Page 20 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

19 AELIA

“What did you do?” Tharan yelled.

“I didn’t do anything. I found her like this.” Caiden waved his bloody hands in the air.

“Sure, a Council Court comes to a Wild Court after decades, and it just so happens that an attack occurs?” Tharan held his blade to Caiden’s neck. “Were you planning this?”

Nysemia stirred, reaching a bloody hand “My army… take it before he does…”

The golden snake uncoiled itself from around her neck and slithered up her palm where it transformed into a golden key.

Caiden’s eyes flitted between Nysemia and Tharan. “See, I told you.”

“She’s talking about Gideon,” I said, snatching the key from her hand. “What is this about?”

Tharan lowered his weapon. The men exchanged knowing glances.

Goblins beat against the door. “Tell me what this is about right now!”

Caiden reached for the key, but I yanked it away.

“Tell me or I’ll take it… ”

Caiden’s mouth twisted into a straight line. “Nysemia controls an army of ten thousand undead soldiers.”

My jaw fell open. “You didn’t think this might be something I’d want to know?”

“You didn’t need to know, Aelia.”

Hurt tugged at my heart. I thought Caiden trusted me more. Perhaps I was as foolish as they all said.

“Give me the key, Aelia.” Caiden held out his hand.

I gently placed it in his palm.

“Let’s go.”

“You think I’m going to let you take control of the world’s most powerful army?” Tharan twisted his blade in his hand.

“We can debate who has control of the army later, but right now we need to make sure it stays out of Gideon’s hands.”

Tharan lowered his weapon. “Fine.”

We hurried up the empty corridors to the royal wing leading to Nysemia’s study. Where a painting of the queen holding a skull hung over an ornate fireplace, her vibrant white hair and purple skin radiated with life. A vision of her crumpled body flashed before my eyes.

“Is this it?” Caiden stood in front of a glass case containing a scepter made of bone and the skull of a crow, resting on a satin pillow.

“No.” Lucius caught Caiden’s hand before he could touch the glass. “That’s a decoy.” He pointed to the painting. “The real one is behind her.”

Tharan stood with his arms crossed, staring intently at the queen.

Caiden inserted the golden key into the steel safe.

Click. The door swung open, revealing the real Scepter of the Dead.

Handing it to Lucius, the men examined the artifact. Runes in an ancient language covered the hilt .

“Tharan, can you read this?” Caiden asked.

Tharan ran a finger over the bone, then quickly yanked it away. “It shocked me.”

“Don’t touch it, just read it,” Lucius said.

Sinking to his knees, Tharan examined the bone again. “I think… I think it requires some kind of sacrifice. Only the blood of the chosen will rule the dead.” He bit his lower lip, trying to make out the dead language. “I can’t read the rest.”

“Great,” Lucius said. “All this, and Gideon couldn’t even use the thing.”

“Maybe not. But I’m sure Erissa could figure out a way to activate it.” Caiden said, wrapping the scepter in a satin handkerchief. A sullen look crossed his face. “Where are Amolie and Roderick?”

My heart sank. “Last I saw of Roderick, he was taking on the hooded figure.”

Caiden and Lucius both shook their heads in disbelief.

“He never could resist a fight,” Lucius said. “I hope they’re alright.”

Caiden put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “They both know how to handle themselves and how to get back to the townhouse safely. Roderick is the best warrior I’ve ever seen. I’m sure they will be fine. We need to worry about getting out of here, fast.”

“What about the scepter? It belongs to the Wild Courts.” Tharan placed a hand on his sword.

No one moved.

Tension pulled like a taught knot in the air.

The sound of goblins approaching echoed through the hall.

We didn’t have time for a dick-measuring contest.

I launched into Theran’s mind. Grit filled my mouth.

Frantically, I searched through memories of the night. My heart skipped a beat as he laid eyes on me. His affection had been genuine .

Pushing my guilt aside, I moved to when the serpent attacked. Tharan thought only of me, of my well-being. An overwhelming urge to protect me consumed him. Pain tickled the back of my throat. This was wrong. Tharan cared about me.

I had to focus on the specific memory.

Carefully, I erased our time in the hallway behind the throne, taking any memories of the key or the scepter—replacing them with nothingness. Normally, I would concoct an elaborate alternative history, but time was not on my side. Black spots would have to do.

Caiden handed the scepter to Lucius, who disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

Tharan blinked at me blankly. “What happened?”

“You blacked out,” I said, hoping my lie stuck. “There’s no time to explain. We need to get out of here.”

Caiden mouthed a silent “thank you” to me.

We fled down a back passage to the entrance from which we came, but the portal we entered through had closed.

“Shit, what are we going to do now?” Caiden whispered, running a hand through his blond locks.

Goblins stalked the corridor above us. It would only be a matter of time before they came looking this way.

“The caves…” Caiden headed toward a crack in the wall. “This way.”

With no other option, I reluctantly followed him.