“Things between yourself and the king are … damaged, are they not?”
“You mean because I slept with his brother?” I said with an edge of playful sarcasm. “Uh, yeah.”
“I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“I’ve been doing some … reading.” I thought I heard a smile in his voice. “For the sake of my Anandene, I need you to have a healthy and safe pregnancy, but from what I’ve read, relationship stress can have many adverse effects on an unborn child.”
“Well, I can’t avoid that kind of stress, Drake.” I leaned against the wall. “He hates me. I mean, he said he still cares about me, but he’s cold and distant and…”
“And?”
“And apparently Lilith wants me with Jason. So none of it really matters. Not that I
want
that, because I don’t. But when I refused, she branded me, Drake. I—”
“Branded you?”
“Mm-hm.” I nodded.
“Lilith? As in, my grandmother?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“And you were … you were present of mind when she did this?”
“Um, I’m pretty sure.” I took another good look at my Mark, remembering the pain.
“You were Marked before, also, weren’t you?”
“The Mark of Betrayal.”
“And it faded?”
“When I accepted my feelings for Jason, yeah.”
“Feelings? As in, you were Marked because you betrayed your own heart—not because you betrayed your husband?”
“Something like that.”
“Of course,” he said absently.
“What does that mean?”
“Amara, my grandmother may be an Auress of the realm, but you must remember she is not the power. What she wants is not necessarily the forces of Nature or Fate at work.”
“Which means?”
“She Marked you because
she
had something to prove.”
“Like what?”
“That Nature, or God or Fate wants you with Jason.”
“But you think maybe
she
does. Not Fate?”
“Perhaps.”
“Then, like, what? Her hopes for my future are subjective of her own needs?”
“Entirely.”
“But … why would she want me with him?”
“I don’t know. But I do know it’s not just
her
standing between you and David.”
“Who else?”
“I’m not sure I have my facts entirely straight, so please don’t act on it, and do not, under any circumstances take action against her. I tell you this only so you can perhaps do something to change the outcome.”
“Drake, you're not making a lot of sense.”
“I fear Morgana may have done something to interfere—with you and David.”
“Something? As in what?”
“I’m not sure. But, whatever it is, it involved witchcraft.”
Her face flashed into my mind then, and I just wanted to slap the air to get rid of it. “What could she possibly have done?”
“I cannot say. If I could, I would. But there is
someone
you can ask.”
“Who?”
“In your realm, the Stone you protect holds all the power. Lilith and you are merely guardians of that. Neither of you have any real ability to influence the wishes of Nature, or God, whatever you want to call it. In that forest, witchcraft has no bearing either. You must go there at first light and ask the Stone to cleanse you of any curses or hexes one may have placed on you.”
“Hexes?”
“Morgana is extremely powerful. I don’t believe she’s stupid enough to do anything to hurt you or the baby, but … something she said to me recently got me thinking she may have done something to David. But I think it best you be cleansed as well—to be safe.”
“Well,
I’ve
been fine, Drake. But, David … he’s been in pain.”
“Pain?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what’s causing it, but—”
“Then you must act quickly. And tell no one what we’ve spoken of, not even David.”
“Why?”
“If Morgana has cursed him, she’ll be keeping an eye on him. It’s a matter of vanity, like a serial killer stalking his victims’ families to see their pain. She may do something stupid if she thinks she’s been caught.”
“Okay. So … what, I just go to the Stone at dawn?”
“That’s when its power is at its greatest. Go there, ask for its wisdom. But be prepared, Amara; if Morgana has done something to David, you may need
her
to undo it. Do not take any rash action against her. You will remember, at all times, that she is family. No matter what.”
I bit my teeth together. “Fine. I won’t wring the little bitch’s neck, but I will punish her if she’s interfered, Drake.”
“I would not deny you that,” he said simply. “And I trust, with your compassionate heart, you would not be too hard on the girl. She hasn’t led a very easy life.”
“I understand.” I nodded, clutching the edges of my dress so firmly my fingers went numb. “So, do you think it’s possible she’s turning David against me?”
“Do you?” he asked in a high voice. “I haven’t been there, Amara. I know only what I hear, and from what I hear, he hasn’t been kind.”
“He hasn’t. At all.”
“He loves you, Amara,” Drake said kindly. “If he’s in any way denying that, there must be good reason for it, and I don’t believe it is because you betrayed him.”
“Then you don’t know David.”
“I know him better than any of you. And one mistake on your part will not be enough to sway him from you eternally. There must be something else keeping him from coming to you.”
“Well, maybe Lilith told him what she told me.”
“What
did
she tell you?”
“That I needed to be with Jason because he’d save us.”
“Save you from what?”
“I don’t know.”
Drake went completely quiet.
“Drake?”
“I do not trust Lilith when it comes to Anandene.”
I touched my belly. “But she encouraged me to have a child, knowing it would be Anandene.”
“No, she, unbeknownst to you, encouraged Arthur to be the father.”
“I thought it was you that asked him to ‘impregnate’ me.”
Drake laughed. “Why would you think that?”
“Arthur told me.”
“My dear, if you conceived with Arthur, that would completely ruin my plans.”
“Then that was the point, wasn’t it?” I flooded with realisation. “She doesn’t want Anandene to exist. She—”
“Yes.”
“Oh God.” I cupped my belly. “Then, does that mean Arthur might hurt the baby?”
“No. Arthur was ignorant to Lilith’s true plan. She gave him no reason why she asked him to fornicate with you, and forced him to find a way to convince you on his own. He is faithful to Lilith, but not enough to ever knowingly hurt you.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Morgana,” he said simply. “She is my eyes and ears.”
“Then why didn’t you try to stop Arthur?”
“By the time Morgana knew his intentions, it was too late—you were already pregnant. Of course, you’d also already slept with Jason—an act you would not have committed had Arthur kept his filthy hands off you.” Drake simmered his rage with a hard breath.
“Well, it’s not something I like to think about. Believe me.”
“I understand,” he said, adding with a warm chuckle, “However, even
I’d
have slept with Jason to avoid a sexual rendezvous with Arthur.”
I laughed. “I just wish I’d avoided both mistakes.”
“Why, Amara? They've done nothing but strengthen you.”
“No. It messed everything up with David and I.”
“No. His inability to swallow his pride and admit his love for you has messed that up.”
“He shouldn't have any love for me now, Drake. I’m impure in his eyes.”
“Rubbish. And clearly, by that statement, you are just as naïve as you were when you first arrived at the manor.” He exhaled. “Don’t you understand, girl? Lilith has played your young, confused heart for some time now—moulding and shaping you to
her
will. What makes you think she’s not been playing David against you as well?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ask yourself if you truly believe David can fall out of love with you. Then ask yourself why you have believed all this time that he has.”
“It’s my duty to believe it, for a start. If I’m supposed to be with Jason—”
“You’re not supposed to be with Jason. Get that whole notion out of your head! Lilith, damn her prying soul, has an agenda of her own.”
“So neither her nor Morgaine wants David and I happy together?”
“No. But the question is … why?”
“Good question.” I thought for a second. “Could it simply come down to hate?”
“No. You need to seek wisdom from the Stone, Amara. It does not tell its secrets in black and white, but you will find yourself with a greater sense of purpose, perhaps understanding, by simply asking for a resolution—or perhaps by asking what the question is that you need to ask.”
“Then I guess I need to be up at dawn tomorrow.”
“Yes, and keep David out of it for now. Just until you’ve gotten to the bottom of this business with Morgana.”
“Okay.”
“Of course, you could take him to the Stone,” he suggested. “He’s sworn in as a protector of the realm, and any magic or curses, even any Watching Spells linked to his blood or soul, will have no power there. You could talk openly—warn him.”
“Morgana wouldn't be able to hear?”
“Not if she’s using magic to keep an eye on him. If she follows you, I can’t guarantee she won’t hear, but her magic will be of no use there.”
I looked down at my hand. “
Mine
is, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“I healed a leaf—brought it back to life.”
“Is that so?” He laughed. “You’re a Healer.”
“I don’t know what I am, I—”
“I just told you,” he stated. “You’re one of very few goddesses ever with the power to restore life, Amara. You are very blessed.”
“I am?”
“One day,” he said, “you will learn how to properly harness and use your powers. When that happens, no man will ever need to suffer the tears of loss.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, one day, you will have the power to bring a man back to life.”
My world rocked around me. “But…”
“Do not question it. This power belongs only to the worthy—the ones strong and noble enough to make decisions about who should live or die. You must have an incredibly pure heart, my dear niece.”
“One you’ll stop from beating in eighteen years.”
“Well,” he said, dragging the word out. “With this new information coming to light, perhaps we may need to work out another deal.”
“Really?”
“Let’s not talk of it now. There is plenty of time.”
“Okay.” I nodded, allowing myself to be hopeful. “So how do I work on my powers? I mean—”
“It’s instinct, Amara. You will dream, you will feel, and as you live each day, questions will come to you. Only once they come are you ready to seek the answers. When that time comes, you, on your own, with your heart and your mind, will find them.”
“Time.” I nodded. “That’s life’s greatest lesson.”
“Yes, but so is love. And I wish you the best of luck, Amara, in healing yours.”
“Thank you,” I said, and Drake hung up the phone.
***
“Hey.” David plonked down heavily, almost humanly on the garden swing beside me.
“Hey,” I said rather solemnly.
“Something wrong?”
“Is something not?” I looked at him savagely. “Oh, right. Of course, no one’s around so you can actually be civil to me.”
He sat back slowly, resting both hands in his lap.
“I’m sorry,” I said, rubbing the moodiness off my face. “I’m just a bit hormonal. I guess it’s making me more sensitive lately.”
“You sure that’s all?”
“Yes. No.” My shoulders dropped and I took a deep, relaxing breath. “Also, I talked to Drake today.”
The energy surrounding David changed then. I
felt
the stiffness before I noticed it in his limbs. “What did he want?”
I hesitated, slowly cupping my hand over the wriggling alien in my belly. “Just checking in—” I started, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the presence of something unnatural, reminding me that Morgana, or maybe even Lilith, might be listening.
“Care to elaborate?” he said, leaning around to smile arrogantly right into my face. “He’s our enemy, remember, Ara. You can’t just—”
“He’s not a threat, David.”