Mother. “Most of the population is blind to our magic. They can’t see what we do, but you can make them instinctively fear you,” she would say. She taught us how to command the breeze and that it could be swayed and moved to send a chill across your enemies, a wave of fear accompanying it. This was a tool I had used many times to keep unwanted attention from men away, one I had watched my mother use when we burst into the palace, and one I recycled now.
I briefly glanced back to Xander. His fork had stopped midair, a piece of pork dangling off it. “What did you just do?” he whispered so only I could hear. He wasn’t in the direct line of my spell, but he somehow felt the effects. Interesting. Maybe he wasn’t as blind to magic as I had thought.
“I put them in their place.” Slicing the meat, I took a bite and chewed. Focusing on my own plate and on the prince, it was easy to ignore the table of onlookers.
“Maybe I should learn this trick,” he said.
“I don’t think you have the strength.”
“Careful, you’re insulting the prince, and therefore the king and the crown. You should fear for your life because of that insult,” he teased.
“Do I look like I scare easily?” I challenged. “If you haven’t learned yet, it is you who should fear me.” I took another bite and smiled.
His eyes darkened. “Very little frightens me.”
“Could have fooled me with the way you treated me when I arrived.” I reached for my glass and took a sip, savoring the cider as it rolled across my tongue.
“Let’s see if we can eat a meal together without killing each other.” Xander crooked an eyebrow at me.
The smile, though small, was there. I couldn’t hold it in. “Don’t count on it.”
“Then I will be sure to keep my weapon close.” He rested his hand on the ornamental dagger at his waist. “Don’t be distracted by its pretty outside. It’s more than a decoration.”
“Same goes for me,” I teased, and he smiled warmly back.
The meal, though magnificent, wasn’t to the same standards as the palace. Dinner was strained, and I found myself quietly observing Yassa and Yasmin, who kept sending each other nervous glances at my sudden arrival at the dinner table.
I was here to help catch the beast. Once I had done that, I could go and live my own life away from my sisters. Away from the town of Nihill and away from the prince.
Suddenly, the thought of having control of my own life and destiny seemed exhilarating. I could go anywhere, do anything. Maybe create a new life and start over where no one had heard of the daughters of Eville. I could become a hedge witch, maybe work in a small town healing people and brewing potions.
The daydream became real and started to overtake my thoughts until Earlsgaarde cleared his throat. Touching his napkin to his mouth, he stood to address the table.
“Thank you so much for your hospitality, and for hosting us on the behalf of the king of Florin. I know that through this hunt and finding this beast, justice will be served!” He raised his glass in a toast, and everyone did the same. I caught the way he glanced not to Xander but to his glass and watched the tic of his mustache.
Feeling a moment of panic, I reached for Xander’s glass, and our hands collided as he lifted it to drink. I grabbed his glass and switched it with mine, knowing I had already drunk out of it. He gave me a curious look, but I silently pleaded with him to trust me. He took my cup, and we raised them in salute and drank.
I brought the glass to my lips and sniffed, careful to not take a sip or let the liquid touch my lips. Then I saw it, the slight crystalized powder on the inside of the rim. Someone had not poisoned the wine, but the cup.
My eyes flashed angrily toward Earlsgaarde, but he wasn’t looking at me, intent on his discussion with Gaven. Their discussion must have ended badly, because Gaven got up and left the table, heading out of the room.
“What’s wrong?” Xander whispered to me.
My hands were shaking in anger as I put the glass back on the table.
“Someone poisoned your cup.” I placed my hands back in my lap and tried to settle my face. It wouldn’t do to