Borrowed Magic

by Shari Lambert

  Fourteen

  A half moon lit the night sky, lighting her way. And if the shadows cast by the eerie glow made her jump more than once, it was worth it.

  The path began to widen and she picked up her pace, anxious and excited at the same time. It was just ahead. And Philip was already there. His back was to her and the moonlight glowed off his dark hair. Relief washed over her.

  She stepped out of the shadows. “Philip?”

  He spun around and her eyes widened in fear. And then she ran. Or tried too. Kern grabbed her wrist in a steel-like grip, and no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t pull away.

  “Sorry to disappoint you, Maren. Philip’s already left. He waited for over an hour, but when you didn’t come…” She must have looked as confused as she felt. “I’m afraid the clock in your room might be a bit slow.”

  Magic. Her heart thudded in her chest as a wicked grin pierced his lips. He yanked her arm out in front of her and pulled the ring from her fingers. “I wondered what had happened to my ring when I didn’t see it on Philip’s finger. Thank you for returning it.”

  She stared into the face of Lord Teige: young, handsome, and with a smile that betrayed none of the evil behind it. But his eyes were the same. She didn’t know how she’d missed it before. He could change his features, could even alter his voice, but the truth was in his eyes – if you knew what to look for.

  For one moment she was frozen in fear and then instinct took over. She managed to wrench her arm from his now-loosened grip, but before she even took a step, invisible bonds wrapped themselves around her ankles and bound her arms to her side, holding her in place. A scream died in her throat as more bonds wound their way around her vocal chords, choking her. Not enough to cut off all her air, but enough to give the sensation of suffocating.

  “I’m not exactly sure when you first suspected I wasn’t what I seemed, but it didn’t take long before I realized there was something wrong, why you didn’t take to me like everyone else had. After all, I’d gone to great lengths to convince everyone how worthy I was.” A wicked gleam shone in his eyes. “And then I realized who you were, the girl who had protected the crown prince, the girl I thought I’d killed.”

  She struggled to get free but it was no use. His magic was too strong. All she accomplished was giving him the satisfaction of watching her efforts before he continued.

  “Then I began to notice you seemed in pain when I was around and I wondered why. Were you injured that night? Did the injury leave a mark? Did my magic make it worse? All possibilities I wanted the answers to.” He began to pace back and forth in front of her. “The more I was around you, the more I became convinced you suspected something, but also that I had some kind of hold over you. And then yesterday I saw this.” He held his hand out and let the moonlight catch on the black stone. “I knew you could see me for who I truly was. I’m not sure how since the ring only works for my family, but…”

  He slipped the ring in his pocket and took a step towards her. “You did a good job of hiding it, you know. I was impressed and began to see possibilities.”

  A chill went down her spine.

  “Let’s go back to the night I gave you this.” He reached up and pulled the shoulder of her dress down over her arm. The magical tendrils on her skin pulsed brighter, as if they recognized the source of their magic. For a minute he only stared. Then he traced his finger along the glowing blue streaks, and she forced back a scream.

  “I came to the castle that night with two goals.” He sounded as if he were talking to himself, reliving the events of a night that still haunted her. “Kill your father, and kill the heir. You simply got in the way. Although if I’d known you were your father’s daughter...” A wicked smile curled the edges of his mouth. “It doesn’t matter. It’s worked out better than I’d hoped. Now I get revenge on the man who trapped me in that tomb and revenge on the man who conspired with my wife to hide my son.”

  Her vision blurred in anger.

  “I made your father’s only child suffer with the loss of almost everyone she loved. And now I have a way to make you suffer even more. It’s poetic justice really – for what he did to me.”

  He came to stand almost toe-to-toe with her and she flinched.

  “Just being near me gives you pain.” He reached out and placed his hand against her cheek.

  She squeezed her eyes closed.

  “Touching you is even worse.” He pulled his hand away but she didn’t open her eyes, didn’t want to see anymore.

  “So if you’re in pain without me even trying, what would happen if I do?”

  Her eyes flew open with a newfound fear, but he only regarded her with curiosity. “This may hurt.”

  The next second, she fell to her knees as threads of magic worked their way over her body, crawling along every inch of skin until there wasn’t a part of her that didn’t feel like it was on fire. She wanted to scream, to release even the tiniest bit of the pain, but she couldn’t, instead lying helpless on the ground while he watched, his smile growing with satisfaction. She gasped for what little breath she could manage and felt tears streaming down her cheeks. And then it stopped.

  He walked over and pushed her onto her back with his boot. “That was even better than I’d hoped. Should we try some more?”

  She wanted to beg him not to, to plead, anything to make him stop. It was useless. Before she could even prepare for it, the searing pain was back. Only this time it was moving more slowly, deliberately. And it wasn’t just on the surface. It dug its way into her, like roots searching for nourishment. The magic crept its way deeper, into her muscles and bones one at a time, each new conquest bringing the pain all over again. And unlike before, it wasn’t like fire. It was deep, penetrating, and intense, robbing her of every thought except pain. Her body shook, and a terrible sound emanated from deep inside her chest.

  Once the magic had taken over her entire body, when there was nothing left to attack, it sat there like a victor after a battle, gloating. Kern kept her like that, hovering on the brink of consciousness until she was so weak that even the shaking stopped. And just when she couldn’t bear it any longer, when she knew, and even wished for, death, Kern pulled the magic back. She lay helpless, the memory of the pain fresh in her mind, as silent sobs racked her body.

  Kern laughed. “Don’t worry, it won’t be that bad every time. I don’t need to go that far to get the results I want.” He crouched down beside her and brushed her hair back from her face. The trembling started again. “I don’t want you dead, and much more of that and I think I’d kill you. It probably will eventually, slowly. For now, I’d rather just make you wish you were dead. I think you’re going to be very useful. But it does leave me with a dilemma.” He went back to his pacing.

  “I’m not ready to put my plan into place quite yet, and I can’t have you telling anyone the truth. So how do I keep you quiet? I can’t threaten to kill you. I want you alive, and I think you might choose death anyway. I can, however, threaten the lives of the people you care most about. Daric is going to die. But how would you feel if I killed the queen?”

  Maren tried to shut out the image of Adare dead.

  “Philip would probably be an even better threat, since you obviously love him, but I can’t harm my own son, especially since I’m going to mold him into the greatest mage-king the world has ever seen. With a kingdom so powerful no one dares oppose it.”

  She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

  “Did you want to say something?”

  The bonds around her throat loosened, but she was too weak and her vocal chords too dry. Only after a few tries did she manage a whisper. “Philip doesn’t have magic.”

  Kern’s eyes lit with amusement. “Of course he does. He’s my son. And he knows he has it. Why do you think he never talks about how he “defeated” me? It’s because he used magic. Very undeveloped, but there still the same. It just needs the guiding hand of a master to help him reach his full potential.
”

  She felt sick, but it did explain Philip’s reluctance to talk about what had happened. He never wanted to be like Kern. If he had magic, it was just one more thing they had in common.

  “You’d do all of this for petty revenge?” she whispered.

  Kern’s brows drew together. “Revenge is never petty.”

  “Philip won’t do it. He won’t stand by while you kill Daric. He won’t become you.”

  “I admire your spirit, my dear,” he sneered, “but you’re wrong. I became me, even though I was once very much like Philip. Trusting. Caring. Noble. It got me nothing but heartache. When Philip is betrayed, ignored, by the one he loves, do you really think he won’t change too? That he won’t be angry and bitter when your attentions turn to me? Because they will.” He laughed. “I always knew I’d find a way to win you over, Maren. I just didn’t realize how easy it would be. I’m the only one who can take away your pain. Whether you like it or not, you’ll need me. Even seek me out. Just imagine how that will look to everyone else.”

  A wave of revulsion spread through her.

  “Of course, at first I’ll be reluctant to pursue you. I don’t want to come between my friend and the woman he loves. But when you push Philip away, and he realizes it’s over, do you think he won’t do the noble thing and step aside? And when I kill Daric, do you think Philip won’t support his best friend when he’s chosen as the next king? And once I’m king and I name Philip my successor, do you think I won’t be able to take that anger he’s bottled up inside and turn it into something else? You see Maren, if I were to just take the kingdom now, you’re right, Philip would object. But with Daric gone, and you having betrayed him, well…everything works out perfectly. In fact, adding you into the mix makes my plan even better. I just need a little more time to move all the pieces into place.”

  “So…” Kern hovered over her and the pain was back, deeper like before, just as excruciating, but not as intense, not enough to kill her. “Do you agree to keep quiet if I promise not to kill the queen?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Just don’t hurt me anymore.”

  Kern’s eyes widened. “But that wasn’t the agreement. Our bargain was that I wouldn’t hurt Adare – not you.”

  A weak, anguished cry escaped her throat.

  “Consider carefully, Maren. Either way, you’re going to suffer. One way, you can save your friend.” He paused. “Do you agree?”

  She closed her eyes and nodded, hating herself, hating what she was agreeing to, and for the first time feeling utter despair for the future. How could she do anything if he kept her like this? How could she prevent Daric’s death, Kern becoming king, or the destruction of everything she loved? And how could she live with herself if she chose Adare over the kingdom? But what other choice did she have right now?

  Kern’s arms went around her, lifting her from the ground. She tried to struggle but he was much too strong and she had no strength left. Only pain.

  And she couldn’t take it anymore. She closed her eyes and drifted to a place where feeling was nonexistent.

  Fifteen

  Maren heard voices before she even opened her eyes. She couldn’t quite tell what they said, but they sounded concerned. She wanted to reassure them, tell them they didn’t need to worry, but she couldn’t forget what had happened.

  She finally opened her eyes to see her own bedroom. Daric, Adare, and Philip stood at the bottom of her bed in deep conversation. They hadn’t noticed she was awake yet. She closed her eyes again, relishing in the absence of pain. No, that wasn’t true. She was in a considerable amount of pain, but compared to what it had been, it was a relief.

  “Maren?”

  “Maren?” Adare asked again. “Are you awake?”

  She forced her eyes open. “Yes. What happened?”

  Adare glanced to where Kern stood. “Lord Teige found you unconscious in your father’s library.”

  Not the gardens. Then Philip might wonder if she was coming to meet him. Maren’s eyes met Kern’s. There was a glint of laughter in them, as if he’d gotten exactly what he wanted. Pain shot up her arm. A reminder.

  Adare sat on the bed beside her and took her other hand. “Maren, why didn’t you tell me you were dying?”

  She glanced towards Philip, who met her eyes with an intensity she had to look away from. He wanted to talk to her, to finish the conversation they’d started that day in the hall and now never would. At least he didn’t hate her – yet. He probably thought she didn’t meet him because she was lying unconscious on the library floor. She forced her eyes back to Adare. “There was nothing you could do. I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “So instead you collapse and I’m worried. If Philip hadn’t told me the truth, I’d be sending for every mage I could find.”

  “They couldn’t do anything either.”

  Adare squeezed her hand. “But how do you know? We should at least try.”

  Maren felt the pressure on her other hand and met Kern’s eyes, which were full of warning. “No, Adare. They couldn’t even heal the injury. You think they can prevent it from spreading?”

  Daric took Adare’s place at her side. His concern was enough to bring tears to her eyes. “Please, Maren. Let us do something.”

  She shook her head and avoided looking at him. She couldn’t, not knowing what Kern wanted and which she was no longer convinced she had the strength to stop. “Daric, Kern was the most powerful mage in memory. Do you really think there’s anyone who could stop his magic?” His head bowed. “It’s all right,” she lied. “I’ll be all right.”

  Daric bent and kissed Maren’s cheek, as did Adare. “We’ll talk about it later,” she said.

  Kern stood too. But before he followed the others, he came to stand beside the bed. “I hope you feel better soon.” His words were belied by the sting in her shoulder. A little reminder of the power he held over her. She fought back another wave of nausea.

  But the reminder served her well when Philip placed his hand over hers a moment later. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear. “I thought…when you didn’t come…” He squeezed his eyes closed. “I should have known something was wrong.”

  He was worried for her. He cared.

  Which only broke her heart all over again. Something she hadn’t thought was possible.

  * * *

  Maren opened her eyes to see a man sitting on the chair next to her bed. She unconsciously scooted further away, thinking it was Kern. It had been three days since she’d collapsed. She’d had visitors, mostly Adare and Daric, but occasionally Philip and Kern had come too. She dreaded those visits the most. They were full of her own fear, Philip’s frustration, and Kern’s enjoyment.

  “Maren, it’s only me.”

  Now that she bothered to notice, she could see that Daric didn’t look well. His eyes were red, and there were shadows underneath them.

  She relaxed back onto her pillows. “You don’t look so good.”

  He laughed, kind of. “I don’t feel good.”

  “Are you ill? Have you seen the doctors?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’m not sick.”

  Worry grabbed her heart. “Is it Adare? Is it Philip? Is it—”

  “Everyone’s fine.” Daric sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s you, Maren. You’re not all right.” He dropped his head into his hands. “And it’s my fault.”

  She climbed out from under her blankets and sat on the side of the bed across from Daric. “No, it’s no one’s fault except Kern’s.”

  “You told me your injury was getting worse but not that you were dying?”

  Of course he still couldn’t see that all of it was because of the man he knew as Teige. Kern’s magic wouldn’t allow it. “For the same reason I didn’t tell Adare. There was nothing you could do and I didn’t want you to worry.” She met his eyes. “Or blame yourself.”

  He groaned. “I do blame myself. You were trying to
save my son.”

  “And I volunteered. I knew exactly what I was doing. And I knew the risks.”

  He remained silent for a moment. “Yes, you knew the risks. You’d just seen your father murdered. And Philip had left.”

  She shifted uncomfortably.

  “I know you volunteered because you thought you had nothing to lose. I know how your father’s death affected you – especially after Philip disappeared.”

  “I still made my own decision.”

  “Yes, but it was motivated by loss. I knew that. I knew why…” He paused. “I shouldn’t have let you make that decision under those circumstances. I took advantage of your heartache. Yes, you volunteered, but I let you. I wanted to save my son.”

  She leaned forward and took his hands. “I won’t let you take the blame. I would have made the same decision even without those other things. I would have tried to save him no matter what. Having nothing to lose just made it easier.”

  He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d like to believe that.”

  “You can.”

  “Either way, I still feel guilty. It was me who didn’t kill Kern when I had the chance. It was me who wanted him to suffer, who trapped him for eternity instead of ending his life.”

  “You couldn’t have known he’d escape. You couldn’t—”

  “Maren.” He managed a small smile. “It’s all right. I’m the king. I deal with the consequences of my actions all the time. I thought I’d dealt with this one. After my father was murdered, I got revenge on Kern. Since then, the only person I’ve lost who was truly close to me was my son. I don’t want to lose you too.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. She’d loved relatively few people in her life: her father and mother, Philip, Adare, and Daric. Her parents were already gone. Now she was losing everyone else. And unless she could find a way to stop Kern, she was going to be forced to watch Daric die, a possibility that was becoming more and more certain. She choked back a sob.