Page 18

“That’s what took you so long?”I ask with a growl that quickly sobers him.

“Father summoned me.He and Mother wanted details about Elsie’s power.Her ability is potentially dangerous.You can understand why they’re concerned.”

I glance at Elsie, who’s sleeping soundly, looking small and lost on my large bed.“I need you to find Vitai and tell him to come immediately.Elsie is hurt, and it’s serious.”I look at Kian.“She sustained a head injury.Her power is gone.”

He reels.“That’s unfortunate.Maybe it’ll return when she’s healed.”

I cross my arms.“That’s what I’m hoping.”

He scrutinizes me.“You weren’t keen on your mate developing her power when you first found out about it.”

“You saw for yourself what she is capable of doing with that power.”

“Running from you,” he says, not trying to hide his smirk or the fact that he’s enjoying my anguish.“What changed?Aren’t you happy she lost it?At least she won’t fly off on a dragon’s back again.”

“She won’t regardless,” I say in a harsh voice.Making an effort to calm myself, I continue.“An Alit is incomplete without his power.That’s not what I want for Elsie.”

“I see,” he says, more surprise flickering in his silver eyes.“You actually care about her.”

“She’s my mate.”I drop my arms to my sides and walk to him.“Of course I care.But enough of the chit-chatting.We’re wasting time.Where’s Vitai?”

“Last I saw him, he was going fishing.Let me see.”Kian closes his eyes and opens them half a beat later.“He’s by the lake.I’ve summoned him.”

I nod my gratitude.It’s quicker to use Kian’s mind-reading ability to reach out to our brother than to go through a dozen or more portals opened by my sister.“I need you to do something else for me.”

“Yes,” he drawls.“The Earthlings.I already gathered that from when you opened your mind to me.”

“Father would’ve arranged for them to be taken to an available quarter.Make sure they’re fed and treated for injuries.”

“What’s the plan?”he asks, his usual disinterested manner back in place.

“The plan is for Mother to send them back to where they came from.”

“Tricky,” he muses.“Opening portals to Earth is forbidden.”

“We don’t have a choice.”

“I don’t envy you,” he says with a chuckle on his way out.“Luckily for me, I was born second.Just as well I don’t have to deal with these sticky issues.”

I sit down on the bed when he’s gone, taking Elsie’s hand in mine.Vitai arrives a short while later, wearing water boots and a commoner’s tunic.His shoulder-length hair is untamed and tussled from the wind.Mud mars his arms where his sleeves are folded back.A few muddy stripes are painted across his tunic.He resembles a pond lily hunter or a plough hand on the fields.

I look him up and down.“If Mother sees you like that…”

He dismisses me with a shrug and walks to the bed.“What happened to her?”

“A Phaelix hit her on the head.”I suppress the anger that simmers beneath the surface of my calm.“The blow must’ve been hard.It broke skin.”I hesitate.“She said she’s lost her power.”

Shock washes over his expression.“That’s a first.”

“I know,” I say, my mood dark.“Will her power return when you’ve healed her?”

“There’s only one way to find out,” he says, stepping closer.

I give him space, letting him work, but I hover close by in case Elsie wakes up.It’s impossible to stay too far away, especially after almost losing her a second time.

The healing takes a while.Sweat drips from Vitai’s face when he’s done.I dismiss him with an inadequate and hurried thank-you, wanting nothing more than to finally be alone with Elsie.

“Let me know about her power when she wakes up,” he says as he turns to leave.