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He carefully set my broom and my traveling bag at my feet, then procured a key from his pocket and offered it to me. The moment my fingers closed around the key, he stepped back. Paused. Then, with a rush of air, he was gone. It was only me and Della and the sound of the water and the frogs.

I sat on the iron bench and waited for relief. I was alone, which was what I’d wanted. But relief refused to come. Instead, there was a band of tension around my chest squeezing me tight, accompanied by the subtle vibrations of the relics. I touched the place they were magickally sealed inside my bodice, knowing full well I couldn’t remove them without my magick.

I thought of the vicious spell I’d shot at those two witches. Of the smell of burning flesh. Had I meant to kill them? I wasn’t sure.

I placed Della on my shoulder, and forced myself to stand. I was unsteady on my feet, but I pushed through the discomfort and made my way to the small cottage with the decorative wooden door. I ran my finger over the shiny gold inlay and frowned. This place was nothing like my home at Kemp Manor, far away in the cold foothills of the Veilleur Mountains.

I didn’t need a home—just a quiet place to land.

Della squawked encouragingly. I fitted the key in the lock, turned it, and the door clicked open. Inside, the cottage was decorated like a cozy garden retreat. Shelves filled with books lined the back wall of a spectacular sitting room. Little golden statues of rabbits and birds sat on the marble fireplace. Fresh-cut flowers sat in vases on every table.

Making my way across a plush rug decorated with red water lilies, I discovered a bedroom with a canopy bed and a large footed tub beside a window. In the corner was a large wardrobe inlaid with the same gold detail as the front door. I’d never seen anything so grand.

Quickly, I set Della on the bed. Then I undid the laces on my bodice, freeing my chest, and tossed it on the quilt. As soon as the relics were off of my skin, I drew in a slow, shaky breath.

Better.

By Damien, I felt so much better.

But seconds later I had the urge to put the old bodice back on. I reached for it, but Della landed right on top of it. I stared at her, chest heaving, forcing myself to keep my feet rooted in place.

The ghost of Gran’s voice came to me. Hide them, child. And leave them be.

Fresh tears welled in my eyes. I tried to make myself do what Gran asked, but it was the hardest thing I’d done all night, harder than allowing myself to be carried by the vampire prince.

Just do it, Cora!

My feet would not move, and my hands stayed clenched at my sides. I understood, with a sick lurch, that I couldn’t hide them away. I was too worried about losing them, even here. Losing my magick for seven days was bad enough. If I lost the relics, I’d never be in control of my power again. I’d have to pay another coven to sit in on their recharging ritual like a beggar.

Della watched me struggling. She hopped off the bodice, took a fold of it in her beak, and began to drag it off the bed.

“And where do you think you’re going with that?” I asked.

She didn’t answer. She just kept dragging the bodice further away until she disappeared into the hall. I said a silent word of thanks before the exhaustion overtook me, and I collapsed on the bed.

Chapter 14

Coupable

YVES

On my way back to the castle, with murder in my heart, the shuffle of feet stole my attention.

“Adrien!” I said sharply.

“What?” he said, stepping out of the dark and into a pale beam of moonlight. “I wasn’t doing anything.”

I crossed my arms. “Go back inside.”

My son squared his shoulders. “I only want to say goodnight.”

I wanted to do the same thing, just in a very different way.

“She is a guest. A mortal guest. And mortals rest at night. You know this.”

“I won’t wake her,” he argued. “I’ll just visit Della.”

“Birds like Della also sleep at night.” I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice, but it was bleeding through. “Come. I’ll take you back to your room.”