Mathison didn’t mention his fears about placing it on her after giving her Danu’s healing herbs at the wrong time. Instead, he hurried to clasp it around Calia’s neck, noting with no small sense of relief that her coloring immediately improved. The next time Mairwen told him something that would protect Calia, he would honor it more seriously. “The old one said it would help her strip away Carman’s immortality, something that only she would be able to do.”
“We have not yet picked up Carman’s scent,” Bresag said.
“Giddrie said Carman has gone to the Under to mourn her sons.” Mathison leaned over and brushed the softest of kisses across Calia’s forehead. For a moment, he lingered, judging the coolness of her skin. Thank the goddesses, the fever had not yet returned. “The wolfstone destroyed them when I spoke the mortality spell written by old Cain and his sorcerer, Larofess.”
“The wolfstone belongs to yer mate now,” Noirgarth said. “Never let her remove it. Even after Carman is destroyed. The amulet will help the two of ye separate the seed from the chaff when it comes to the loyalty of those around ye, ye ken? Ye must never forget this nor cast it aside as idle advice.” He gently touched a claw to Calia’s forehead. “She is not of this realm and canna sense all its dangers. She must trust the stone.” He pointed at him. “Ye are not the one to wear it, aye?”
Before Mathison could assure Noirgarth he would never forget the dragon’s warning, Calia shifted and stretched like the loveliest of flowers opening its petals to the sun.
“Calia,” he whispered, then took her hand and kissed it.
She turned her head his way, and her eyes fluttered open, but a severe cloudiness afflicted them, making them appear almost a solid white. “Mathison? Is it really you?”
“Aye, love. ’Tis really me.” He hugged her hand to his cheek, concerned about her eyes but refusing to reveal his worries to keep from causing her more pain. “Bansys is no more, and Legion and Noirgarth and Bresag’s sons are sorting out the clan.”
She frowned. “I wish I could see you. Bresag says I’ll heal and be able to see again. I’m so afraid she’s wrong.”
“I am never wrong, Mistress Shadowmist,” Bresag said as she handed the jewel-encrusted goblet of dragon tears to Mathison. “Help her drink. All of it, if possible.” Then she nodded at the doorway after a pointed look at her husband. “Noirgarth and I shall give ye the privacy I am certain ye crave.” The pair left, closing the door behind them.
Mathison slid his arm beneath Calia’s shoulders and helped her sit higher. It felt so good to hold her. “Drink, mo chridhe. For me.”
She managed a few sips, then pushed the cup away. “Sorry. That’s all I can do for now. I’ll try again in a little while.”
He eased her back down among the velvety pillows and set the glass aside, disappointed that she’d managed only just a little.
“So you said Bansys is no more?” Her eyes slowly drifted shut again as if weighed down with the weariness of battling the poison within her system.
“Aye, Bresag’s eldest son, Kannis, ate her.”
She smiled without opening her eyes. “Poor Kannis. He’ll probably get a bad case of heartburn over that.”
“Aye, well, he’s a dragon. I dinna ken if they ever suffer from heartburn.”
The softest rustling came from the dragon egg nestled up against her. Calia smiled broadly and rested her hand on it. “They’ve been whispering to me through their shells. Two girls. One boy, and he’s feeling outnumbered.”
“He’s got two older brothers who, I’m sure, will side with him. Giddrie will teach them magic, and Kannis will teach him how to eat everything in sight.”
As she idly stroked the egg, her smile faded. “Your sons. You didn’t mention them.”
“I know now for certain that I am not their father. They have the look of the Na Fir Ghorm. Their father’s bloodline was the stronger when it came to weaving those two in Aluwyn’s womb.”
Her yawn ended in a frown. “They look like what?”
“Mermen. The Blue Men of the Minch.”
She opened her eyes, blinking slowly as if trying to rid them of the film of sleepiness. “I don’t know why that surprises me. Not after time travel, humans shifting into animals, dragons, and ghosts who teach me how to burn their bones, but for some reason it does.” She blinked harder. “I think my sight is trying to come back. I can’t seem to focus, but I see fuzzy blobs of colorful lights and darks now.”
“Then ye need to drink the rest of these tears.” He helped her rise again and pressed the cup to her lips. “That’s it, love. As much as ye can. There’s naught but a wee bit left.”
She drank more but not all, then pushed it away again. “Apparently, tears really fill you up.” She reached up and pulled him down for a salty-sweet kiss. “I am so glad you’re safe,” she whispered against his mouth. “Having you here will heal me quicker than anything.” She cupped his cheek while slowly raking her thumb across the bristles of his beard. “Litress has gone quiet. I’m worried about her. She took in the poison to save me.”
“I believe she and Dubh are in the In-between. Dubh was worried about her as well and has nay spoken to me since I entered the nursery. He will help her heal.” Admittedly, it felt odd whenever his spirit animal left him for that dimension.
“Yes, he’ll help heal her.” Calia shifted with a relieved sigh. “Like you’re helping me.” Her brow slightly puckered with another frown. “What happens now?”
“We must still deal with Carman.” He hated to bring it up, but it was better to prepare her than to let her think that all the dangers were resolved. “Once she is destroyed, we shall return to Wraith Tower, sort out the traitor or traitors, and then do our feckin’ damnedest to live in peace and happiness all the rest of our days.”
“There’s a traitor at Wraith Tower?”
