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Lips trembling, I quieted—sinking back on my heels.
“As I was saying.” Kaelan handed her the book. “There are unavoidable consequences to this curse. Try as we did, altering the spell only made those consequences worse. Nature requires balance,” she said, smoothing out the pages. “For great reward, there must be great repercussions. This is true in all things.”
I barely heard her, my mind spinning. A body-switching spell? Sacrificing myself to spare mysovereign? It was all crazed nonsense. Of course the tiny, run-down school I went to in Gutter Galley didn’t have ancient forbidden texts. Women were only taught reading, writing, math, and basic subjects, but still, I could not believe magic such as this existed. She was going to kill us both by messing around with curses she couldn’t hope to understand, and then what would happen to my family?
They’ll be trapped under the grip of Kirwan.
My nails dug half-moons into my palm. I would not let that happen.
I looked around while she nattered on. The princess wasn’t the problem. She had no more magic than I, and without it, she was a soft and pampered royal who didn’t spend her forming years scrapping and fighting anyone who insulted her mother, or messed with her siblings. I could easily get away from her if not for Kaelan.
I need to find a way to take him out. Maybe if I provoked him into coming closer, I could snatch the book and—
“—once we change, you will not be able to speak things I do not know.”
My ears caught alight. “Excuse me?”
“It’s here.” Emiana pointed to a line halfway down the page. “You will have their body, their knowledge, and their soul.It was only by observing our single successful pair that we discovered what this meant.
“You will not only take my face. You will be granted knowledge of my life and mannerisms. You will also have yours stolen from you. Names and stories that I, the princess, do not know can’t fall from your lips. Memories that aren’t mine will fade from your mind. We will both slowly forget who we are until we become the other completely.”
Blood drained from my face. “This is madness.”
“Nature requires balance, little whore. There can only be one you, and one princess of Lyrica.”
Horror nearly stole my voice. “Why would you choose this? You will forget who you are. Your entire life gone with one selfish curse. How is that any different than getting married? Your life is still over, with mine added to your casualty count!”
“You weren’t listening.” A strange smile curled her lips. “I said you won’t be able to keep memories I do not have. The same holds true for me—”
“Exactly. So why—”
“Have I spent all this time telling you stories and giving you explanations I do not owe you?” She smiled wider. “Because if you know it, I will too. I will remember the night Princess Emiana told me about a curse that switches bodies, and a man she would not marry. I will remember that she is me.”
My head spun. “But then so will I. I’ll know none of this is real. I’ll warn your father and King Alisdair—”
“How do you expect to do that?” She cocked her head. “Do you imagine it’s that easy? Mother Meya, Kaelan, you had to bring me a stupid girl. The consequence of every curse is that the cursed cannot speak of their affliction. You will warn no one of nothing. Your lips will part and silence will come out. Your hand will try to form the characters while you glare at a blank page. Yes, you will remember the truth, but you could do nothing about—”
“Olene, Meliora, Gisela, Jaclan, and Savia!” I rushed. “Remember these names. You love them. You promised you would return to—”
“Kaelan!”
He hurriedly touched a crystal on his lapel and an unseen gag stuffed my mouth, cracking my jaw and trapping garbled speech in my throat.
Fury lit Emiana’s brow, peeling her lips back from her teeth. I thought she might slap me again.
“So you’re not that stupid. But that did you no good. Fine, you will remember the names of whoever those people are, but I will soon know everything about them.” She tapped her forehead. “Even if you did manage to tell anyone what I’ve done this night, ask yourself how many of your loved ones I’ll kill before King Alisdair comes for me?”
“Agh!” The rich food spoiled in my stomach, burning its way back up my throat.
“Do we understand each other?”
Stiffly, I nodded. She would have the means to destroy me more assuredly than I could hurt her. King Alisdair would whisk me away to a land of strangers. While Emiana would march my face and body right into my home... with my unsuspecting mother, sisters, and brother.
“Good. I wanted to be civilized about this, but you’ve left me no choice. Kaelan, keep her silent for the rest of the night. There’s much she must know, and I have no time for her interruptions.”
“Yes, my princess.”
I sat quiet, jaw aching, and chest constricting as she dove into the story of her life and legacy. I was made to listen to everything from her favorite foods and the names of her horses, to her deepest secrets and enemies. She spoke of safe places for her to hide and how to get there. She said in great, terrible detail what to do to the people I loved if anyone questioned her identity or tried to imprison her.
