Tears ran down my cheeks. “I can’t bring her back, but I can offer you a chance for revenge against the Duke, because as soon as we find him, we’re going to kill him.”

He stared at his feet for long enough that I wondered if he were waiting for me to leave. Wondered if maybe my promises seemed empty, because they were powerless to undo the hurt he’d endured. When he finally moved, I flinched, but he only reached inside his robes to pull out a slender vial hanging from a silver chain. The contents glowed a faint blue, and I immediately knew what it was: Élixir de la Lune.

“Tristan promised her that once he was king that he’d allow anyone to be bonded, not just full-bloods,” Martin said. “But I didn’t want to take the chance that he’d…”

I wondered what had been his concern. That Tristan would find a way around his promise or that he wouldn’t become king?

Before I could ask he added, “So I sneaked into the garden and stole a vial of the Élixir. I convinced Élise to use it on next full moon–” his eyes flicked to mine “–the night you broke the curse. But she was dead by then.”

I opened my mouth to apologize, but no sound came out.

“Even if Tristan wins and delivers on his word,” he said, “it’s too late for us. I should get rid of this blasted potion.” He tugged on the chain. “It’s useless now.”

Before he could break the links, I caught his hand in mine and squeezed it tight. “It’s not. Please keep it. It meant something to her, and it would’ve broken her heart to see you throw it away.”

“It’s useless,” he repeated. “Angoulême took her away before I had the chance to know her – to truly know her.”

“I understand, but maybe one day–” I started to say that he might one day meet another girl he loved just as much, but instead said, “Maybe one day it will give someone else a chance.”

“Maybe.” He was silent for a long moment, then he tucked the vial back in his robes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to see that monster of a duke bleed out, just as his daughter did. How can I help? What do you need to know?”