“Maybe they would have tried, but I wasn’t going to wager on it.”
Davina didn’t speak, still silently assessing the state of me. I took her hands.
“I need to tell you something,” I said quietly.
I told her what I could about dying and how Nightsdeath had followed me through that thin veil between life and death. I tried my best to explain what he was and all he’d said and done so far, but I was still figuring him out myself.
“Stars above,” she muttered, staring at nothing in particular as we sat on my bed and she took it all in.
“Nyte is still… as well as he was?”
Davina didn’t answer right away, still seeming lost in her own thoughts with all I told her. My anxiety spiked and I shook her arm.
That snapped her back to our conversation. “Nyte? As in Rainyte? I guess using his full name is a good way to distinguish him from his dark counterpart set on conquering the world. Oh, yes! He’s as fine as he was before you left.”
Relief whooshed out of my next breath.
“Did Drystan tell you about his theory that Nyte could be awoken with a dragon bond? Is he still confident it will work?”
“Yes, but he hasn’t spoken much about it. He hasn’t said much at all since he got back. He just paces and ponders over his books more distressed than ever; he practically barks at anyone who disrupts him. I think he’s most worried about you, yet he won’t admit it.”
My heart sank. Drystan might continue to pretend he doesn’t care and won’t invite friendship into his life, but his actions always countered his stubborn resolve.
“He’s anxious to wake Nyte. This week of waiting is going to be terrible,” I sighed.
In more ways than one, but whatever Nightsdeath or Auster would do to me, I could bear it.
“I can’t leave you here,” Davina said, squeezing my hand.
“You have to. If Auster or Notus catch you they won’t hesitate to kill you, likely after they use you to get me to give up Nyte’s location. I can’t risk that, and I will not lose you.”
Her eyes scrunched shut for a second. “I despise Auster Nova.”
“I can handle him.”
She squeezed my hands. “I know you can.” Then, to my surprise, tears welled in her eyes. “Oh, even as that clueless, frightened Libertatem participant I knew you’d be the most resilient and cunning.”
Her words swelled an ache in me, and I was so grateful to this fae for all she’d done for me.
“All right,” she said, wiping away any vulnerability in an instant and standing. “Nyte better wake the hell up by the end of the week; then we’re all storming this place to come for you.”
I smiled, letting my hope bloom a little more. The thought of having Nyte back, the real and whole him, made anything feel possible.
“Tell Drystan I can handle myself here and he needs to be nicer to you all.”
I held back my smile as I pictured Drystan’s scowl upon hearing that last part.
Davina chuckled before a sly smile curved her lips.
“You saw our message, didn’t you? The people haven’t abandoned you.”
I drew a short gasp. “The banners? That was you?”
“It wasyou,Astraea. Many are from the fae resistance. Humans have joined us too. There’s more support for you than you can see. Belief in the star-maiden is all around you. So let it keep growing that strength within you.”
My resolve had never been stronger.
Davina had to leave, and I hugged myself as if it would keep the warmth of her last embrace around me for a while longer. I watched her take the form of a small black bird and soar over the balcony.
