I could only shake my head, unable to find the right words, as a chilling realization dawned—what if the maps had been wrong?
Now unsure, I finally answered him. “Heading south along the Feighlan River.”
“No,” he shook his head. “No, you’re not.” He let out a deep sigh. “By the gods, Nyleeria, do you know how lucky you are that I found you? Do you even know what that thing was? What it could have done to you?”
I shook my head, feeling dizzy.
With what looked like practiced calm, he said, “It’s called a na’li, and it sucks magic dry until it can consume soul energy, turning its victim to dust.”
He knew. Of course he did. He was Wymond’s second. Lords, who else knew about the spark, about me?
Refocusing, I said, “I tried to kill it, but my knives went right through.”
“Yes. You have to go for the head. It’s the only fully corporeal segment of the body until it has sucked a soul. But I really need to know how you gothere?”
“Endymion, I honestly don’t know what you’re asking me.”
“Nyleeria, you’re in the Autumn Court.”
No. That was impossible. I couldn’t even cross over at the portal by the lake. The fog having dissipated along with the na’li, I took in my surroundings. The soft, deep scent of decay registered a fraction before the rich auburn and golden hues that were illumined by the rays of sunlight filtering through the canopy, casting a warm glow upon the land. How had I missed it?
I swallowed and looked back at Endymion. “This is the Autumn Court?”
“Yes. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you here right now?”
I shook my head in answer and bewilderment. I’m not sure what he saw on my face, but he softened. “You really didn’t know you’d crossed over, did you?”
“No.”
“No wonder no one can find you. They’re all searching the human realm,” he murmured, more to himself than to me.
“Were you looking for me here?”
“No. I was heading back to report back to Wymond.”
My heart skipped a beat, and Endymion must have scented my fear and panic, as he raised his hands and said, “I’m not going to take you to Wymond, Nyleeria. Iwaslooking for you in the human lands, but to bring you to the Summer Court, to Caius. It’s safe for you there.”
Stunned, I stared at him, unable to form words. Why in the name of Lumnara would he bring me to Caius over his own high lord?
“Why don’t we get you cleaned up before we set off?” He stood, holding out a hand, as if the question was rhetorical and the conversation over.
I accepted his help, unsure if my fading adrenaline would let me stand easily.
“Shit,” he murmured under his breath, “we’re a lot farther from the Summer Court than I would have liked.”
Releasing my hand, he stepped away toward my camp.
“Endymion.”
He turned, refocusing on me.
“I can’t go with you.” I needed to get to the twins, and I couldn’t afford another detour, especially since word of me leaving had traveled like wildfire.
“Nyleeria, if Wymond gets his hands on you, he’ll lock you up and use you for your powers for the rest of your life—if he doesn’t kill you first trying to take them for himself.”
There was no doubt in my mind that he was right.
Endymion looked at me as if searching for something. His forehead creased, and he hesitated for a heartbeat before saying, “You don’t know, do you?”
