Page 85 of The Noldrin Witch

It was a moment of shared understanding. Elise knew what was at stake just as well as Kurt did. They might have sealed the moment with something more appropriate, but the sight of a familiar blonde mane making its way through the gardens made it impossible for either to continue.

“Elise, you’ve had me chasing you through the gardens like a falcon after a pigeon,” Adelle said, struggling to keep her smile.

Elise tried to smile back, though she suspected the metaphor was more accurate than Adelle had meant it to be.

Kurt straightened as Adelle came to join them.

Elise knew this was not good. Finding her alone with Kurt in the gardens again was surely making Adelle fume, but feeling already so close to Kurt, she dared not give up the moment so easily.

“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked.

“You should have stayed with the rest. His Majesty wants to congratulate you in person. He came down to the workshop looking for you.”

“Congratulate you?” Kurt asked, turning to Elise. He looked at her as though he were barely resisting the urge to touch her.

Adelle cleared her throat.

“Didn’t she tell you? She managed to finish the potion Fabian had worked so hard on.”

“I didn’t realize you had been the one to make it happen,” Kurt said warmly.

Elise lowered her head. She still wasn’t sure she deserved so much praise, seeing that Morgaine’s magic had been responsible for the feat.

“I received a bit of outside help,” she admitted.

“How modest!” Adelle laughed as she looped her arm through Elise’s and sharply steered her away from Kurt. “Come. Let me take you back to the workshop. Everyone is waiting to celebrate.”

“Kurt,” Elise said as the tall blonde practically dragged her back to the catacombs.

“I’ll come tomorrow morning to see Sebastian before I leave,” he said.

Elise nodded as she felt Adelle’s grip tighten around her arm.

Tomorrow.

Chapter 34

In the deepening twilight, Elise found little peace. The celebration in the workshop, the praise, the joy—it had all felt somehow hollow when she thought about Kurt leaving for battle.

The refreshing scent of pine filled the gardens as she walked toward the maze. She hoped she could use the stone on her own and prove to Seth she no longer needed him. At least then she would have one less problem to worry about.

Bruno cawed as he circled high above her. Perhaps he sensed the coming rain. The days had been overcast, and tonight dark clouds covered much of the sky.

She made her way between the tall walls of greenery. She was rather proud of her good memory and found the clearing where the stone rested after taking only one wrong turn.

Elise stood there for a moment, admiring the rock. Its crescent shape looked as though it had been sculpted by the most skilled artist. The stone was not completely uniform, but that was precisely what made it even more beautiful to admire. It was as though several boulders had been fused together and then shaped into the imposing monument that now stood before her.

She placed a hand on the square base where the symbols were engraved. She tried to feel more of Danu’s magic, but nothing.

She remembered the chant Seth had whispered.

“Ramara, cara mara ra.”

Still nothing.

She tried again and again.

Bruno kept flying above in circles.