Charles’s expression tightened. “I don’t know. Everything was fine one moment, and then there was this huge gust of wind and a horrible crack and then…”
Darcy straightened. “A strong gust of wind caused this?”
Charles nodded, and Darcy’s expression grew strained.
“You don’t think it was an accident.” My stomach swirled with nausea.
“Once might be an accident”—Darcy looked at me grimly—“twice is a pattern, especially with them both being weather related.”
“You think someone was trying to kill Jane?” Charles whispered.
Darcy shook his head, his jaw clenched again. “I think someone was trying to kill Lizzy. This incident now proves that the lightning was meant for her after all.”
His words fell on me like a stone tied around my feet, dragging me deeper and deeper into my guilt.Iwas the reason Jane had been hurt. While I’d been falsely accusing Steven and letting my prejudice against the fae blind me to danger, someone had tried to kill me.
“This is all my fault.” Tears slipped from my eyes, blurring my sister’s face even more.
“No, it isn’t.” Darcy put a hand on my shoulder. “You didn’t know this would happen.”
“Yes, but it’s my fault she was wearing that stupid glamour. I was the one who suggested we go in disguise, and now Jane is paying for it.”
“Wewillfind whoever is responsible.” Darcy’s hand on my shoulder was as heavy as his tone. The words settled over me with dizzying gravity.
I never should’ve let Jane help. What did it matter if I supported her with Charles if I put her in danger to do it?
I stared at my sister’s pale face, my mistakes rushing through my head, demanding attention. I’d been too careless. Too sure of myself and my plan. Too wrong about everything. Too quick to judge.
My phone buzzed with a message in my pocket. Numbly, I reached in and pulled it out.
Where is your article?
My stomach dropped at Maxine’s text, but I didn’t have anything in me to worry about work. My article, my promotion, and maybe my job were gone, but what did that matter when Jane was in this state?
There were a few other texts from Riley and my family checking in, but I couldn’t deal with them right now. I slipped my phone back into my pocket without responding and held Jane’s pale hand as a tear slipped out.
There was nothing I could do to help Jane recover faster, but I could try to find the person who hurt her.
I stood and swallowed past the thickness in my throat. “I need to lie down.”
“Right now?” Charles looked at Jane, then back to me.
“I’m going to try to use my Portent to see if I can find anything useful,” I said. “Will you keep watch over her?”
“Of course.” Charles gave me a single nod, then focused his attention back on Jane.
Darcy put a hand on Charles’s shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll talk about the interrogation later. Focus on Jane for now.”
“Thank you.” Gratitude filled Charles’s blue eyes.
“Let’s go.” I took Darcy’s hand, and we walked back to his room. This time I didn’t hesitate to climb onto his bed. Darcy threw a knit blanket over me and settled in.
The sheets smelled like cardamom, and I inhaled deeply, letting the smell relax me.
“Is there anything I can do?” Darcy took my hand.
“Not this time.” I gave him a small smile and pulled out my notebook. I’d never tried to bring on a Portent beforeand definitely not one about anything specific. But it was time I stopped running from my fae heritage.
I tapped into the ball of energy in my core I usually ignored. My nose itched as I connected with my fae magic.
