A hum rippled through the onlookers—hope for some, fear for others.
Kieran exhaled hard, shooting a concerned look at Benedict. “We could use both.”
I swayed slightly, exhaustion punching through me. Kieran caught my elbow.
“You should sit,” he murmured. “Don’t overdo it.”
“I can’t—not while a child is missing.”
But my vision wavered anyway. What use was I? They’d all leave and I’d be forgotten, useless.
Kieran stepped closer. “Wren. Please.”
Before I could argue, Firya caught my hands again.
“Queen Wren,” she whispered. “We don’t need you to fly. We don’t need you to fight. We only need to know you care.”
Tears burned my eyes.
“I care,” I whispered, “more than anything.”
Nerissa touched my shoulder. “Then rest while we hunt. This is perfect. Nasi and Canavar work well together, and have for years. They can track down your drakling, your mate, and this rogue together. We will bring everyone back and demand answers. Your mates can stay here, with you, and help rebuild the wards.”
I closed my eyes briefly and nodded. Benedict shot Nerissa a glare, clearly not thrilled by the news. But he didn’t protest.
Instead he turned to Kaida and Nasi. “Who are you?”
His hands shook worse than mine.
“Benedict?” I asked. Hadn’t they already introduced themselves? I didn’t like the uneasy feeling in my chest at the way Benedict stared at Kaida like a long-lost lover.
I bit my lip.
Kaida moved between us. “Why don’t we sit down somewhere more private? You should rest, so close to your time!” Her nostrils flared as she took in our scents. My cheeks heated, wondering how much she could pick up on one sniff.
“Very well, come up into our treehouse,” Benedict offered.
I tried the first step up but pain shot through my hips. Kieran noticed and scooped me up immediately, bundling me to his chest. I couldn’t help the yawn that escaped me.
Our strange procession made it up the treehouse. My anxiety calmed the moment I stepped inside, and snuggled down into my cushions.
“Enya, do you and the others mind giving us some privacy?” Kieran asked. Enya’s head tilted to the side when she saw Kaida, eyes bulging.
“Kavni—” Enya gasped out.
“No,” Benedict grunted. “Kavni is dead. With all our other females.”
Kavni? Who was Kavni?
Enya was across the room in a flash, holding Kaida’s face in her hands and crying. What was going on?
Kaida gently took Enya’s wrists in her hands. “I am not Kavni.”
Enya blinked, pulling away. “Of–of course not. My apologies.”
She left the room, still looking stunned.
Kieran arranged me better in the cushions, and the two new drakens sat across from Benedict, Kieran and I, with Canavar and Nerissa between us.
