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“Yes. Seth. I remember him.”
Stone’s lips quirked. “You weren’t wearing shoes. That’s what was in the report. That’s what the villagers recalled.”
He shook his head. “As soon as I got the call, I was in the air. Didn’t stop to think.”
Stone huffed a sigh. “My Guardsman is still out in the field investigating. He’s texted several incidences, from the past two years, in that village alone.”
“That would be correct.”
“Looks like I owe you an apology.”
“Not necessary.”
Stone opened his mouth then turned swiftly in the direction of the lakeside house. “Hold on. I think the women are upset about something.”
Rez pivoted as well. He extended his vampire hearing and Holly’s voice came through. “As I’ve told you, Rosamunde, the wraiths were in pens. In the cavern. I saw them.”
Rosamunde kept shaking her head. “But what does it all mean? Sweet Goddess. No, no, no. I don’t want this to be true.”
“Something’s wrong,” Stone said.
Rez started moving the same time Stone did.
The house was one long bank of windows facing the lake. He could see the kitchen and dining area off to the left and what was the living room to the right. Both Rosamunde and Holly were in a central space that connected the two rooms. It was a small dwelling and had been Stone’s private getaway before Rosamunde.
By the time Rez arrived in the doorway with Stone, Rosamunde was in tears. She walked straight into Stone’s arms. He wrapped her up then guided her into the dining area.
Rez met Holly’s gaze. What the hell happened?
Holly appeared bewildered as she shrugged. I don’t know. I started telling her about what we saw in the cavern and about Lanarae and somewhere in there she lost it. I swear, I don’t know what I did wrong. Given her status, I thought not only that she would want to know, but that I was obliged to tell her.
He watched the couple and somehow wasn’t surprised when Stone took Rosamunde outside and onto the deck. He had his arms around her but it was clear the woman was sobbing.
Holly drew closer to Rez. I’ve heard she’s with child. I wonder if that’s part of the problem.
Rez had heard the rumors as well. For a fae female, there was no greater blessing than to be pregnant during a wedding ceremony.
Stone pathed to Rez, When Holly started talking about the cavern with the wraiths, Rosamunde experienced a series of battle visions. We’ll be back in a minute.
Rez turned to Holly and relayed what Stone had just told him.
Holly looked back at the couple now embracing fully on the deck. “Battle visions? No wonder she’s upset.”
Rez watched Holly. Was it his imagination, or could he sense what she was experiencing? Was this a blood rose thing? He felt her compassion but he also detected her nerves. He slid his arm around her waist. “Hey. Don’t be frightened.”
She turned to him with wide eyes. “How did you know?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Rez, I’ll be honest. I’m scared out of my mind. My faeness has picked up on Rosamunde. There’s nothing small about what she saw.”
~ ~ ~
“I apologize.” Rosamunde’s eyes were still red-rimmed. “I’ll be okay. The visions were a shock. I thought the battle against the Invictus was over. I thought we’d have a thousand years of peace.”
Holly now sat on the couch with Rez, her leg pressed against his for support. Rosamunde wasn’t sure why, but the visions of a forthcoming battle were very jumbled and seemed to indicate Stone’s force would attack a camp by air. She’d seen a lot of vicious fighting, but nothing to be of help.”
Holly hadn’t expected Rosamunde’s powerful and overwhelming reaction. The woman was ancient and had served as the Queen of Ferrenden Peace for over nine hundred years. She had endured an isolated existence, cloaked as she’d been from the rest of the realms for most that time. No one had even known of her existence until recent months. She’d been hiding from Margetta who had wanted the power Rosamunde possessed.
