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My head felt light, but the dizziness was gone. I was weak from hunger and despair. The soup was salty and tasted like sage and onion. It reminded me of Thanksgiving, and sent a warm, nostalgic feeling through me. I devoured the fry bread, too.

“How long was I out?”

“Four days since the night Revel carried you in.”

“Mom, you’re a healer. That’s why our neighbor’s leg was healed.” I took another bite of bread.

“Yes, I couldn’t watch her suffer. Mrs. Dancy was such a kind woman.” Mom’s long lashes dropped, and she stared down at her mostly uneaten broth. “It was a rash decision.”

I reached over. “No, it was the decision of someone who has a great and kind soul.”

Mom smiled at me. “You’ve grown into such a fine person. And I hear you have a few hidden talents.”

“Oh, you mean the dragon caller thing?” I waved it off as if it was no big deal. “Wait, how did you know?”

“Raina occasionally sent me messages. It wasn’t easy to do because⁠—”

“Because you’re in hiding.” I sometimes amazed myself with how quickly I’d learned the way of this world.

“You figured it out.” She sighed sadly. “The sorcerers sentenced me to twenty years in the Tribunal Vault for taking you out of Troikana.”

“Your own child? You were doing it to save me.”

“Yes, but they saw it as a betrayal to the law of fated mates. Now I’m living out my sentence here in the forest. It’s still better than the Vault. Here, take my broth.” She handed it over. She was still the same person, always nurturing, always making sure I had everything I needed.

“But won’t you be hungry?” I asked, even as I took the bowl. I was famished.

“No, I’m too emotional to enjoy anything right now. Losing Raina and then nearly losing you has me twisted in knots. Revel and Lyric got you here just in time.”

I took another sip of broth and then something frightening occurred to me. “Mom, you used your healing powers to save me. What if they come for you?” I felt tears welling up again, and I was sure I’d already shed them all.

“I worked quickly, and it was less about me using my powers than using my knowledge. I figured someone had given you powder from the polim plant. It’s a very slow-acting poison that is tasteless in a drink or food. I knew the anecdote was the crushed leaves of the junno plant. I made you tea and managed to get you to drink enough to reverse the toxicity. Besides, I have my disguise⁠—”

I wrinkled my nose. “The ugly old hag I saw when Revel carried me in?”

Mom chuckled. The sound circled my heart and landed right in the center of it. I’d missed the sound. “I don’t think I look that ugly.”

“Uh, well, I didn’t shrink away from the sight of you, so I guess that’s something.”

We laughed. It was refreshing after all the crying. But the moment of merriment ended quickly. “So, you can never come back to Norvale?” I asked.

Her lashes dropped again. She’d become less confident than I remembered.

“Easy enough. I will stay here with you,” I said flippantly.

“Rafi, that is not possible. It will put both of us in danger. You will need to stand in front of the sorcerers in a few days’ time, and I will make sure you are strong enough to do so. It’s never easy standing before the Triumvirate.”

“Mom, I can’t marry either of those princes. I just can’t. I love Norvale. I love the cottage.” I sank back on the wobbly chair. “It will be empty.” The words stuck in my tight throat. “When I think about how she died⁠—”

Mom took my hand. “You can’t let your mind go there. Raina couldn’t swim. I’m sure she perished in the water long before those ravenous beasts got to her.” Her words only gave me a tiny bit of comfort. I’d always considered drowning a terrible way to die, but I supposed it was a step above being eaten alive by millions of tiny teeth.” I shuddered and pushed the thought from my head, because if it took hold it would surely drive me mad with grief.

“How much longer can I stay? I can’t believe I have to leave you when I only just got you back.” I sat forward. “Do you know how hard it was thinking you were dead? Why couldn’t I have just been told? Everyone seemed to know the big secret except me.”

“We tried to shield you from everything that had to do with Troikana. We thought it the best way to keep you safe and out of their reach. But your own powers were becoming too strong. The reverberations couldn’t be contained any longer. When word reached Norvale that Fenrick had found his missing fated mate and he was going after her, we knew something had to be done to protect you. You’re safest in Norvale, but you will have to go before the Triumvirate. You can tell them about the poisoning, but not how you overcame it. Just tell them it was a healer in town. That might help your case for getting out of either marriage, but I must tell you, it will be best if you marry one prince. Then you’ll have their protection, and the other prince will no longer have power or a motivation to kill you. I think Prince Granier would be the better choice, but I leave you to make up your own mind.”

“Have you met Princess Jonier, his mother?”

A slight smile tilted her mouth. “Yes, I had the misfortune of meeting her, but it was long ago. I’m sure she only turned more sour with age.”