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When Niara was done, Kailia helped her over to the bed where Razik was indeed sleeping. Looking at Cethin, Eliza said, “Please do not tell the others we are here.”

His brows shot up. “Scarlett might actually kill me if I keep this from her.”

“I know… I…”

“We will tell them in a few days’ time,” Kailia cut in.

“Kailia—” Cethin started.

“They need time to adjust, Cethin. We will stay while they sleep. Niara wants to monitor them anyway. When one wakes, we can discuss this again.”

Cethin didn’t look convinced, but he nodded, and that was all Eliza needed.

She climbed in beside Razik and nestled into his side. Her hand settled on his chest right beside the bandaged wound where she could feel his heart beating steadily, and she let the rhythm lull her to sleep.

Chapter33

Sorin

Sorin sat back in the chair he’d been sitting in for the last few hours, rubbing at his eyes. He’d been studying the few books and papers he’d taken from the cliffs, but it was slow going. Half of it was written in a language he didn’t know. The part he could translate wasn’t much help. The books Scarlett had taken would probably be of use, but he couldn’t access them until she woke up.

Six days.

It had been six days since they’d gone to the Southern Islands. Niara insisted she would wake. The Healer told him multiple times a day that her body would let her wake when it was ready. But six godsdamn days?

He’d given her power when they got back. She’d already been unconscious, and he’d fallen into a deep restorative sleep as soon as he’d given her his last ember. He’d woken fully restored two days later. It was odd, in a way. He had all the power of an Avonleyan with these gifts but didn’t need to depend on another to refill his reserves. The best of both worlds.

He assumed the Traveling gift had transferred from Talwyn. She had been able to Travel, a gift separate from her wind and earth and shifting. It was the best explanation they’d been able to come up with as they’d all conversed in these rooms. He still didn’t know how he’d managed to do it in the air. He’d been planning to catch them on his fire dragon, but instead, he’d found himself on the islands outside the Wards.

It had been quiet the last few days though. Cethin and Kailia had been scarce. Cethin only stopped by once a day to check in, and Cyrus and Cassius had left for the continent yesterday. They’d all agreed he needed to start looking for this thing the Sorceress wanted, and it was wasting valuable time to just sit around here. He knew they’d finally completed the Source Mark. That eased his mind a bit, but he still didn’t like them going back to the continent alone.

He absent-mindedly rolled flames along his knuckles while his other hand tapped the pencil he held against the desk surface. Cyrus had also promised to check in with Eliza when he got to the continent. It had been far too long since they’d heard anything from her and Razik. He was about to send Rayner over there to track them down just to make sure they weren’t in trouble. He’d be the fastest one to find them.

Eliza had been with Sorin the longest. He’d never forget when he’d received a message from the border patrols telling him about a female they’d detained. He’d portaled straight to the border to find an abrasive, ill-tempered female with fire gifts who’d been raised in the Earth Court. She’d tried to hide it, but panic had filled her eyes when she saw him. He didn’t realize why until later. That she had thought he’d want to use her for her power. She’d kept the true strength of her magic a secret for quite some time.

He tossed his pencil onto the desk a little too hard, watching it bounce off the surface and roll across the floor.

“Am I interrupting a tantrum, Prince?”

Sorin bolted from his chair at the sound of her voice. How had he not heard her? Felt her?

But there she stood, leaning against the doorway of their bedchamber with her arms folded across her chest. She had on one of his tunics, the garment hanging nearly to her knees. Silver hair hung loose and lank around her shoulders. Her eyes were glowing a bright silver, but she still looked tired. Not in a physical sense, but in a soul-weary way.

He was across the room in a few long strides, pulling her into him, breathing in the scent of her—citrus and embers, lavender and night.

“Why are you acting like I was dying?” she murmured into his chest, but her arms were wrapped just as tightly around his waist.

“You were plummeting to your death after you destroyed the cliffs.”

“Yes, but then this beautiful creature saved me.”

He leaned back, pushing the hair off her brow. “Beautiful now, am I?”

“I meant the fire dragon, but you’ll do.”

He flicked her nose, leaning down to brush his lips against hers. She obliged him, but only for a moment before she asked, “How long have I been asleep?”

“Six days.”