Page 85 of Forged By Malice (Beasts of the Briar #3)

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Rosalina

“H ello! Are you listening to me? There’s something wrong with the flowers!” I bang louder on my chamber doors in Keep Hammergarden. “Hello! I need to speak to High Prince Ezryn, or even Kairyn! Just for a moment.”

I growl, white flames licking up my palms. I’ll burn this place down if it comes to it.

The door creaks open, and I immediately stagger back as Marigold trots in, rolling a trolley of coffee and cookies. She casts a withering glare at the row of guards outside my room. Eldy and Astrid toddle in behind her, then close the door.

“If I’m a prisoner, Kairyn should show the courtesy of putting me behind bars.” I scowl at the closed door before slumping into a plush white chair beside the window. Outside, the late afternoon sun glows a soft pink, and cherry blossoms and petals float in the breeze. It’s too peaceful, too pretty and bright.

Moments like this would make a lot more sense when surrounded by a storm.

“I usually say there’s nothing a hot cup of tea can’t fix. But I … Well—” The delicate cup shakes in Marigold’s fingers, sloshing liquid on to the floor.

“Here, let me,” Eldy says, taking the cup and placing it on the table beside me.

He’s a human again. After he warned Ezryn of my drowning, he said he’d landed and focused on returning to his prior form. The spell had ended, and he’d shifted back into a fae. Apparently, it was quite the start to some of the Spring staff, seeing their naked majordomo running through the halls.

After that, he’d arranged a party to rescue Astrid and Marigold from the top of the mountain. They were already heading back down, cured of their hypnosis thanks to the water I’d doused them in. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, my own wounds healed when my mate bond awoke.

Whatever had happened to us was eerily similar to the condition that had afflicted Ezryn and me after the jubilee. That incident had been caused by the purple flowers, but there hadn’t been any of those in my room. Though there was a vase of red flowers, brought fresh to my room by Wrenley. Kairyn had instructed her to do so. Does he know? He can’t. He wouldn’t?

My mind spins with thoughts. There are red flowers all over the city and in the throne room. The townsfolk talked of a sickness going around. Could it all be connected?

Even if I’m on to something, not a single person is listening to me. I made sure my room was clear of flowers. The red ones were already gone, replaced with daisies, which I promptly threw out the window.

Above all else, I have to make sure Ezryn is all right.

My mate.

A new mate, the flowers, the power of change. Everything has happened so fast, and I don’t know how to process it.

“It’ll be all right, Rosalina,” Astrid says, sitting on the edge of the chair and wrapping her arms around me. “We’ll get through this.”

“Astrid is right,” Marigold says. “We have faith that Kairyn will provide a fair trial for Ezryn, considering the situation and…” Her lip quivers and Eldy wraps a comforting arm around her.

Something blooms bright in my chest and loud arguing sounds from outside my chamber. The door whips open, and I hear Kel’s voice growling low and dangerous, “Get your hands off me,” before storming inside. Farron clambers after him, a bundle of books and scrolls in his hands.

I leap up, and Kel gathers me in his arms. “Rose, I’ve negotiated with Kairyn for free run of the keep. They never should have locked you up.”

“Indeed,” Farron says, golden glasses low on his nose. “The law is very particular. The person who saw the face is not held responsible at all. The blame falls solely on the royal.”

“What are all those books, Farron?” I ask, peeking out from Kel’s strong arms.

“Laws and writing on the Spring Realm creed. I was looking for a loophole, something to help Ez, but from what I’ve read so far, this rule is ironclad. Day’s carrying up a few more texts from the archives, but I don’t think there’s anything I can find that can help him.”

“It wouldn’t matter if you did.” Marigold steps forward, shaking her head. “The creed is bred into that’s boy’s bones. He will follow it as he knows it.”

Farron throws the books and scrolls down with a long sigh. “Right as usual, Marigold.”

My gaze drifts to the chief majordomo. I transformed him … into a bird. Everything’s happened so fast, I haven’t even had time to think about it. What well of power did I draw from? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before.

But then again, I did transform the arrow into seawater back at Castle. There’s only been one other fae documented to transform matter like that. My hand drifts over my heart.

How is it possible that my magic resembles the Queen’s?

“Is everything all right?” Eldy asks me.

I give my head a shake. “Huh? Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for turning you into a bird.”

The room fills with silence, and I look around to notice everyone is staring at me.

“How did you do that?” Farron asks slowly. He drifts over to Eldy and grabs his arm, examining it.

“Excuse me!” Eldy pulls away from Farron and turns to me. “Your apology is quite unnecessary. That incredible feat of yours saved my life. Besides, I made quite a dashing bird, if I do say so myself. Though not so dashing, I’m sure, as a fair raccoon.” His face flushes as he looks down at Marigold.

“So, you know of the curse, then,” I say.

“I filled him in as soon as we arrived back at the keep,” Kel says. “Figured now that he’s been turned into an animal himself, he ought to know about the rest of us.”

“I knew our Rosalina was a special one the moment I set eyes on her,” Marigold says. She takes Eldy’s arm. “You know, Ezryn’s mother used to say that there’s deep magic in the world, more than we could possibly understand. It wakes up when it’s ready to.”

“Maybe this magic’s been asleep for five hundred years,” Farron says.

“Farron, what are you saying?” I ask.

“The realms were crafted of the four seasons to keep the Vale in balance, but the world has been anything but balanced lately.” He shrugs. “Maybe her magic found a way back to us.”

“I don’t know.” I rub at the space over my heart. It doesn’t feel like the magic found me.

It feels like I found it .

Kel holds me tighter against him. “If anyone has a chance of restoring harmony to the Vale, it would be you, Rose.”

“That’s a lot of pressure,” I mumble.

Marigold squeezes my hand. “We should let you all get some rest.” She gestures toward Astrid. “We need to get to our own chambers before nightfall.”

She and Eldy leave the room. Astrid gives me a quick hug before turning to follow them.

“Wait, Astrid!” I grab a letter off the nightstand and give it to her. “Can you make sure this gets to Farron’s brothers? I need them to keep my father in Coppershire.” My throat tightens. “I don’t want him brought to Spring until we know what’s going on.”

She kisses my cheek. “You can count on me.” An exhausted sigh fills me as she leaves, and I’m left staring at my hands. I wish I could talk to Papa about everything. Maybe something he discovered on his travels could help explain just exactly who Anya O’Connell was—or is. “I don’t even know what came over me when I changed Eldy.”

Kel tucks a stray piece of hair behind my hair. “I don’t know either, my Rose. But I do know that it was not chance that you fell into the Enchanted Vale. You belong here. Magic lives within you.”

Farron comes up beside me. “You’re just as incredible as the legends we love to read about. I wish we had time to discover all your secrets.”

I offer him a soft smile. “Me too, but right now we have to focus on Ezryn. Has anyone seen him?”

“No,” Keldarion says, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “I spoke with Kairyn. Ezryn is in solitary confinement, awaiting the trial in the morning. Guards are posted outside the chamber, but no one is in there with him. At least there will be no concern about someone encountering his beast.”

“How can we just leave him there? He’s all alone. How can he even be put on trial? He’s the High Prince.” Tears flow down my cheeks.

“Ezryn broke their sacred creed. The law states that power passes to the steward in such cases,” Farron explains.

“I can’t let this happen.”

“But you must,” Keldarion says simply, wiping my tears away. “And you know it, else you’d have already razed this whole keep to the ground. Because you know Ezryn. Know him in a way none other does. That is the truest form of love.”

I swallow, my throat dry. I may not understand or agree with Ezryn's decision to go through with this, but he holds his honor in the highest regard. If I deny him the chance to seek true repentance… “I need to see him.”

“We tried, Rosie,” Farron says gently. “He’s not allowed, and … he doesn’t want to see us.”

Anger rises in my chest. “Doesn’t want to see me? I’m his ma—” I cut myself off, realizing this is the first chance I’ve had to say it out loud. Say it in front of Farron and Keldarion.

“Your mate,” Keldarion finishes, taking one of my hands in his. “I know.”

Farron takes my other hand.

They don’t need words; love flows freely through our bond between all of us.

Keldarion takes Farron’s hand, so we stand in a circle. “You are my mate. Farron is yours, and now Ezryn is as well. I’ve told you both this before, but I will shelter you from this upcoming storm. When Ezryn returns to us, we will not let him go. The four of us belong together.”

Keldarion’s words sound like a vow.

There’s a shuffle behind us, and as we turn, Dayton is awkwardly standing in the doorway.

Awkward isn’t a word I often associate with the Prince of Summer, but that’s how he looks now, hand clutching the back of his neck, cheeks flushed. How long was he waiting there? What words did he hear?

“Day.” I step forward, but he just drops some more scrolls and books on the table before turning back to the door. “Don’t go.”

He shakes his head, donning a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “No room for a beast among princes.”