“I knew there would be dark times,” she said. “But both of you swallowing your courts’ cores has a chance of making adifference. I held hope in my heart that we’d finally reach this point. Can you imagine what power the two of you combined can now harness? You’re not only the high lord and lady of your own courts wielding your cores’ powers, but you’re fated mates.Thisis what that monster on the Bledmire throne has feared from the day you were born.”
Airia smiled and nodded, reaching out to tap each of our arms. “You both look good. Rested. Content.”
“They’ll need to be,” Brodine said, his expression tightening. “I think things are going to get messy soon.”
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“Have a seat, everyone,” my aunt said, waving to the furniture. “And we’ll share any updates.”
Reyla yawned. Still tired after a week?
When Airia stifled a yawn also, I wanted to tell them both to get more rest. We’d be worth nothing if we didn’t take time to sleep.
We settled on sofas and chairs with glasses of wine, and each person shared what had happened while Vexxion and I were gone.
“First, you were gone for a week, as you just learned,” Aunt Vera said. “While my visions have been sparse, I’ve seen that the beast on the throne is still gathering his army. He’ll march soon.”
“We need to meet him with an army of our own,” I said.
“My friend left for Evergorne Court, and I expect he’ll be back soon,” Zayde said. “Hopefully with good news.”
“He was convinced he’d come back with their support,” Layla said. She rose and grabbed the bottle of wine off thesideboard, freshening everyone’s drinks before placing the bottle back on the wooden surface. She settled next to Zayde on a sofa, and he put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
“Excellent,” I said. “Has anyone seen Madrood?” I reached out in my mind, but he didn’t reply.
“Not yet.” A frown rose on Brodine’s face. “I haven’t had much success putting together an army. It’s hard without dragons.” He sighed. “Or people. I thought . . . I’m sorry.” His shoulders sagged. “Once we have people and dragons, it’ll go fast. I know it will.”
“I’m ready for the dragons the moment they arrive,” Airia said. “The island has seven aeries, each with numerous stalls. They’re clean, plenty of feed is stocked, and I’m ready for staff to arrive to tend them.”
“Amazing,” I said. “How did you accomplish all that in such a short time?”
Her cheeks darkened and a smile fluttered across her face. “I’ve been practicing magic.” She lifted her finger and made it glow. “I found if I point at something and make a wish, what I want happens. Most of the time.” Her face scrunched. “Afterlocating all the aeries and cleaning out one of them on my own, unfortunately.” She chuckled. “If only I’d realized I could move dragon poop with a flick of my finger right away. But everything’s ready. All we need are those dragons and staff.”
Vexxion tugged his arm off my shoulders, and I glanced up at him, finding him frowning. Did he plan to get up?
“We’ve got all these people.” Brodine’s arm swept towardthe city. “But they just stand there. I can’t figure out how to free them from your mother’s spell.”
Aunt Vera grunted. “Freeing them is Tempest’s task.”
“Ah, alright. It’s just . . . odd,” he said. “You’d think they’d need to eat or sleep. You know. Spells are weird things, I guess. Anyway. I tried to flit to the main continent. I wanted to travel through the villages on the southern part of Lydel and delicately see if I could find volunteers, but I can’t get flitting to work.” He shifted on his chair that sat to the right of where Vexxion remained on the sofa beside me. “I’ll keep trying, of course. I won’t stop until I’ve built an army big enough to defeat the king.” He pointed to a dagger lying on the table in front of me and Vexxion. “I’m getting good with this, however.” The blade dragged across the surface in a jerky way. “Moving things. It’s not much, but after each of your aunt’s lessons, I practice.”
“How’s magic training going for the rest of you?” I stroked Vexxion’s thigh, needing the contact. For too long, I worried I’d lose him forever. The realization that he was back hadn’t sunk in deeply enough yet.
He shifted his leg out from beneath my hand, but when I glanced up at him, he was looking toward my friends, not down at me.
Coldness settled in the pit of my stomach, spreading like poison. I shoved away the twinge. He was with me completely now. He’d loved me all night. That wasn’t going to change.
“I’m doing alright.” Reyla’s eyes closed, and she pinched them tight before opening them again. “Aunt Vera’s a wonderful teacher. I feel like . . .” She shook her head. “I can’t quite describe it. It’s like the magic is right there, I just can’t grab ontoit. Sometimes, it comes in waves, and it works for me. The next time, I can barely generate my finger light.”
“Same with me.” Airia nodded Reyla’s way. “When I’m at the aerie, I can do almost anything. Here? It feels harder.”
“We’ve all been busy,” I said. “We’re worn out.” How were we going to survive the upcoming battle if we couldn’t build our magic, let alone our army?
I snuggled closer to Vexxion, but for some reason, his body felt cold. I peered up at him, and he frowned down at me in a way that reminded me of how he’d been when he didn’t remember who I was or what we’d found together.
I had to be mistaken.
A nauseating mixture of humiliation and despair churned through me, making it hard to breathe or think clearly, but I pushed aside the feeling. We were together now. Nothing was going to change that.
