Page 57 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)

Sybil studied me, looking for any hint of deception, her hands curled in tight fists to keep the slight tremble in them hidden.

“I’ll join you, then.” Sybil’s eyes were narrowed, daring me to say no. I wanted to. My body demanded it, demanded for her to stay here where it was safe.

“I’ll join too,” Aster added with a shrug, watching me with the same warning.

I watched them both, my eyes shifting from one to the other. Finally, I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Fine,” I huffed. “There’s someone I want you both to meet anyway. But we have to wait until tomorrow night, so rest and replenish your magic.”

Rolling her eyes, Sybil scoffed but stayed quiet, pressing her back to the wall. Her face was blank, and her eyes trailed across the room, stopping at the screens lining the wall. “You have computers here?” she asked slowly.

I sat on the edge of the bed, following her gaze to the bright screens.

“There’s a lot that I haven’t told you about this world.

This is one of them. You may not believe what I say, but please trust me when I tell you that I will give you nothing but the truth.

” Pausing, I glanced to Sybil, who reluctantly nodded, urging me to continue.

“A few centuries ago, this world was different.

We built up our technology in a way similar to humans in Mide, just less wasteful.

We allowed everyone access to it and it helped our world thrive.

The farmers used it to learn more about the soil for better food growth.

Healers used it to provide medicine to villages and towns without healers.

We used it in schools here and in other places, setting up new schools to help children and adults become educated.

It gave people more opportunities to grow and it leveled the playing field between them and the nobility across Nemos.

As you can imagine, it didn’t sit well with some of the lords.

However, the queen ignored their complaints.

She remained steadfast in paving the way to allow commoners into her court and council room.

This continued until Ambrose’s father’s sudden death.

As his heir, Ambrose took over as the queen’s advisor, though there were rumors that another was being prepared to take his place.

However, Ambrose swiftly put an end to those whispers.

Then, the queen decided to go on a trip.

A trip that has lasted for over 100 years.

During that time, Ambrose gathered allies among the lords in Nemos, making changes to how the realm was to be ruled.

In Ambrose’s terms, it was to ‘return us to the time of greatness.’ Ambrose rolled back the changes made by the queen that helped the towns and villages.

He took away their technology, with exception of the palace medical wing after Aster’s insistent daily protests, as it got in the way of our ‘connection’ to the land.

He raised the taxes and tributes throughout the realm and blocked access to Volmire, unless one was invited. ”

“Why did he make an exception for the palace healers?” Sybil asked, still eyeing the screens.

“The official reason is so we can study the powers of the High Fae and use our research to create more powerful offspring,” Aster replied.

“With this information, they can force arranged marriages focused solely on strength and magic of their future partners. But I wanted to keep it for other reasons.”

I gave Aster a weak smile. The medicines she had created in secret have helped so many already. Even though she knew of the dangers, knew personally what Ambrose was capable of, she still gave everything to stop countless deaths.

“Is that the real reason he made me do the blood tests?”

“You’re quick.” Aster smirked. Grimacing, Sybil looked at Aster, her face still unreadable while Aster continued. “That’s partly why he wanted them done, but as far as Ambrose knows, the percentage of your fae blood and power are too low for him to waste on a marriage match.”

Sybil narrowed her eyes, wariness rippling across her face. “What does that mean?”

Aster jerked her chin at me, which was my cue to continue. Swallowing down my annoyance, I sighed. “It means that your blood is different.”

Hesitating, I rubbed the back of my neck, my face pinching, not knowing how much I should tell her or Aster.

Though I told Ezra and Kieran of Sybil’s relation to Dryden, I haven’t had the chance to tell Aster of what I learned about Sybil’s bloodline and knowing Aster, she was going to give me hell for keeping it from her.

I felt Aster’s pointed glare and I didn’t dare meet it.

“I can’t tell you everything yet, but if you give me a chance, I promise that after we get Ezra out, I will tell you then. But what I can say is that there’s something particular about your blood that we have never seen before. We?—”

My eyes flew to Aster, her face already blanched.

I inhaled sharply, feeling the brush of power entering the medical ward.

Jumping to my feet, I moved the bookcase back to its original place, unlocked the door and rushed to Sybil.

Aster still stood frozen, her memories surging.

Grabbing Sybil’s ankles, I pulled her down to the edge, throwing a hand over her mouth, quieting her curse as I pushed her flat against the bed.

“Pretend you’re asleep. Say nothing and whatever happens, do not move.

” My voice was strained, harsh. I turned to Aster, the color returning to her face, her gray eyes reminding me of hard steel.

She breezed past me, taking hold of Sybil’s wrist. A glow of light wrapped around Sybil when the door to the room swung open .

“Ah, here you are,” Ambrose purred, his eyes gleaming with pride when he flicked a quick glance at Sybil. The small move had me silently snarling. “I believe I ordered you to return to my office once you brought her here.”

“I wanted to make sure her fever came down before I left,” I said, keeping my face blank though it took everything in me to push down my fury.

“Did you hear that, Aster?” Ambrose mused.

Aster refused to react, keeping her eyes on Sybil, her face masked in her usual indifference.

“It sounds like Samian doesn’t think you can do your job.

” Ambrose laughed, his gaze raking down Aster’s body, lingering at the curve of her breasts.

I wondered if he remembered their time together, remembered what he did to her, if he felt an ounce of regret.

“I know what I’m doing.” Aster clucked. “If you don’t mind, I would like to continue with her healing. Without interruptions.” Aster’s gray eyes finally snapped to Ambrose, a cold wrath whirling in her glare.

Ambrose frowned, but he didn’t respond. His eyes grew distant, and he snarled. I raised an eyebrow, throwing a confused glance to Aster before wiping the emotion from my face.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Ambrose turned to me, a quiet rage making his body tense. “My office. Now.”

He disappeared in a flash of shadowy smoke, and I exhaled, letting the tension wash away from me. Sybil peeked an eye open, making sure Ambrose was gone. Aster stepped away, sliding her hands into the pockets of her coat. I tugged on Aster’s bond, and her gaze slammed to mine.

“ Are you okay? ”

“ I ’ m fine. Go, you ’ re needed elsewhere. ”

“I’ll return as soon as I can. We can make our plan for tomorrow night when I do,” I said, though it was more to myself than anyone else.

Without waiting for a response, the world tilted away until I stepped into Ambrose’s office.