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“Are we done fighting now?” Taly asked. Her voice was small and tentative, and she pulled back, craning her head to look up at him.

Skye huffed. “About this? Yes.” He nudged her nose with his. “But don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll do something to piss you off here soon, and then you can be the one to yell at me.”

Her answering smile made him feel giddy. He couldn’t have stopped himself from kissing her if he tried.

He wasn’t sure when they moved to the couch, only that she was still in his arms. And if asked, he wouldn’t be able to say whose idea it was to move their dinner to the bed. Everything was cold,but it all tasted fantastic spread over thick slices of crusty bread.

There was more wine, and the decanter never seemed to empty—some time magic enchantment that he didn’t care to question. And at some point, after they’d exchanged more words and more kisses—after she’d curled into his side and her limbs had become tangled with his as she drifted off to sleep, he finally allowed himself to close his eyes, safe in the knowledge that this wasn’t a dream.

That the nightmare had finally come to an end.

Chapter 33

-An excerpt from the Rhyming Alchemist’s Book of Verses

Mistlewick venom, more painful it grows

You’ll wish for sweet death, till free of its throes

The morning after Vaughn died, Taly found herself in the kitchen, rummaging through the pantry.

The fairies kept their distance, and for that, she was glad. They had known about the Queen’s plan, and she didn’t want to hear their excuses for not warning her. Wasn’t ready to accept even Leto’s apologies.

She didn’t want to acknowledge the hurt she felt knowing that the Queen had manipulated her, or that somehow, at some point, she had started to trust that she wouldn’t.

Those were things she would think about tomorrow. Perhaps the next day. When the memory didn’t feel quite so raw.

Skye had still been asleep when she slipped out of the apartment, completely dead to the world. He had lost a lot of blood, and with it, aether. He’d also said he’d been dosed with mistlewick venom, a nonlethal but still very dangerous poison. It would take his body longer to heal, his magic longer to recover. Which meant he would be needing faeflower. And food—a lot of it. Shadow mages were absolute pigs even when they were healthy, and while she was no cook, she could manage a decent breakfast.

So, that’s what she focused on. There was fresh bread and butter—already brought in from the outdoor larder that reset at the beginning of every day—and she found eggs in the cold box along with sausage and bacon and leftover corn cakes. There was even a pot of hydra and potato stew bubbling on the stove, so she grabbed that too.

Taly was just finishing loading everything onto a tray, trying to find a place for a pot of Skye’s favorite tea among the stacks of plates and covered serving dishes, when the Queen found her.

“This is a first,” Azura said, coming to stand in front of the long kitchen prep table that bisected the room. “In all my years, I don’t think I have ever seen you wield a spatula. I take it last night either went very well or very poorly.”

Taly didn’t answer. Didn’t even look up as she balanced the porcelain teapot on the top of the pile.

“Are you not speaking to me now?” Azura asked, chuckling softly. “That seems a bit juvenile.”

Taly carefully picked up the tray.

“Everything I have done was to make you stronger.”

Bullshit.Bull - shit.

Azura had tricked her, lied to her.She’d been pushedbeyond… Well, not beyond, butup toher breaking point.

And she hadn’t broken.

She’d come close, but…

Taly shook her head. She wasn’t ready for this conversation. Wasn’t ready to think about Vaughn. Wasn’t ready to forgive the Queen for using Skye to test her.

Back rigid, she aimed for the door.

Azura said nothing as she watched her go.

Skye awoke that morning and immediately wished he hadn’t.