Page 19

Yes, Nix, I’m fucking sure. All of you, come here.

“Alright, pack up,” I called. “Véa says something happened. We need to get to the house.”

“What?” Rion called. “But we’ve gotta open the egress at sunrise.”

Drogo pointed to the dawning light in the distance. “We won’t make it back in time.”

Believe me, you need to hear this before you go there,Véa said in my thoughts.

“This has to do with Matriaza,” I said.

* * *

Those of us with the ability to lapse grabbed the hands and shoulders of those who couldn’t. I was about to go back for my second trip, bringing more of us here, but then I saw Véa on the stoop outside our door.

Both her hands were cupped over her face. Lapsus, my sister’s husband, saw that expression, and said, “I’ll get the rest.”

I gave a nod in thanks, jogged that way, and squatted before her. Lifting a hand to her cheek, I gave a smile. “Whatever it is, we can handle it.”

She snorted, tears overwhelming her eyes again. “We can’t.”

“We can handle anyth—”

“He destroyed everything,” she croaked. “Lux killed everyone.”

“What?”

She reached into the pocket of her gown and extended her hand. “Brace yourself.”

“For what, exactly?”

Pressing her swollen lips together, she eased out a careful breath. “They betrayed us. The Conclave and the queens of Morduaine. They betrayed us, and Lux killed them.”

Was I hearing that correctly? “What do you mean?”

“I’ll explain it all once everyone’s here. Just…” She closed her fingers around the crystal. “I’m not thinking straight. You can’t see that.”

If it were anyone else, I would’ve peeled their fingers apart to collect that jewel, but she was my wife, and I’d do no such thing.

Instead, I cupped her cheek in my hand and thumbed the tears away. “I don’t understand.”

“Enjoy the bliss of ignorance while you have it.”

“But I—”

She stood, looking behind me. Giving a big smile, pawing the remaining tears away, she walked past me and lowered herself to a squat. “Well, hello, mil.”

Aurora, Rion and Luna’s daughter, toddled from her mother’s arms into Véa’s. Her smile was the widest I’d seen it all night. Véa’s however, was forced and pain stricken. She lifted the little girl to her chest and held her tight, stroking a hand down the back of her head.

Then she pulled back and swept some dark brown hair from her cheeks. “Do you know what I need you to do, esiasch?”

“No, what?”

“I need you to go inside, and sit with Mirobhail and Vanna, and not to move a muscle, aye? Don’t come running out here, and don’t let them either, alright? You’re in charge.”

The little girl grinned.

Véa smiled back at her, a bit more genuine now. “Can you do that?”