“Why would anyone demand your execution?” Magnus asked, sharing a look of confusion with Cleo.

“Because,” Selia began slowly, “I confessed to poisoning my husband.”

Magnus shook his head, confused. “But I saw Father poison him.”

“Did you?” She regarded him with interest. “Then you saw the poison that I supplied to him. Gaius couldn’t take the blame and the throne, so I made everything easier so that he could rule—much better than Davidus ever could.” She said it so simply, as if they were discussing the weather. “It hasn’t been so horrible, really. This town is sometimes unbearably cold, but it’s pleasant enough most days. I have friends here, which helps to pass the time since my son’s last brief visit. What was it, Gaius . . . five years ago?”

“Six,” Gaius replied.

“Sabina visited me twice since then.”

“You were her mentor. I’m not surprised.”

Cleo remained silent, but Magnus knew she was filing information away in that beautiful blond head of hers.

“There’s no more time for talk.” Selia stood up from her chair. “We must leave immediately for the city of Basilia.”

“What?” Magnus shot a look at his father. “That’s in west Paelsia.”

The king too looked surprised by this. “It’s a long journey. And we’ve only just arrived here.”

“Yes, and now we must leave. I have a friend in that city who can supply the magic I need to help you before it’s too late.”

“What I need more than that, Mother, is your magic to help us find Lucia. She’s gone missing just when I need her the most.”

“So the prophecy was true,” Selia whispered. “And you didn’t tell me until now? I could have helped her as I did Sabina.”

“I chose to use tutors who didn’t know of the prophecy.”

She said nothing for a moment, then nodded sharply. “You were right to be careful with her. However, finding her current location will be a challenge. After all these years in hiding my magic has faded to a point that it’s useless to me. The answer for this too lies in Basilia. We will go there and get what we need for the next steps in our plan.” She took the king’s hands in hers, smiling. “At long last, everything is coming together. But I need you well.”

“I never knew you were a witch,” Magnus said, choosing to remain mostly silent until now, watching and listening.

Selia glanced at him. “I told very few this secret.”

“And you feel that you can restore your elementia?”

She nodded. “I haven’t had a need to do so for years, but to find my granddaughter, to acquire the magic necessary to heal my son . . . it will be worth it.”

“My father recently told me about a curse . . .” He glanced at Cleo, whose expression was bleak.

Selia’s eyes widened. “Yes, of course. The tragic curse on Elena Bellos. I’m so sorry, Cleiona, for your loss.”

Cleo nodded. “I am too. I wish I could have known my mother.”

“Of course you do. Even though my magic is weak, I can still sense this powerful curse all around you when I concentrate. I won’t say that it will be easy, but I promise to do everything in my power to break it when my magic is strengthened.”

The tight knot in Magnus’s chest finally loosened just a little. “Good.”

He saw relief in Cleo’s eyes as she nodded. “Thank you,” She said.

“What is this magic in Basilia that could help me?” Gaius asked as Selia grabbed a canvas bag and started shoving some of her belongings into it.

“Magic that once belonged to the immortals themselves,” she told him. “An object of great power that very few know exists.”

“And what object is that?” Magnus asked.

“It’s called the bloodstone. We will find it together, and when we do I am certain it will fully restore your father to his former greatness.”

“That sounds like a valuable treasure,” the king said. “One you’ve never mentioned to me before today.”

“I didn’t tell you everything I know, Gaius.”

“No. I’m quite sure you didn’t.”

Their voices became distant echoes as Magnus considered the existence of this bloodstone . . . another rock imbued with great power and magic that could allegedly heal even someone who already looked as if they had been dead and buried.

Forget his father, Magnus thought. That was magic he wanted for himself.

CHAPTER 9

AMARA

LIMEROS

Since childhood, Amara had enjoyed taking long walks in the tropical splendor of the Jewel of the Empire, relishing in its vibrant colors and warm weather, often with Ashur by her side. The kiss of sunlight gave her renewed hope when her father had been particularly cruel or her brothers Dastan and Elan ignored her very existence. In Kraeshia, no one had to wear heavy fur-lined cloaks or huddle close to fires to keep from freezing.

Yes, she missed her home desperately and longed to return there when she finally had what she’d come here for. Then she would say farewell to this frozen and unforgiving kingdom once and for all.

She turned from the main hall’s large windowpane, framed with ice crystals, which looked out at the villa’s snow-covered grounds, to regard Kurtis. He’d entered the hall to bring the daily news, and he currently kneeled before her, his arms full of papers.