“Bad enough that I have to suffer you traipsing around my city as though you were…” He broke off, finally realizing the degree of attention we’d garnered from his outburst. “As though you were human,” he said. “Not the cursed devil of a creature I know you to be.”

“Not cursed any longer,” I replied, plucking a glass of wine off a passing tray. “You should really try to keep up with these developments.”

His face darkened. “De Troyes said you wanted to make a bargain. I’ll hear you out, but then I want you gone.”

I shrugged. “As you like.” Bending, I whispered in Sabine’s ear, “You know what to do. But be careful.”

Aiden led me out of the hall, down a few narrow and low-ceilinged corridors, and into a study. “Shut the door,” he snapped at Cécile’s brother, who had followed us out of the main hall. “I don’t want anyone overhearing this.”

I selected a seat next to the banked fire where I could watch him pace, careful to keep Fred, and the pistol he had in his grip, in my line of sight.

“De Troyes has told me that you’re willing to dispatch your father in exchange for my assistance tonight.”

“Anushka is here in the castle,” I said. “I’ve strong reason to believe your mother has been harboring her, although I cannot say whether it is by choice.” Aiden opened his mouth to argue, but I held up a hand to cut him off. “The witch has been maintaining her immortality using a spell that involves a specific set of conditions and the sacrifice of her female descendants. She intends to murder Genevieve de Troyes tonight.”

Aiden’s eyebrows lifted. “But that means that Cécile is…”

I gave a slight nod. “I’d like your assistance in catching Anushka before she completes the spell.”

He stared at me in silence for several long moments. “You must think me a fool. If I help you catch the witch, you’ll kill her and release your scourge upon the Isle.”

“Yes,” I said, shoving aside the anger I felt at his terminology. “I will kill her. But what you need to understand is that her death is inevitable. My father’s adversary, the Duke d’Angoulême, has discovered her identity. He means to take control of Trollus using my younger brother and then kill her. Which means you have a choice: deal with him or deal with me.”

“This is a trick,” he whispered. “I won’t fall for your kind’s duplicity again.”

“It’s the truth,” I said. “My brother is violently insane, and the Duke is an extremist of the first order. If they kill the witch, they will be hailed as saviors of my people, and who can say how much harm they could inflict before that aura fades.”

“I’ll hear no more of this,” Aiden said. “Your words are poison.” He made a gesture with his hand, and a second later, I felt the barrel of a gun press against the back of my head.

I didn’t move. “I’ll give you one last chance to reconsider.” But my words landed on deaf ears.

“Do it, de Troyes,” Aiden shouted. “What are you waiting for?”

“You’re making a mistake,” I said, my pulse roaring in my ears. “If we work together, there is hope our people can coexist peacefully.”

“The only chance for peace is with your kind dead!” His eyes were wild. “Fred, this is your chance for revenge for what happened to your sister. Take it now.”

“No.” Cécile’s brother stepped out from behind me, his pistol now leveled at the other man. “I’m sorry for this, my lord, but I can’t let you make this mistake.”

“You are satisfied, then?” I asked, rising to my feet. I’d known Aiden would never agree to my plan, but Fred had needed proof before he was willing to commit what amounted to treason.

He nodded, and I didn’t miss the disappointment in his eyes. He’d believed Aiden a better sort of man than he’d proven himself to be.

Aiden’s eyes widened as he realized that he’d been played. “You’re the one making a mistake, de Troyes. This creature ruined your sister’s life – you said so yourself.”

“I did,” Fred replied. “But I also saw him save her life, and right now, he’s trying to save it again. I believe what he says that the trolls will escape one way or another, and I’d rather ally myself with the best of them than take my chances with the worst.”

“You’ll regret this,” Aiden shouted.

“Maybe I will,” Fred said. “But for now, I’ll be needing your clothes.”

Fifty-Two

Cécile

Keeping an eye on the door, I slipped on Sabine’s creation. It was gathered at the bust to give the appearance of more curves than I had. The straps were encased with a gilded mesh that molded against my shoulders, and the skirt hung in a whimsical A-line, feeling light as air against my legs. White feathers trailed from the back, in the suggestion of wings, floating out from behind me as I walked.

It made me desperately wish my friend were here. In all likelihood, she was in the castle and Marie was keeping her from me, but a little bit of doubt chewed at my heart. Tristan would have told her our intention to kill Anushka tonight, and I wasn’t entirely sure how she would take the news.

Holding the strand of hair between my fingers, I did my best to ignore the shake in my hand. I’d only have one chance at this, and the results were uncertain. Turning the lamp as high as it would go, I focused on the flame, drawing on its power even as I held the hair above it. It crackled; burning unnaturally slowly and bright as the magic flared and I focused my thoughts. “Show me my mother.”