“Don’t come near me, or I’m going to be charged with striking a regent.”
He stopped in the middle of the room.
“I was desperate. I have no chance of happiness without you,” he explained.
“But you could be happy knowing the Earthwives had my little sister and were raising her to be one of them?” I asked, incredulous at the change in him.
“You are not the man I thought you were,” I said. “Pharis risked everything to protect me and my family. What have you risked? Nothing. You have protected your own desires from beginning to end.”
Stellon’s perplexed expression melted into one of shame.
“You’re right. I haven’t been acting like myself. I’m sorry, Raewyn. It was a mistake to work with Caitriona. I only wanted to be with you. I only wanted to love you.”
“The most loving thing you can do for me right now is to leave,” I said. “I can’t even look at you.”
His hands came out in supplication. “But you must let me help you get your sister back.”
“You’ve done quite enough already,” I snapped.
I shook my head slowly, a new understanding filling me. “And it isn’tyourhelp I need.”
There was only one person who could help me now.
To fight magic, you needed magic. I needed the most magical being I’d ever met—in more ways than one.
Turning to Kem, I asked, “Do you think Pharis would help me get Turi back?”
She nodded eagerly. “He would do anything for you, my lady. I know it to the marrow of my bones.”
Stellon rolled his eyes but wisely kept his mouth shut.
“How long will it take to get to Stormcrest?” I asked no one in particular, but Stellon answered.
“Almost a month on horseback, longer by carriage.”
I tipped my head back, staring up at the low ceiling. This was bad. A lot could happen to little Turi in a month.
“I wish your Evanescing glamour was strong enough to transport us both there,” I said to Kem. “I need to talk to Pharis right away.”
“I can help with that,” Stellon said.
Kem and I both turned to look at him.
“I’m an Exalter, remember?” he said. “I can heighten the power of any glamour. I’d have to go with you, but we could be standing at the doorstep of Pharis’ castle in moments.”
I stared at him, thinking. Did I really want to count on Stellon again?
“The King’s glamour could amplify Prince Pharis’ glamours as well, my lady,” Kem pointed out. “It could be useful in rescuing your sister.”
Stellon gave me a beseeching look. “Please. It’s the least I can do. Let me help.”
“Very well. The three of us will go,” I said. “For Turi.”
Taking Tindra’s hand, I left the cottage to go find my father, and Stellon told his troops to head back to Seaspire, that he’d be traveling a different way.
When I returned to the cottage, Stellon and Kem were talking, presumably about how this would work. I joined them, and Kem clasped my hand.
With her other one, she reached for Stellon.
