Page 45 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

44 CAIDEN

“Trinity, I hate this place,” Lucius said as they rode into Ryft’s Edge under the cover of darkness. Tying their horses to a tree, they gazed upon the castle looming menacingly overhead.

“Let’s get in and get out,” Caiden said, taking a transfiguration potion from his pocket and handing it to Lucius.

Caiden grimaced as he slugged back the foul-smelling liquid. Skin bubbling, he transformed into a standard-issue Highlands soldier with dark hair and eyes.

“Trinity be…” Lucius said, looking down at his now human form. “Being human must be awful. They are so ugly.”

Caiden rolled his eyes. Besides their elongated incisors, sylph and humans looked identical. “Let’s go before the tonic wears off.”

Two soldiers nodded their heads in acknowledgment as they passed through the stone archway leading to the royal residences.

Upon entering the marble castle, they parted ways. Lucius headed into the dungeons to Sir Brutus’s chambers while Caiden headed up to the tower to search Gideon’s study. The castle dripped with opulence—plush crimson rugs accented by lavish gold detailing graced the floors. Velvet curtains framed the windows. Paintings by some of the world’s most revered artists hung on the walls.

Shrill sounds of fornication emanated from Gideon’s room as Caiden passed, rolling his eyes at the attending guards.

Following the map in his mind, he climbed the winding staircase up to Gideon’s study. Perched atop the highest tower, Gideon spent many days gazing out over his kingdom.

A locked door greeted Caiden at the entrance. Running his hands over the carved wood, he looked for a possible release button.

Nothing.

Charging his power, he sent a small bolt into the lock. With a puff of smoke, the door unlocked.

A green rug embroidered with fine gold accents led to an opulent parlor lined with rows of unread books. In the corner, a fire fought off winter’s chill. A steaming mug of cardamom tea filled the room with a warm aroma.

Mangled papers piled high on Gideon’s desk.

Rummaging through the ravings of a madman, Caiden searched frantically for Gideon’s diary.

“There you are,” he said proudly to an empty room. His fingers gripping a leatherbound book with the word Ironheart engraved on the cover.

With another tiny bolt of lightning, the little lock guarding Gideon’s secrets clicked open. The journal brimmed with Gideon’s most private thoughts, including observations on everyone he interacted with, from the servants to Erissa to the queen:

Aelia is nothing to me. Nothing but a useful pawn in a political game. I do not love her, although I cannot stand to be without her. I take her to bed because it is my duty. Soon, she will be beyond her child-bearing years, and I will dispose of her. At least she was useful in securing the Midlands .

The queen’s name stuck out to him for reasons he could not comprehend. Aelia. His senses screamed at him to remember, but nothing came to mind.

He scanned the page, detailing Gideon’s debaucherous sexual fantasies. His stomach turned at the unmasked depravity within.

The room went dark.

A wicked cackle filled the space, opening a pit in his stomach.

In the fireplace, a flame sprung to life, taking the form of a female body, twisting and turning until Erissa came into focus.

“Hello, prince. Did you think this disguise would fool me?” She snapped her fingers, and her magic enveloped him, revealing his true form, like ripping a shell off a hard-boiled egg.

“There you are. Still as handsome as ever.” An evil smile was plastered on her face. Her long crimson hair spilled over her white satin robes. An amulet of red encased in gold hung around her neck.

“Hello, Erissa, always a pleasure,” Caiden said as he fired a bolt of lightning at her. His hopes crumbled when it passed through her, leaving her unscathed.

Another devious cackle. “You didn’t think I’d actually show up here in person, did you?” Her voice echoed through the room.

Iron shackles clasped around Caiden’s wrists. Gideon stood in front of him, wicked as ever. Chaos danced in his dark eyes. Caiden’s heart twisted in fear at the sight of Gideon’s long incisors glinting in the flames. More sylph than man, the blood binding transformed him into a monster.

Iron seared into Caiden’s skin as Gideon led him away.

“Come with me, prince. Someone is waiting for you.” He yanked on the chains.