Evelyn stiffens, angling backward. “Velindra?”
I nod. “She went to save him. Amriel was dying, and she… I sent her to heal him.”
Something changes in her eyes. Hardens. “Sariah, you… You didwhat?”
“It’s okay. The fae will take care of her. They’re kind.”
Evelyn makes a choking sound, as if she can’t believe what I’ve done.
I don’t have the energy to argue. I just collapse onto the bed again. It’s stiff, unyielding, so different than the pillowy mattress I enjoyed in Velindra. Dust motes swirl above, and I stare into them, through them. The fae will treat my sister well, of course, but why haven’t they returned her yet? Why hasn’t anyone shown up by gyre? “Send someone Velindra. To go get her, bring her back. To tell me what…” I force a swallow that feels like eating broken glass. “What happened.”
Evelyn remains frozen for a few moments, then bustles out of the room without so much as a goodbye. No doubt she thinks I’ve thrown Carina into the lion’s den. Sacrificed my sister like a lamb.
But I did what I had to. And Velindra…it will be good for Carina to see.
EveryAethrolian should see Velindra.
More time staggers by, minutes and hours carving fresh hurts into my skin. I doze, and weep, and exist in some liminal space between grief and disconnection, only able to endure so much torment before my soul unpeels from my body and goes drifting toward the ceiling.
Eventually, my father arrives. He looks angry, panicked, but his agitation seems somehow meaningless, as if it’s reaching me from across a vast distance.
“You sent Carina to Velindra?” he bellows.
“Yes,” I say tonelessly, not bothering to uncurl my arms from around my knees, or to pick myself up off my side. “She was the only one who could save him.”
“You sacrificed your sister to the fae? Why? Were you hopingshe’d take your place?”
I almost laugh. Of course not. I would give anything to fill that position myself. But my father won’t understand, so I say nothing.
He just keeps going, though. “She’s Graced, Sariah.Graced. She’s a Vandenore with healing magic. A precious asset for Aethrolia, and youlost her.”
An asset. I huff, but it’s frozen, not warm enough to heat my chest a single degree. When my gaze finds my father’s, it’s like looking at a stranger. A king who cares more about hisassetsthan his children. More about Ishanna’s decrees than his humanity.
“Carina’s fine,” I tell him. “They’ll bring her back, and she’ll be better for it.”
He throws his hands up and stomps out. He doesn’t tell me he’s glad to see me. Doesn’t say he missed me.
Because he isn’t, and he didn’t.
And that’s when I realize.
I didn’t miss him, either.
Chapter 28
Another day dawns, and Amriel still doesn’t come.
I know what it means, that the sun has risen on a world without him in it. I knew it yesterday, too. Only this time, I get angry.
The swish of stiff skirts announces someone’s arrival. I pry my eyes open to find Brynne and Evelyn approaching my bed, Evelyn wringing her hands at her waist.
Brynne stops short, her expression hard, her arms folded across her chest. “Come on. We’re going to temple. And you’re going with us.”
I don’t even lift my head from the pillow. “No.”
“Yes. You can’t keep lying here. It’s been more than a day.”
“Brynne…” Evelyn says, plainly concerned. “She’s been through so much. Maybe we should let her?—”
