Shadow Cursed by May Sage Page 0,38

the castle will never be too hot or cold, too dark or light. So that no enemy can cross its doors.

It was abandoned when the unseelie and seelie parted ways, because that castle was meant for both courts, and could not be occupied by just one. They say the last to step out were the seelie king and the unseelie queen. If one had remained alone, the magic of Old Keep would have destroyed them.

I press, “If your hag didn’t lie, the book on shields is there. I wouldn't be surprised—Old Keep was shielded better than any other fae land. And if I'm right, there will be more elemental stones than we could ever need there.”

Every single stone in that castle is said to be an elemental stone.

I shouldn't rely on rumors and legends, but what else can we do? Appeal to the sea? We'll certainly try, but charming as Lind was, I doubt he'll offer his aid again. And even if he does, I want that book. Weighing so much on the word of a hag is madness.

“You forget. If an unseelie enters it without a seelie fae, it may fall to pieces,” Drusk points out.

“Well, I’ll find myself a seelie to drag along, then. Any volunteers?” I stare pointedly at my grandmother, who shakes her head.

“Oh, I think not, child. You go on your adventures. One of us has to remain here to protect your mother.”

I shrug off the slight. My mother can take care of herself just fine. “Very well. There’s a quarter of seelie blood in my veins. Maybe it’ll do the trick.”

Drusk snorts. “You’re as unseelie as they come. You'll never fool ancient magic.”

I let the subject drop. I have another plan at the edge of my mind—a scheme that'll take care of that little problem—but I’ve already said too much. While there are still spies and traitors in Whitecroft, I should keep my own counsel as much as possible.

My eyes trail across the room to my grandfather. "You did well, thinking of the heart stone in Hardrock. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to build any shield."

Alven nods, his spine stiff. "I knew it was used to anchor many a spell, offensive and defensive alike. I didn't want it in the hands of our enemies."

My attempt to smile doesn't reach my eyes. "And what purpose did you imagine we'd use it for, I wonder?"

My mother and father, Meda and Drusk, all look between us, attempting to read the room. They can feel the tension, though none of them know its cause.

I'm waiting, and Alven knows what I expect from him. What I need him to do now.

He can either be honest, or get out. Out of the war council, and out of Whitecroft.

"It's not what you think, Vlari."

It's exactly what I think.

Silence stretches. Though I don't think anyone here thought to suspect him, they're hardly surprised.

I've had endless hours to think back to that night. To the way our defenses were taken out on various fronts, and so precisely. It's clear our enemy knew just where and how to hit us, although the secrets of Tenebris aren't shared with many. The common folk don't know the army's rotation, or ways around the curses and shields of the various courts. And how had the immortals even entered Hardrock?

The obvious answer was that a traitor had whispered in the ears of the immortals, but whom? Alven was the obvious choice. I could have been wrong, but Alven had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Besides, he was the only one conveniently away from the halls when every other member of his family—our family, I suppose—was killed.

He doesn't deny it.

For years—centuries—he’s been forced to relinquish his power and dance to the tune of the queen. She chose him as her consort, forcing him away from his court, taking his power, turning him into nothing more than an ornament, and the breeder she used to father her heirs.

I understand him completely.

I can even forgive him.

I take one of the untouched glasses of wine on the tree stump. “How did you do it?”

There’s no point asking if. I know he betrayed Tenebris.

“Noira,” he replies, caressing the bird on his shoulder. His familiar. “She came to me one day, not long after Morgana sent our daughter away and welcomed a human pawn in her stead.”

I can only nod, and take another sip.

“You’re not asking why I did it.”

I shrug. “That much is obvious, Grandfather. You wanted Morgana out