Ravyn gasped and fell, clutching the whole where her heart should be.
Sin Garu blew Ellie a kiss before transforming into that same serving boy she’d seen earlier. “Until we meet again, lovely.” He ran screaming from the hall, shouting accusations and cries of murder.
Ellie staggered to the queen, drained of her energy thanks to whatever Sin Garu had done to her. She dropped to her knees on the hard stone and frantically searched for a pulse, for some way to stem the flow of blood pouring from the queen. But upon closer inspection, nothing oozed from Ravyn’s burning wound. Small bits of blue flame danced around the queen’s chest. Seared flesh and raw muscle gaped at Ellie like twin becons of death.
Footsteps preceded the gasps and shouts behind her. She was shoved away. Then Samantha and Tessa leaned over Ravyn, while their husbands hovered. They glanced from Ravyn to Elli and back again, shock, anger and confusion lining their faces.
Strong arms lifted her, and she tried to struggle but hadn’t the energy. Then Jonas whispered in her ear, “It’s alright, Ellie. I’ve got you now. You’ll be fine.”
“Is it really you?” she asked, her voice hoarse and sore from Sin Garu’s chokehold.
“It’s me.” He waved a hand over her face and the fog that had been trapping her suddenly faded.
She sagged, weary beyond measure. Tears fell as she saw the barely-breathing queen struggling to hold on to life. “Oh no. This is all my fault.”
Jonas shushed and rocked her, supporting her since she had no strength to stand on her own.
Arim and Cadmus suddenly entered.
“Aerolus is caught in the east by a sudden attack, and Alandra’s readying the Aellei…” Arim trailed off when he caught sight of Ravyn. With a curse, he joined her side and began chanting, while Cadmus stood, staring numbly around him.
“Not true, not possibly real,” he muttered, as if trying to awaken from a bad dream. Then his eyes caught Ellie’s, and she wanted to cry.
He looked so miserable, so sad and angry and disheartened as he stared at her. The accusation was there in his glance if not in his voice.
“I didn’t do it,” she whispered.
He watched her a moment longer before turning to his mother.
“Leave him,” Jonas said when she tried to join him. “Give him time, Ellie. He’s had a shock.”
I have too, she wanted to shout. I know his mother’s been hurt, but doesn’t he care at all that I was almost killed?
Darius glared at her. “That one was here when it happened. Norse said he saw her attack Mother. That the new princess tried to kill the queen.”
Arim looked up from Ravyn, his brows close. To her surprise, he said nothing and turned back to the queen. Marcus threw up a hand, and Ellie felt a sharp thrust of energy before Jonas shielded her.
“Not now, River Prince.” Jonas shook his head. “You don’t know the circumstances or the truth around this treachery. See to your kin and your wounded, and leave Ellie be.”
“Yes,” Arim agreed. But Ellie’s heart broke as Cadmus stared at her, his face blank, and said nothing. “I’ve done what I can for your mother, but the Netharat are here. Marcus and Tessa, to the south, now.” He pointed a finger at them and they disappeared. “Darius, take Samantha and guard the west wall. The attack is focused there.” Darius grabbed Samantha and they too vanished under Arim’s stare.
“I’ll stay with Mother,” Cadmus said in a hollow voice.
“Yes, do.” Arim turned to Ellie and Jonas. “You two, come with me.”
Pressure eased through Ellie before she found herself in an unfamiliar room.
“You’re in the northern territory, that of the Earth Lord. You’ll be safe here until I can figure out what went wrong. Jonas, stay with her.”
Jonas nodded, and before Ellie could say anything, the sorcerer disappeared.
Jonas carried Ellie to the large bed in an otherwise empty room and laid her down. Too tired to argue, she let him wipe her tears and tuck her under covers.
“Rest, Ellie. Let the spell wear off. Then you can tell me what happened.” Jonas kissed her forehead and stroked her hair, fingering the bruise on her cheek. “I believe in you, honey.”
She cried harder before blessed tiredness overwhelmed her, and she slept.
Chapter Thirty-Three
