“We tried,” he insisted, meeting my gaze so I could see the painful truth in his eyes. “We attempted to restrain them, but none of our efforts to force them into sleep worked. It was as if the madness had taken control of their entire body, forcing them to seek out death as the only escape from their torment.” His head drooped. “You did not have to see their agony, Raynella. You may think it was monstrous to end the lives of my people, of my family, but it was far kinder than allowing them to suffer eternally.”
“What about Jeylana?” I asked. “She doesn’t seem trapped in madness. I mean, not much anyways. She did say something to me, but then she went back to sleep.”
My father’s head shot up, his eyes widening. “She spoke to you? What did she say?”
I bit my lip, trying to recall the Rivellan word. “Um, she said 'selvarea,' I think. What does that mean?”
My father's eyes flickered off to the side, then he placed a hand over mine, sadness on his face once again. “It means 'save me.' I am so sorry you had to experience that, Raynella. Jeylana has not spoken since she was afflicted, has not even stirred until now. Her magic had not yet manifested when the madness took hold, and that was the only reason the healers were able to suspend her mind. They have been unsuccessful with any who have already formed their link with the Source.”
“So why did she speak to me?”
“Perhaps because you are the only one who can save her.”
There it was again—the prophecy. For some reason, it didn’t hit me like it did before. I rubbed my hand over my face, fighting back the rising bile in my stomach. If it were Jenn lying inthat bed, I would do whatever was necessary. I’d crawl through burning coals and crushed glass to save her.
I didn’t know Jeylana, though. I didn’t grow up with her, didn’t spend nights holding her while she shivered from cold and hunger in a drafty orphanage.
And yet, she was undoubtedly my sister as well. I couldn’t bring myself to just abandon her.
“Okay,” I said, straightening with a confidence I didn’t actually feel. “I will try. That whole thing with the ley lines. I can’t stay here forever, but since I’m stuck here for a bit, I guess I can try at least. What do I need to do?”
I waited for my father’s joyous reaction to my acceptance. Surprisingly, he merely gave me a small smile and dipped his head in a nod. Not that I expected a parade in my honor, but given his vehemence in convincing me I thought a little more excitement was due.
“This is perfect,” he said, picking up his utensils as if nothing much had happened. “Cennux Dreisin should be here shortly, and we can discuss preparing you for the challenges ahead. Foremost, we will need your abilities to manifest.”
“Cool,” I said, digging back into my food. I might be absolutely terrified about this whole situation, but there was no denying that I was excited to experience real magic.
“Now that that has been settled,” my father said, stabbing a piece of fruit, “tell me more about this individual who pushed you around in the hallway. I cannot imagine any reason someone would want to harm you.”
“I don’t know who he was,” I said around a mouthful of bacon. “He grabbed me when I left Jeylana’s room and shoved me against the wall. He shouted at me a bunch in Rivellan then left.”
My father swallowed his bite and frowned. “That is very concerning. Everyone in the castle has been alerted to yourpresence and should treat you like the princess that you are. What did he look like?”
“He looked like…” I trailed off as the door opened, and Dey entered the room with a male in head to toe black leather following close on his heels. I sucked in a sharp breath. There was no forgetting that face. Those hard lines and dark edges that were made even more prominent by the light of day.
“Him,” I said, pointing to the newcomer, my face blanching. “It was him.”
“Are you certain?” my father asked, glancing between me and the scowling male beside Dey.
“Yes, completely,” I said, without tearing myself away from the intense gaze of the one who had accosted me. “Who is he?”
Dey stepped forward and proudly announced, “Princess, I am pleased to introduce Cennux Dreisin. Although most of us just call him Sin.”
A vicious smirk rolled across Sin’s face, and he gave a small bow without lowering his head, those mint colored eyes never leaving mine for a second.
So much for the grumpy old commander.
Chapter fifteen
My father was out of his seat and striding toward Sin before I could even blink.
“Explain yourself, Cennux Dreisin. My daughter tells me that you attacked her last night?”
Sin cast a dark look my way then straightened, facing the king head on. He responded to him in Rivellan, and I was dying to know what possible explanation he could have. The two of them engaged in a heated argument, and I leaned back in my chair, feeling a little wicked glee that Sin was likely going to get punished because of me. I took a sip of juice and waited for my father to lay the smack down.
A loud bark of laughter had me whipping my head up in time to see my father pat Sin on the back, both of them now sporting relaxed smiles.
What. The. Fuck?!
