Auntie Agress grabbed my elbow and pulled me over to the corner of the room, urgently whispering, “I’ve been watching the stars, following their paths, and you’re surrounded by death. Be on your guard, young one.”
I gasped, remembering Xander’s words: “There will be more deaths before the moon runs a full cycle.” I feared I was the cause.
“Thank you.” I squeezed her arm back.
When it was time to pay, I pulled out my purse, looked inside at the few meager coins and sighed. I didn’t have enough for the price she was asking for all of the ingredients on my list, but that wouldn’t stop someone as smart as me.
“Maybe just the dried monkshood root and the feverfew.”
Gaven opened his own pouch and placed two gold coins on the table. “For the perfume and anything else she might need.” He looked distracted and left the store deep in thought.
Auntie Agress’s head bobbed, and she greedily bit one of his coins. Deeming it pure, she snatched the coins and disappeared into the back.
“I guess that means we’re done,” Pru said.
My hands were clutched tightly around my purse, trembling with anger. How dare he embarrass me! I turned and stormed into the street, catching Pru’s reflection in the front window as she swooped in to gather my packages. I had my own money. It wasn’t enough, but he didn’t need to know that. Part of the trade was knowing when to haggle with a hedge witch; it kept them honest and true. My mother taught me that. He didn’t need to step in and save the day. I didn’t need saving. Suddenly I was thankful for the dark veil that hid my red burning cheeks the whole ride back to the palace.
We were in a long receiving line of carriages waiting to disembark, while others were being loaded as nobles and guests were saying their farewells.
When our carriage pulled up, I stepped out and saw Prince Xander standing on the top step, head low, his fingers rubbing his temples. It seemed he needed to be here to see them off, though he obviously didn’t want to be. Rumors of the beast may have sent them packing.
Prince Xander finally noticed me, his body going rigid, his eyes taking in my dark veil again I imagined him trying to picture my hideous form.
“Did you get your potions?” he asked.
“They aren’t potions,” I corrected, surprised he made an effort to speak to me. “They’re medicines, for the queen and me.”
“Where is your medicine?” He pointed to my hand that only held my coin purse. I didn’t have to answer, because Gaven and Pru arrived just then. She scurried up to me with my purchases, and Xander waved her over. Reluctantly, she came forward, and he proceeded to search through my belongings, though for what, I wasn’t sure.
“Poisons?” He looked up at Gaven, not even addressing me.
“Yes,” I answered truthfully, and three sets of eyes stared at me in shock.
“Are you so unstable that you would admit to purchasing poison to murder me within my presence?” Prince Xander questioned.
“No, because I would never lie to you.” His face had gone stone cold, his eyes darkened, and I rushed forward to lift a dried herb and explain. “This is balinko. The leaves are dried and can be brewed into a tea for migraines, but the seeds, if ingested, are poisonous. As are most medicinal herbs. I use part of the monkshood root to cure blackouts, and yes, it is another name for wolfsbane, but I had nothing to do with harming your mother.”
“You say these purchases are for you. Are you injured?”
“Yes.”
“Show me,” he ordered. Holding up my hand, I showed him my bandaged palm and wrist. His eyes widened and he sucked in his breath.
“Come here,” he ground out between clenched teeth. His nimble fingers quickly unwound the bandage to look at the cut along my palm, the one I received from healing his mother. He ran his finger along my palm, and I shivered at his gentle touch.
“I’ve seen you heal the cut on my mother. Yet, you are unable to heal yourself?”
“That is correct. Magic is a very fickle thing.”
Xander didn’t release my wrist but slowly turned it over to reveal a smaller cut from when he cut away our wedding bindings. “And this one. Did I do this?”
“Yes,” I answered, blushing, not wishing to sugarcoat what his recklessness did. I could have healed it easily, but I wanted to let it be a