Page 192 of Of Masks and Fury

Lexie whispered something to Derren, who nodded. Kerralyn scribbled in her journal, no doubt recording details of veil-sight abilities for future study.

“What happened in the tower?” I asked gently. “What did they do to you?”

Addie’s face twisted, her mouth opening to respond before her breath caught. Her entire body went rigid, as if invisible hands gripped her throat. She tried again, only to flinch back with a cry of pain.

“I can’t—” She swallowed hard. “It’s right there in my mind, but when I try to speak of it, something blocks me.”

I glanced at Trew. “Couldsomeone place a ward on or tamper with another person’s memories?”

“It shouldn’t be possible.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “But the magic I felt in there wasn’t natural. Someone built something inside her mind that behaved like a ward.”

“We’ve seen many impossible things lately,” Kerralyn said, frowning.

Addie tried again, her frustration building. “I remember arriving at the castle. Him coming to me, forcing me to travel through the veil where I…” A frown took over her face. “I can’t remember. All I know is that—” Her words choked off again, and she slammed her palm on the sofa cushion beside her. “It’s right there, but I can’t reach it!”

Trew straightened. “I might be able to help. I can see memories. Not just view them but enter them.”

“You can do that?” Addie looked to me for confirmation.

“He saw my memory of Mother’s death,” I explained. “It’s intimate. If you let him do this, he’ll be inside your mind, seeing what you saw. But he’s gentle about it.” Absolute trust came through in my voice.

Addie didn’t hesitate. “Do it. Please.”

Trew knelt in front of her, raising his hands toward her temples. “Try not to fight me.”

When she nodded, he touched her.

His power swept through the room, making my skin tingle and the others shift in their chairs. I placed my hand on his shoulder, lending whatever strength I could as he concentrated.

Lines appeared between his brows. His jaw clenched. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pressed harder against whatever barrier he’d found.

Addie grimaced but held still, her eyes locked on his.

Finally, he dropped his hands, shaking his head. “It’s like hitting a wall but not. It does feel like a ward but that shouldn’t be possible inside someone’s mind.”

Our gazes met, silent communication passing between us. Whoever had done this possessed forbidden magic. Warping someone’s mind wasn’t just cruel, it had to be a violation of a person’s very self. Something like this would be as outlawed as using bloodfire bonds, which fit with the controllers.

“If it’s a ward,” I said, “maybe I can break it.”

Trew’s face darkened. “This could hurt you.”

“Everything hurts lately. I trust you,” Addie said, reaching for my hand. “I’ve always trusted you.”

Trew moved aside but stayed close enough to catch either of us if we fell.

Lexie, Derren, and Kerralyn formed a protective circle around us, their companions alert and watchful. Pherin flew down between me and Addie, bridging the small gap between us.

Help sister,she told me as I placed my fingers on Addie’s temples.Help together.

I closed my eyes and reached for my magic, letting it flow through my hands into Addie’s mind. This wasn’t like viewing a memory. I was entering her thoughts, becoming part of the weave so I could either break it or find a way through to the other side.

“I see it,” I said, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. “Sickly green-black. It could be bloodfire magic.” A shudder ripped through me. “It reeks.”

The ward was a grotesque distortion of natural magic, wrapped like a parasite around Addie’s mind. I could feel Pherin’s power flowing through our bond, making my hands tingle and my eyes burn beneath my closed lids.

I was dimly aware of Trew watching, his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with the effort of not interfering. His protectiveness was a tangible force, but he held himself back, respecting that this was something only I could do.

The ward resisted as I pulled at its threads, recognizing me as a threat. Pain lanced through my skull, but I pushed harder, unwilling to yield. This violation of my sister would end today.