Everest’s dark eyebrows rose. Then he narrowed his eyes and lifted my left arm. With careful, gentle fingers he lifted my sleeve. I groaned because there were two lines written on my arm, but they were not the same ones I’d just seen.

To guard the matters of thy heart, your words will come from across the chart.

“¿Qué significa eso?”

He chuckled softly and tapped on the words. They vanished instantly. “I believe She has given you a little assistance . . . since things have a tendency to . . . slip out.” He winked.

I opened my mouth then shut it.

“Eso es justo,” he said with a laugh. “¿No?”

“Si, eso es justo — ¿Hablas español?”

“Yes, I speak Spanish.” He growled. “Mother believes I must speak every language in this realm.”

That made sense for the mother of evil. Couldn’t manipulate everyone if you didn’t speak their language. I pushed my sleeve up to check if the words were still gone and realized my Mark was, too. “Hey, my Mark is gone.” I thought the words in English, but my mouth said them in Spanish.

“And you have fangs.” He ran his fingertip over one of my fangs and it sent a shiver down my spine that made him smirk. “You must play the part of a newly turned vampire, you may not like what I ask you to do⁠—”

“I only care that I get what we need so I can get home to you,” I said in Spanish. “What is the plan?”

“I am going to blend into shadow and lead you to the archway. You are going to walk through the front door. A sentinel will find you. Upon seeing your fangs, you will be escorted to Sweyn’s throne. That is where you will meet me. Understand?”

I nodded. “¿Sweyn habla español?”

“No, Queen Sweyn does not speak Spanish. Undoubtedly why it was chosen.” He gave me a sideways grin. “Come with me, little tickling.”

“That’s surprising for someone her age.” It was weird to hear my own words come out in Spanish. “I would think she would know all of them.”

“Why learn when she can make me do all the work?” He stepped to the side and turned to shadow between the trees. “I shall guide you from here.”

“What am I going to say when I get there?” I asked as I trudged through the crunchy snow with him moving silently a few feet away. “Won’t she ask where I came from?”

“You will have to trust me,” he whispered.