“Oh, good, you’re clean,” she replied with a smile. “This should be aneasy morning.”
Seda rolled her eyes at the woman, who looked shockingly well put-together. “Suza, I can get myself ready.”
The woman ignored her and strode into the closet, pushing past her. “I heard you are to wear clothes that are good for travel, and I refuse to let you leave in the garbs you came here with. Disgusting.”
“I wasn’t going—” Seda tried to say as Suza started grabbing clothes off their hangers and throwing open drawers from the dressers lined within the closet.
Suza grumbled as she threw items onto the ground, and squealed when she pulled out light pants that shimmered with coordinating armor. “There they are. I knew I put these in here somewhere.”
The pants looked too small to fit over Seda’s hips, and she groaned. “I want to wear something comfortable,” she replied as Suza held them up for her to see. “Also, armor… really?”
“What youwantis something that can protect you,” Suza said as she narrowed her eyes at her. “There’s a matching shirt and cloak around here somewhere. The armor is for protection, Seda.”
She tossed the pants toward Seda, who caught them between her hands and felt the strange texture between her fingers. The pants were lined with a thin layer of fur and stretched when she pulled at them. Maybe these weren’t so bad after all.
“Aha!” Suza said, grabbing the matching cloak and shirt from a hanger in the deep recesses of the closet. “Don’t worry about this mess. I’ll clean it up after you leave. I know you don’t like messes.”
The mess in the closet wasn’t the first concern Seda had, but it was a thoughtful gesture, and a small smile crested her lips.
“I’ll be right outside the closet when you’re ready.” Suza walked out of the closet and closed the door behind her, leaving Seda to stare at the unique fabric of the clothing she had chosen for her.
She dropped her towel, grabbed a fresh pair of underwear from the dresser, and pulled the clothing on. She had to wiggle herselfinto the pants, but they slid up and clasped, fitting against her like a second skin.
She pulled the shirt over her head and winced when it brushed against the sensitive skin of her back, but was pleased to find it backless, letting her back feel the cool air of the closet rather than being confined.
She grabbed the cloak and walked out.
Suza was waiting for her at the vanity with a brush in hand. Her mouth hung open when she saw her. “A true queen,” she said as she eyed Seda approvingly.
Seda looked down at the armor that was now covering her. How did this make her like a queen? More like she was heading into battle.
The woman was mad, insane, crazy… everything she did didn’t make sense, but Seda sighed and walked over to the stool and sat down.
Suza carefully moved her hair over her shoulder and inhaled when she saw the feathers on Seda’s back. “They’re finally coming in,” she said.
Seda furrowed her brows and looked over her shoulder at the woman. “You knew about this?”
Suza tsked and told her to turn back around, slowly dragging the brush through Seda’s still-wet hair. “Yes,” she finally replied, but gave no further information.
“Tell me what you know,” Seda demanded, turning around once more to look at the woman. She felt her irritation grow, and her chest began to vibrate. She was tired of secrets and lies, and if this wretched woman knew something about her, she wanted the informationnow.
Suza rolled her eyes and sighed once more. “You’re growing wings, Seda. Wings like the Corvids. You’re their queen.”
The world tilted for Seda, and she felt herself get dizzy under Suza’s scrutinizing stare. A queen? A Corvid queen?
“Wha—” she began to ask, but the world, once again, dimmed into darkness.
Chapter 27
Kalon de Somnium
Kalon’s mind was lost in thought as the nearby Amaru murmured about needing to leave for the collection. In one hand, he held Seda’s moonstone necklace, watching it catch the light from the wall-length windows next to him while seated on his throne. The sparkles were intrinsic to her—vivid and unpredictable, and the stone grew brighter with each day that passed.
Her magic was growing.
Stealing the necklace from her while in the Amanita Copse and sneaking away late into the night had to be done. She hated him for it. He could feel her wrath each time he visited her, but it was necessary. He knew she wasn’t ready, especially with how she had pushed him away.
A traitor lurked in her group, someone who he realized almost too late was working against her. He couldn’t just whisk her away with him, though. She needed to see the Wisps and gather herinformation slowly, or else it would be too much, and her magic would threaten to explode around them.
