Page 62 of A Cursed Son

Of course he does. He has all the Crystal Court treasure.

Perhaps one day he’ll give the woman he loves that sword. I can imagine him kneeling before her, presenting it as a sign of his devotion.

This is not the real thing. It’s fake, just like me.

It’s a great reminder of what we’re not, of what I’ll never be to him, and it can help me focus on my duty. “I think this sword suits me perfectly.”

“Glad you like it. What do you want to call it?”

“Is it a no-name sword? That insignificant?”

He chuckles. “Regardless of what it was called before, it’s yours now, so you should name it.”

I smirk. “Dusklight.”

He nods. “Brilliant name. I’ll let Nelsin help you adjust the scabbard. You should always carry it, and practice using it. I mean, I don’t want you to chop your hands off, so be careful, but train with it.”

I put it back in its scabbard and box, still feeling a little strange that I have something that’s mine.

He takes the bag from the ground. “I also brought some books for you. You could read them at night.”

“When it’s all dark?”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “There’s a lightstone here too.”

I take the bag, and, unlike the sword, it’s quite heavy. There is a blue crystal inside it, which I take.

He continues, “You’ll need to call me or your knights to act?—”

The crystal emits a blazing blue light when I hold it. “Activate it?” I ask.

He stares at me and the stone, an eyebrow raised. “I think you’ll be fine.”

I put the crystal back in the bag. The light dims, but not so much.

Marlak stares at me, that odd, searching stare. “What is your magic, Astra? What is it?”

“Magic?”

“That light. You used it when… we met.”

What a creative way to describe our first encounter.

He continues, “And you just activated a lightstone. Humans can’t do it—usually.”

“It’s not magic, I just trust the Almighty Mother.”

He snorts. “The goddess from the fake religion your people made up as a justification for their bloodshed?”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but one thing I’m certain of is that the Almighty Mother is real. “If she’s fake, then explain my magic.”

“I obviously can’t. Come, let’s go inside.” He looks at the bag with the books and takes it. “Let me carry this.”

I don’t like it when he’s nice like that.

Shouldn’t I complain that he’s trying to seduce me? But I guess he does it out of a sense of guilt—which only makes me think he’s not a bad person, and that again complicates my plans.

My plans. He’s been to his treasure vault or whatever today, so he has access to it. I need to learn more about it, but first, I need to gain his trust.