Page 23 of A Royal’s Soul (Soul Match #3)

Adamantia Ardens

How was it even possible that such a small creature could cause such damage? One dead and another left mangled. And yet she was near weightless in my grasp. How did this even happen in the first place—and no one rang any alarm? I had heard her screaming as I had been making my way to the foyer in anticipation of Lydia and Elliot’s arrival. It wasn’t a quiet quarrel. Percy’s animalistic, raging screams had filled the corridor, and yet no one had come to intervene—or even look on?

I tossed her limp form over my shoulder, leaving the dead and injured behind as I left the servant’s dining room and changed course for my chambers.

The girl was near catatonic as I slumped her into a high-backed chair.

“Percy!” Sasha exclaimed as she entered from the dressing room and rushed to kneel before the flower girl—if that was what she truly was. “What happened?” my love asked, her hands hovering over Percy’s.

“It’s not her blood,” I informed her quickly, to quiet her panic.

“Who’s is it?” she asked, turning to look at me.

“A dead mans,” I replied.

“Dead—what?” she questioned. “What is going on?” she demanded to know.

“That’s what I would like to know,” I replied.

“Ada,” Sasha began, “Speak to me. Something has been wrong since this morning,” she challenged.

“I fear our niece may have brought war to our home,” I began. Sasha turned back to Percy, taking her bloody hands in hers and squeezing.

“Explain,” she demanded.

“This morning, I received an anonymous letter. It detailed the reason for Selene’s return,” I began, pausing—not quite certain how to address such a topic with my dear wife.

“Adamantia Ardens, tell me what is going on,” Sasha demanded, hitting me with her glare as she turned her attention away from Percy.

“Percy was accused of inter-coven magic—”

Sasha released her hands.

“—It was proven a false allegation,” I was quick to reassure.

She turned back to the girl.

“Percy, why would anyone make such an accusation against you?” she asked, but received no response. The girl was catatonic, staring into the distance.

“It was not inter-coven magic, rather something much worse,” I continued, and Sasha’s attention was back on me. “A novel ability.”

“A novel ability?” Sasha repeated.

I nodded.

Her features scrunched up in confusion. “Novel abilities are cause for celebration. It signals the growth of a coven,” she said, confusion lacing her tone.

“Not this new ability. Percy has exhibited the inverse of her innate magic,” I explained.

“The inverse of Flores magic?” she asked, looking back at Percy.

I watched as understanding changed her features from confusion to concern.

“That would mean…”

“Death,” I answered, “Percy exhibited death magic—twice.”

“And Selene brought her here?” Sasha asked, standing from her previous crouched position in front of Percy. “Why? Are we even sure? Have you brought this to Selene?”

“No, I haven’t spoken with Selene about it,” I told her.

“Well then, it’s simply rumour, isn’t it? We must speak with Selene. We need to send for her, and a healer—Percy is injured, mentally if not physically.” She straightened her back and made to walk past me. I gripped her waist, halting her.

“No,” I commanded.

“Ada, let me go,” she said, her tone warning. “We can’t leave Percy like this.”

“Something is wrong,” I told her, not releasing her from my hold.

“Of course something is wrong! Look at her,” Sasha replied angrily, waving her hand back towards Percy.

“No. Something more is wrong. I found Percy in the servant’s dining room. She had been attacked—or maybe she had done the attacking. Regardless of who started the altercation, Percy ended it. It was not a quiet scene. Yet no one had attempted to intervene, not a single servant loitering to watch the carnage unfold. No security alarm signalled. I didn’t see or hear a single servant on my way here with Percy. Have you seen anyone recently?” I asked.

Sasha’s frown morphed to concern, “No, but… but I’ve been here, reading, and… and what are you suggesting?” she asked.

“I’m suggesting that perhaps whatever happened with Percy was set up. I’m suggesting that it certainly isn’t coincidence that I can’t so much as smell a servant of the estate right now, and Lydia and Elliot are meant to be arriving any moment,” I explained.

“You think we’re under attack? From the inside?” Sasha asked, her voice low in a whisper, as if she expected to be overheard.

I nodded and swallowed past the anxious lump in my throat.

“I want you to leave. Pack a bag. Be quick. You’re going to Petra,” I commanded, “Ardens Estate is not safe.”

“I’m not just going to run away without you, Adamantia. And what about Percy and Selene?”

“Take the girl. Selene will understand,” I told her.

“Ada—" she began before a roar shook the room so violently we were thrown to the floor.

The windows smashed, shards of glass littering the ground, and dust raining down from the ceiling.