“You did die,” Dey said, pulling me into his arms and holding me tightly to his chest.
Sin barked something in Rivellan that sounded more pained than angry.
Dey pulled back enough to look me in the eye. “Your heart stopped twice on the ride back here. I thought… I thought we were going to lose you.”
I couldn’t bear the anguish on his face so I leaned forward, touching my forehead to his. “I’m alive. I’m okay.”
We sat there quietly until Sin growled something, and Dey dropped his arms from my shoulders.
I tried once more to stand, and this time Dey didn’t stop me. I rose shakily to my feet and looked around. The little hidden glen was quite peaceful until a sharp caw broke through my reverie, drawing my attention up to the trees where Thorell sat on a branch beside Flax and Flinx. More bird-like creatures—some barely larger than a sparrow while others would make an eagle look small—lounged on nearby limbs, regarding us warily. One of the crescia even had fur and a swishing tail similar to an otterexcept with wings and wickedly hooked talons. They weren’t kidding when they said each one was unique.
Dey answered my question before I could ask it. “We are at the back of the castle,” he confirmed. “This grove is a favored gathering place for many of the crescia when they are not with their Vitaean. Thorell can usually be found in that tree which is why I brought you here.”
“Why did you need Thorell?”
“He is able to hold a reserve of my power within him,” Dey replied, smiling up at the hawk-like creature. “All crescia are able to do so for their bonded. Should we find ourselves away from the Source, we have access to what you might consider a small emergency supply. I had to bring you back from the brink of death twice, Princess. I needed the extra magic from Thorell or I would have drained myself before you were healed enough.”
I looked up at the crescia. “Thanks for the help, buddy.”
He gave a squawk and bobbed his head a few times.
“Where is my father?” I asked Dey.
I needed to stop him from punishing Cam and Ram. I knew so few people here and I couldn’t let anything bad happen to them because of me.
“King Verren returned to Civi Adasa,” he replied. “He stayed here long enough to assure that you would be okay, but his healing power is his weakest ability, and he was not able to do much. Once you were stabilized he was forced to leave.”
His answer wounded me like a dagger to the chest. I had only known my father a handful of days, but his apathy for my near death experience still caused my heart to clench.
Dey must have seen my pained expression because he quickly added, “He very much wanted to stay until you woke. King Verren was most distraught over what happened, but we did not know how long you would be unconscious. He has responsibilities that cannot be ignored you see.”
“He’ll always be a king first and a father second, huh?” I understood, but it still hurt more than it should have. I always imagined that any parent would put their child first before anything else, but I guess family only counted for so much when that parent ruled a kingdom.
“Please do not look so sad, Princess.”
“It’s fine,” I said, dismissively. Just because I shared some genetics with the king didn’t mean he owed me anything. It only made my decision to leave in a few weeks that much easier. “He stayed long enough to make sure his savior would survive, then he went back to work. I get it,” I said, trying so hard to sound indifferent even though the bite to my words revealed otherwise.
Dey opened his mouth to protest, but I stopped him.
“Seriously, I’m fine. I just want to go see Cam and Ram.” He winced, and nausea bloomed in the pit of my stomach. “Where are they?”
“They’re in the dungeons,” Sin said angrily, coming up behind Dey. “You dragged them into the city, and now they’re suffering for it. I hope you had fun on your little adventure because I lost my two best generals so you could go shopping.”
My blood boiled at his accusation. “Yeah? Well if you had been training me the way you were supposed to, then I wouldn’t have been with them. So maybe it’s your fault.”
He reeled back as if I had slapped him, and I felt a small ounce of satisfaction.
I turned back to to Dey. “Can you please take me to them?”
“No, he can’t,” Sin cut in before Dey could speak for himself. “They’re being held in the Sonaria.It’s a room made from the only mineral on this planet that can block a Vitaeans access to the Source.”
I shook my head. “Why put them there?”
“It’s so they can’t heal their wounds,” he spat out. “King Verren had them beaten for endangering you.” He dropped his voice lowenough that Dey couldn’t hear and added, “That’s what happens here, Rain. Good males suffer because of you. Because you know nothing of this world.” Then he pushed past me, knocking me to the side with his broad shoulder.
“Come, Princess,” Dey said, leading me out of the glen. “You need rest. The wounds you suffered were many, and your body will need more time to fully heal.”
Dey escorted me back to my room and helped me into bed before pulling the thick drapes shut to block out the suns.
