Free The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges Page A

suspicious of everything.”
    “She’s not suspicious of everything,” I protested.
    “Just Montenegrin witches,” Dariya said as she entered our room and crawled into her bed. “You’d best leave Katiya alone. And keep that blasted window closed tonight.”
    I saw a flash of pure hatred in Elena’s eyes, but it was gone quickly and she smiled sweetly and ignored my cousin. “Katerina, my brother has come to St. Petersburg with us,” she announced. “You will be able to meet him soon.”
    “Lovely,” Dariya grumbled. “There are too many of your meddlesome family members in Russia already.”
    “I would watch what I said if I were you.” Elena’s voice was still sweet but carried a threat. “We come from a family of old romantics, my brother and I. He wishes for my happiness, as I wish for his. I would hate for anyone to stand in the way of true love. Including you, Dariya Yevgenievna.”
    Dariya snorted and rolled over. “And what could you do about it?” she mumbled sleepily. “Turn me into a toad?”
    “My father would be very unhappy to hear that some stupid girl at Smolny was accusing his daughter of witchcraft,” Elena said, not missing the chance to remind us she was the daughter of a king.
    Then I heard her mumble something in what must have been Montenegrin.
    But Dariya was already asleep, her breathing even and easy, with the faintest carefree snore.
    Elena yawned dramatically. “Good night, Katerina. May you have wonderful dreams about a handsome, dark-eyed prince. I am certain he is dreaming about you.”
    I pretended to be asleep and said nothing. But my heart was pounding. I wondered what sorcery Elena was trying to work with her brother’s lock of hair. I remembered everything the princess Cantacuzene had told me. If I was truly a threat to the blood drinkers of Montenegro, why would Elena and her sisters want me to grow closer to their brother?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

    D ariya could not get out of bed the next morning. She looked pale and her limbs trembled when she tried to sit up. “Katiya, I am so cold!” she said.
    The window was still closed. A pale moth flapped against the inside glass frantically.
    Elena rolled her eyes as she cracked the window to let the insect fly away. “Must you always complain?” she asked as she quickly finished getting dressed. “Hurry, Katerina! I’m famished!”
    “Go to breakfast without me,” I said, sitting on the bed and taking my cousin’s hand. “Can you ask Madame Orbellani to come and see Dariya? She is ill.”
    “What a shame,” Elena said. “Of course. I will send her right away.”
    When she had left, I looked more closely at my cousin. Dariya’s pupils were large, and her breathing seemed labored.
    “What is wrong with me? My stomach—oh, the cramps!” she whispered. “I feel as if I’m dying!”
    “Hush, Madame Orbellani is coming,” I said, rubbing her cold hand between my warm ones. Her right arm was floppy, like a rag doll’s. I saw a cold light wrapping around her. It was growing steadily brighter and stronger. I was terrified for her. “The headmistress will send for a doctor.”
    My cousin’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
    “Dariya!” I shouted, shaking her. Her eyes opened briefly. With a moan, she passed out again. “Dariya!”
    “What is this nonsense?” Madame Metcherskey asked severely. “Girls, get down to the dining room at once, or you will be punished.”
    “Madame, Dariya is ill!” I stood up so she could see for herself. “You must call the doctor!”
    Madame Metcherskey’s eyes narrowed. “Katerina Alexandrovna, go downstairs immediately. I will deal with her. It is not your concern.”
    I didn’t think I’d ever hated anyone more than I hated Madame Metcherskey at that moment. Her words stung, but I did not dare argue with her. I swallowed hard and squeezed my cousin’s pale, limp hand. “I promise I will be back, Dariya.”
    I ran downstairs and found