“You should have savedher, not me,” she croaked out in a whisper.
She felt Xander’s body shudder, but as he released a heavy sigh, his finger found her chin, and he lifted her gaze to his. “No, Piper. I was right where I was meant to be.”
“You were whereshetold youto be.”
Xander’s hand dropped as he inhaled deeply through his nose and pushed to his feet. “I was where I wanted to be, Piper. You can choose to believe that, or you can blame me for something you know neither of us could change. Either way, I was, and still am, right where I want to be.”
Xander pressed a kiss to her brow, and her heart sank as she watched him walk away.
She knew that if she could talk to Auraelia, she would call her an idiot. She would tell her that it wasn’t his fault, and deep in her heart, she knew that to be true. But she’d already lost one of the most important people in her life. If she let Xander in, how long would it be until she lost him, too?
Another week came and went, and still, there was no change.
Piper was pretty certain she’d become affixed to the chair by this point. Meals were brought to her by either Xander orLiza, and they stayed until she’d finished the plate. Then, they would gather her dishes and leave quietly. But she never missed the sorrow in their eyes as they looked back at the bed. Never missed the tears that brimmed when there was no news of improvement. And with each passing day, the hope she’d held onto faded, and resentment took its place.
Why did I survive?
Who am I to the realm?
I have no power to protect our people, have nothing to offer…
“Piper?” A hesitant voice called out, breaking her out of her spiraling thoughts. When she turned toward the door, piercing green eyes met hers. “May I come in?”
When she nodded, Daemon’s sister pushed the door wider and stepped into the space.
A week after the war ended—when there still hadn’t been a change with Auraelia and Dameon—Xander sent word to the Court of Opal and the Sapphire Isles to let them know what had happened. But it wasn’t until Yvaine showed up a few days ago that they learned of King Evander’s death and that Daemon was now King of the Sapphire Isles.
“Would you like to sit?” Piper asked quietly, gesturing to the chair beside her.
Yvaine swallowed audibly, nodding as she slowly sank down into the cushion with a grieved sigh. Her eyes were rimmed in red, the kohl she usually wore smudged beneath, and the fact that she didn’t bother hiding her tears brought Piper a small amount of comfort. She was so tired of pretending to be strong when all she wanted to do was crawl into a hole and whither away.
They’d been sitting in silence for a while, both staring blankly at the shroud of shadows cloaking their loved ones, when Yvaine spoke. Her voice was a hushed whisper, but there was no mistaking the relief that flooded each word. “He’s still alive.”
“How can you be so sure? Nothing has changed.”
A small smile tugged on the corner of Yvaine’s lips as water began to line her eyes. “A week or so before the war started, I made Daemon bind a promise that he wouldn’t keep me from fighting for our people. I’m not sure how much you know about them, but when you bind a promise, the participants exchange a kernel of magic. And I can still feel his. It’s weak but growing stronger the longer I sit here. And I can feel mine pulling toward me.”
“I wish I had that. I don’t know—” Piper choked on a sob as she stared through the shadows at her friend’s still body. “I don’t know what fate has befallen Auraelia. And I can’t see—”
“Piper,” Yvaine reached across the small space between them and grasped her hand, squeezing tightly. “My brother would not be growing stronger if Auraelia had been welcomed home by the goddesses. Nothing, and I meannothing, would hold him here if she was no longer present.” She squeezed Piper’s hand once more, then pushed to her feet. “Have faith, little raven. They will come back to us when they are ready.”
Little Raven?Raven’s are birds associated with death.
Yvaine gave a small chuckle. “I can see the wheels in your mind turning in your eyes. It was a compliment, I assure you. A raven is also the bird of prophecy, Piper.”
“But my sight—”
“Will return when you’re ready for it to. You don’t trustyourself, let alone your visions, right now. Believe in yourself, and they will come back.”
Piper watched her walk away, her words resonating with something in her soul and fanning the dying embers of hope. But as Yvaine pulled the door open, Piper called her name, waiting until she turned to say, “Thank you.”
“We all need a little light right now. I’m glad that I could give that to you.”
Yvaine smiled and then slipped through the door, leaving her alone once more.
Though their conversation was short, it lifted some of the weight off Piper’s heart, and she felt as if she could finally breathe more easily.
A little while later, Liza brought her dinner, and it was the first time her face wasn’t pinched with worry as she watched her eat. Not long after, her eyes became heavy, and sleep slowly claimed her consciousness. But as her eyes drifted closed, she could have sworn she saw a tiny streak of lightning mingle within the shadows.
