Shadow Cursed by May Sage Page 0,13

before I place myself in your power."

She tilts her head. "Yes, I believe you may. But will you treat your pretty, pretty princess's life as callously as your own, I wonder?" The hag changes, her skin graying, her spine hunching, and her hands wrinkling. "You come here, into my domain, knowing that I’ve outlived the first of your line, knowing that I may devour you, because you're desperate. Because you're powerless. Because you're weak."

I can't naysay her, so I offer her nothing but silence.

"I heard you boys talking upstairs just now.” Her eyes trail up to the ceiling of her cave. “I hear everything. I know of the spell you so desire. I know of all the ancient curses. I know every word that has ever been spoken in this land, since the days of your olden queen. And I will give you the enchantment. I will let you go free, whole, and in one piece. All I ask in return, weak, charming boy, is your true name."

Entering into a bargain with one such as this creature is madness. I should tell her to be gone, tug on my lifeline and get the hell out of here.

I can't force the word out.

Every fae is born knowing their true name, and knowing that it is a secret that must never be spoken. Fae children do not cry, for fear of ever speaking it. It is our one treasure. With it, we can be commanded to do anything—throw ourselves from a tower, into a pit full of poisonous snakes, kill our lovers and mothers, aid our worst enemy.

It cannot be worth it.

It cannot.

"Give me your name, boy. I will speak it but once. When you're alone and no one can hear. And in exchange, I'll give you the tools to save your kingdom."

I think I hate her.

"I'll give you a favor, then, without the name."

The creature cackles, and the sound surrounds me, coming from all angles, even underneath my feet.

"Oh, I think not, dear boy. I wish to hear you speak it. Humor an old crone."

I've been tortured before. In training, while in the army, and once by seelie lords who caught me north of their borders. I let them slice my wrists and throat, providing a diversion while my men infiltrated their camp to free unseelie folk they'd poached on our land.

Yet never have I suffered like this. My entire body protests against what I'm about to do. I'm fighting every part of me, including the power of Myst, rising within my chest, burning me from the inside.

"Shadow King."

I will have to kill her one day. Pour lava down this well and seal it shut.

"My name is Shadow King."

The first time I knew true fear was when my men started to call me Shadow. That they may have guessed even part of my name was a terrifying prospect. I chose to embrace it, if only to show that it meant nothing. But I am Shadow—though King is a bit of a stretch.

"It has a nice ring to it."

I don't know how I stay on my feet.

I'm empty. I'm powerless. I'm weak.

Hell if I’ll let her see it.

"The book your leaders seek is buried with Nyx, in the valley between seelie and unseelie land, deep in the Murkwoods. It is of little use, for I can tell you each detail for that spell. Only the true owner of a land, a castle, or, say, a kingdom, may cast it over the entire territory.”

“So if it’s to cover the whole of Tenebris—”

He hag’s stained fangs flash. “The high queen has to be the one casting it, holding the very heart of Tenebris in her hands. Tears of an enemy, blood of a friend, and a sacrifice of one the caster loves need to be buried along with four elemental stones—water, earth, fire, and air."

"Sacrifice?" That’s an ancient word, from an ancient time, when we used to slaughter beasts, men, and folk in the name of power. No spell we rely on these days requires sacrifices.

But I’m not asking about modern magic.

The hag grins wickedly. "No one cares to recall how Queen Nyx's mother was killed, now do they?”

I know I hate Traffatel. She's enjoying this far too much.

But she's answered my question, so I thank her, before feeling my belt for the rope I need to tug on.

I don't need to look down to realize it's been cut when my hand can't find it.

"You said you'd let me go."

She clicks her tongue. "I