Forbidden Magic

Subena sat on the floor by Tam’s bed, watching him sleep. It was long past midnight, but Winsome refused to leave her son’s side, even though she desperately needed some rest. When Subena offered to stay with the boy, the queen agreed to lie on the sofa in the adjoining room.

Subena looked at Tam’s handsome little face as Winsome’s soft snores echoed through the room. It amazed her that the child had become so dear in only two days.

She felt a presence beside her and knew without looking it was Kamber. He sat down on the floor beside her. “Subena, I… Thank you for what you did. If Tam had…”

He reached for her chin, gently turning her face toward his. “I’m worried about you. When the carriage was attacked, it could’ve been me they were after, but the chocolates were meant for you. We’ve questioned the staff. No one knows how they got on your plate.”

“I gave the candy to Tam.” She bit her lip. “I could’ve killed him.” Tears blurred her vision.

Kamber embraced her. “Shhh. You didn’t poison the chocolate. You saved his life.”

He held her tighter and stroked her hair. “Tam’s fine. We have to worry about you now.”

Subena stared up at him. Her breath caught, as it always did when she looked into his beautiful eyes. “I’m fine.”

“Ronan told me about the arrow.”

“I left you a note. Didn’t you get it?”

He shook his head and pulled her tighter against his chest. “It will be all right.”

The motion pulled his tunic away revealing the jagged diamond birthmark. Her vision had just played out—very real, but nothing like her dream.

Subena huffed out a breath, doing her best to quell the dizzy sensation threatening to overtake her. She didn’t respond—she couldn’t. It was too much—the altered vision, the new place, Rekita’s claim, the arrow, the poison.

She wouldn’t cry. She tried to sit straighter, push Kamber away, but she couldn’t seem to extract herself from his arms. Correction, she didn’t want to leave his embrace.

“I figured you’d be too emotional to help me figure this out.”

Her head popped. She searched for the appropriate words to spew at the prince, but the sleeping queen and ill child precluded a scathing retort.

She settled for an icy glare. The cad smiled back. He actually smiled.

Her fury abated as quickly as it had risen. He’d tried to make her feel better by making her mad. She closed her mouth and turned away, not wanting him to know his gesture touched her.

“We have to talk about this,” he whispered into her ear. “I trust our cook completely and she will personally see to your meals, but whoever did this may try something else. I want you to stay with me or Remington at all times. Will you do that?”

She started to say no, but his point was valid. “I don’t know.”

“Then I must take you back to Mydrias.”

“Isn’t that what you want anyway?” She jerked out of his embrace and spun to face him. “If you are rid of me, you can have Rekita.”

Her words didn’t have the fire she’d intended. They sounded petty—even to her ears.

“For a smart lady, you’re sometimes quite stupid.”

“You sleep with Rekita and have the nerve to say I’m stupid.”

“Touché.” His face looked pained. “But it’s slept with Rekita—past tense.”

If only she could believe that. If only Rekita hadn’t mentioned an unborn child. Her anger refueled. She grabbed Kamber’s ear and pinched.

“Ouch.”

Winsome’s soft snoring halted. Both she and Kamber froze.

When the sounds of the queen’s slumber resumed, Subena whispered, “So you say.”

“Say what?” Kamber looked confused.

“That Rekita is past tense. She has…never mind.” Fighting with Kamber seemed pointless while Tam struggled to fight off a deadly poison.

The prince didn’t speak for several seconds. “I sense we have much to resolve, but your safety comes first. If you don’t want me around, promise you’ll let my guards watch over you. At least for a couple of days. And…” He waited until she met his gaze. “I haven’t slept with Rekita since before our wedding. I never will again.”

Her husband had chosen his words carefully—he said he hadn’t slept with the harpy, but he hadn’t denied that he wanted to be with her. She wished she could tell him what he could do with his help, but fear triumphed over pride.

“I will allow my privacy to be invaded, but only if it isn’t you who watches me.”

He nodded, his face a mask. “I’ll send Remington.”

“All right.”

Kamber stared at her for several seconds. “Are you disappointed I didn’t assign the task to Tail-Spin? I see you’re still wearing his dress.”

Subena looked down at her clothing. She’d forgotten about the gown. The party seemed ages ago. “I thought the dress was from you.”

He smirked. “Are you kidding? I would’ve given you another equestor.” He started to say more but abruptly turned and left the room.
“So where did this dress come from?” she whispered.