My nose scrunches up. I don’t remember a thing. The last thing I remember is… Oh goddess. The last thing I remember is Flyn finding my stash of painkillers.
Guilt and shame race through me until I’m nearly choking. Did I try something and have been brought here to convalesce? That’s awful as well as extremely dangerous. Whatever state my mental health is in, I’m still a threat. Probably even more so.
My hand flies to my amulet. Its warm weight is not particularly comforting. Especially since the buzz of its magic seems duller.
Letting me out of the dungeon is a terrible idea. However good the intentions.
Flyn stirs. His head lifts up. His hazy blue eyes fix on me. As they focus, a huge, dazzling smile stretches across his face.
My heart flutters. But I need to focus.
“What is happening!” I blurt. “How long have I been out?”
“Just a few hours,” reassures Flyn.
“And?” I snap back in growing panic. I’m glad I’ve only lost a couple of hours, but I still don’t know why or how.
I watch in horror as Flyn’s smile falters. He struggles to keep it, but there is pain in his eyes that is giving the game away.
“What’s happened?” my voice shakes.
Flyn licks his lips. “I took you out of the dungeon and the fey got control of you.”
My heart is racing now. My limbs are trembling. I’m weak and dizzy. I think I might throw up.
“But you listened to me, baby! You were so strong! You took back your control!”
His smile is back, and his eyes are alight.
“I didn’t open a portal?” I ask.
Flyn vigorously shakes his head. “No, baby. You didn’t.” He sucks in a breath. “But it turns out you were just a distraction. The fey got some other poor bastard to do their bidding.”
“I…I didn’t destroy the world?” I stammer as my mind whirls and tries to comprehend.
Flyn is grilling again. “Nope. You kicked fey ass.”
I try to get my lungs to work, but they are stuck. “But someone else let them in? The fey are here?”
Flyn’s blue eyes turn somber again. I see his worry and his fear. It lances through my gut.
Suddenly, the bedroom door bursts open and Lello bounds in. His eyes are wide and frantic.
“There is a fey in the garden and he said your name!”
A wave of dizziness washes over me.
“I think he wants to speak to you!”
“Is it safe?” snaps Flyn.
Lello gives him a wide-eyed look. He shrugs and turns his attention to me.
Nothing is safe anymore. The entire world has been changed. By people whose blood I share.
I throw back the covers. Thankfully, it appears I am still dressed. Flyn scrambles to help me, but I feel fine. Whatever drained me and put me in bed, has done no lasting damage. Or perhaps adrenaline is lending me strength. Whatever the reason, I can get out of bed unaided. I’m going to be able to walk downstairs and out into the garden, to speak to a fey.
I nod at Flyn and Lello. Together, we silently make our way out of the house. Flyn pushes open the front door and the sunlight dazzles me. As my eyes adjust, I see nearly everyone is here, standing on or near the stone steps at the front of the house.
