Page 52 of Brimstone

I nodded. “I mean, it was stilted. She seemed like she was struggling to speak, but yes.”

“She wasn’t repeating phrases? It didn’t seem like she was talking to someone who wasn’t there?”

“No. It wasn’t like that. She was definitely talking to me. She called me by name.”

Taladaius rocked back, balancing his chair on two legs. He whistled. “Well, that’s troubling.”

“The whole thing was troubling, Taladaius.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. But I mean . . . there are plenty of shades in this realm. They’re echoes. Trapped memories a person leaves behind when they die. It often signifies a horrific death, but at least the person’s soul moves on. Shades aren’t capable of thought, though. They can’t have conversations with people.”

“Okay?”

“So that means that the entity that puppeted Everlayne’s body wasn’t an echo of Fisher’s mother. ItwasFisher’s mother.”

“No, that can’t be the case. That would mean that her soul has been here ever since she died. Trapped.”

“Right. But not trapped. As far as I know, Edina never gave away a piece of her soul like Fisher did when he saved that idiot out there,” he said, jerking his chin back toward the bar. “She wouldn’t have been tethered to anyone on this side of the veil, which means that she stayed by sheer force of will alone. And that . . .” He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know what that would have done to a person’s soul, but it wouldn’t have been good. It would have been torture.”

Fisher had been very careful not to let his emotions show when I’d told him that I’d spoken to Edina. His face hadremained blank, but he’d known all of this. He’d chosen not to say anything about it, and I knew why. I’d been so worried about my unsealed runes . . .

Which, once again, were completely fine now. The pain had started to diminish while I was explaining everything to Taladaius. My hands didn’t hurt at all, and my skin wasn’t peeling or burnt anymore, either. My maker noted as much when he looked down and saw them. “That’s a neat trick, Alchemist.”

“You think so? I’m a little less impressed by it than you are, I think.”

“Perhaps you’re just looking at it the wrong way.”

“Enlighten me. HowshouldI be looking at burning runes and excruciating pain?” From where I was sitting, I had yet to find a silver lining to the situation.

“Well. The way your runes smoldered would indicate that you have access to elemental fire magic. Once harnessed, that will be incredibly useful, no? And the fact that your hands are healed now, after the damage I just witnessed, implies that you also have regenerative magic. Physical magic. Power over the body. At some point, you might be able to healotherswith your abilities. Yet another thread that connects you to your Alchemist heritage. These things that are happening to your body can all be seen as signs of positive things to come.”

“Signs won’t do me much good if I can’t access the magic, Taladaius. They won’t do much good if these powers keep pouring into me and I explode and kill everybody in a forty-mile radius.”

My maker snorted. “If that did happen, the blast zone would be more than forty miles. You’d probably destroy half of Yvelia. In fact, that much magic being unmade by itself would probably trigger a chain reaction that would unmake all magic. Everywhere. The whole realm would probably be—”

“You’re. Not. Helping.”

He had the decency to look contrite. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I do want to help. I think I might be able to as well. But first, therewassomething I wanted to talk to you about, Saeris. Something important.”

I let my head thump against the back of my chair. “Let’s hear it.”

He didn’t seem overly pleased by my lack of enthusiasm. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but you’re only the second person I’ve sired.” He waited, watching me. Expecting me to react somehow?

“Okay.”

“I saved the life of another, a very long time ago. I’m glad I saved him, and I’m glad I saved you, too. But . . .”

“But you never wanted children,” I offered. “Is that even an appropriate term for what I am to you?” The term felt weird.

Taladaius smiled. “Hmm. Yes and no. The relationship between maker and made could be compared to that of parent and offspring, I suppose. So, yes,” he said, observing me with steady eyes. “To use your analogy, I’ve never wanted children. It isn’t my path. So, while I am happy to have prevented your true death, I find myself conflicted. I made you. Most high bloods don’t care about the ramifications of that act, but to me, it is agraveresponsibility . . .” He trailed off, smiling softly. “Pardon the pun. You are in this position, in part, of because of me. It’s my duty to make sure that you understand what it is to be a member of this court. It’s incumbent on me to make sure you’re equipped to survive this place, too.

“For most people, the adjustment from their old existence to the new is more than they can handle. Without guidance, it’s easy to make poor choices here. There are many roads to take in Ammontraíeth, and nearly all of them lead to hell. But things are different for you, Saeris. You aren’t a full-blooded vampire. Yourthirst doesn’t rage the way it does with the newly turned. You don’tneedblood. And while you might not know the rules and restrictions of our court, you find yourself in the unique position of not being bound by any of them.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Perks of being queen. With all that said, I wanted to speak with you about . . . well, about Fisher. Your bond with him is unique. My own relationship with him is . . .”

“Complicated?”

He nodded. “I’ve found myself in a position where I’ve held power over him of late. In Gillethrye . . .” His eyes took on a distant, glazed look. “Let’s just say, Gillethrye was no fun for me, either. I would never have stepped foot into that maze if I’d had my way, but . . . I suppose it was better that Malcolm did send me there in some ways.” Taladaius stared down at his hands for a moment, still lost in his thoughts. “Anyway. You’re God-Bound with Fisher. And right now, you’re bound to me, too. I don’t want to hurt Fisher by having any sort of power over his mate. And I definitely don’t want your rule over this court undermined by continual accusations from the other Lords of Midnight, claiming that you’re my puppet. So, my question to you, Saeris, is this: Would it offend you very badly”—he winced—“if I publicly disavowed you and severed our bond?”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Gods alive, Taladaius!”