Chapter
Sixteen
MAEVE
The silver glow of the full moon illuminated the pale swirls on my skin. Fully healed and no longer wrapped, I watched the subtle glimmering of the markings on both arms now. The sparkling stars seemed to twinkle on my skin, even more glorious under the faded twilight.
I sat on a bench in the courtyard, Pia and Delani on either side of me. Sawyer and Kohen stood across the way, using their swords for a little late night sparring practice.
“There's a time and a place, guys!” Pia hollered, her hands cupped around her mouth.
They couldn’t hear her over the clash of metal and swearing when Kohen accidentally nicked Sawyer’s elbow. There was barely any blood, but he tackled Kohen to the ground in defense.
“That’s my favorite elbow!” Sawyer shouted, attempting to pin Kohen's wrists.
“Who the hell has a favorite elbow?” Kohen hollered, thrashing in the grass.
“Me, asswipe!”
“At what age do men grow up?” Pia inquired with a huff, crossing her arms.
Delani spat out a laugh. “Only the gods know the answer to that. But if I had a guess, I’d say that they’ll be like this until the day they die.”
My knee bounced as I anxiously awaited Venay’s arrival. If this worked, we could leave in the morning to help Seb.
Thishadto work.
“Maeve, I know tonight isn't the best night for a party, but Pia and me were thinking that once Seb is back and everything is settled, we could celebrate your birthday?” Delani offered cautiously.
My foot tapped rapidly. “Eh. I’d rather not, if I’m being honest.”
I hated this day. Ever since last year.
My fingers toyed with the pendant from my mother—the last gift she ever gave me. I could almost hear her voice calling me her star, though it was jumbled with Blythe saying the same thing. I cursed the goddess for tainting one of my favorite memories of my mother.
“Not a choice,” Pia snipped. “You know how much I love a good party, and Kohen didn't let me do anything for his birthday, so I’m feeling deprived.”
“Sawyer’s birthday is in the fall. Plan one for him.”
“I will, but I’m planning one for you, too.”
“Oh, whatever,” I grumbled, my eyes settling upon the twilight sky as a stream of blue and green meteors darted through some lingering clouds.
At the height of my anxiety, Venay danced into the courtyard, her lace gown kissing the grass as she approached.
“Did you bring it?” she asked me, jumping right into business.
I nodded, rising to meet her and handing over Cicily’s dagger. I was relieved to find that Sebastian had left theparticular weapon home when he went on his last endeavor to Draemor. “Why do you need this?”
She took it gently from my hands, slowly inhaling a deep breath when it touched her skin. “Ah, it’s almost as if she is here with us.” She sighed upon her exhale. “I needed an item that is connected to Cicily and the Hawthorne bloodline. You said that this belongs to Sebastian now?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer jumped in, holding pressure on his elbow.
“Really milking that paper cut, Sawyer, huh?” Pia taunted.
Venay interrupted Sawyer’s sharp remark. “Hmm…Well, it should still work, but be prepared, whoever we use may feeluncomfortableduring the process.”
“What does that mean?” Sawyer snarled, his tone accusatory.
