Andrei’s eyes snapped over to us. “Bring her to the healing wing. Let’s see how much damage this little stunt cost her.”
Roaring filled my head as all the fight drainedfrom me. Faces blurred, their glimpses of pity, sympathy, and amusement fading away. Strong arms scooped me up.
The last thing I heard before oblivion swept through and claimed me was the steady beat of his heart, thumping away under my cheek.
I was me,but I wasn’t me. The sky was dark and starless, as if some black curtain, deeper than night, had rolled across the countryside. I was in the yard outside the castle but it might as well have been a world away. The crashes of battle were deafening, the stench of mutilated flesh and infection burning my nostrils.
A realization hit. This was the only way.
I reached deep down, trudging further into my channels than I ever had before. They felt different, still vast but no longer were they churning masses of untamed power. They were organized. Refined. I pulled power from every source, even the earth and air around me. With a roar, I threw my hands to the sky and released it. A pillar of blinding light shot from me.
And the pain. Oh, the pain.
I gritted my teeth and held on through it. Slowly, so slowly, the forces began retreating. If I could only buy time for them to get to their position. For her to get home. All of this would be worth it. I held on and on and on, the pillar of light chasing away my foes, until I knew nothing else.
As I drifted backto consciousness, I felt a presence beside me, the green and burgundy colors swirling behind my eyelids mixing with gold. Freya. And behind that, the golden presence and scent of ocean I associated with Griff cooled my scorched channels.
When I finally opened my eyes, I only saw Freya.Her normally cheery expression was missing. This wasn’t even Healer Freya. She was scared. For me.
“You’re awake,” she said with a breathy sigh. “Corff be praised.”
I made some sort of sound, but that was all I could manage. I hurt. Everywhere. Like I was burnt to a crisp from the inside out. I was tucked into a bed that had to be in the healing wing and had bandages over most of my body.
“Yes,” Freya said in response to my look. “It’s as bad as you think it is.”
Well, shit.
“You came close,” she whispered. “Too close. The power would have burned you, consumed you. If Griff hadn’t—” She cut off, pressing her hand to her forehead.
Speaking of Griff, where was he? I started to ask, only to be distracted by voices outside the room.
“What are you trying to prove?” It was astonishing that someone that angry could shout in a whisper. Andrei. “Are you that obsessed with keeping power that you’d risk your only family member’s life? You honestly think the crown will come back to you after all these years? Especially if you cause the death of the person who is supposed to be wearing it?” There was a pause, and then Andrei continued, “You actually want her dead. I never would have believed it.”
“No, I don’t.” We heard the vehement response. Zachariah.
“But you don’t actually care if it happens.”
There was a muffled response, then, “I don’t know you anymore, do I?” Then the slamming of a door.
A few seconds later, Andrei came in, his color heightened, fighting to keep his composure. “Report.”
Freya and I looked at each other in astonishment at the barked word. Andrei never spoke that sharply.
Freya quickly composed herself and gave him a rundown of my symptoms. It didn’t sound horrible to me, considering the last people who’d attempted this had died. Of course they had succeededwhere I failed, but I wasn’t going to dwell on that now. Not when every breath I took hurt.
As Freya talked, Andrei’s expression eased. “Thank you, Freya,” he said in something more akin to his normal tone. She smiled brightly as he turned his attention to me, his piercing eyes appearing to see right through me. “Can you give me a minute with the Orlaith here?” he asked her.
I startled at the use of my title. People rarely referred to me as the prophecy did. The Golden Princess.
She scampered out as he dragged a chair over and sat heavily. His hand covered mine, where it was wrapped in bandages. A cooling touch sank through, healing the skin beneath. I sighed in relief.
“If you hadn’t used up all of your power making this attempt, I could have taught you how to do this for yourself.”
I glanced up, startled by the sharp tone.
His face softened at my expression. “I’m sorry, child. It’s not you I’m angry at.” He placed a hand on my chest, and that same coolness permeated my bones, calming and healing my coursing blood.
“Andrei…” I hesitated, not sure how to ask my question.
