Page 4 of A Cursed Heart
Lost Chance
Malacoda
Surprisingly,itwasmybrother who gave me my first opportunity to earn my freedom. Dagda summoned me from the gem, allowing me to set two feet on the floor in front of him for the first time since my capture. Then with a grin, he controlled my body, making me kneel like a dog. I didn’t fight, just took it, wiping the grin away. He expected a reaction from me. He wasn’t going to get one. I was determined to play this smarter than before.
For a long moment, we studied each other until he broke the ice. “Malacoda,” he greeted me, a grim smile on his face. There were lines of tension there I’d never seen before.
“Your Majesty.” Unwilling to anger him, I kept my tone polite.
“I have a task for you.”
“A task?” I asked, surprised. Part of me had wondered if I was ever going to be let out of my prison. Seemed he was just waiting for the right time.
“This is a test. To see how far you’ve come in your isolation.” He leaned forward, as if letting me in on a secret. “Pass, and you could earn your freedom.”
Not for the first time, Dagda spoke of a way out of this curse. For I was still trapped within it. Even now, the gem felt tied to me. It lay in my brother’s palm, glowing faintly with power. By this time, it was nearly half a century since I had stolen the ruby.
“What must I do?”
Dagda looked at me approvingly. I hoped that whatever mask of civility I was wearing would hold long enough to get through this.
“My eldest daughter is betrothed.”
“Already?” I blurted, shocked. “She is barely an adult, brother. Why must you wed her off so soon?”
“I share similar concerns, but this is her choice.” He shook his head mournfully. “The demon she has picked appears to be from an upstanding family…”
“You don’t trust him.” I’d learned a lot about my brother over the last half century, most of it unwillingly.
“I do not.” Surprise blanketed his expression. Had he not expected me to learn my enemy? “Your task is to be placed in their chambers and watch for signs of trouble.”
“Just watch?”
“No.” His tone turned commanding, echoing around the empty throne room. “You must act to save her from harm. Should you fail, your life is forfeit.”
“And if I have nothing to save her from? What then? What incentive do I have to protect your daughter?”
“She is your niece and future queen.”
I scoffed. “She doesn’t know I exist.”
“That may be so, but you are still to protect her.” He paused. “I do not believe he will act until after they are wed.”
“What do you think he wants from marrying her?” By marrying the Crown Princess, I presumed he was marrying up. My brother hadn’t mentioned a title. I would have heard rumors if she were marrying a prince.
“Power. Your gem, mainly. Other artifacts I’ve collected over the years.” He waved a hand dismissively. “He will need her either under his control or to use her blood to bypass the spell work for my vault.”
“Why are you letting him marry her if you think he is about to steal from you?”
Dagda sighed. “Unfortunately, Delaris is very much in love with him. She will hear no criticism of her chosen. Besides, his family is influential. He is their youngest son. If this is truly his plan, then it is a desperate one to gain power from a man who has none.”
“What do you need me to do?”
Over the next hour or so, Dagda allowed me to take a seat at a table by the fireplace and dine while he outlined the rules of this mission. He would glamor the heart gem and hide it in their married quarters where I could easily hear and unfortunately see the inner goings on in their relationship. By tweaking the spell, I was given freedom to act as I saw fit to protect my niece should she need it.
If I were successful, Dagda would allow me more freedom, even letting me out occasionally. It was too good of a prize to pass over.
My chance came weeks later. During the preparations for the wedding, I’d had a few talks with my brother outside of the gem. Each time he would let me have a meal and update me about our siblings. I met none of his children nor saw my brother Jaashin in that time, but it felt like a vital step towards peace between us.
