Page 110 of Disillusioned (A Lay of Ruinous Reign #2)

“Hawthorn, or the Fairy Tree to the Old Faith. It is one of the oldest tree species in the world, posing a danger to various Daemons, including vampires. But they’re not the only tree connected to the Fair Folk,” Myrddin said.

“The Court of the Valley has hidden entrances all throughout Brittany. Kestrel likes to craft his in the trunks of wide and sturdy trees. If you’re invited, you’re approached by his guards, who escort you to one of their nearest portals. ”

“There’s one an hour or so east of the Sanguine Mine.” A shudder passed through Lilac despite the warming sun on her back. She looked over to Bastion, but he was staring at the ground, looking extremely unsettled by the notion of going to Cinderfell.

“That tree his guards brought us through,” he said. “The one they set on fire. How could I forget?”

“Faerie fire,” said Myrddin.

Lilac gasped as a brilliant thought struck her. “Can it transport items instead of people?”

“By their law, visitors must be escorted. But with a lone chest…” The warlock’s forehead creased. “The willow should transport the chest to the Co urt of the Valley. All it takes is a hawthorn arrow shot through the hole to ignite their fire. I’m not sure that it will work, but we can try.”

“Wonderful,” said Lilac. “And if Bastion is that afraid, then you can go with him.”

“Ah. That I’m afraid I cannot do. Garin has ordered me to watch over you here. That is the only specific command he has given me, and I am not to break it.”

“Then the redhead can come.”

Piper hissed, affronted. “That’s not my name.”

“Fine. The other daywalker can come.”

“You can’t expect her to—” Lilac’s shrill voice died at the look of hesitation on Piper’s face. She fully expected her friend to decline. “Oh. Do you want to go?”

“With him? No. But I haven’t fed in days,” Piper admitted quietly. “Hedwig’s meals have been sustaining me since before I arrived. I’m just afraid of slipping into that hunger again.”

“Do you feel the hunger now?” asked Lilac, as both Bastion and Myrddin studied them.

“I mean, I could always eat, but it’s been a bit worse today. I had two servings of eggs this morning off Hedwig’s cart, tea, and a few pastries. Still feeling a bit peckish. I assume it’s time for me to find some soon.”

Myrddin’s hand passed over his face.

“ What ?” Bastion spat. “But you completed your transition. You bit Lilac.”

“The hunger was bad then. And it isn’t now. I do drink it, I just don’t crave it that way.”

Bastion looked to Myrddin. “But what does she mean, she doesn’t crave it? If she’s not bound by a curse like Garin was, then what’s wrong with her?”

Myrddin was scratching his beard. “I’m not sure anything’s wrong with her, though she does exercise the will of ancient vampires. Maybe someone centuries and centuries old, like Garin’s friend Casmir.”

A string of expletives flowed under Bastion’s breath.

“Nothing is wrong with me,” Piper snapped, scowling at Bastion. “That hunger I felt at the beginning was pure instinct and not at all driven by taste, by the way. Compared to the slop you had your henchmen feed me at the mine, I suppose human blood is edible.”

Bastion’s hands went into his hair. “ It’s what you’re supposed to eat .”

“Are you so sure?” Piper jabbed a thumb at Lilac.

“Hers tastes like rotten milk on a summer’s day.

Don’t really remember what her blood tasted like the first time in the forest, or before that, with the man in the vestibule.

All I remember was that everything was cold and dark, as if a ghoul had draped itself upon the room.

I was neither here nor there.” Her face fell at the memory, gaze distant.

“Blood was the only vibrant thing there, but I can’t imagine it tasting as good as anything Hedwig’s made. ”

“ Garin doesn’t seem to think so.” Lilac pressed a hand to her chest, affronted. “And his tastes like figs and honey to me, yet I am not sustained on it.”

“Because you are not a vampire.” Bastion just stared at both of them in disgust, then directed an exasperated glare at Myrddin. “She isn’t one, is she? Modron , I’ll throw myself upon a stake.”

“No, she certainly is not. But Ambleside would love to have a good look at them both.”

Lilac threw her arms up. “No one is going to Ambleside. You two will drop the chest off at the willow tree. You are to return with a report as soon as you are done.” She pressed a finger into Bastion’s chest. “Watch over my friend. She mustn’t drink from anyone’s vein—you can either bleed them, or entrance them to do it for you.

There are crossbows, hawthorn arrows, and blades at your disposal in my armory.

Myrddin can at least teleport you there. ”

“Likely not, Your Majesty. There is a sizable hole in the wall where your armory door once was, remember?”

“Why can’t you just teleport the chest?” asked Bastion. “We’ll babysit the queen. Then no one would have to take the journey.”

Myrddin snapped his fingers—and the amulet Bastion had just stopped fidgeting with shot into the air, straining against its string.

The vampire gasped, reaching for it, but Myrddin pulled the amulet further.

“That is quite enough. Your brother was reserved with the way he described you at the tavern. And it’s thanks to my debt to him that my power reserves are draining much quicker than they usually are.

Even going to the inn to fetch Bastion was taxing, when these distances usually don’t phase me.

” Myrddin waved a hand; the amulet fell into Bastion’s palm, where he clutched it to his chest.

“Is it because he’s assigned you to chaperone me?” asked Lilac.

“That is what I suspect. Any extensive travel that sets me apart from you might exhaust me. Garin would kill all of us if I took you with me, away from your fortress without his permission—and he’d find a way to keep me dead.

I don’t want to find out what happens or where I end up if I exhaust my arcana reserves before I’ve rebuilt my stamina.

I’ll teleport your friends outside the gate.

Within the treeline, even. Lorietta has to have some sort of armory besides her wand and tonics—I suggest you stop there first.”

“Fine,” shot Bastion, casting an irritated glance at Piper. “She’ll make do with bottled blood. I can’t wait to hear what Garin thinks of her. His first sire, preferring bread and eggs. His own thrall, enjoying the taste of his blood? Abominations.”

“Thank you.” Relief washed over Lilac. She clasped her hands together at Myrddin.

“I’ll make sure you get a private room here and that you’re well attended to after all of this.

” As his eyes brightened considerably, she frowned.

“Speaking of Garin, where is he? Did he end up running into you? Is he resting in his room now?”

“Resting?” Myrddin blinked rapidly. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him.”

It was like the breath had been knocked out of her. Lilac froze, already feeling a wave of panic cresting.

“I’m sure he’s fine,” said Piper, despite glancing nervously at the door.

He very well might have been fine; knowing Garin, he was probably surrounded by Marguerite and her friends downstairs, spoon feeding them a detailed story of how Agnes had alarmingly departed the grounds in search of her dear husband.

But she couldn’t ignore the insidious dread burrowing into her chest—the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Or amiss. “Garin’s missing?”

“Now, now,” said the warlock, “don’t go jumping to conclusions. Just because you haven’t laid eyes on him, doesn’t mean he’s gone missing .”

“You remember what happened the last time you lost sight of him?” Her shaking fingers dug into her palms. “He said he’d look for you in the courtyard. Left through the foyer doors. I assumed you’d ran into him before retrieving Bastion. ”

“All is well,” said Myrddin, beckoning Piper and a wary-looking Bastion closer. “I teleported from the bailey to the inn shortly after discovering you two. Garin might still be outside. I will keep an eye out.”

“You will bring him to me if you see him,” she snarled.

He nodded, looking uncharacteristically unconcerned. “He’s bound to be around.” With a wink, he extended his arm to Piper. “Ladies first. Go on, then.”

Piper pursed her lips, glancing hesitantly at Lilac.

“You’ll be safe with them. I promise. I’ll have their heads if anything happens to you.”

“You’re a direct extension of Lilac,” added Myrddin. “ Garin will have our heads if anything happens to you.”

The moment Piper placed her trembling hand on him, Myrddin clamped his other palm onto Bastion’s shoulder.

In a blur of color and smoke, the trio was gone; Piper’s delicate scream immediately cut off.

The outline of the library door flashed violet as soon as they were gone. Wasting no time, Lilac strode across the room and jerked it open.

There was a shriek.

Marguerite stumbled into the room, knocking the door open.

A flurry of voices could be heard downstairs, fading as her mother stepped in and softly shut the door.

Pieces of her hair stuck out from beneath her towering wig, chest heaving as if she’d been running.

“Good God, what on earth are you doing in here? Alone?”

Lilac steadied her. “Were you waiting outside?”

“Yes. I sent Yanna to get you when Riou and John came downstairs, but she said the door was locked. Not even the key would open it.” Marguerite fanned the air, the stemmed glass hooked in her other hand sloshing pale cider at their feet.

“Why does it smell like the chapel in here? Did you have John run a private Liturgy for you?” When Lilac tried to sidestep her, Marguerite swung the glass dramatically before sipping from it, sweeping her back.

“ What are you doing?”

Marguerite merely motioned to the scrap parchment and croissant tray left over from their meeting. “What did you need Riou for, anyway?”