Something was crawling on Cade.

He wasn't sure what it was, and the curtains didn't help.

"It's not real. It's not real. It's just in my head."

Leon had told him about the madness that came from too much magic. His tutors had explained what happened to mages who lost their minds to their power. But no one could seem to tell him how to stop it. He needed to know how to get rid of all the power that crawled on him without slicing it off from himself, removing his own limbs in the process.

"It's not real," he repeated.

Of course I'm real, something hissed in his ear.

Cade screamed, but the house was empty, and no one came to check on him.

***

"Can magic talk to you?"

His tutor squinted at him, eyes narrowed, frowning, and Cade knew the question was wrong, knew he had made a mistake, but wasn't sure how to fix it, wasn't sure how to go back and laugh it off.

"Does your magic talk to you?" His tutor asked, her voice going up at the end, as though she was talking to a child.

"No." Cade glared at her. "What a ridiculous question."

"Of course, Prince Bartlett." She bowed her head, continuing with the lesson.

***

In the forest, when he was far enough away from the house that he was sure no one could see him, when he was sure all the wolves were busy with other things, he rolled up his sleeve.

Leon had encouraged him to begin wearing formal magewear earlier in the year. He had said it was because Cade's magic was developing, and it would help him with control, but everyone who looked at him seemed to have pity in their gaze, as though when they looked at him, they could only see how small he was in such severe clothing.

His forearm was bare.

"I know you're there," he snapped. "Reveal yourself."

Slowly, a snake slithered down his forearm. It was small, the diamond shaped head barely as large as his thumb.

"Speak," Cade said imperiously.

The tattooed snake turned, tilting so that it was looking at him with one unblinking eye.

"Speak!" Cade said, more desperately. He wasn't crazy. He wasn't crazy. He wasn't crazy —

What would you have me say?

Cade's whole body slumped, and he caught himself at the last second so he didn't collapse onto the damp forest floor.

"You're real?"

Real enough. I am hungry. Are there mice?

***

The servants were whispering. The only person who seemed unaffected was Leon, who presented him with a small container of two mice.

"Thank you, Leon," Cade said, accepting the plastic box from him.

"May I ask what you intend to use them for?" Leon's voice was severe, but there was a twinkle in his eyes, as though he wanted to be let in on whatever mischief Cade was about to enact.

"Later. I'll tell you later. If it works." Then Cade turned, rushing up the stairs to his room.

***

The snake crawled off his skin, becoming flesh. It looked like it should hurt. It felt like it should hurt, but instead, Cade felt relief, as though he had been under a weighted blanket, and someone had removed it.

The snake ate one of the mice quickly. Then it slithered over to a patch of sunlight near the window, curling in a spiral.

Cade could still see the mouse in its stomach, the bulge of it. He shivered.

I need a home.

"Yes," Cade stepped over, running a finger along the snake's back. "How did you —"

You have too much magic, Cade Bartlett. It whirls around you. It gives you nightmares.

Cade gasped. No one was supposed to know about the nightmares, the shadows that crept into his bed at night.

"You're part of the shadows?" Cade felt himself freeze. If this creature had come from those shadows, come from those nightmares that clawed inside him, made him wake up screaming so loud his voice was raw.

Don't be ridiculous. Subconsciously, you made a choice. You did not want to let yourself be consumed by the magic so you freed me. Partially.

"You're made of magic?" Cade stroked his finger across the snake's back again, and it shifted, twisting its tail around his forefinger tight.

I'm magic made conscious. There are others. But not for a very long time.

***

"Are you sure, Leon?" Petrona's voice was quiet, but something in it was distinctly afraid.

"Positive. Cade, show her." Leon looked down, and Cade held the snake out.

Should I eat her? She scares you. I could kill her for you.

Cade twitched his head no.

Petrona reached out, taking the snake from his hands.

"What an interesting pet," Petrona said. "Leon tells me that you created it yourself. Can you tell me about it, Cade?"

Her tone was deceptively mild, and Cade wet his lips. "He came from me. He said he sentient. Sentient magic."

Petrona smiled, but her eyes were dark. "Well, that makes you very special, Cade. You must treat him very carefully. Do you understand?"

She's too old to eat, anyway. Much too tough.

"Have you thought of a name for him?" Petrona asked, bringing the snake close to examine it.

Cade shook his head.

"Think on it carefully. Names are important." Petrona smiled, and reached up to pat his head.

***

"Blaze."

No.

"Ouroboros."

No.

"Basil. Short for basilisk."

From the book you read? Maybe.

***

"What is it?" Sonja squinted into the terrarium. "I heard father and Petrona talking about it."

"It's a snake. Made of magic." Cade raised his chin, arching an eyebrow. "No one in a generation has even done anything close."

"If it's made of magic, why is it still eating mice?" Sonja's lips pursed and she leaned in close as Basil unhinged his jaw, swallowing a mouse whole.

"Because Basil likes the taste of them." Cade crossed his arms. "Any other questions?"

***

They whisper about you.

Cade looked down, aware of how many eyes were on him.

Don't worry about them. They're just jealous. You're the prince. If they were mice, I would have already eaten them.

Cade smiled, stroking a hand up his arm, where he could feel the lines of Basil’s tattoo tight on his skin.

***

Are you sure you want this one? Basil's voice in his ear was a hiss, quiet enough that Cade almost ignored it. He looks very pathetic.

They both watched as the wolf attempted to escape, only to be taken down by a Taser.

I suppose he's just as trapped as you are. Basil sighed. All right, fine. Save him.