Page 89 of Castle of the Cursed
“We need to talk,” he says. Even his voice sounds heavier, more measured.
“I have to get Bea on the couch,” I say, unable to look at his face, which is coated with Felipe’s death.
The shadow beast reappears at Bea’s side, his mouth by her neck as he reaches for her. “Stop!” I shriek, but his arms go right through her body, and I realize he was trying to carry my aunt, not kill her.
And yet how will I ever know the difference?
I focus on Bea’s body as I slide my arms under her back and thighs, then try to lift. But I’m too weak.
Useless, stupid tears form in the corners of my eyes, and I bite down on my inner lip until I taste blood to keep from crying. After dragging Bea by the shoulders to the sofa, I manage to roll her up onto the cushions. I spend a lot of time adjusting the pillows, and when at last I can’t avoid him anymore, I look up.
But the shadow beast isn’t here.
I return to the corridor where Felipe’s corpse lies, but he’s gone, too. A shadow darkens the wall, and Sebastián steps out from it. He’s cleaned the blood off his face, but he can’t lighten his eyes as easily.
“Where’s Felipe?” I ask, my voice creaky.
“I buried him in the jardín de sangre. Your aunt will know what to do.”
I’m too numb to answer. I have no idea how to tell Bea that Felipe is dead because my boyfriend ate him.
Sebastián holds out a hand to me. Inside is a black seed.
I take it and swallow the pill, my throat so dry I feel its progression.
“I need air,” I whisper.
Sebastián lifts me in his arms without warning, and I gasp as the castle blurs around me, and our surroundings settle into the graying twilit sky.
As he sets me down on my feet, I look around in awe. We’re standing on the balcony tower.
“I thought you couldn’t come here,” I say, aghast.
“I could not. Nor was it nightfall yet when I appeared.”
“How then?” I ask.
“I believe it is your aunt’s pills. They are affecting the parameters of the spell.”
I keep my expression neutral, but I’m sure he can hear the speeding of my heart as I wonder what else these seeds could change. What happens if Sebastián gets free of his chains and can roam the planet?
If a shark bites a bleeding swimmer, is the shark a murderer, or is it just obeying its nature?
Sebastián stares up at the stars, and I wonder when he’s going to ask me to tell him who he is and where I’ve hidden the book. Or maybe he’ll skip talking altogether and suck the answers from my blood.
After all, he’s the Iron Prince other monsters fear, and he’s been stuck playing house with a human. A human liar who discovered his identity and withheld it from him. I don’t imagine I’ll make it through the night.
And maybe I don’t deserve to.
“I remember,” he murmurs. “Everything.”
I trade one gray horizon for another as I look at him. “What are you talking about?”
“There was something off about Felipe’s scent.” It might be the first time he’s used Felipe’s name. “It was being masked by the rotting odor of death coming from his condition. When he called himself a messenger, I understood. The same thing that made it possible for me to interact with him was what was killing him—your blood.”
“What?” I ask, breathless.
“Your uncle performed blood magic. He dosed Felipe with your blood, which contained my memories. Your friend was already dying when he got here, even if he did not know it.”
