Her note was from Stryker too, it seemed. I glanced at the words,take care of herandI’ll pay whatever you needand shook my head. “I have to go after him.”
I moved to leave, but Dawn reached out and gently grabbed my wrist. “Sit down,” she said with compassion.
I did and blinked away tears.
“Where is Zander?” I asked her, looking around the inn.
She sighed. “We got word early this morning of a healer in the Northern Mountains who can temporarily freeze the effects of the curse for some of those that are more seriously affected. He’s gone to get the healer and bring him to the capital to help as many people as we can.”
I reached out and grasped her hand. I’d forgotten that she was having her own problems and instantly felt terrible. “I’m sorry about the curse on Zander’s people. Your people. We met some on the road, it looked painful.”
She nodded. “Thank you. It’s bad. One of my dear friends … ” Her words caught in her throat and it took her a second before she could go on. “One of my dear friends, Nysa, has been in a coma-like state for months. Ever since the night of my wedding. She’s growing weaker by the day and I’m so worried we’re going to lose her. I truly hope this healer can help us.”
I nodded, agreeing with her. It was awful that the people were suffering here as well as Faerie. It wasn’t fair.
Dawn pulled her shoulders back, a determined look sliding onto her face. “Listen, Aribella,” she said, and by her tone I knew she had slipped into ruler mode. “I know what it’s like to want to just get lost in falling in love with your mate but—”
“Mate?” I frowned and surprise flashed across her face before it morphed to guilt.
“Stryker didn’t tell you?”
My heart fluttered wildly, causing dizziness to wash over me. “Tell me what?” I asked.
She winced. “It will only make you feel worse at this point.”
“Dawn,” I warned her. “Tell me what?”
She peered at me with a look that had me bracing myself.
“They have mates here,” she said.
Mates?
“When you kissed,” Dawn said. “Was there a magical glow?” I gasped and she gave me a sad smile. “Confirmation of the mate bond.”
She was right. It made it worse. My heart felt like it had been run over by a herd of horses and I wasn’t quite sure how it was still beating.
“There will be time to go after Stryker and try to talk some sense into him, but right now our people in Faerie need you,” Dawn encouraged me.
Our people. I felt so guilty for not thinking of them as often as I should have.
“Your mother is preparing Princess Isolde to come next.”
Dawn’s face turned flat, like she was remembering a ghost. “Did she train you?”
“For a bit, until she determined I was too weak to carry out the task. She left for the Winter Court before we finished, but then Master Duncan took over.”
“Too weak?” Dawn asked.
I swallowed hard. “I have a weak heart. I faint when I grow overwhelmed. I’ve hidden it all my life but she found out and left to train the next princess.”
Dawn reached across the table and grasped my hand. “Sounds like my mother. I’m sorry.”
“She definitely knows how to execute a task.” I laughed nervously.
Dawn squirmed. “My mother knows, Aribella. She knows that the lords aren’t evil. She knows they are our mates.”
My mouth popped open. Queen Liliana?
