Free Echoes of Silence by Elana Johnson Page B

the people belonging to the voices spoke as if it were midday. Their volume increased, fueling my curiosity. I twisted the knob and let the door settle open. Two inches of light spilled into the bathing chamber, and I shrank back into the shadows along the wall.
    Helena’s voice met my ears. “She will be chosen. You must be sure to assign Matu as her guard.”
    My heart seized on her words, denying outright that I would be chosen as the Prince’s bride. How could she possibly know that?
    “Her magic is too great. Cris cannot resist it. She uses it without even knowing!” Scuffling noises punctuated Helena’s words, and I realized she was pacing beyond the door.
    “You must talk to her,” came the second voice, and this time I recognized Castillo. “She speaks without thinking, which is dangerous business, especially around Gibson and Bo. But they know nothing of her abilities, nor does Cris. I made sure of that.”
    I wondered at his casual use of the Prince’s name, and remembered the last thing I’d heard before losing consciousness. Castillo’s voice. I took care of Cris.
    “Did you use the memory charm on him?” Helena asked, her voice low and tight.
    “Just as you taught me, Mother.” He sounded on the edge of annoyance, and my insides iced at the revelation that Helena was Castillo’s mother. I also realized that Castillo had rescued me—again. How many times had he done so? Three I could name. Surely there were others I could not. Bringing me to his mother certainly fell under the category of protection.
    Castillo said something I couldn’t hear at which Helena gave a snort of disbelief. He continued in the same unwavering tone. “It’s true, Mother. Cris suspects her to possess fantastic magic. In fact, the small amount of magic he possesses was brought to life during their exchange.”
    Helena groaned, a displeased, sad sound. “Tell me he didn’t touch her. Surely she would not let him within—”
    “He held her hand. She was captivated instantly.”
    Anger flooded my veins. So His Majesty had bewitched me through his touch. I remembered wishing to follow him anywhere he went, simply to be near him. The thought infuriated me, and a thread of foolishness wound its way through my system.
    “It’s not because she’s childish or stupid,” Castillo said. “It’s because she’s desperately lonely.”
    I flinched from the truthfulness in his words, wanting to dispute them, to tell him that I had Olive. But I spent so much time trying to keep my voice hidden, trying to ensure we had enough to eat and a stable roof over our heads. Olive and I didn’t speak about anything of consequence; all of our conversations revolved around our work, our duties, our fears for the other.
    “She has us now,” Helena said, a dose of self-importance in her voice. “Greta, Lucia, and I will make sure she wants for nothing. Is everything in place otherwise?”
    “As soon as he chooses, our artillery stands at the ready. You’re absolutely sure he will select Echo?”
    A long silence followed. I peeked around the corner and glimpsed a twisting, rising hand movement. I recognized those perfect fingernails. Helena could cast spells without a voice—a skill all third-class magicians learned. Oake had never instructed me in such things, claiming my power exceeded the hand gestures lesser-talented magicians used.
    I sucked in a breath and dipped back into hiding. I prayed that Helena would be wrong. That her spell would tell her that someone—anyone—but me would be chosen as the future queen.
    “I’m sure,” Helena said then, and my heart dropped into my toes even as the promise of never being lonely again stole through my mind. I wondered which was worse: Living and dying alone, or living and dying at the side of someone who loved me only for my magic. I didn’t know, but as I leaned against the wall with a galloping heart, a new prospect tiptoed through my mind.
    If I became queen, I could introduce