Trynne rolled over, turning her back to Fallon, clinging to the blanket in anticipation of the words that were coming.
“She used magic on me,” Fallon said softly. “The power of the medallion that I showed you, the kystrel. The feelings she tempted me with were very real. Very powerful. It was like finding myself in a strange waking dream. I fell madly in love with her. Even though I knew nothing had changed between us. Even though I knew I was being manipulated. But the feelings were so powerful, so real.” He sighed. “I also knew she had the ability to watch me from afar. I played the role of besotted lover in front of my sister and even Drew.
Only after she gave the medallion to me and I refused to put it on did the magicked feelings truly begin to abate. But I’ll be honest, as I promised I would be. She has compromised me emotionally. When I drugged her with the nightshade and she revealed her full plans to me, part of me was deeply tempted to give her more of the poison . . . enough to kill her.” His voice was very low, very soft, and she could hear the turmoil in his words. “But I . . . I couldn’t. It would have been like stabbing myself in the heart. She has power over me. I had to escape, to run away. I cannot face her again, Trynne. I’m afraid of what I might do.” He fisted his hands on his lap. “I knew that she was intending to betray me. She revealed her plans, almost laughing at her mischief as she did so. She’s impersonating my sister. She was willing to murder my little niece to clear the way to the throne. She’s become the very monster we all feared she would be. The same kind of monster her father became. There is no longer any loyalty that binds her to anyone. Not even to me. I had hoped . . . whatever happened . . . that I could keep her from doing her worst, but she’s beyond help. Knowing all of this, I still could not hurt her.”
He sniffed and sighed again. There was hurt in the sound, the sound of a man betrayed by a friend. Trynne felt anguish for him and wished she could comfort him. She imagined herself holding him, stroking his hair, and whispering soothing words. Then she imagined him kissing her cheek in thanks, and her blood began to quicken with heat, hoping he would kiss her jaw, then her neck, then . . .
As heat radiated through her, she became aware that they were not alone on the hillock anymore. There had been no noise, not the cracking of twigs or the rustle of bushes, but she still sensed a presence—some force she could not see. There was almost a mewling sound, so high-pitched it was nearly lost in the sound of the wind. A feeling of dread and fear mounted inside her.
“Do you feel them?” Fallon whispered darkly.
Her skin crawled. It felt as if something catlike was nuzzling her back. She quickly sat up, and more thoughts crowded into her mind.
She loved Fallon. She always had. Her husband didn’t love her. He would never know. She would never tell.
“What are they?” Trynne asked, her voice quavering.
“I don’t know,” he said. “They started coming soon after we began talking. Maybe they were drawn by the kystrel in my pocket.”
She heard the scratching sound of his nails against the stubble on his throat. “They must feed on our emotions somehow. We should stop talking, or at least stop until daylight. Why don’t you go to sleep?”
“I’ll try,” Trynne whispered, shaking with horror at the feelings roiling inside her. The feelings were unnatural. They were forbidden.
After she lay back down, she reached out with her mind. With her magic, she could sense the presence of the unseen beings. She could sense the malevolence, the frustration that she and Fallon had become aware of them.
She had another thought, a memory of Fallon kissing her on the pinnacle of the tower in Dundrennan. The feelings intensified and she slammed her mind down, focusing on memories of her father. Of
playing Wizr with him and trying to outsmart him. Of her favorite berry pies from Ploemeur.
A hissing, angry feeling came from the presence around her.
Be gone, she thought, snapping the command with her mind.
The hissing sound grew worse. She continued to focus her thoughts, bringing back memories of the training yard and Captain Staeli. This was a different kind of battle. But it was a fight nonetheless.
She fell asleep, still hearing the angry purrs from the unseen monsters as they slowly withdrew and abandoned the hillock.
Fallon’s hand touched her back and then her shoulder and jostled her awake.
“It’s your turn,” he whispered through chattering teeth.
The night was black and cold and too dark to see anything. She could not make out Fallon at all.