Page 157 of Taste of Thorns

“I don’t know,” she says, with her mouth full, “something doesn’t feel right.”

“That would be your magic,” Thorne tells her, cutting a second slice of cake for her. “When you use so much of it like that, it drains and you feel like shit.”

“Drains? How long will it take to come back?”

“Everyone’s different, but food and rest helps.”

She chews her cake and the three of us watch her, none of us eating.

“Do you really think the Madame has been working in league with the demons all along?” she asks finally.

“Are you kidding me?” I chuckle. “You’ve been sure she’s some evil deviant from the start.”

“Yes, but I don’t know how we didn’t see it.”

“Probably because we weren’t looking for it,” Beaufort says, taking the now empty mug from her hands. “You feel better?”

“Yep,” she says, licking icing from her fingertips.

“Because we’ve got to go see the Empress.”

Little Kitten takes a deep inhale. “Am I in trouble?”

“Nowyou’re worried about getting into trouble?” Thorne mumbles.

“The Empress is intrigued by your powers and your connection with the dragon,” Beau says, “I think it will be your saving grace.”

“I’m from Slate,” she reminds him.

“The Empress’ one aim is to protect this realm. It’s known our powers aren’t as strong as they were – as previous generations. That’s why she has Tudor teach that stupid class every year – just on the off-chance there are other kids out there with abilities. That’s why she has had children with several of the realm’s most powerful men – to ensure there are strong shadow weavers among our generation. And now here you are, a lumomancer. Trust me, you won’t be in any trouble.”

“Plus you just unmasked a serial killer,” I point out.

“One still on the loose,” Thorne mumbles. He rubs at his head. “I fucked up. Again.”

“We were all there,” Beau points out, “including the Empress herself. There was nothing anyone could do. Whatever the hell that magic was, it was too powerful.”

Thorne doesn’t look like he takes much comfort in that. “I don’t like it.”

Yeah, neither do I, and I have a funny feeling, just like the little Kitten. Only mine is telling me we haven’t seen the last of Madame Bardin.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Briony

“The stone called you to it?” the Empress asks, repeating what I’ve just told her.

“Yes, it sort of pulled me to it. I found it in a pond in the forest out in Slate Quarter.”

The Empress leans forward in her chair and scrutinizes my face, her magic prickling against my skin. I gather she’s trying to determine if I’m lying or not.

“It’s the truth. I know it sounds crazy.”

The Empress sits back on her chair and steeples her fingers. We’re gathered in the Onyx common room of all places – high above the academy and shut away from prying eyes. Unlike the last time I came here, the room is full, not with wasted students, but the Empress’ men, and the room is spotless and orderly.

“It doesn’t sound crazy. Not at all. As I’m sure Beaufort has told you, dragons and their owners possessed a strong connection. One, some believed, started even before birth, while the dragon was still inside its egg.”

“I don’t own Blaze,” I say.