Page 8 of Death Will Follow

“I could have shifted and slipped my restraints at any time,” she murmured. “I have no intention of escaping.”

With that, Nova led Bryn through the door, following a servant to a vacant chamber and leaving Nox with the task of putting Lucan’s mind at ease.

Bryn’s room was smaller than Nova’s and sparsely furnished, but it had a comfortable bed and a large soaking tub. Isla was summoned to help Bryn bathe and dress, and Nova returned to her own chamber to dress herself, certain she wouldn’t be able to sleep after all the excitement.

After splashing a handful of cold water on her face, she caught her reflection in the mirror. She leaned close to the glass and widened her eyes. The whites were blighted with small red dots. Reaching up slowly, she prodded the mottled purple bruises blooming on her neck. Breaking the mirror’s hold on her, Nova cleared her throat softly, feeling a lump there as she swallowed.

Dressed in her training uniform, Nova descended the stairs and made her way to the library, where she found Nox and Lucan seated together on the sofa before the fireplace.

“Where is she?” Lucan asked, making to rise from his seat.

“Isla told me she ate and fell asleep right away,” Nova said, sinking into the sofa. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept for a week straight.”

“How are you?” Nox asked, his dark eyes narrowed.

Nova realized she was absentmindedly touching her collar.

“I’m fine. Truly.” She dropped her hand into her lap and relaxed in her seat. “By tomorrow it will be as if this never happened,” she reminded him.

Nox pursed his lips in response.

“How did the two of you know to come to my rescue?” she asked, eager to shift their attention.

“A servant in your wing heard the struggle and came to my chamber,” Nox explained.

Nova eyed the males. Lucan’s arm lay draped protectively behind Nox’s shoulders. Her uncle still wore his sleeping attire. Sections of his long white hair had come free from the cord tying his hair back. Lucan wore only breeches and a loose, untucked shirt. Both were barefoot.

My heroes, she thought, biting back a smile.

“What happened?” She could recall nothing but the suffocating feeling of her own desperation and the white mist clouding her vision.

“We opened the door and found her on top of you, strangling you,” Lucan recounted, his tone curt. “You grabbed her shoulders, and the entire room filled with a bright light. Had to cover my eyes. I thought you were going to blind me.”

An incredulous sound caught in Nova’s throat. “You think the light came from me?”

“Oh, I know it did,” Lucan insisted.

“Is that a Solar ability?” Nova looked at Nox, her brow knitted, certain he must have the answer.

Her Lunar and Solar heritage meant it was possible she could have several abilities, but she’d never heard of Solar blood producing such a light. She bit the inside of her cheek, frustrated by how little she knew herself and what she was capable of even after so many moons had passed.

“I don’t believe so,” Nox murmured. He stroked his chin with slender fingers as his gaze passed over the bookshelves stretching all the way to the glass ceiling above. His hand fell to rest atop his knee a moment later, and he shook his head as if suddenly remembering Lucan and Nova were in the room.

“You’re planning to train today?” Nox asked, eyeing Nova’s sword propped against the edge of the sofa.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Her tone left no room for discussion.

“Well, then. I’ll leave you to it.” Standing, Nox crossed to his study tucked away in the corner of the library but paused halfway, turning back to face her. “Meet me here when drills are through.”

As her uncle’s footsteps faded, Nova stared at Lucan, who sat slouched on the far end of the sofa, his knees jutting out in front of him.

“What?” he demanded, squirming ever so slightly under her scrutinizing gaze.

“You’re underdressed, Commander.”

Lucan rose from his seat and stomped toward the library door. “Meet me in the entryway in a quarter of an hour,” he ordered before stalking out of the room.

Lucan’s foul mood lasted for the duration of their drills. He pushed Nova harder than he ever had before and scolded her for every misstep, however small. It was challenging, but she held her own. Achy and sweating by the end of their session, she guzzled cool water from a flask as she rushed back to the Estate alone, noting that the pain in her throat had already lessened considerably.