As I feared, Blythe rushed through the lesson, which meant her pretending to answer my questions was a ruse. The scholar must’ve sensed my presence inside her head. Now, she knew I was working against King Peter. My stomach turned as the lesson ended.
With Potions taking place in another room, we had a break of ten minutes to get there. But when Blythe concluded her lesson, I did not follow the other students. Instead, I slipped out of the classroom and hid in an alcove, waiting for Blythe to leave.
I had to intercept her before she made her report to the king. Even though I assumed she must have some degree of telepathy, she wouldn’t manage to talk to the king from this far away, which meant she’d have to go to the palace and report on me or send a messenger. I had the feeling that Blythe would do this job herself, relishing the opportunity to tell the king what I’d asked. As I predicted, she walked out of her classroom, got on the stairway tree, and headed straight for the exit of the Vasara Center. I followed, removing my shoes to mask my footsteps. A small, brown carriage and a single Pegasus waited outside for her, just past the open gates. She stepped inside, and I broke into a run as the front gates began to close. My heart thudded. What happened next would determine my fate.
I rushed past the gates and reached the carriage. Blythe was about to close the door when I jumped inside.
“Virgie! What are you doing?” Blythe pressed into her side of the carriage as we went airborne. Her eyes widened, and I smiled. She had every reason to be afraid. I reached under my skirt and pulled out my dagger, and her jaw dropped.
“You can’t hurt me. You’ll go for prison for this!” Her voice turned shrill.
“We're already in prison. How is that different from swearing a loyalty oath to King Peter?”
She tsked, regaining her composure as her eyes hardened.
I glanced outside the window to find the houses were growing smaller and smaller. I had perhaps ten minutes left before we reached the palace. “How long have you known about my friendship with Peony?”
She maintained her stare. “Your questions were too eager. It was not difficult to figure out.”
“What else does the king know?”
She hesitated, and I tossed the dagger at her. She jumped, then stared up at me with confusion as she picked up the blade that had landed on her skirt without hurting her. If she thought this was a mistake on my part, she would soon discover she was very wrong.
“What else does the king know?” Tell me, or stab yourself, I commanded. I had done this before. I would do it again. Making my requests reasonable no longer mattered.
Her hand flew up and froze mid-air. Her brows knotted together as she tried to withstand my compulsion.
Tell me, or stab yourself, I repeated in my mind, putting more conviction behind my words. A dull ache thumped through my head.
Blythe spoke, the blade shaking in her hand, an inch away from her thigh. “King Peter knows Caleb can’t be trusted. He knows that you’re involved in all of this, and that Nathan can’t keep you under control. He’s going to make you swear your vow in front of the whole court as part of your engagement celebration.”
“What else is he planning?” I gritted out.
Blythe shook her head. “Nothing. I don’t know anything more.”
“Don’t lie to me.” Her glare told me this was all I would get unless I turned up the heat.
Stab yourself! I screamed into her mind, once, twice, a dozen times. Her eyes turned glassy, and she brought the blade down straight into her thigh. Blood streamed out and soaked the fabric of her charcoal skirt as Blythe wailed in agony.
Good, now that she understood how serious the situation was, I went in for the kill. “You’re going to disappear into the borderlands immediately where you will stay for the next year. Swear it, or you will die.”
Blythe glanced from the blood and up to me, eyes still somewhat glassy. She trembled, the blade still wedged into her thigh. “You can’t. The king will know something is wrong. I am valuable to him.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I cut her off. Princess Petra had been a master at keeping up a glamour and Onyx had figured it out back at Nocturnal Academy. I already had someone in mind who could impersonate Blythe, someone who would help me turn the scared Vasara students from deer into lions.
“Twist the blade,” I said, and Blythe did, her face contorting as she tenderized her flesh. “Vow that you’ll disappear into the borderlands for a year. Do so, and I’ll spare your life.”
Blythe’s peach-colored wings flapped wildly behind her. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I smiled. “Yes, I would. To save countless lives, I’ll sacrifice yours.”
For a moment, she said nothing, then she raised her nose. “You’ll regret this, Vergeat Everston.”
“Stab yourself deeper, closer to your artery,” I said in return. Her scream of agony shook the carriage, making me really glad that the Pegasi didn’t require a coachman. I leaned back against the carriage wall and forced a smile. “Make the vow before you bleed out.”
Blythe glanced at the puddle of blood on her skirt and jerked her head in confirmation. “I vow to disappear into the borderlands tonight where I’ll stay for the next year.”
“Immediately,” I corrected. I would give her no time to talk to the king before she left.
Blythe breathed out in defeat and spoke the correct vow.
Excellent. “In exchange, I’ll spare your life. You may remove the knife.”
The magic of the oath sizzled through the air. Blythe used her skirts to staunch the flow of her blood while I spoke telepathically to the Pegasi. Take us back to the Vasara Center.
The carriage turned around and flew back. There were so many more things I wanted to ask Blythe, but I didn’t dare. She was a much closer confidante of the king than I’d thought. She could easily mislead me and make me draw a false conclusion.
The vow she’d given me would be eventually overridden by the king’s magic. I had bought myself time, but this wasn’t a solution. Onyx would have to keep an eye on Blythe. Hopefully, she’d take it as a sign of my dedication to working with her.
As we neared the Vasara Center, I located Nathan’s mind. I need you to find Onyx’s spy. She needs to take Blythe to the borderlands. I’ll explain everything later.
What—? All right. I felt as Nathan switched from shock into High Commander mode, moving fast.
Unfortunately, the stableman hurried to our carriage as soon as it landed. Blocking Blythe from view, I lowered my window and yelled at him, “We’re all good here. Just waiting for someone.” Leave, I added silently. It’s all good.
And he did.
Then I pulled the window back up and hissed at Blythe, “If you even make a peep, I’ll force you to cut off your wings.” Her face turned ashen. Wings were a fae’s most prized body part and they didn’t regrow, another tidbit I’d learned thanks to Blythe’s lessons.
The spy that Onyx had used the first time to hand me a note knocked on the carriage.
“Come inside.” I moved so that she could take a seat next to me. She remained calm, not showing any distress even as she saw the blood that now covered all of Blythe’s dress and had seeped into the carriage carpet. The acrid, yet floral scent of her blood filled the air. All the color had left Blythe’s face, and I wondered if she’d pass out. But she was tough.
“I need you to take Blythe to the borderlands, without anyone noticing.” There was more I wanted to say, but I couldn’t in front of Blythe. She wouldn’t stay calm if she knew I’d be handing her over to Onyx. “Do you have a pen and paper?” I asked instead, and the spy handed me both.
I wrote out of Blythe’s view, who strained her neck, trying to see the contents of my message.
Onyx,
Blythe is a teacher at the Vasara Center and was about to reveal to the king our involvement in helping you.
I forced her to vow to stay in the borderlands for a year, but I don’t trust her.
Take
her as your prisoner. I hope you accept this as a gesture on my part that we are still on your side and doing our best despite our current dire circumstances.
I folded the note, and the nameless spy made it disappear. “I’ll handle it from here,” she said calmly, eyeing Blythe’s injury.
“Thank you.” Confident in the spy, I exited the carriage, then headed straight into the Vasara and toward Nathan’s office. I knocked, and he opened the door immediately. His gaze roamed over me as I shut the door. When he realized I wasn’t hurt, he released a breath and pulled me into a hug. “What happened?” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.
“I was questioning Blythe and discovered she has been reporting on us to the king.” I bit my lip, afraid of his reaction at hearing the full truth. “Nathan, he knows. He knows that Caleb and I are involved. I didn’t dare ask about you. He must be waiting for us to slip up in front of Peony. We can't tell her anything more.”
Nathan sighed. “Of course. He’s the king, and you and Caleb are both close to Peony and worked previously with Onyx.”
I nodded. “Blythe said that to break the vow, we must either kill King Peter or banish him to the wastelands. But he’s protected by that damn plant Peony made. They even call it the Shield. It stops him from being hurt by ice magic and other elements.”
Nathan’s silver eyes widened, and he shook his head. “You asked Blythe all of that and thought you could get away with it? Blythe was specifically chosen by King Peter to work with the Vasara students. And you. There were reasons for that.”
I wrung my hands. “I had to.” At his falling face, I touched his cheek. “What’s done is done. She won’t speak. I made her vow to disappear into the borderlands for a year. To ensure she doesn’t break it, I’m having the spy take her to Onyx.”
Nathan gripped my arms. “People will notice she’s missing. Have you lost—”
“No, I’ve not lost my mind. We need an impersonator. Someone who can use glamour.”
He shook his head. “Neither Peony nor Kristen know how to do it. Both you, I, and Caleb have too many responsibilities to be two people at once.”
I inhaled deeply, knowing he’d hate the next part. “But there’s someone who is powerful and could pull it off. She’s mostly here anyways.”
Nathan’s expression hardened. “No, absolutely not.”
“Nathan, please. We need Nerissa. We managed not to involve her up until now. But now we have no choice.”
“Keep my sister out of this!”
“Keep me out of what?” a crystalline voice asked behind me.
I whirled around. Nerissa had opened the door without us noticing and was now standing in the doorway, her head tilted and one eyebrow lifted.
18
Virgie
Nerissa, it turned out, didn’t appreciate being treated like the baby sister. Despite Nathan’s protests, she was prepared to jump into this mess and help us.
“Nathan, I am an adult now,” she said after I explained everything.
Nathan’s jaw tightened. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Yet, you’ve been part of this rebellion for what, months?” Nerissa crossed her arms, looking like an angel warrior. “We are from the same noble line. I have the same powers of leadership that you do.” Nerissa stepped forward and stared Nathan down. “You don’t have to protect me anymore. I’m well versed in how the court works. I’ve been dealing with the bureaucracy for years.”
Nathan sighed. “You play an important part. You’re smart and strong, but this...I could never ask you to do this.”
“You don’t have to ask me. I’m volunteering.” Her eyes flashed and then right in front of me her hair grew shorter and turned gray, her smooth skin was replaced by wrinkles, and her white gown changed into the charcoal cardigan and billowing skirt Blythe had worn last.
“Incredible,” I breathed. “You look just like her.”
Nerissa smiled. “I also know how to get into her quarters and office. Nobody will suspect a thing.” Nerissa’s now-peach wings fluttered with excitement as she smiled triumphantly at Nathan.
“The glamour is the easy part,” he said tightly. “Nerissa, if your involvement is discovered—”
“I will bear the same consequences as you if you’re discovered,” she finished stubbornly.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable doing this?” I asked.
A tinkling laugh slipped from her lips. “You really bought my whole obedience act, didn’t you, Virgie?” At my puzzled expression, she added, “Before King Peter took us under his wing, I was a wild child. I hiked and dove. My fingernails were always dirty. My hair was a mess of knots.” Sadness filled her eyes. “I want to feel like myself again and do something useful for a change.” Her back straightened. “I’m tired of being obedient and playing it safe.”
Nathan let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. But promise you’ll tell me if it gets to be too much.” She nodded, but didn’t say the words.
Sensing she didn’t want to, I came to her rescue. “Have you sworn the oath to the king?”
Nerissa let the glamour drop away, restoring her normal look. Her golden wings stilled behind her. “I swore to serve the Summer Court. My oath was much shorter than Nathan’s. The king wasn’t too interested in me.”
Nathan’s features tightened, and I understood. The king had overseen Nerissa because of Nathan. He’d been protecting his sister from King Peter all this time, and now, she was diving into this mess and risking herself just as Peony had.
I took Nathan’s hand and spoke into his mind. I know this is hard for you. But she wants to help.
My sister has always wanted to step into danger. If she gets caught....
Nathan’s sacrifices would be for naught. We won’t let that happen, I reassured him.
I turned to Nerissa, who had once again taken the form of Blythe. She was admiring her new features in a hand-held mirror. Something still nagged at me. It was the one time Nerissa had gleefully told me that I’d soon swear the oath to the king. “Why did you want me to swear the oath?”
Nerissa’s mouth dropped open and she spoke in Blythe's voice. “Because back then, I really thought that if only we all worked together, everything would turn out all right. Seeing what King Peter did to Thorsten…” She shook her head. “It was awful. It made me realize that I wasn’t judging him too harshly. It made me realize who he truly was.”
“Do you think there’s a chance the other fae at court feel the same way?”
Nerissa gave me a sad smile. “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean they’ll act on it.”
Just as I had suspected.
Nerissa continued. “But we have the Vasara students. They’re newer. They might be more willing to break the mold.”
I nodded. If we got the Vasara students on board to help Onyx get into the castle, we might stand a chance, provided Peony could fight her oath long enough to turn Thorsten back into a vampire.
“Blythe” fluttered into the classroom as she always did the next morning, holding her books over her chest in the correct manner. If I hadn’t known better, I might’ve started to wonder if the real Blythe had returned.
“Good morning, class,” Nerissa said in Blythe’s chipper tone. “How is everyone today?”
A few students looked at each other. Blythe never asked how we were doing. A few people said they were doing fine. Peony looked at me, raising an eyebrow, but I didn’t dare tell her what was happening. With the severity of her vow and the traps King Peter had laid, I couldn’t take the risk.
“I know many of you have been anxious after the occurrence at the palace a few nights ago,” Nerissa continued, and the students leaned in. “I’m deeply concerned about the future of the Summer Court myself. I believe that as citizens of the Summer Court, we have a right to make a difference in our world. That difference starts with facing our fears.”
Students, including Peony, reeled back at “Blythe’s” unusual speech.
“You have trained very
hard to become warriors the last few months,” Nerissa continued. “Your fighting skills now rival those of the other warriors in the Summer lands.” Nerissa moved her gaze over the class, pausing on each student for a second. “Today’s class is for those of you who are versed in combat. Peony, you are excused to Potions to catch up on your work from Nerissa’s class.”
Peony rose, disappointment and relief warring on her face. “Thank you.”
Even Nerissa knew we couldn’t take the risk of having Peony here. I hated excluding Peony, but with her actions and words belonging to King Peter we had no other choice. If she knew Nerissa was training the students here to go against him, she would be forced by her vow to stop Nerissa.
With Peony gone, Nerissa could talk openly. Also, Peony might whip up something useful in Potions. I knew she’d been experimenting on her own time, fascinated with this aspect of plant use.
I remained in the room as Nerissa had the students praise each other’s combat skills. When it was my turn, I faced Kristen. “Kristen is a great archer, probably the best here. She works well under stress and is a great friend.”
Kristen beamed. “Virgie is a great motivator,” she said. “She lets you know you can get something done when you feel like you can’t.”
By the end of Developing a Mind Shield, the mood in the room had lifted several levels. Nerissa moved on to recounting King Peter’s torture of Thorsten, and fists clenched and balled. Then for the first time in a long time, the students dared to ask questions, real questions.
“Didn’t Thorsten come here of his own will to negotiate with King Peter?”
This first question caused a domino effect, and soon the room exploded with students talking over each other.
“Does King Peter want war?”
“Will we be the first ones sent to the front lines?”
“Why is he on the throne?”
Nerissa allowed them all to voice their opinions, sensing that they didn’t want answers since they already knew, but needing space to finally allow their unfiltered thoughts to come. After a few minutes, I used a bit of mental influence to calm down the class so that Nerissa could speak.
The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset] Page 97
