“With the Gargorètti, Obsidian. How did you not know that?”
If I had the energy, I would knock him upside the head. The last time I’d seen my beloved cinderwolf was while I held his unconscious body in my limp arms as Obsidian carried us away to safety. Now he cuddled into my side with a perfect bill of health as if he hadn’t been on death’s door. His voice rang in my mind like bells, causing my headache to worsen.
“Out loud,” I moaned, bringing my palms to my temples. “Talk out loud.” I bent over, dry-heaving. “Infinite-stars, it hurts so bad.”
“Stop being dramatic.” A kiss of the teeth. The first voice curled around my ears, irritated. “Since you can use such colorful language, you can get off your hide and wake up, I dare say. Blessed lights. It’s been nearly a week!”
Almost twelve dawns had gone by? How did I end up bedridden for that long? It took another moment, but the voice finally registered. Saundeiah. Thishadto be Saundeiah. Only the Nanmiess could be this bull-headed and pretentious so early in the dawn. I peeled my eyes open, groaning at the shards of sunlight piercing through the thick drapes.
“Our Roièssa is just as bad as our Roi.” A small whisper reached my ears. “They’re a perfect pair, these two.”
That was debatable.
Tassarion Everthorn and I were certainlynotthe perfect pair. And now that the wingbinding was done, I could freely do whatever I wanted. The first thing I planned to do was get myself a small, secluded cottage on the opposite end of this gargantuan island. Best to put all the distance in the world between myself and the Monster King.
I shoved my body upwards, coming to land on an elbow. The softness of the bedcloud did nothing to ease the ache in my joints. The burns along my skin. Fire licked my bones. Every joint was stiff. Every limb sore. As if I’d been flying ina marathon at full speed for dawns on end. Then a thought registered.
Roièssa.
I blinked.
Queen.
Why had the Nanmiess called me that?
“Saundeiah. Why did you?—”
“That wasn’t me, Madame. It was my mentee who?—”
My words fell off my tongue abruptly as I tuned out the rest of Saundeiah’s words. I’d been turning to look at her when I noticed the pattern of thorns and stars along my right index finger. Then my palm. Then up my arm.
Oh, no.
I raced through my thoughts, flying through the last memories I had. Tassarion had brought me to his lair beneath the manor. He’d made me a bargain. Protection from the Empyrean for becoming his wingmate. I didn’t think of anything that could go wrong, so I agreed. It’s not like the king was actually serious.
Saundeiah had reluctantly helped wash me. Freshen my braids. Dress me. Terrified and in shock of their presence, I was found by the Gargorètti. Escorted to the beach, and...
Oh.
Oh, bleeding skies.
I looked at my hand again, and my blood turned to ice. Gingerly, I raised my eyes to the soul. She floated patiently a few wing beats from the edge of the bedcloud, blinking at me through the draping canopy curtains. She wore a curious expression.
No.
My stomach turned into knots. Instant nausea exploded in my gut. I felt sick. Like I was going to vomit. Bleeding, burning, hèls.
What had I done?
Breathe, Nahomie. Breathe!
I couldn’t. I’d been so desperate to escape the Ivory Rain, the Farasee Order, that I stupendously agreed to another gilded cage without thinking of the cost. It wasn’t supposed to be real. I’d genuinely thought it was all a joke, but...
I looked at my hand again. Trailed the pattern up my arm. I looked within myself, closing my eyes as I concentrated on my ethèr, the well of elemental blackfire brimming into overflow. And the power of Soul Bending as steel-blue lightning coiling itself through my fire. I wrenched my eyes open and gasped.
Stars.
I sat up straight. Suddenly the pain burning through my limbs no longer felt so bad. My thoughts were racing. I had to get away from him before he saw me. Before he got any other ideas. Before he...
