list.”

Nessa’s expression grew serious. All right, new question. Which girl would you regret not joining for breakfast every morning?

Blue’s face flashed across his mind, and he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

She gave him a perfect imitation of their mother’s glare. Yes, you do.

“Nes, I like several of the girls enough to enjoy eating breakfast with them.”

That’s not what I asked, but fine. I’ll change the question. Ready?