Reyla sunk down onto the sofa beside me. She lifted my hand and linked our fingers together before dropping them onto her thigh.
My throat choked off with pain. Was my friend finding her way back again? Surely her well of power would slowly replenish, and she’d be the Reyla I remembered once more.
Delaine sauntered out of the closet and over to the bathing room door, poking her head inside the room. “How are you doing my queen? Can I get you a glass of wine? A snack? Anything?”
“Send in Tempest.”
With a huff, Delaine stepped back from the door and glared at me.
Releasing Reyla’s hand, I rose and walked toward the bathing area with Drask riding on my shoulder. I stopped beside Delaine. “Marscapoles may appear sweet and innocent, but they can be quite vicious. While I may appear as fluffy and powerless as them, remember, I also have teeth.” I gouged out with my power again, but instead of flinging it at her without purpose, I made it slice down her arm like I wielded my favorite blade. Blood welled in the thick wound.
She gasped and flung herself away from me, clutching her arm while her blood dripped onto the floor.
“I believe Delaine needs a healer,” I called out. “She did something foolish, and cut herself. Shall I send for a healer, my queen?”
“What have you done, Delaine?” Brenna growled. “Yes, Tempest, please send for a healer. Thank you for thinking of your friend.”
Ha ha. She would never be my friend.
Without prompting, Reyla rose and drifted to the door. She opened it and spoke to the guard about summoning someone to take care of Delaine’s wound.
Delaine slumped on the sofa I’d just vacated.
As I stepped inside the bathing area to help Brenna, I swore Reyla snickered.
The next morning,with only four days left until the wedding, we once again attended to Brenna’s needs, helping her dress and fixing her hair. We adorned her with jewels worth enough coin to feed an aerie full of dragons for a month.
Before Brenna left to have breakfast with the king, she turned our way. “After tidying my rooms, I’d like you to return well before dinner to help me dress, just as you did yesterday. However, as a treat, you three shall dine with us tonight.” A sweet smile spread across her face. “You’d enjoy that dining with the king and I, won’t you?”
Her words were a statement, not a question.
“Yes.” Delaine pretty much jumped around with excitement. She must’ve dined with the king before, which told me she was behaving in this way to impress Brenna.
I forced a smile and nodded while Reyla stared at the floor.
Brenna left, and we remained behind to tidy her room.
Delaine said nothing about me cutting her with magic the day before. I was surprised she still wore a bandage. Didn’t the fae heal faster than Nullens? She also didn’t seek revenge, but I knew she was only waiting for the right moment to act.
Reyla, sadly, wouldn’t speak even when I quizzed her. She dutifully helped with the queen and her possessions, but if she wasn’t given specific directions, I’d catch her staring blankly at the wall. I began to wonder if I’d imagined her speaking yesterday, let alone taking my hand and holding it.
Once we’d finished, Delaine flitted from the room.
I took Reyla’s limp arm and dragged her up to my suite, where I made her sit on a sofa in the living area and dropped down beside her.
Drask soared over to his perch by the window, where he paid more attention to us than whatever might be going on outside.
Ember’s Shadowlay on the low table in front of the sofa, and I dropped it onto Reyla’s lap. “This is yours. Vexxion brought it all the way from the cabin we shared at the Claiming.”
Her hands remained at her sides, and she stared at the unlit fireplace.
“I’m going to help you, Reyla. I’m learning magic. You wereright. We Nullens have power. I’m going to learn the spell that’ll bring you back to the surface.”
Wait . . .
Closing my eyes, I pictured my well. I scooped up a handful of my power and, opening my eyes, I siphoned it delicately into Reyla.
She shuddered.
