Page 19

Malvolia

24 years earlier

W ondering how she ended up on the floor of her bedchamber, Malvolia stared down at her fingers as smoke slowly curled out of them. One moment, she thought she was under attack, and the next, her eyes stung like they were on fire and a gong reverberated in her skull.

“Your sister plans to kill you and steal your throne.”

She peered up at the hooded figure, tempted to look away when the flares coming from his eyes hurt her head. “No,” she rasped. “Flora would never do that.”

“She will.” The voice pulsed all around her, shaking her bones and filling her soul with dread. “She fears you will conceive children from your many lovers, and those children will take the throne from her daughters.”

“No. I won’t let that happen.” Her voice faltered as she struggled to argue with the stranger. Not her Flora. She loved her twin above anything, and Flora loved her.

Everything she’d done had been for Flora, risking her life to kill Djall and take back the throne, supporting her sister when she refused to marry King Fachnan because she’d found her fated mates, and now that Flora was finally pregnant with twins of her own, Malvolia had already declared the unborn babies her heirs.

“You must drive Flora out of Thebes,” the stranger commanded.

Tears pricked the backs of Malvolia’s burning eyes, her soul shattering. “But I love her.”

“It has been prophesized that one of her children will become a powerful white witch and will kill you when she grows older,” the stranger said, his dark voice like a vine of poisonous barbs wrapping around her heart.

She clutched her throat, her heartbeat a thundering drum in her ears. “Flora’s children would never.”

“They will, and their mother will encourage their treachery.”

No. No. No! How could Flora, after everything Malvolia had done for her? “Should I kill them?” Had Malvolia’s love and trust been misplaced all these years, bestowed upon her unworthy, heartless twin?

“Don’t kill Flora. You must kill her mates,” the stranger hissed. “They have poisoned her mind and turned her against you. Then you drive Flora away, leaving her with no one to defend her.”

That couldn’t be right. Malvolia thought back to the time they called The Dark Tide, when she and Flora had hidden in the sewers because their grandmother’s mage had turned against the family, slaughtering the royal line. If Flora hadn’t changed their faces, disguising Malvolia and her as servants, they would’ve been killed by the evil mage too. Flora had defended Malvolia, and in turn, Malvolia had saved Flora. Since then, Malvolia and Flora’s bond has been unbreakable. And now this stranger was telling her Flora’s love for Malvolia was all a lie?

“B-but she’s my sister.”

“She’s your enemy.”

“My enemy,” Malvolia repeated as those flares in the stranger’s eyes pulsed and brightened.

* * *

Malvolia

M ALVOLIA SHOT UP WITH a gasp, sweat dripping down her brow and pooling between her breasts. She looked at her fingers, which no longer leached a poisonous fog, while she recalled her vivid dream. A stranger had been telling her lies about Flora, and for some reason, she’d believed him.

Heavenly Elements!

She threw off her blankets and sprang from the bed, wringing her fingers together while pacing the floor. That had been no dream. No, it was a recalled memory of the time Thorin had spun her mind and turned her against her beloved twin. Bile projected into her throat as she recalled more from that night, how he’d finally convinced her to hunt her sister while slaughtering any Fae who got in her way. Dear Goddess. She’d killed so many innocents.

Clutching her roiling gut, she raced into her bathing chamber and vomited into the chamber pot, heaving and hurling until there was nothing left but bile. Her world tipped and spun as she finally sat back on her heels, wiping spit and vomit from her mouth. Her chest felt as if it was being split open as more and more memories assailed her, the paranoia that ruled her while she’d slaughtered entire villages if she suspected they’d harbored her twin. Dear Goddess, she’d been a monster. And now that she had full recollection of her sordid past, she wanted nothing more than to fling herself from the tallest turret.

But no. Her returned memories meant Thorin was now dead and a new, even more evil demon had acquired his powers. When that demon struck, Malvolia would be ready to protect her sister, though she knew it wouldn’t make up for her past atrocities. She didn’t expect Flora’s forgiveness. How could she, after all she’d done?

Malvolia owed it to Flora to protect her by destroying every last demon. Only when Malvolia was certain Flora’s children and grandchildren wouldn’t have to endure the tragedy of turning on one another would she turn a poisoned blade upon her own blackened heart, for she couldn’t live in a world where her beloved sister scorned her.

* * *

Tari

I DREAMED I WAS A CHILD picking berries with Shiri. Our mother scolded Shiri for staining her only frock with berry juice. I’d been worried our mother would scold me, too, for my frock was also smeared with juices. Mother looked crossly at my frock, then took me in her arms and showered me with kisses when I showed her the dab of blood on my thumb after I’d pricked it on a thorn.

An overwhelming sense of guilt tightened my chest. What a spoiled, selfish child I’d been, and yet, Shiri had never acted resentful toward me. I remember her helping our mother wrap a bandage around my thumb, even though the blood was no bigger than a pinprick. Then Mother made oatcakes and gave me extra berry syrup. Shiri had to have seen, yet she never complained.

She’d always been the better sister, the one with the purest heart, a bright red rose trying to reach for the sun while being strangled by an overgrowth of poisonous vines.

“Tari, are you awake?”

I woke with a groan, blinking up at my handsome prince as he stared down at me, his brow pinched with concern and watery morning sunlight casting a halo around his silvery hair. I heard a fire crackling nearby, and my stomach rumbled when I was assailed by the heavenly smell of warm butter and cinnamon. Where were we?

“Helian, what happened?”

He held a hand down to me. “You passed out after opening the portal.”

I took his hand and sat up, recognizing the furs by the warm hearth in Lars’s humble cottage. I heard humming nearby and spotted Lynette stirring a pot above the hearth, her fawn-like ears rotating while she tapped a hoof to the sound of a catchy tune. We’d made it to the satyr village.

I rubbed sleep from my eyes. “How long did I sleep?”

“All night,” Helian answered.

All night? Panic tightened my throat. Finn and Nikkos could be dead by now. “Why did you let me?” I asked accusingly.

“You’d used too much magic,” he said while handing me a cool goblet of milk. “Nobody could wake you.”

I wanted to jump to my feet and demand we go, but a cyclone of dizziness spun in my skull, and I was too weak to move from this spot. “We have to get to Finn and Nikkos,” I said with a groan while clutching my goblet.

Helian thanked Lynette when she handed him a wooden bowl of porridge. He knelt in front of me while scooping the porridge into a spoon. “You have to eat first.”

I arched away when he held the spoon out to me. “I don’t know if I can.”

He dropped the spoon back into the bowl. “You need your strength if you’re to make another portal.”

When bile projected into my throat, I waved the spoon away. “Where are the girls?”

“Playing with the satyr children.” He held out the spoon again, his tone impatient when he said, “You need to eat before we can go.”

Making a face, I turned my head away. “I’m too nauseated.”

“I can make you a tea, Goddess,” Lynette said as she clomped toward the small kitchen and removed a jar of herbs from the shelf.

“No!” I blurted, regretting my harsh tone when she flinched. “No tea, thank you.” I dropped my voice to a soothing whisper while forcing a smile. “Milk and porridge will be more than enough.”

I took slow sips of milk until the nausea subsided. Then I took the bowl from Helian and fed myself.

Lynette gladly refilled my bowl as I mindlessly ate while staring at the fire. I remembered Demon eating oats on the floor beside the hearth, how his ears and back twitched with happiness. Though it had only been a little over a month since we’d last been here, it felt like several lifetimes ago. I missed my rabbits and prayed the satyrs in Fallax were taking good care of them. Aurora would have to take us to Fallax to retrieve the rabbits and check on the satyrs and wyverns.

After I finished the porridge, I burped into my fist and let Helian lead me to the edge of the forest where I could relieve myself. We passed several satyrs with stoic faces who reverently bowed to me before continuing on their way. Some were stacking bags of grains, many were forging weapons, while others were reinforcing the fortress walls I’d made for them out of vines with another wall of stone. A hush had fallen about the place as the satyrs worked, the tension in the air as thick as soup. Only the smaller children played while the others worked alongside the adults. Nobody sang. Nobody smiled. They were afraid.

I spied my girls among a group of smaller satyrs. Rather than playing tag or sticks and stones, they huddled together, sharing secrets in sibilant whispers.

What’s happened? I projected to Helian.

He grimaced while tightening his hold on my elbow. The older satyrs, their memories have been restored.

I stumbled with a gasp and would’ve fallen on my face if Helian hadn’t caught me. “That means Thorin is dead?”

“It does.” He grimaced, then gave me a pitying look. “How do you feel about that?”

I exhaled a slow breath, my vision tunneling as satyrs moved past us in a blur. “Numb.”

Helian kissed the top of my head. “For two years, you thought he was your father.”

How badly I wanted to stay in Helian’s warm embrace forever and shut out the world, but no longer would I be that spoiled child letting Shiri and others take on the burden that was meant for me. “But he wasn’t.” I pulled back, searching Helian’s eyes. “I don’t mourn him, if that’s what you’re worried about, but this means the demon mistress is preparing to invade the Fae lands.”

Shadows fell across his chiseled features. “I know.”

“Shiri will need us.” Resolve stiffened my spine as I swallowed my fear. “We must save Finn and Nikkos and get back to Thebes.”

I trembled at the thought of returning to the bitch queen, who wanted very much to thrust a poisoned blade into my back. But even more frightening than facing Malvolia was the prospect of going to war against a demon army whose size and strength were still unknown, while battling their mistress who somehow had harnessed the magic to teleport my innocent children through a portal to her hellish lair. There was no telling what else she could do to us, or how I’d be able to stop her.

* * *

Blaze

I WOKE FROM MY CHAIR beside Nikkos’s bed with a start. I’d spent most of the night by his side while Declan slowly healed him. The green witch was talented, as far as witches went, but he had not a tenth of the magic of Shiri’s sister. Nikkos was still badly burned, though his breathing was less erratic. Dark circles framed Declan’s eyes by the time light filtered into the room. I pulled back the curtain with a grimace as mid-morning sunlight beat down on the window. I’d overslept.

Declan leaned back with a groan, rubbing the sweat from his brow. “I’ve done all I can do,” he said, thanking the young shifter, Bridget, when she handed him a saucer of tea and a thick, buttery biscuit.

“W-will he live?” I stammered, pain lancing through my chest when Nikkos let out a soft moan and called Shiri’s name in his sleep.

Declan grimly nodded. “The burns were bad, but I’ve bought him a few days.”

I swallowed at that. Hopefully, our mate and her sister would find us by then. Worry gnawed a hole in my gut. What if they didn’t? If I left Cyrene now, I could reach Thebes in a few days. Then it would take several more days for us to fly back, unless Tari was able to manifest another one of those portals. I knew Aurora couldn’t bring us here, since she’d never been here before. Or I could wait and pray our family somehow knew we needed them.

Resolve hardening my veins, I looked over at Finn, who slept on the floor by the hearth. I couldn’t take the chance that our family knew. I’d have to leave Nikkos in Finn’s care and pray we made it back to Nikkos in time.

I was about to wake Finn and tell him my plans when a wave of cries rose up from the bustling boardwalk below. I pulled back the curtain, my heart leaping into my throat when I saw three familiar dragons fly out of a giant black hole that opened up in the sky. Tari had done it!

“They’re here!” I hollered, startling Finn before throwing open the window and jumping into the sky.

“Shiri!” I flew toward the big golden dragon as the morning sun warmed my face.

Isa let out an annoyed honk and landed on a sand dune below, Radnor and Triss following close behind. I winced at the bruising pain in the bottoms of my feet when I landed too fast, spraying sand everywhere. I furiously flapped my wings forward in an attempt to slow down before stumbling to a halt.

I couldn’t contain my disappointment when I didn’t see Shiri on the back of Isa. Instead, Helian helped Tari and the children off the dragons. Though I was relieved they’d come, I’d been hoping to see my mate with them.

“Uncle Blaze!” The children waved wildly while bounding toward me.

I grunted when they threw themselves against my legs, nearly knocking me backward.

Helian clapped my back, and Tari gave me a sisterly hug. “Finn and Nikkos?” she rasped while blinking up at me.

“Alive,” I answered.

Tari’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, thank the Elements.”

“Where are Shiri and Drae?”

She quickly pulled back, averting her gaze. “They had to stay in Thebes.”

Something was wrong. “Why?”

“A lot has happened since you left,” Helian said with a grimace.

My world came to a standstill as the moisture evaporated from my mouth. “D-do they live?”

Helian nodded and clasped my shoulder. “They do.”

A groan of relief escaped me. So long as they lived, there was hope.

“Are Finn and Nikkos well?” Tari asked as she wrapped her arms around herself, reminding me far too much of my frightened, yet brave, mate that first week we were together.

“Finn is uninjured,” I said. “He is at the tavern, watching over Nikkos.”

She gave a curt nod, her eyes welling with tears.

“And Nikkos?” Helian asked.

“Badly burned. A green witch managed to keep him alive, though he still suffers.”

Tari clasped my arm. “Take me to him.”

I wanted to, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong with Shiri and Drae. “Tell me what happened to my mate and brother,” I demanded.

“Shiri is well.” Helian visibly swallowed. “Drae and Ash are demon possessed.”

The world felt as if it had opened beneath me, sucking me down into the abyss. Demon possessed? “What? How?”

“Wolfy was possessed,” Helian answered grimly. “He attacked us one night. Drae and Ash were infected, fighting him off. They’re in the dungeon. Shiri is staying in Thebes to watch over them.”

Dread solidified my veins. If Drae was demon possessed, that meant Shiri was alone. “Take me to her.” I curled my hands into claws, resolve stiffening my back as my feathers stood on end. “Now.”

Tari’s jaw dropped. “But Nikkos.”

“Can wait,” I interrupted. “Shiri has no mates to guard her.” Which was exactly what the demons wanted.

Tari took Aurora in her arms. “Aurora, get a good look at this beach.” She spun a slow circle, pointing to the undulating ocean waves splashing along the shoreline, then toward the town in the distance with its boardwalk, clapboard buildings, and merchant ships. “Can you take us to Aunt Shiri’s bedchamber in Thebes and back here?”

Aurora vehemently nodded. “Yes, Mama.”

The dragons blew out huffs of steam, grunting while casting shadows over us with their long necks.

Tari peered up at them, saying aloud, “We will only be gone a moment.” She shared a frightened look with Helian. “Unless the city is already under siege by demons.”