“Too many eyes, and it is not your place to question my decisions,” Lord Aiden snapped, and in the change of tone, I recognized his voice. Lord Aiden was the King’s messenger. A thousand pieces fell into place, and suddenly the King’s confidence in his plans to take the Isle all made sense. He controlled the man who would inherit the Regency. And yet that very man was double-crossing him, so it would seem his confidence was misplaced.

“You need to report to duty, de Troyes. Her friends will be looking for her, and you’re the first person they’ll go to. Make sure your story is convincing.”

“I don’t care to leave my sister tied up in a cellar.”

“If you value her life as much as you claim, you’ll do just that,” Aiden replied. “We must move quickly as it is if we are to find this witch and extricate your sister from the trolls’ power. We cannot raise their suspicion.” He didn’t know who or where Anushka was…

Fred was quiet, and I prayed that he wouldn’t leave. That he’d reconsidered what he’d done. But he didn’t. “Take care of her,” he muttered, and the door opened and slammed shut.

Disappointment carved out my guts, but I forced myself to concentrate on the conversation that ensued between Aiden and Catherine.

“Is the book what she was using to track Anushka?” he demanded once Fred was gone. “The troll king gave it to her on the beach – it was clearly of some significance.”

“It’s significant if it really is hers,” Catherine replied. “It’s certainly old enough, and the fact it’s written in a northern tongue is no small coincidence. But I won’t know until I cast the spell.”

“Do it now. We can’t waste any more time.”

“Not without my pardon.” Catherine paused. “Those have always been our terms, my lord. I want my life back. I want your mother to know the truth.”

“Leave my mother out of this. She knows nothing of the trolls, and I intend to keep it that way.”

That wasn’t true. Of a surety, Marie knew about the trolls and Anushka, but I wasn’t sure if he was unaware of that fact or was lying. I’d assumed all of the Regent’s family was in this together, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe they were as self-motivated and deceptive with each other as Tristan’s family was.

“Your mother is involved in this, whether she wills it or not. Though she must be living under another identity, Anushka is involved with the court. It was her who gave the potion to your father, and though we must needs keep her alive to keep the curse in place, that doesn’t mean she can’t be punished.”

“My mother doesn’t keep company with witches.”

“She kept company with me. She keeps company with Cécile.”

Aiden was quiet for a minute. “She’d not knowingly harbor Anushka – it’s too much of a risk. If the trolls ever discovered we were working against them… No, my mother cannot be involved. You will not speak to her of this, and neither will I.”