AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The demons had taken life, and the Beekeepers had brought it back. This power was how Aristaeus had disposed of the Zorren weeks ago when he’d turned one of their bodies into a tree.
Orion had never noticed Nava doing anything like this on Grey Island when she’d called upon her power, but he had seen the signs of her magic crawling all over the emissary’s arm.
She was sprouting life from death.
“I haven’t been able to replicate this—this spell, or whatever you’d call this. I did it to him after he attacked me when I crossed the portal. While in the cave, I could only grow lichen over the rock.” She stomped her feet over her newly made grass and smiled so wide he almost forgot all about the horrible destruction around them.
Meanwhile, Aristaeus seemed to have finally given up on the dead tree and was heading over to them. “The life you give the forest will return to us when the Zorren strike again.” Aristaeus’s eyes softened as he took in Nava’s work, which continued to flourish a few feet away, returning color to the ashen tree trunks nearby. “Mastering it is the quickest way to kill the demons. Practice using it even when you are away.”
Another peal of thunder rang through the air before the skies opened up and rain pelted them so hard it became difficult to see.
“I’m taking Nava to the city. We need to find the artifact. We’ll be back when we have something.” The rain rolled off Orion’s feathers as he shielded Nava’s shivering body from the worst of it. Still, flying in this tempest would be tricky.
“The emissary is on borrowed time for this world. We have time,” Aristaeus said in their minds. The bees, which had been flying around them, rushed to hide in the hive on his head, disappearing under its protective cover. “No demon can cross into my home. I shall wait there until I sense you’ve returned.”
Nava stepped out from under Orion’s wing and wrapped Aristaeus in a hug that looked far from comfortable. Aristaeus seemed surprised but awkwardly patted her shoulder until she was ready to let go.
“I hope it doesn’t take me so long to see you again,” she said.
“Let us hope that when we meet, it’s not because of another attack on this forest. Not even Beekeepers can bring back life once it’s left for good.”
Orion and Nava arrived at Leela’s house at nightfall, chilled to the bone by the cold front that had descended onto the city. It was far too early in the year to be that freezing.
The silver lining on flying through a storm was that none of the guards or the Crows would bother to keep an eye out for them.
The wooden awning that covered Leela’s front door sheltered them from the downpour as Orion knocked on the glass. As soon as he could, he shoved both his hands inside his wet pockets.
The hinges screeched as Leela’s red hair popped out to greet them, and a sudden wind slammed the door against the wall. “Your Highness!” she gasped and reached for Nava’s wrist, dragging her into the house. “You can’t be outside in this storm!”
The inside was much warmer than the cave had been and smelled of sweet tea and pigments used to dye fabric. He turned toward the closed door and placed a hand over it, whispering a warding spell that locked into place.
When he turned, Nava was standing beside Leela, speaking in hushed tones as her friend fretted over her wet appearance.
“Is Devon upstairs?” Orion asked, already ascending the narrow staircase, two steps at a time.
“He’s fine, sir, just warming up by the fire. We’ve had quite the storm today.”
Orion needed to see him with his own eyes, to hear his voice… To make sure his brother was actually alive and doing well. They’d left in such a rush, and Nava’s healing had only just set in—there had been no way to tell how long it would last.
They’d been gone for far too long.
“You’re alive.” Devon’s voice broke over the sound of a hissing teapot by the fire. He uncrossed one long leg, clad in elegant, wine-colored pants, and stood from the chair. It seemed Leela had found him a new set of clothes.
“I should be the one saying that,” Orion said, fighting a smile.
Behind him, the stairs creaked under Nava’s feet. She entered the room moments later, wringing out her long hair, and a mixture of rain, ash, and dirt dripped onto the wooden floor. “Devon,” she greeted. “I trust you’re feeling better?”
“Perfect, as always. You two, however, look like drowned rats and are making a mess of this wonderful place.” He stretched like a cat, extending both arms over his head. “I take it you encountered demons?”
“And the emissary.” Orion helped Nava remove her coat. It was so heavy with rain it nearly swallowed her whole. He draped it over the balustrade and peeked over it to see where Leela had gone.
A distant rustle of fabric emerged from the seamstress’s shop. She was probably looking for dry clothes.
Devon was right. Perhaps they should have cleaned up and changed downstairs to avoid getting the floor dirty. They had inconvenienced Leela enough.
As if called by his thoughts, she bustled up the stairs not long after, piles of clothing stuffed between her slim arms. She dropped the lot on one of the empty chairs.
“I know I shouldn’t interrupt.” Leela patted her forehead with her arm, drying a thin layer of perspiration that clung to her skin. “You three are always talking about such pressing matters… But it’s so cold outside, and I don’t want you—nor Miss Nava—to get ill. I brought everything I could find that might fit you, sir. My partner doesn’t sew for males as often as she would like.”
