“I’ve been gathering supplies,” Aunt Vera said. “The armory was full of weapons. Your mother took care of that before . . .”
The king took her and killed her.
“Since they’ve been sitting for many years,” she said brightly. “I’ve used magic to get them in shape. I’ve also been gathering nonperishable food. I’m afraid the fields have laid fallow for a very long time, but fortunately, I can craft supplies with magic, though it’s quite tiring.” She sighed. “I’m old. Some might say too old to take on this challenge. Everything wears me out lately. I can still get a lot done, and I’m not finished.” She gave me a pert nod. “I’ll keep stockpiling things. Uniforms. Dried food. Flasks for water. And the weapons I already mentioned. Give me the army, and I’llmake sure they’re ready to fight for Lydel and the entire world.”
Vexxion rose from the sofa and crossed the room to lean his shoulder against the mantel. I tried to capture his gaze, but he kept it trained on the floor.
Is everything alright?I asked in his mind.
Didn’t I tell you never to speak to me in this way?he snarled.
My mind slapped back into my head as if he’d hit me, and my tenuous world crumbled. Pain slashed through my chest, tearing at the shaky part of me that had built hope during the night. My limbs felt leaden, unwilling to move or even function properly. Each of my heartbeats was excruciatingly loud in the silence that followed his words. He didn’t mean it.
No. Please, no.
What was happening? No. No! Would we spend the rest of our lives trying to find each other again, over and over until something snapped and he left me forever?
Fury slashed across my soul, a blade stabbing deep. I couldn’t stand it. The thought of longing for him while he stared at me with no feeling was so unbearable, I wasn’t sure I could survive. If I couldn’t—
While everyone chattered about the war effort and various ways we could get ready when we had no army or dragons, I paused, thinking.
Watching.
Airia had tipped her head back to rest it against her chair, and her eyelids kept sliding closed.
Reyla wasn’t much better off. She rested her chin on her palm. The other held her half-full glass of wine, and I almostgot up to take it from her, because it looked like she was going to drift to sleep and drop it.
Even my aunt kept blinking fast and wiping her eyes.
Brodine’s gaze remained on Vexxion, and a smile curled his lips before he smoothed them.
It meant nothing. He was still showing happiness that Vexxion and I were back together.
Please, yes. We were back together!
Zayde stared at Vexxion for a long moment with a perplexed look on his face. Rising, he walked unsteadily over to speak to his brother in a low voice. Vexxion shook his head and sent me a look that matched the coldness in his voice.
Layla rose from her chair and dropped down with a thud onto the sofa next to me. She leaned into my side and took my hand, squeezing it. Her eyes slid closed before she shook her head and opened them, her sleepy attention focusing on me. “It’s going to be . . . alright,” she said softly. “Is there anything I can do for you?” Her words swam through my mind.
Something was . . . not right. “No, I—”
Reyla snorted and peered around with a bleary gaze. She lifted and drained her wine, staring down at the glass after.
Airia placed her own empty glass on the table between us and tipped her head back against the chair again, her eyelids sliding closed.
Zayde slumped in the open chair next to the fireplace and stared at the carpet, while Vexxion slouched against the enormous stone structure, his eyelids fluttering.
Even I was finding it hard to stay awake, though I’d barely slept the night before, a solid reason to feel exhausted.
Brodine stifled a yawn. “I wish I had better news for you, Tempest. But I’m not giving up. I’m ready and willing to command our army as soon as we can gather them.”
“Thank you.”
Why was everyone tired? Reyla had inadvertently gotten into the garden willwort, but Zayde said he’d get rid of it before anyone else accidentally touched it. He’d had a week to do that.
Yet she was still sleepy.
As was Brodine. Airia. Vexxion. Aunt Vera. Me. Even Zayde and Layla kept blinking, fighting off the urge to fall asleep.
