“The Imperial Council knows. They just found out last night, and yes, right now it’s still safe. He can’t infect anyone. Not yet, at least.”
She sat quietly, her look filled with so much compassion that my eyes blurred even more.
“What’s being done about it?” she finally said.
“The Council is trying to find a cure, but I know they won’t, not in time at least, so I went back to Silventine Wood today and forced Diredan to listen to me.”
“Diredan? The God of Vengeance?”
“Yes, he slumbers there.”
Her eyes widened to saucers. “You’re joking!”
“I’m not, and since godly magic seems to be the only way to save Kole, just like only the Wishing Stone, which is a relic from the gods, could save my uncle Timith, I had to seek Diredan for help.” I told her that we’d found Diredan that afternoon, and he’d told me that if I could find a way to get his mate, Goddess Nuleef, to contact him, then he would save Kole.
“You have to contact a goddess?” she all but shrieked. She scanned the books scattered around the floor again. “And that’s what you’ve been doing. Trying to find a way to contact her.”
“Yes.”
Mouth setting into a resolute line, she stood. “I’ll be right back.”
She fled from the room, and I didn’t know where she was going or for how long, so I got back to work the second I was alone.
I was in the process of scanning a new book and still wiping the tears from my eyes when the library door opened again, and Lillith entered with Koraline right behind her.
Shock barreled through me.
The crown princess was still in her nightclothes, but she looked alert, and I had a feeling Lillith had woken her up, pulled her from bed, and filled her in.
Without saying a thing, they both went to the shelves and began pulling out titles.
“I hear that we’re trying to find a way to contact a goddess?” Koraline finally broke the quiet as she opened up a large blue tome. “And any reference will do?”
Numbly, I watched as she and Lillith began to scour their books, and a feeling of hope, love, and acceptance bloomed in me so brightly that I barely got out a reply. “Yes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.”
Koraline’s chin rose, and she nodded at Lillith. “Right then. Let’s get to work.”
The sun had just begunto glow near the horizon when Koraline rushed toward me with a book.
“Prim, look at this.”
She thrust the book toward me, and I quickly scanned it, my eyes widening and my throat tightening.
“Do you think that might work, considering who Varkin is?”
I snapped the book closed and pulled her into a tight hug. “Yes, it just might. Thank you, sister. Thank you!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Both of my sisters hugged me tightly, telling me they would contact our aunt Daileeum, our uncle Varkin, and our cousins while I traveled back to my chambers to tell Kole.
Too excited to move at a normal pace, I mistphased back to my chambers, then jumped onto the bed to wake my still slumbering mate. Sunlight peeked around the curtain’s corners, but it was still early enough that Betsee wouldn’t be by for a while.
I kneeled beside Kole, the soft covers dipping beneath me, and his eyes cracked open. Loose hair ruffled over his forehead, but the second he became aware of my bursting energy strumming to him along our bond, his eyes opened more.
“Did something happen?” he asked in a thick voice filled with sleep.
“Yes.” I tried to contain my excitement, but it was too difficult to hide. “While you were sleeping, I was in the library with my sisters, and Koraline found something that may help us. Did you know that the Lochen fae havemanytemples throughout the realm that they use to contact the gods and goddesses of our universe, and if you have the blessing of the Lochen royals, other fae can use them?” I didn’t wait for him toanswer and pressed on. “Usually, the Lochen are unsuccessful in their attempts, but Koraline found a reference that stated they have made contact with gods and goddesses several times over the centuries, sothat’swhere we need to go. We need to ask the Lochen for help.” I practically clapped with glee, and I was pretty sure my eyes were unusually bright, and not in a good way. “I didn’t even think using Lochen temples was an option, but if we can be blessed by one of their royals, and we actually knowone royal Lochen fairy, then this may work.”
