Our ancestors had built the palace to reflect the wings gifted to us by our Radiant Mother. Each hall—or feather, as the nobles termed them for an extra dose of pretentiousness—arced away from a central circle in the center. With three levels, the seat of power held every room imaginable to contribute to the functioning of the Angel Realm. Residences for each noble house, extensive servants quarters, offices for advisors, a ballroom for entertaining…
It was so expansive, it had taken me nearly a month to memorize routes to common places once Iaoth and I moved from the countryside.
I entered the first floor of the military feather, passing royal sentinels and off-duty Sightkeepers on their way to their barracks in the trees or for training. Some warriors—male and female—dipped their heads to me as I passed.
I ignored every single one.
Blood still thrummed in my veins as I reached the feather that held my chamber, adjacent to the largest one where Iaoth and Stadiel resided. Because their loyal hound, their finest weapon, couldn’t be far. Not when he was needed to hunt or to strike at any time.
Bitterness coated my tongue as I pressed my palm to the door, my magic unsealing the entry.
The entire time I bathed, I mulled over exactly how I was going to continue to see my mate without my sister uncovering my true intentions.
Servants stoodon scaffolding to polish the twisting metal vines around the columns in the foyer as I passed through it on the way to the Seer’s feather. Unfortunately, it was in a remote part of the palace, by Iaoth’s design, because she believed it allowed them the space and peace to connect with the Goddess and hear Her prophecies.
Everyone I passed went about their day as if it were any other. As if their worlds were normal and the very foundation of their lives didn’t shift beneath their feet.
I resisted the urge to tug on my dark tunic. While the other nobles and advisors I passed wore finery, I opted for a mix between battle-ready leather and silver-threaded linen clothing while at Thalvireth.
Like anyone could forget who I was. Even draped in regal attire, a monster still lurked beneath.
Rushing water from the indoor wall greeted me as I rounded the final corner and found the doors secreting the Seers away. Two males stood watch, one outside each entry.
“I need Sylaira for the healers,” I barked at them.
The Sightkeepers glanced at each other, then one shifted his weight. “Issaraeth, she is not here.”
My heart dropped. “What do you mean she isn’t here?”
“Someone already came to fetch her to see them,” he explained slowly.
Fuck.
“Why wasn’t I informed?” I pressed, stomping closer. Light leaked from my palms, the radiance revealing the unraveling inside me. But I didn’t banish it. Better for these bastards to think I meant them harm than I was losing control.
The second eyed my power with a healthy amount of wariness. “No one told us you were in charge of her care. After all, Her Radiance sent a messenger–”
“I don’t give a fuck what the Korona’s messengers said. I am her brother and my command is second only to your monarchs. From now on, she won’t leave here without my escort. You do realize she how important she is? The Demons would do unholy things to get their hands on her.” I hoped my flurry of violent words and the woven threat of an infiltration by our enemies would be enough to shut them up.
“Yes, Issaraeth,” they swallowed.
Without further regard, I spun on my heel and stalked the halls until I reached the healer’s hall. Ducking through the arched entry, I found it empty.
A growl of frustration built in my chest. With gritted teeth, I opened myself up to the magic tying me to the most powerful Seer in the Angel Realm. Like a beacon in the dark, I traced its path until I burst through a door and into a small outside space. The scent of healing herbs assaulted my nostrils immediately.
Silver whirled in the distance, and ice-blue eyes clashed with mine. Then narrowed with lethal precision.
Hate blasted me from her side of our connection. I bared my teeth in what was supposed to be a courtly smile. It felt more like an animalistic snarl.
Until I saw that a male had a hand around her waist and was turning her back toward me. I was striding in their direction before I was conscious of what I was doing.
“One more lap and then we can be done,” he told her, completely oblivious to my sudden appearance.
But Sylaira? Oh, she was acutely aware. Anguished fury flashed between us, but she completely ignored it in favor of quickening her pace to meet me.
And not in the way I would have liked.
“No crutches today, Seer?” I said, my words as smooth as glass. Inside, I was fracturing. My nails bit into my palm as I resisted the urge to knock the healer on his ass for touching my mate so intimately.
