38

Cyrus stared at the three letters. He knew they were coming, but looking at the familiar writing of his family, made his heart plummet. The paper crinkled under his fingertips as he fidgeted with the missives. While they remained unopened, hope existed that his uncle would relent and allow Greyson to come with him.

His gaze shot to Greyson, who sat on the ground, pounding the colorful herb with a stone pestle while muttering under his breath. The last few days he and Greyson had spent every moment together. Cyrus couldn't imagine separating now.

Greyson scowled. "Just open the damn letters. It won't get any better or worse staring at them."

"What if he says no?"

He started to grind the broken-down herbs in a counterclockwise motion. "Just open them."

Cyrus glowered at Greyson, then peeked at the noisy bubbling coming from the stove. There was a pot full of a deep purple concoction, which unnerved him slightly, especially since Greyson hadn't put anything even close to that color into it.

Ripping his gaze away from the bubbling liquid, Cyrus looked at the missives once again. With a deep breath, he ripped open the first one, which was from his uncle.

Nephew,

Well, I'm glad you're alive. I would have bet good money on Mage Greyson killing you. The only thing that stopped me was your aunt, and that no one was taking odds. I did receive a letter from Lord Darius, who related the whole of it to me. I am inclined to believe his account.

The mage also sent one via Mage Frederick, which surprised me. The content surprised me even more. I am not sure I believe him, though your Aunt Quinn was quite taken with it and Mage Greyson's romantic notions. However, I lean toward the lord's account, as odious as Darius is.

But before I could make a decision, your letter arrived. I'm not shocked that you believe Greyson. You've always had a soft spot for him. But I am glad that you've recovered your memory that the mage probably stole in the first place. Assured of your safety, I am willing to wait to make a judgment until Jasper arrives and makes an assessment of the situation. Until that moment, your mage can live.

As far as lifting the exile order and bounty, my answer is no. I don't care if Mage Greyson is innocent of these matters, he's guilty of rebel rousing. I have sent Lady Lyra to replace Lord Darius. Even if the lord is innocent, your aunt was taken by Mage Greyson's idea to banish him to the tower. Perhaps the monks and their quiet ways will be good for him? Lady Lyra will carry my orders about your mage. Once she arrives, you are to come home. Do you understand?

I expect to see you shortly.

Uncle Caspian

Cyrus should've expected it—Greyson certainly did—but he didn't. Deep down he thought his uncle would allow Greyson to accompany him home. Of course, the emperor did not. Fighting back the waves of disappointment, he opened the next one, which was from his aunt.

Cyrus,

I'm so relieved you're alright. I knew Mage Greyson would not kill you, but when you stopped writing, I feared something terrible befell you. I, of course, did not believe a word of Lord Darius' letter. I'd hoped that man would fall into a mine and do us all a favor by dying.

I do believe Greyson's letter. He forever endeared himself to me. Your mage offered to kill Lord Darius in the manner of my choosing. My choosing. Oh, if your uncle let me, I would choose something truly horrific. I'm sure Greyson knows of some horrid spells.

He also seems to love you a great deal, son. Greyson was not even concerned about himself. He wanted Caspian to send help to protect you from Lord Darius. My husband says it's all poppycock, but I believe Greyson. You did the impossible. You won Mage Greyson's affection. I would've never guessed, but I'm happy for you.

Though Caspian did not want to share Greyson's letter with me, I snatched it from his office. I shared it with your sister. Jade sided with me. We are both firmly on your side about Greyson, and we are actively working on the emperor. He will relent eventually, my dear. He loves you too much to deny you anything. Just make him hurt by missing you.

Don't come home.

Now, I shall miss you terribly, but if you stay away, sooner or later, he will let Greyson come with you. I already spoke to Lady Lyra. She agreed to help. I promised you or Greyson would introduce her to some lovely gentlemen. Do round some up for her, dearest.

I love you dearly, son of my heart,

Mother

Cyrus beamed. The empress never called him her nephew, but always her son. He'd lived with his aunt and uncle since he was nine years old, and he loved them both dearly.

It didn't surprise him in the slightest that Greyson had offered to kill Lord Darius. He seemed to harbor a deep hatred of the lord. Of course, the empress felt the same way. Greyson's willingness to kill Darius would have been enough to sway her, even if Greyson hadn't said he loved Cyrus.

Cyrus reread the last part of his aunt's missive. He paused on the words, "Don't come home." He had much the same thought. He couldn't leave Greyson anyway.

He opened the last letter, from his cousin.

Cyrus,

I'm glad you survived. I knew Mage Greyson was too smart to kill you, but apparently, he's dumb enough to fall in love with you. I can't even imagine, but cheers. I'm glad. Now, you won't be moping around the capital. It was a pathetic sight to see.

I do hope you won't keep Jasper long. I don't like when my husband is away from my side. But at least, he will find you alive. When you stopped writing, I truly feared he'd find you dead or not at all.

Mother showed me Greyson's letter. It was horribly romantic. The man is besotted with you. You two deserve each other. You both sicken me. I cannot believe he saved your life. I can believe his ulterior motives. He spared nothing in his letter, including his plan to kill you. I'm glad he didn't go through with it. I would have missed you terribly.

I'm with Mother on her plan. Just stay away for a bit. Father already complains about how much he misses you. Simply keep yourself from his sight as Mother and I work on him.

Also, if you could bring Greyson home, maybe he could tutor Casper. My lovely son has gone through another tutor. This is number twelve, and he's only three. I have not let him be bound to an artifact because all of the tutors seem incompetent. But maybe Greyson will fare better. That's what he does, doesn't he? Teach? Anyway, it would be nice to see what he can do.

Hopefully, I will see you and Greyson soon.

Jade

Jade was one year younger than him, and they'd grown up together. Cyrus wasn't surprised she'd sided with him. Deep down, Jade was a romantic who loved her husband dearly.

He reread the bit about his nephew, Jade's second child. Casper had shocked everyone when he'd shown magical ability. But his nephew, though it was mostly Jade if he was honest, had scared away tutors quicker than Cyrus would've thought possible. He imagined Greyson could teach Casper just fine, though his nephew might not know what to do with him. He very much doubted Greyson could be intimidated by Jade either.

Biting his lip, he turned toward Greyson to share the letters, but Greyson was carefully pouring the ground herbs into the bubbling pot. The liquid transformed from a deep purple to shockingly pink. Cyrus' eyes widened as his mouth hung agape. Greyson cackled loudly as he stirred the liquid clockwise.

"I knew I remembered how to make it," Greyson said.

Never had Greyson appeared more like a mage, an evil mage at that, as he stood over the boiling concoction. Greyson kept stirring until the brew morphed into a vile green, then he began poking the bottles lined up on the counter with his staff. A couple shattered while the rest remained standing. He nodded in obvious satisfaction. Then, slowly, he began to ladle the liquid into the small bottles.

As soon as the brew hit the glass, it changed from a rather swampy green to a splendid dark blue. Greyson cackled again as he kept pouring the liquid into the vials. Once the last one was filled, he looked into the pot, then peered over his shoulder.

"Love, come here."

"Why?" he asked but walked toward him.

Greyson poured the last of the brew into a cup, maybe a mouthful or two. "Drink this."

"Why?" Cyrus dubiously stared at the liquid.

"Because it's not enough to fill a bottle, and I don"t want to waste it. It's too valuable."

"Why don't you drink it?"

"Because I love you. It's a healing potion. Just drink it."

He glanced at Greyson, then back at the cup. The liquid grew progressively lighter blue by the second as it cooled. Taking a deep breath, Cyrus downed it, expecting a truly horrible taste, but he was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like coconut mixed with a tarter type of fruit that he couldn't place. When his mouth hung open in shock, Greyson laughed.

"It wasn't that bad, was it?"

"No. It tasted pretty good."

"Don't drink the others. They"re worth a good deal."

"I won't, don't worry. So what do you do now?" Cyrus asked, glancing at the neat row of bottles.

"When they are completely cool, they will be a very pale, silvery blue, and I will cork, then wax seal them."

Setting the cup down, he hooked his arms around Greyson's waist. "You wrote to the emperor."

"I already told you I did." He settled his arms on Cyrus' shoulders.

"You didn't tell me it was romantic."

"Nonsense."

"No," he said. "It moved my aunt and cousin. You didn't care about yourself, just me."

Greyson frowned, but Cyrus could perceive a bit of pink on his cheeks. "I didn't want Lord Darius to hurt you. My people would've protected you. As soon as you woke up, if you hadn't regained your memories, they were going to hide you until someone else from the capital showed up."

Unable to stop it, he grinned. "Thank you."

"I would never let anyone hurt you."

"Nor I you."

With a soft smile, Greyson asked, "What did the emperor say?"

"He won't lift the orders."

"Shocking," he replied, voice heavy with sarcasm. "So you have to go home?"

"No."

"Cyrus, you can't defy him."

"I can and will."

"Love, we'll be alright."

"We will because I'm not going anywhere."

Greyson cupped Cyrus' cheeks. "We can't endanger the Griseo Mountains because we want to stay together."

"Trust me. Please. I would never put anyone in danger."

He didn't appear convinced.

"Trust me."

Nodding, Greyson said, "I trust you."

"Good. My aunt has a plan, which my cousin also supports."

"What is it?"

"Stay with you until the emperor misses me."

"Will that work?"

"I think so, but it doesn't matter because I get to stay with you."

Leaning down, Greyson whispered, "I'm glad."