Page 24 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

23 CAIDEN

Caiden breathed deeply, happy to be back on neutral ground. “Ah, Ruska, never thought I’d be quite so happy to return to this city again. But after the past few days, it’s never looked better to me.”

Aelia twiddled her thumbs nervously as they walked toward Caiden’s townhome. “I hope Amolie and Roderick made it out alive.”

“Roderick is the finest warrior in all of Moriana. Maybe the world, but he knows when to cut and run. He wouldn’t let Amolie be harmed.”

“I know, but I hate being in the dark.” Aelia pulled her cloak tighter around her. “I just want to know if they’re okay.”

Caiden rubbed her back. “They are. I know it.”

They walked in silence the rest of the way. Both braced for the worst.

The door swung open, and Ernie greeted them. “Prince Caiden.” His whiskers twitched as he bowed. “The others have already arrived.”

Aelia pushed past the hob. “Amolie! Roderick! Lucius? ”

Amolie bounded through the parlor, hugging her friend. “You’re okay. I was so worried.”

“Me? I was worried about you. I saw Roderick take on the hooded figure, but I couldn’t see you.”

Amolie glowered at Roderick. “This one would have stayed and slayed every goblin there if I had let him.”

Roderick blushed. “We’re fine. I wasn’t worried for a minute.”

Amolie rolled her eyes.

Aelia collapsed onto the couch. “I’m exhausted. I need to sleep before we discuss the mess that was the Court of Sorrows.”

“Come with me, and I’ll heal you properly.” Amolie pulled her friend into the kitchen, leaving the three men alone in the parlor.

Lucius waited until after the women had left to show himself. “We need to talk about the scepter.”

“We should take the scepter to the Sylph Council. They will know what to do with it,” Caiden said, staring at the bone with the bird skull lying on the table.

“They will use it for war,” Lucius said. “We should hide it until this business with Nysemia is resolved.”

“The Court of Storms should keep it,” Roderick chimed in.

Lucius and Caiden turned to look at him, their mouths agape.

“With the Army of the Dead on our side, we would be invincible.” Chaos flickered in his pale green eyes.

Caiden rubbed the back of his neck as he considered his options. Why should the council get the scepter? The Stormlands had a formidable military, but they could rule the continent with the scepter. He could descend upon the Highlands to seek retribution for his wife, and no one could stop him. His mind jumping to laying siege to the kingdoms scared him. “There is no suitable solution here. ”

No one knew they possessed the Scepter of the Dead. Nysemia had no heir, meaning her court and her army were free for the taking. “Does Gideon hold the Court of Sorrows?”

Lucius clicked his tongue. “My spies say armies from all over Moriana are marching to lay claim. Although who holds the palace is up for debate.”

Caiden nodded, nervously rubbing his chin with his palm. “Where are our troops located?”

Roderick tapped the table, and a map of Moriana appeared.“They were moved to protect the border, sir.”

“Call them back. I don’t want the elves to get the wrong idea and think we are invading in this time of chaos.”

Roderick chewed his cheek, moving the invisible chess pieces in his mind. “I would like to return to the Stormlands, my lord. My men will need to see their leader,”

“That is wise,” Caiden said.

Roderick nodded and went to collect his things.

Lucius’s expression darkened. “There is something else you should know.”

Caiden put his hands on his hips. “Out with it.”

“My spies told me Baylis Springborn is not a captive of Gideon’s. She travels with him unguarded and unchained.”

Caiden’s eyes widened at Lucius’s declaration. “Lies. Baylis would nev?—”

Lucius cut him off before he could finish his thought. “I think she was the hooded figure in the Court of Sorrows, not Erissa.”

“Bullshit.”

“Perhaps her power lay dormant or bound by an ancient spell. The Fates are goddesses of the old world. Morta is powerful enough to conceal their magic.” He tapped his long finger on his pale lips. “Look at what Erissa did to Aelia. There is no telling what she could have done to Baylis. ”

Caiden bit the inside of his cheek, filling his mouth with metallic blood.

Lucius continued. “We should be prepared when we go to the Court of the Alder King. Roderick will bring a legion to the Woodland Realm. It is not uncommon for a lord of your stature to travel with one.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Caiden tried to relieve the pressure building in his head. “Let’s hope Aelia got that right.”

Lucius gave him a knowing look. “I saw the way Lord Tharan looked at her in the throne room. The way he defended her while she trembled in fear. Perhaps she planted more than just an invitation in his mind.”

Caiden’s stomach hardened at the thought of Aelia with Tharan, but he couldn’t intervene. They would never be together. A lump grew in his throat at the thought of everything they had shared. Who would he be without those memories? He smothered the jealousy gurgling in his gut.

“This will break Aelia.” Caiden’s voice cracked.

Lucius clicked his tongue as he poured himself a cup of tea. “We will not tell Aelia any of this. At least not until we’re sure Baylis is working with Gideon.”

“You’re right. There’s no need to worry her for no reason.” He could hear the words leaving my mouth, but deep down, he knew what Lucius said was true. There was a reason they hadn’t been able to find Baylis for five years. She did not want to be found.

Lucius sipped his tea, then setting his cup down, leaned over the table. “I know what you are thinking.”

“You do?” Caiden’s blue eyes went wide.

“You’re thinking you may need to kill Baylis.”

Lucius’s statement knocked the wind out of Caiden. “I wasn’t, but now that you bring it up…”

“I will do it for you if it comes to that. Let Aelia hate me,” he said nonchalantly.

Caiden placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You’re a good friend, Lucius, but let’s not rush into killing princesses.”

Lucius shrugged. “It’s my job to plan for the worst.”

Caiden let out a sigh. The last three days took a toll on him. He never expected to fight Gideon, steal the Scepter of the Dead, and fight a horde of trolls.