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She mutters something in a language I don’t understand then gets to her feet and moves back toward her bottles.
“How do you know him?”
“I worked with the rebels,” she replies. “Until Taranus got a hair in his ass and decided to overthrow his brother.”
“Is that why you live in here? Is this your cell?”
She stops and turns toward me. “My daughter made him promise not to harm me. Why? I’ve no clue since she murdered my husband—her own father—without so much as the blink of an eye.” Tears spring to her eyes, and she takes a deep breath.
I reach out and touch her arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“Taranus cannot harm me unless Sheelin gives him the go-ahead. Which she likely won’t do until she can come here and deal with me herself.”
“Where is she?”
“In your world, trying to kill her brother.”
Maybe I should be glad I never knew my family.“That’s so awful,” I say, keeping my other multitude of thoughts inside.
“We have a long, dark past, dear. Nothing for you to fret about. Frankly, you have problems of your own at the moment.”
“I know. Taranus thinks I’m the woman from some prophecy.”
“You are,” she replies. “And he believes wedding you will make him the one true king.”
“So I hear.” I groan. “Seriously, though. One true king? What is this, Camelot?”
She stops and turns toward me. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
So much for a King Arthur reference.“Nothing. I just…I don’t understand what I have to do with any of this.”
After a few moments of silence as she works, Heelean turns toward me and offers me a vial with green liquid. “Can you get this to Rafferty? It will heal him.”
“He made me promise not to come back.”
“You need to get this to him,” she says. “Or give it to Flora so she can. I’m not allowed to see anyone but those Taranus allows near my room. And I cannot leave.”
“Did he cut your wings, too?”
Her cheeks flush. “No. Though I am warded in this room and it is lined with iron. There’s no leaving for me.”
“There’s no way to remove a ward? What is a ward?”
She smiles softly and pats my cheek as a mother would dote on a child. “You are sweet. Far too kind for the fate set out for you. Do yourself a favor and escape from this place, Ember. As quickly as possible.”
“How can I get you out?”
“You can’t,” she says, softly. “But you can save yourself, and that will be just as satisfactory.”
“I have a plan—”
A heavy knock on the door interrupts me, and Heelean shoves the vial at me. I take it and put it down within what little cleavage I have, hiding it from view—barely. Then, she applies a bit of cream to my forehead. “Be well, dear,” she whispers, before shuffling over to open the door.
Taranus stands on the other side. “Feeling better?”
“Yes. Thank you.” I turn toward Heelean. “I appreciate your kindness.”
“Of course.” Heelean bows her head slightly and shuts the door the moment I’m in the hall.
