“Caius?” Endymion asked, though I wasn’t sure what his question was.
As if understanding what I hadn’t, the summer lord took in a deep breath, then leaned back in his chair in the customary ankle-over-knee position I was starting to recognize as hispondering stance. “It’s nothing I wouldn’t promise Artton or Sidrick if their only remaining relatives were in Wymond’s hands.” He gestured to the empty chairs.
“Agreed,” Endymion echoed.
“So, that’s a yes?” I asked, suddenly unsure. My body coiled, waiting for the inevitable backtracking I was about to receive.
Endymion leaned in closer. “It’s a yes, Nyleeria.”
I swallowed hard, biting back the flood of relief, and fear, and hope, and so much more as my eyes burned with emotion.
“Thank you,” I croaked.
“In the interim,” Caius said as if what they’d just offered me was nothing, “we’ll work on controlling your powers—starting today.”
“Today?” I asked with unguarded surprise.
A wide smile broke across his face. “Yes.” He chuckled. “That’s what you get for going all Autumn Fae on Kai yesterday. Besides, we have to make sure you’re expelling enough on a daily basis. By Endymion’s best estimate, it only takes about twelve hours before you’re taking on excess—which is alarmingly fast.”
“And you’re going to train me?”
“To start, yes.”
“On that note,” Endymion said, standing up. “I have to get going. Wymond will ask questions if I miss another daily brief.”
“Now?” My voice pitched up despite myself.
“I have to grab some things first, but after, yes.”
The pit in my chest that the spark swirled around earlier seemed to grow.
Standing, Caius met Endymion halfway and embraced him hand to elbow.
“Be well,” Caius offered the commander.
“And you, old friend.”
Endymion released his hand, then gave Caius a firm pat on the back before turning his attention to me.
I stood, speaking before he could. “I’ll walk with you, if that’s okay?”
A smile bloomed across his face. “It would be my pleasure.”
“I’ll meet you in the courtyard in an hour,” Caius said.
“Perfect,” I said, then turned my attention to Endymion, who gestured for me to go first.
I offered a small smile as I stepped past him, whollyunsure as to why I’d asked to walk with him in the first place; truth was, ever since I knew he was leaving, there was a heavy sensation lingering in my chest. It was akin to anxiety, only duller, and I couldn’t fully discern if the feeling was from the spark or me—either way, there was a palpable sense of unease.
Following by Endymion’s side, he led us down a short hallway I didn’t recognize, and then another before we entered the residence wing in half the time it normally took. I made a mental note of the artery, not just for its efficiency, but because we hadn’t seen a soul. With the exception of the residence wing, hallways were almost always abuzz during the day with fae going about their daily lives.
“How did you find out about your parents?” Endymion’s low words startled me, kicking me out of my thoughts.
“I’m sorry?” I said, stopping.
He turned to face me. “I’m assuming Thaddeus didn’t tell you he was responsible for your parents’ deaths, so how did you find out?”
“Oh.” I shrugged and continued to walk. “I’m not really sure how to describe it. I had this vision of an argument he and Tarrin got into.”
