Page 49

Together with Danka, we stripped away the dress, just in time for a knock to come from outside. Reynard cursed under his breath as he went to open the door, while Danka wrapped me in a blanket.

Ciesko, the Arch Healer of Dagome, came first, his eyes shining with an excitement that reminded me of our first meeting. Our family came next. Lily, Irsha and Tova stood to the side while Annika shuffled over.

‘Tell me what you need. Is it Aether? Such a massive burst of energy must have emptied your reserves.’ Alaric protested, but Annika placed fingers on his lips. ‘What’s the point of being a conduit mage if I can’t help, hm?’

She reached for my hand, but I pulled away. ‘I’m fine. I don’t know how, but I am.’

Ani frowned. She glanced at Alaric with a question in her eyes, but the Dark Fae only shrugged. ‘I don’t know, Domina. The magic of life is a mystery to me.’

Reynard exchanged quiet words with Ormond. Lily came next, her posture so stiff I expected her touch to be icy.

‘I swear I didn’t know about the cube, or Iasno’ta’s betrayal. He seemed so shocked when I revealed my husband’s disloyalty,’ she blurted before I could say anything. ‘It had to be Niersen. He’s a powerful psychic mage. I should have realised he could alter perception. Sana, please trust me; I would never betray Dagome.’

I looked at her, baffled. Where did this come from? Did she think I blamed her?

‘I have wings,’ I said, and she sighed, sitting beside me. ‘Will you blame yourself for this too?’

Lily frowned. I leaned to the side and placed my head on her shoulder. ‘Iasno’ta is not your fault. We all grew complacent. I should have ordered the search as soon as Danka mentioned the gift, but I didn’t even tell Rey. And now I have wings.’

Lily bit her thumb, but a smile spread on her lips.

‘I know. It’s caused quite the stir. Everyone in the palace saw them when the king carried you upstairs,’ she said. My shoulders slumped. The transparent membranes weighed on me like an unbearable burden.

‘They’re beautiful, Sana, and well earned,’ Annika chimed in, and between the two women, my complaints sounded like the whining of a pouting child.

‘What happened after I blacked out?’ I asked instead.

‘The old citadel burst open like an overripe fruit. Plants appeared in every crack after your power shattered the portal and destroyed every single ice wraith,’ Tova answered. ‘If not for that mark you made with your blood, I would die too. It burned like white-hot iron, but magic recoiled from it. Otherwise, who knows what sort of mushroom I’d be right now.’

I snorted with laughter.

‘Everything else was just Orm and me knocking down walls to get to you,’ Rey added and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. ‘Will you be alright with Lily and Annika? The court is in disarray. They’re all threatening to leave. Riordan doesn’t have the authority to stop them, and… I need to go before we lose our allies. I’ll return shortly, I promise.’

Guilt flashed in his eyes, so despite needing him so much, I forced myself to smile and waved him off. ‘I need at least a couple of hours’ rest, some female company and a hot bath. Tova, Irsha, go with them.’ I didn’t bother sending Alaric away. He wouldn’t leave Annika alone in my company, even if I hexed him.

‘I’ll be back soon, and Ciesko will stay here until my return. He’ll help you,’ Rey said, more to reassure himself than me. He left, taking the others and leaving behind the Arch Healer, Alaric, and the women.

Just as I was asking Danka to bring something to eat, Ciesko came closer, his eyes shining with excitement.

‘Roksana. I want to see your wings.’

I sighed and shrugged the blanket off. ‘Yes, Master Ciesko.’

The old healer had been the only one willing to teach me about vivamancy. Thanks to him, I was still alive and had some control over my power. He reached out, but I jerked away.

‘Don’t,’ Alaric snapped. His commanding voice stilled Ciesko’s hand. The dark fae knelt before me, his expression sympathetic but wary. ‘Do you want these wings, Roksana?’

‘No,’ I snorted. ‘How can I live with something that not only makes moving difficult but singles me out as a target?’

‘Then why not will them gone?’ he asked. I frowned. It couldn’t be that simple.

‘I don’t know how they appeared in the first place, other than my mother’s living stone being involved,’ I said, my gaze drifting to Annika, who looked at her mate with an inscrutable expression.

‘What do you know?’ she questioned, smiling.

‘Only that the elder races walk amongst us without announcing their presence in the most spectacular ways,’ he answered.

I turned to Ciesko. ‘Is that true?’