ã€ŠThe Lost Queenã€‹


 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter One

    Snow crunched beneath Seraiah¡¯s boots as she raced through the streets. Her breath puffed out in little clouds in front of her. One hand clutched her cloak close, her exposed fingers stiff with cold, while the other was buried in the folds of her skirts. In her rush to leave the house, she¡¯d forgotten to grab her gloves.

    If she hurried, she might still make it on time.

    She wouldn¡¯t have had to worry about being late if she hadn¡¯t overslept. Sterling should have woken her, but her sister had thought she was doing Seraiah a kindness by letting her sleep. She wouldn¡¯t feel that way when Seraiah lost her job, and they could no longer afford to eat.

    The threat of starvation spurred her onward.

    The castle walls loomed ahead, but she was still so far away. Seraiah bit her lip as she came to an intersection. If she took a shortcut down Cedar street and cut between the houses to reach Aspen, she could save herself a few minutes and not have to run.

    Normally, she avoided Aspen because it was a direct shot to the castle and therefore the busiest street. However, at this time of morning, most of the city of Ratha still slept. If she was lucky, she might get ahead of the crowds.

    She hesitated one more moment, before making up her mind and turning down Cedar, praying to the gods she wasn¡¯t making a mistake.

    When she emerged from between the houses, she was pleased to find her prayers had been answered, and the street was empty.

    Seraiah slowed to a walk to catch her breath and switched her frozen hand with the one beneath her cloak. A quick check of the sun confirmed she now had plenty of time to make it to the castle, and could keep her much slower pace.

    A short distance down the street, however, she realized why it had appeared so empty. It wasn¡¯t that there were no people, but rather they had gathered in front of the Grumbling Bear Inn. Many in the crowd were dressed as though they had been off to work, and some even held the reins of mules with carts attached.

    Seraiah eyed the building that was less inn these days and more tavern. The front doors were shut tight against the cold, and no one stood on the raised stoop.

    What could have made them stop?

    As Seraiah drew closer, snatches of conversation resolved from a gentle hum into words she could understand. The whispers all had one thing in common: strangers.

    Unconsciously, her steps slowed.

    Strangers were a rarity in Ratha since snow had blocked the mountain pass. Anyone wishing to reach the city would have to do so via the dense woods that bordered the western side.

    Curiosity pricked at her. Likely, it was a trader who¡¯d come for the market and that¡¯s why so many were interested.

    But what if it¡¯s not, a voice that sounded suspiciously like her sister¡¯s whispered in her head.

    Seraiah checked the position of the sun. The shortcut had bought her enough time that she could wait and see. It wasn¡¯t the smart thing to do, but she knew Sterling would want her to look. Her sister lived for a good story, and this had the potential to be the best kind.

    A few moments and then I¡¯m off, Seraiah told herself. I can¡¯t risk any more than that.

    She squeezed in next to a man holding a particularly pungent cart¡ªsomething pickled must be in the barrels¡ªand stood on her toes, trying to get a peek over the heads in front of her.

    ¡°Nothing to see yet,¡± the smelly cart man said. ¡°They¡¯re still inside.¡±

    Seraiah dropped back on her heels. ¡°They?¡±

    The man nodded. ¡°A pair of ¡®em. Arrived late last night. Heard about it from a neighbor who heard from a friend who knows the kid who sweeps the floors.¡±

    ¡°Are they traders? Is that why everyone is waiting out here?¡± If she ran out of time, Sterling might have to settle for any second hand information Seraiah could glean.

    The man shrugged. ¡°Have to be a paying customer to go inside. Don¡¯t know much more than that. Have to wait and see with the rest of us unless you have the coin.¡± He turned his back to her as he calmed his nervous mule, putting an end to the conversation.

    Seraiah shifted her weight and blew on her hands to get some warmth back into her fingers. She had neither the coin nor the time to go inside.

    Ahead of her, a woman whispered to another, ¡°I heard they snuck out the back, and we¡¯re all waiting here from nothing. I¡¯m going to head home. It¡¯s too cold for this.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t the only one who heard the woman. Others questioned if there were even any strangers to begin with. A few peeled away and headed down the road. Seraiah supposed it was time for her to do the same.

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    She hadn¡¯t made it far when she felt the strangest sensation. It was like a prickle on the back of her neck, as though someone was watching her. There was no one immediately in her vicinity and when she looked back, no one in the crowd was looking in her direction. They were too focused on something else.

    Her eyes landed on the stoop. The strangers had left the building.

    Like the smelly cart man had said, there were two of them. One wore the hood of their cloak pulled up, hiding their face, but the other, a dark-haired young woman, met Seraiah¡¯s eyes.

    She froze there in the middle of the street. It felt like minutes passed as they stared at each other, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t shake that strange feeling.

    Finally, the other girl looked away to speak to her companion, breaking their connection.

    Seraiah turned on her heel and ran for the castle.

    <hr>

    Ink pooled in the lines of Seraiah¡¯s fingertips, turning them black. She frowned and wiped them on the piece of cloth on the table next to her. No matter how hard she tried to keep them clean, they always ended up stained by the end of the workday.

    The scratching of quills on parchment filled the small room. There were three other scribes scribbling away, copying pages that would eventually be bound into books.

    Walter, the head scribe, glanced up from his own work and caught her looking around. He opened his mouth, likely about to reprimand her for resting, when a knock sounded on the door.

    The other scribes lifted their heads and swiveled toward the door as though they were marionettes.

    The knocker didn¡¯t wait for permission to enter, but pushed the door open and stuck her head inside.

    ¡°Welcome, Miss Ariya. How may we¡ª¡±

    ¡°My lady requests Seraiah¡¯s presence,¡± Ariya said, as though Walter had not spoken.

    The heads swiveled to look at her.

    Seraiah ignored the stares and dipped her chin. ¡°As my lady wishes.¡±

    It took all of her control not to grin until she was on the other side of the door. ¡°What does the lady require of me today?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°A stroll around the garden, I should think,¡± Ariya said, returning her grin and looping her arm through Seraiah¡¯s. She tugged Seraiah through the shelves and out of the library.

    ¡°You know one day Walter is going to catch on that Lady Zahara doesn¡¯t know who I am and wouldn¡¯t request my presence for anything.¡±

    Ariya waved her concern away. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare say anything. Besides, I outrank him.¡±

    ¡°He claims to be her cousin,¡± Seraiah said.

    Her friend snorted. ¡°Several times removed, maybe. I¡¯d say he¡¯s a closer relative of your family mule.¡±

    ¡°Ariya!¡± Seraiah smothered her laugh as they walked through the halls of the castle to the garden door.

    ¡°You know it¡¯s true. When are you going to leave that stuffy room behind and join me as a lady¡¯s maid?¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s laughter faded, remembering how close she had come to being late this morning. ¡°You know I can¡¯t. I¡¯m lucky to have the scribe job as it is. If not for that . . .¡± she trailed off, shaking her head.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ariya said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    ¡°Still, I wish there was something I could do.¡±

    ¡°Not unless you can magic away the endless winter. If there was trade again, things might be different.¡± Thinking about trade reminded her of the strangers she had seen. She still didn¡¯t know if they were traders or here for something else.

    Ariya arched a brow. ¡°Magic? Is that what those books you¡¯re copying are about?¡±

    Seraiah sighed, focusing back on the conversation. ¡°No, but it¡¯s a nice thought, isn¡¯t it? Imagine being able to snap your fingers and make all the snow disappear.¡±

    The two of them stood at the top of the stairs leading to a once vibrant garden that was now blanketed in white.

    Ariya snapped her fingers and pretended to look around. ¡°Hmm, I suppose I will have to practice.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Seraiah said.

    They set off through a garden that was mostly snow and dead trees. It was hard to remember what this place had looked like when it was green. The time before the snow almost felt like a dream at this point.

    ¡°You look tired today,¡± Ariya said. ¡°Did something happen? Does someone in your family have the fever?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing like that. I didn¡¯t sleep well last night. Sterling snores, you know.¡±

    It was a lie. Dreams were the reason she hadn¡¯t slept well, but no one besides her sister knew about those.

    Though it was mid-afternoon, the feeling of unease that often haunted her after the nightmare lingered. She¡¯d been having the same dream for years, but for some reason, it was bothering her more now than it ever had before. All throughout the day, her thoughts kept turning back to it.

    Those eyes¡ªher sister¡¯s eyes¡ªthere was something not quite right about them.

    The dreams don¡¯t mean anything. They were only dreams¡ªor at least that¡¯s what she told herself.

    Ariya didn¡¯t question her answer and moved on. ¡°So anything interesting happen lately?¡±

    It was a tradition of these walks for the two of them to trade stories and gossip.

    Seraiah hesitated. She could tell Ariya about the strangers, but she really didn¡¯t know much about them. Instead, she relayed a story about a neighbor that Sterling had overheard at the market.

    When it was Ariya¡¯s turn, she shot a furtive look around the empty garden, checking for eavesdroppers. Of course there were none because it was freezing outside.

    ¡°I heard that Lady Zahara is planning a ball,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Whatever for?¡± Seraiah asked. It wasn¡¯t possible she had the resources for such a thing. The castle inhabitants may have lived better than those outside of it, but not by much. It had been ages since anyone from beyond Ratha had brought new goods.

    She thought of the strangers again. Perhaps that was why they were here. Then again, if they were guests of Lady Zahara, they wouldn¡¯t have been staying at an inn in the city, and Ariya would have mentioned them right away.

    ¡°That part is not important,¡± Ariya said with a wave of her hand. ¡°What is important is what are you going to wear to this ball?¡±

    Seraiah laughed. ¡°What makes you think I would be invited to a ball?¡±

    ¡°Of course you would. I would insist, and then you¡¯d dance with Hudson.¡±

    She wrinkled her nose. ¡°I would not. I doubt he would even ask.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on. Don¡¯t be mean to the poor boy,¡± Ariya said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she protested. ¡°Besides, it doesn¡¯t matter. This ball likely isn¡¯t real anyway.¡±

    Ariya pouted. ¡°But if it is, would you go with me?¡±

    Seraiah sighed. Her fingers tingled from the cold, and her nose and ears had already gone numb. ¡°I will think about it.¡±

    Ariya brightened. ¡°Good. Next time we walk, I¡¯m sure I will have more news about it.¡±

    ¡°I look forward to it,¡± Seraiah said as they finished their loop of the garden and climbed the stairs back into the castle.

    The two girls parted ways, and Seraiah took her time walking back to the scribe room.

    If she was being honest, there were only two things she looked forward to: the end of the snow, and the end of her terrible dreams. Neither of which she was likely to get.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Two

    A week prior

    Kaimana set his drink on the wooden table and studied the room. It was busy at this time of evening. Humans laughed and called out to each other. Liquid sloshed over the rims of cups as they knocked together. There was a smoky quality to the air, thanks to all the men who puffed away at their pipes. It seemed nearly all of them had one in their mouth or waving around in their hand while they spoke.

    Across from him, Kestrel, his Commander and travel partner, set her own drink down with a grimace. Her long dark hair spilled over her shoulders, covering her ears and their secret.

    It was remarkably easy to blend in among the humans if you only watched them for a short time and imitated their behavior. They¡¯d never question you weren¡¯t one of them.

    Kestrel leaned her elbows on the table. ¡°This was our last lead,¡± she said. ¡°Is it time we head home?¡±

    Now it was Kai¡¯s turn to grimace. He¡¯d been sure this one would yield something, but like all the others, they¡¯d only found a dead end.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been gone a long time. The council is going to stop believing us,¡± she added, tipping her mug and swirling the contents.

    ¡°The council can hang,¡± Kai said.

    Kestrel gave him a look. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to tell them eventually.¡±

    ¡°Tell them what? I¡¯ve been searching for my dead sister in another world? That I suspect she never died, but by the way, I have no proof that she is still alive?¡±

    ¡°Neorah could¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kai said. ¡°Having Neorah tell the council what she told me will do nothing. If they won¡¯t believe their Prince, why would they believe a mere healer?¡±

    ¡°If we find her¡ª¡±

    ¡°When,¡± Kai corrected.

    ¡°When we find her,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°we¡¯ll have to tell them.¡±

    ¡°And I have no problem with that, but first we need to find her and sitting around in this place will not help us do that.¡±

    Kestrel leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°What¡¯s your plan when we can¡¯t find her? And don¡¯t tell me we will. We¡¯ve been searching for months with nothing to show for it. We need to be realistic about this. We need to be prepared for the possibility of losing our magic.¡±

    Kai shot a look around the room, checking to see if anyone had heard. He¡¯d learned early on in his time with the humans that they were a superstitious lot and did not like the idea of magic. Not that he blamed them, given their past shared history.

    When the raucous laughter continued and no looks were sent their way, Kai relaxed. No one had heard Kestrel¡¯s slip. Kestrel herself looked unrepentant, even though she knew what kind of trouble a slip like that could land them in.

    ¡°I am not ready to give up yet,¡± he said. ¡°Call it a feeling.¡±

    ¡°I call it delusion,¡± Kestrel mumbled under her breath.

    He was about to retort when he heard a voice above the crowd. Kai tilted his head, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. It took a moment to spot them.

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    A pair of travelers, by the look of it. One wore a cloak that had more patches than original fabric, while the other was dressed in a dark brown tunic and matching pants that were favored in this area.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been there?¡± the man in dark brown was asking.

    ¡°Aye. I¡¯ve seen it all covered in snow and unnatural like. Can¡¯t say it was worth the trip.¡± He sucked down a gulp from his mug. ¡°Don¡¯t know that I¡¯d ever want to go back.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d heard that everyone had died.¡±

    The cloaked man shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t know. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me. Not sure how you can stand to live in that cold for so long. It eats into your bones. Saps the spirit.¡±

    Kai made a note to catch the man alone. A city stuck in an endless cycle of winter? He¡¯d only heard of one such place before, but it wasn¡¯t part of this world. There had to be something magical going on there, and where there was strange magic, there might be his sister.

    ¡°Do you remember what Jensira¡¯s affinity was?¡± he asked suddenly, leaning across the table toward Kestrel.

    She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Did it have something to do with ice, maybe?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, I suppose, but I couldn¡¯t say for sure. What¡¯s this about?¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes flicked over her shoulder to the pair of men and then back to her again. ¡°I think I¡¯ve just found us another lead.¡±

    <hr>

    Kai waited until the other man left the table. It was late in the night by that point and much of the room had settled down. There were only a few locals still nursing their drinks and a handful of travelers staying at the inn scattered around the room. The pair he¡¯d heard talking had rooms at the inn as well, but it didn¡¯t appear they were traveling together. This was only a chance meetup between acquaintances in the same business.

    Kai jerked his chin toward the table, and both he and Kestrel rose. It took only seconds to cross the room and fall into the seat the other traveler had vacated.

    The cloaked man glanced up in surprise, but before he could speak, Kestrel slid into the chair next to him.

    ¡°Hello,¡± she greeted him. ¡°We¡¯d like to talk to you. Do you have a moment?¡±

    The man looked nervously between the two of them. ¡°I don¡¯t have much,¡± he said, ¡°but you can have my wares. I¡¯m sure they will fetch a decent price.¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t robbing you,¡± Kai told the man. He lifted a coin purse and let it clink against the table. ¡°But we will pay you for information about this city stuck in endless winter.¡±

    He¡¯d expected the man to relax once he knew there might be money coming his way, but if anything, he only tensed up more.

    ¡°What would you like to know about that cursed place?¡± he asked, eyes darting to the coin bag.

    ¡°Anything you can tell us,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°How can we reach it?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°You can¡¯t. If you were listening, then you already know about the snow. There are only two ways into the city of Ratha. The mountain pass,¡± he rapped a knuckle against the table, ¡°and the other through the woods. I haven¡¯t been since snow blocked off the pass.¡±

    ¡°Then why not go through the woods?¡± Kestrel leaned an elbow on the table. ¡°Sounds easy enough to me.¡±

    The man shook his head, knocking back the hood of his cloak to reveal a face worn by years on the road. ¡°Not with the beast.¡±

    ¡°The beast,¡± Kai repeated, eyes narrowing.

    ¡°Last I was there, the townsfolk were talking about it. It¡¯s the reason they never leave. They can¡¯t get out. This creature in the woods eats people. They find pieces of them sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Like a bear?¡± Kestrel asked.

    The man shrugged. ¡°Dunno. No one who had seen it was still alive. There is good trade to be had there since they don¡¯t get many visitors, but I¡¯m not about to risk my neck for it.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kai said. ¡°What else can you tell us about this city?¡±

    The man explained every detail he could, but it wasn¡¯t much more than they¡¯d already learned from listening to his earlier conversation. In the end, Kai thanked the man and slid two silver pieces across the table before they abandoned the common area for their rented rooms.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about this,¡± Kestrel said, following Kai into his room instead of going straight into hers across the hall. ¡°The snow and the beast could be nothing more than coincidence.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t know until we visit,¡± Kai said.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°I had a feeling you were going to say that.¡±

    ¡°This will be the last one. If we don¡¯t find her here, we can go back home and forget all about the quest to find her. We¡¯ll have to come up with another way to save our magic.¡±

    ¡°It could pass to someone else,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°But it hasn¡¯t,¡± he reminded her. ¡°If my sister had truly died as a baby, we would have found it already. We wouldn¡¯t be slowly losing our magic. The fact that it hasn¡¯t passed means she is still alive out there somewhere, and I want to find her.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but this is absolutely the last one. I want to go home to my own bed.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll leave in the morning,¡± Kai said to her retreating back before she closed the door between them.

    He knew Kestrel was tired. He was tired too, but he had a feeling about this city. This must be the one.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Three

    Kestrel had been leading them through the forest for the last hour. They¡¯d chosen to walk their horses the remainder of the distance to Ratha as the path became harder to follow. Kai¡¯s feet had frozen a while back, and he couldn¡¯t entirely feel his fingers where they gripped the reins anymore, but none of that could put a damper on his anticipation.

    This might finally be it¡ªhe might have finally located his sister after years of searching.

    Kai had always known in his heart that his sister was alive, and when Neorah had let the truth slip, he¡¯d begun his search.

    It was a small comment she¡¯d made about the Princess, but it had been enough to make him suspicious. It hadn¡¯t taken much questioning from him for the healer to confess the truth.

    His sister was alive. The Queen had faked her death.

    Neorah hadn¡¯t known what had become of the Princess, or why the Queen had wanted everyone to think she was dead. So, he¡¯d moved on to his next target.

    His mother had been a harder one to crack. He knew he couldn¡¯t outright ask her about it, so he¡¯d hinted around it, poking and prodding to get the information he wanted.

    The most he had been able to get from her was that her former Queen¡¯s Protector, Jensira, had disappeared not two days after the Princess¡¯s death had been announced. It hadn¡¯t taken him long to figure out she must have carried the Princess with her.

    Supposedly, Jensira had fled the kingdom. It was suspected that she might have gone to the human lands, but no one knew for sure or cared to go after her.

    After that, Kai had seized every chance he could to visit the human lands and continue his search.

    At first, he¡¯d assumed Jensira would try to get as far from the portals as she could. When that had turned up nothing, he¡¯d changed his tactic and started looking closer to them.

    It seemed all his hard work was finally going to pay off¡ªor at least he hoped it would.

    Kestrel held up her hand to indicate he should stop as they neared the edge of the forest. She crept forward alone while he waited in the shadow of the trees.

    A few minutes later, she returned.

    ¡°It¡¯s about mid-afternoon now, and it looks like there are a good number of people in the streets. I think we should wait until nightfall to enter the city.¡±

    Kai agreed with her. They didn¡¯t need to attract more attention than necessary.

    ¡°Also,¡± Kestrel continued, ¡°it looks like there is another snowstorm blowing in, so we will be in for a cold night.¡±

    He snorted. ¡°You mean colder than it is already?¡±

    The man from the last inn hadn¡¯t been lying about the unusual weather. They¡¯d encountered the winter weather when they¡¯d entered the forest, and it had only gotten colder the farther north they¡¯d traveled.

    If the man had been right about the weather, then he was likely right that the people of Ratha hadn¡¯t seen anyone from the outside in quite a while.

    ¡°We¡¯ll wait until a few hours after sundown, preferably before the snow arrives,¡± he proposed. ¡°Then we¡¯ll find an inn to stay the night.¡±

    ¡°And after that?¡± Kestrel asked. She blew into her cupped hands to warm them. ¡°The minute we step in there, we¡¯ll be the talk of the place.¡±

    ¡°Maybe. Maybe not. Their interest could potentially be used to our advantage. We¡¯ll say we¡¯re long-lost relatives of Jensira and have someone point us in her direction.¡±

    Kestrel laughed. When she realized he wasn¡¯t smiling, she stopped. ¡°Oh. You were serious.¡±

    ¡°Of course I was serious,¡± he said. ¡°Did you think I was jesting?¡±

    ¡°I was hoping so because that was quite possibly the worst plan I¡¯ve heard from you yet, and I¡¯ve heard a lot of terrible ones.¡±

    Kai shifted closer to his horse, hoping the beast might share a little of its warmth. ¡°What exactly is wrong with it?¡±

    ¡°For one,¡± Kestrel held up a finger, ¡°what if Jensira changed her name?¡±

    ¡°So I give a physical description of her.¡±

    Kestrel tilted her head. ¡°You remember what she looks like?¡±

    ¡°Vaguely. She had long hair.¡±

    ¡°Long hair. Right. And what if she cut it? Do you remember what color it was?¡±

    ¡°Black?¡±

    An eyebrow went up. ¡°For two,¡± Kestrel said, lifting another finger, ¡°what if she doesn¡¯t want to be found? What if she¡¯s made friends here and warned them that someone might come looking for her?¡±

    Kai scowled. ¡°All right. Fine. I was only thinking to save us some time since you want to go home so badly. What would you suggest?¡±

    ¡°I would suggest coming up with a story as to why we are visiting that has nothing to do with Jensira. We should ask around discreetly, as we have been doing in the other cities. I would also suggest that you stay put at the inn and show your face as little as possible. If this endless winter is magic caused and not related to your sister, I don¡¯t think you should be spotted here.¡±

    ¡°The first two I will consider. The last one I will not.¡±

    Kestrel gave him a look before continuing, ¡°Lastly, I think you need to temper your expectations.¡±

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    ¡°Temper my expectations?¡± he repeated.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°I mean don¡¯t get your hopes up. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I appreciate your concern, but I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said, putting an end to the conversation.

    They settled in for a long, cold wait. Finally, when darkness fell and the city went to sleep, the two of them left the trees behind.

    <hr>

    Snow fell in soft, fat flakes as they walked the streets in search of a place to stay the night. The temperature had dropped significantly and even their horses looked miserable, dusted in a coat of white.

    ¡°I think I see a place up ahead,¡± Kestrel announced.

    The last few inns they¡¯d tried didn¡¯t seem to be in operation anymore. He hadn¡¯t considered that they might have issue finding accommodation, but it made sense since, without visitors, the inns would have no business.

    Kai ducked his head against the falling snow and trudged after Kestrel. Unlike other cities that boasted a bustling¡ªand sometimes unsavory¡ªnightlife, Ratha was quiet. They had yet to see another person on the street.

    ¡°Hold my reins,¡± Kestrel said, when they arrived outside the building. ¡°I¡¯ll go inquire about rooms.¡±

    She bounded up the stairs and disappeared through the front door, letting out a brief spill of warm, yellow light.

    He sincerely hoped this place would have rooms because he was sick of the cold. He didn¡¯t understand how these people had lived in these conditions for years.

    A few minutes later, Kestrel returned with a young boy trailing in her wake.

    ¡°He¡¯ll take the horses,¡± she said, indicating the boy whose eyes barely peeked out between his scarf and hat.

    With numb fingers, Kai pulled their packs from the horses before handing the animals over to the boy.

    ¡°I¡¯ve secured us two rooms,¡± Kestrel said, as Kai handed over her belongings, ¡°and the innkeeper promised to send up warm food.¡± She looked like she wanted to say something else.

    ¡°What?¡± he asked, hefting his pack over his shoulder. ¡°Something I need to know?¡±

    She shook her head and turned back to the stairs. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± she said cryptically.

    The moment Kai stepped across the threshold, he understood what Kestrel had meant. Every eye in the room fastened on them as they crossed the main floor and made their way to the stairs. The place was warm and inviting, but most of the tables were unoccupied. Though the innkeeper pretended to be busy cleaning a glass, Kai could feel him watching them, too.

    ¡°Welcome to the Grumbling Bear,¡± he said, when Kai passed. ¡°I¡¯ll have food up in a minute. Let me know if you need anything else.¡±

    Kai thanked him and followed Kestrel up the stairs to a pair of small rooms.

    ¡°The Grumbling Bear?¡± Kai murmured. ¡°Of all the ridiculous names.¡±

    ¡°I thought it was appropriate,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡±

    She smirked, but said nothing else.

    Kai found a fire already burning in the room he¡¯d been given, and though the bed linens appeared fresh, the room had a stale smell about it, as if it hadn¡¯t been opened in a while.

    He tugged off his gloves and strode over to the fire to warm his hands, wincing as the feeling came back into them.

    True to the innkeeper¡¯s word, food arrived shortly in the form of stew and a side of crusty bread. Kai wasn¡¯t sure what exactly was in the stew, but he was too hungry to care. He wolfed it down before falling into bed, already half asleep.

    The next morning, Kestrel knocked on his door before popping her head inside. ¡°Want me to have breakfast brought up?¡± she asked.

    Kai picked up his discarded gloves and headed for the door. ¡°Not today. I was thinking we could eat in the dining room and perhaps get a feel for the locals.¡±

    ¡°Are you certain that¡¯s a good idea?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how else we¡¯re going to find my sister if we don¡¯t speak with anyone.¡±

    ¡°All right. If you insist.¡± Kestrel let him take the lead down the stairs.

    What he found in the dining room was entirely different from the night before. Every table in the place was packed, and the room hummed with conversation.

    As soon as they were spotted, however, the sound immediately died, and every eye swung to them.

    ¡°Good morning. Good morning,¡± the innkeeper called. ¡°Care for something to eat?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please,¡± Kai said. ¡°Though I see you have no open tables.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry about that.¡± The innkeeper surreptitiously shooed a group of men away from one of the tables at the center of the room. None of them complained as they grabbed their dishes and moved over to stand at the bar. ¡°Have a seat right here.¡±

    Kestrel slipped around them and pulled out a chair on the opposite side of the round table. The other patrons had gone back to their conversations, but Kai noted, they still watched them.

    ¡°Always this busy?¡± Kai asked as he took a seat.

    The innkeeper smiled. ¡°Not in ages, but I suppose I have you two to thank for that,¡± he said, confirming Kai¡¯s suspicions. ¡°What can I get for you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have whatever you think is best,¡± Kestrel said, folding her hands beneath her chin and making eye contact with a few of the nearby people who were listening in on the conversation. They quickly looked away.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the same,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°Good. Good.¡± The innkeeper bustled away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say it,¡± Kai said to Kestrel before she could open her mouth and tell him ¡®I told you so.¡¯

    She grinned and went back to returning people¡¯s stares.

    Kai, meanwhile, tried to listen in on the conversation going on around them.

    By the time their food arrived, he¡¯d learned the people were speculating they were traders, but couldn¡¯t figure out what they were selling.

    After they finished eating, they headed for the door with the intention of exploring the city.

    ¡°Might want to pull your hood up now,¡± Kestrel murmured to him as he was tugging on his gloves.

    This time he heeded her warning, and when the door opened, he was glad he had.

    The snowstorm from the night before had passed, leaving a bitter cold behind, but that wasn¡¯t the reason he was glad for the hood. No, that was because of the crowd that greeted them.

    There were all kinds of people gathered around the base of the stairs, and Kai understood he¡¯d severely underestimated how well they were going to blend in and go unnoticed.

    He nudged Kestrel with his elbow. ¡°Any ideas?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± she sounded distracted.

    ¡°Any ideas what to do about this?¡± Like the humans inside, these people seemed to think they might be traders. Apparently, no one else came to visit this city for any other reason.

    ¡°Pretend we¡¯re looking to buy a special made item we heard can only be found here?¡± Kestrel suggested.

    ¡°I think that might only increase their interest.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s any other way around that.¡±

    ¡°We can go with my original plan and tell them we¡¯re visiting long-lost family.¡± Before Kai could raise his voice and announce this, however, the innkeeper came bursting out the door behind them.

    ¡°Wait. You have a message.¡± He waved a card around in the air for everyone to see. ¡°Just arrived from the castle.¡±

    The crowd whispered amongst themselves at the announcement.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that,¡± Kestrel said, plucking it from the innkeeper¡¯s hand and breaking the wax seal.

    Kai waited for her to read, along with everyone else.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been invited to the castle to meet with a Lady Zahara,¡± Kestrel said, keeping her voice low. ¡°She says at our earliest convenience.¡±

    Kai frowned. ¡°How about never? We aren¡¯t here to entertain.¡±

    Kestrel pursed her lips, staring down at the invitation. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°I think we¡¯re going to have to accept this if we don¡¯t want any trouble while we¡¯re here. Besides, what could it hurt?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°But what if it isn¡¯t?¡± she countered. ¡°We go. We chat. We show we mean no harm, and perhaps we learn about this winter situation. Also, don¡¯t forget Jensira was a former Queen¡¯s guard. She could still be using those skills now.¡±

    Kai sighed, knowing Kestrel was right. ¡°I will agree as long as it is not today. I want to get a feel for the city first and what we might be walking into.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, then,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he agreed, already dreading it.

    He waited while Kestrel spoke to the innkeeper about sending a message of acceptance.

    When that was settled, he turned back to the waiting crowd, most of whom were still trying to figure out who they were and asked, ¡°Could anyone point me in the direction of the shops?¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Four

    Ratha didn¡¯t have a shopping district, but it did host a daily open-air market.

    The sun had fully risen in the sky over the eastern mountains, making the snow glitter like shards of cut glass, when Papa helped Sterling into the wagon. Seraiah had left for the castle nearly a half hour ago, and now Sterling and Papa were headed to the market for another day of trying to sell furniture to customers who had little interest in such things anymore.

    Once Sterling was settled, Papa climbed up next to her, taking the reins and clicking at their old mule to get her walking. Some days, she needed more urging than others to get moving.

    Daisy had been pulling their wagon for as long as Sterling could remember. She¡¯d been the one to name the old mule, after her favorite flower that had sprouted every spring in the field behind their house.

    She¡¯d loved running through the field, grabbing as many flowers in her hands as she could. She¡¯d always insisted the house be filled with daisies, and even though Papa was allergic, he¡¯d let her cover every surface with large bouquets of them. It was always a sad day when she went out to the field to find the flowers gone, wilted away under the summer sun.

    Sterling pulled her cloak closer around her to ward off the chill. Although the sun was shining, the air still had a bite to it. It didn¡¯t feel like spring was going to be arriving any time soon, but she hadn¡¯t given up hope that one day it would.

    One day, daisies would again fill the field behind their little house.

    When they reached their stall, Papa hitched Daisy to the post at the back before helping Sterling down. She assisted him in setting up the stall and then gave Daisy a good brushing while Papa made the finishing touches.

    Freya, the woman who ran the stall next to theirs, stopped to say hello. She sold clothing items, blankets, and floor rugs that she and her daughters would weave on their loom. Their family had always been a frequent customer of Freya¡¯s, buying all their dresses and cloaks from her when they had the coin for it.

    ¡°Did you hear about what happened to the Tutson family?¡± Freya asked Sterling as she folded dresses on a display table next to the stall divider.

    ¡°No.¡± Sterling wandered closer to the divider. She could never resist a story. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Freya always knew what was going on with everyone. If you ever wanted to know information about someone, she was the best person to ask.

    Freya glanced over her shoulder to where her youngest daughter, Nissa, was laying out floor rugs for display before leaning in toward Sterling.

    ¡°Well, they¡¯ve been struggling for food to feed their eight children. Can you imagine having eight mouths to feed?¡±

    Sterling shook her head.

    ¡°The father went hunting in the woods,¡± Freya continued, then glanced at her daughter again before leaning even closer, ¡°and he never came back.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t uncommon for hunters to go out looking for game in the woods, but they usually returned¡ªmostly empty-handed¡ªbut they returned.

    ¡°That poor family. What do you think happened?¡±

    More than likely, the man had gotten lost. The woods were dense, and it was easy to get turned around and spend days wandering.

    Freya¡¯s eyes gleamed, and Sterling knew she had more gossip to share. She could already imagine Seraiah¡¯s face when she relayed this latest story.

    Freya beckoned Sterling closer until she could feel Freya¡¯s breath on her ear as she whispered, ¡°They found pieces of him.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sterling jerked back.

    The word had come out louder than she¡¯d intended and drew Papa¡¯s attention. Freya waved and smiled at him, and he waved back before returning to his work.

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    ¡°What do you mean, they found pieces of him?¡± Sterling hissed.

    Freya checked again to make sure her daughter wasn¡¯t listening, ¡°You know¡ªpieces, half a leg, a finger.¡±

    She looked like she could go on, but Sterling waved her off, her breakfast churning uncomfortably in her stomach.

    ¡°Do they know what did it?¡±

    Freya nodded. ¡°It¡¯s that beast again. This isn¡¯t the first time it¡¯s happened, you know.¡±

    Sterling hadn¡¯t known. If Seraiah had heard about it, she¡¯d kept it to herself, and Papa had mentioned nothing either beyond his usual warnings not to wander too far in the trees in case they got lost.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the worst of it,¡± Freya said. ¡°I hear the youngest one has the blood fever.¡± She gave Sterling a knowing look.

    They both knew that once one person in a family had the fever, it usually passed swiftly to the rest. No one survived the fever. It was a small miracle it had only taken Mama and not the rest of them along with her.

    ¡°I wish there was something that we could do for them, but I would never risk sending one of my girls over there if it¡¯s true they caught the fever.¡±

    Sterling nodded sympathetically, but her thoughts were still on the man that had been found in pieces.

    How long had this been happening? Was something going to come creeping out of the forest at night, in search of more prey?

    The risk of fever, starvation, or freezing to death were enough as it was; they didn¡¯t need a man-eating creature to top it off.

    Excusing herself, Sterling returned to helping Papa.

    <hr>

    As the day wore on, more people trickled past their booth, but most didn¡¯t so much as glance their way.

    Sterling sat perched on a stool at the back of the stall. It was where Seraiah had once sat when she¡¯d come with them before she¡¯d taken her job in the castle.

    When Sterling was bored, Seraiah had entertained her through the long hours by telling her stories about the people they saw walk by, each story more outlandish than the last.

    Sterling attempted to employ that technique now, but it wasn¡¯t long before she was bored again. Everyone who walked by was familiar to her. It was hard to make up stories when she already knew so much about them.

    She yawned and stretched. Seraiah¡¯s tossing and turning from her nightmares had kept Sterling awake, too.

    Maybe a walk around the market would help wake her up and provide some entertainment. Papa wouldn¡¯t be happy about it though. He didn¡¯t like when she went off on her own.

    It was true her silver hair, more at home on someone decades older than her, made her stand out in a crowd, but everyone here was used to it by now. She rarely drew stares anymore.

    When Sterling told Papa she was going for a walk, he gave his usual list of warnings and made her promise to be back before the market closed. That would be easy enough, since there weren¡¯t too many stalls these days.

    Sterling made her way up the aisle and turned the corner to head down the next one. It seemed like every other stall was empty.

    She paused to browse the wares every few stalls and listen in on the conversations. For the most part, people spoke of mundane things, complaints about the snow and the like, but every once in a while, she caught word of someone mentioning strangers. Freya hadn¡¯t said a word about them, but if they were traders, Sterling was sure to come across them in the market eventually.

    She continued to wind her way up and down, aisle after aisle, looking for any unfamiliar faces.

    Eventually, she made it to the other side of the market, where she spied a new stall in the corner. It didn¡¯t appear to have any customers, and the seller wasn¡¯t standing out front trying to bring anyone in.

    Curious. Normally, new things in Ratha attracted attention.

    As Sterling approached, she could see a man sitting in the back, polishing a disk. More disks dangled from the front of the stall, swinging slightly in the light breeze.

    This had to be one of the new strangers being whispered about.

    She paused a moment to study the disks and was surprised to find that they were amulets. No wonder this man didn¡¯t have any customers. Stranger or not, amulets weren¡¯t exactly a popular item in these parts, especially not with Himera¡¯s king hunting down anyone who so much as breathed the word witchcraft. His fear of magic was legendary.

    Sterling leaned closer to one to inspect the design carved in the metal disk when she felt someone watching her.

    Stiffening, she straightened up and found the seller had stopped polishing the disk in his hand and was now openly staring at her.

    She didn¡¯t like what she saw in his eyes as he observed her. It was as if he had found a prize.

    For the first time, she felt a prickle of fear.

    Ducking her head, Sterling turned away. It was time to be getting back to Papa, anyway.

    Instead of winding her way back through the aisles, she cut through between the empty stalls.

    When she was only two aisles over from Papa¡¯s stall, she felt that familiar prickle again, like someone was watching.

    Sterling paused a moment, hidden between stalls, and looked around.

    She couldn¡¯t see anyone.

    Just your imagination, she told herself, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling.

    She hadn¡¯t taken more than two steps when someone grabbed her from behind, clapping a foul-smelling rag over her nose and mouth.

    Struggling, she tried to twist out of their grip, but when she felt the sharp point of a knife poke into her side, she froze.

    ¡°Now, we finally have you, Princess,¡± a voice hissed in Sterling¡¯s ear.

    It was the last thing she heard before her world tilted and went black.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Five

    Clouds had built in the sky, and a sharp wind had picked up by the time Seraiah left the castle. There was still another hour or so before the market closed for the day. If she went straight home and started cooking, she could have dinner on the table by the time Papa and Sterling came home.

    When she finally arrived home, the house was cold and empty. Seraiah didn¡¯t bother taking off her cloak, but instead headed straight for the hearth. Fumbling with the steel and flint, it took a few tries before a spark finally caught. Blowing gently on it, she coaxed the flames to life.

    She held out her hands and soaked in the delicious warmth. Slowly, she flexed her ink-stained fingers and hissed in pain as the feeling came back into them.

    Once she was satisfied her fingers were working normally, she pulled her cloak off and hung it on a hook by the front door.

    Then she got to work.

    She hummed to herself and thought about what story she would tell Sterling about the strangers as she assembled the ingredients for dinner¡ªa single carrot that had started to go soft, a few potatoes, a shriveled-looking onion, a handful of dried beans, and a small bundle of dried herbs. It was all that remained of their food stores. She hoped Papa had sold one of his pieces of furniture today, otherwise, they would have to go without until she received her wages three days from now.

    Doing the best she could, Seraiah put the ingredients together to make a soup. She was leaning over the pot to give it a stir when someone knocked on the door.

    Tap, tap, tap. Three light raps, soft but urgent.

    Startled, the ladle slipped from her fingers and hit the floor. She cursed as she bent to pick it up. Whoever was at the door was lucky she hadn¡¯t upended the entire thing. Dropping the ladle into a nearby bucket of water, she went to see who it could be at this hour.

    ¡°Nissa!¡± Freya¡¯s youngest daughter stood on her doorstep, tears streaming down her face. ¡°What in the world is the matter? Did something happen to your mother?¡± Seraiah pulled the little girl inside and shut the door.

    Nissa¡¯s whole body shook as she cried harder.

    The feeling of unease she¡¯d woken with that morning came creeping back, but Seraiah shoved it down. She refused to let it poison her thoughts. It was only a dream.

    She bent down, so she was eye-level with the girl. ¡°Take a breath. I¡¯m sure whatever it was, it wasn¡¯t that bad.¡±

    Nissa only shook her head, pulling in gasping breaths.

    ¡°Do you think you could tell me what happened?¡± Seraiah asked, keeping her voice low and soothing.

    Nissa continued sucking in ragged breaths, not saying anything.

    ¡°Did something happen to your family?¡±

    The girl shook her head and pressed her lips together, looking like she was going to burst into tears again at any second.

    ¡°It¡¯s Sterling,¡± Nissa finally blurted, and Seraiah¡¯s stomach dropped.

    She knew what the girl¡¯s next words would be before Nissa even said them.

    ¡°She is missing.¡±

    <hr>

    Seraiah¡¯s hands fell from Nissa¡¯s shoulders, and she stumbled back as the girl started sobbing again.

    This was all her fault.

    Grabbing her cloak off the hook, Seraiah dashed out the front door, leaving Nissa with her tears. The girl¡¯s words echoed over and over in Seraiah¡¯s head as she sprinted down the road toward the market.

    She is missing. She is missing. She is missing.

    The dark eyes from her dreams the night before came back to haunt her, taunting. She should have known. Hadn¡¯t her dreams come true before? Why would this nightmare be any different?

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    There must have been something¡ªsome clue that she had missed¡ªto stop this from happening. Seraiah tried to recall what she and Sterling had spoken about that morning as she rushed to get ready. Her sister had helped to braid her hair and asked what Seraiah wanted for her upcoming birthday. Sterling had mentioned baking a cake, and Seraiah had teased her about her kitchen skills. They¡¯d danced around the topic of her dreams¡ªSterling chose to ignore them and believe they had no meaning.

    Nothing had been out of the ordinary.

    Seraiah¡¯s lungs burned as she pushed herself to go faster. The temperature had plummeted, and the air had taken on that telltale smell.

    It would snow again soon.

    Finally, the market stalls came into sight. The shadows cast by the sun¡¯s fading rays gave them an eerie air that wasn¡¯t there during the day.

    Seraiah paused just inside her father¡¯s stall, trying to catch her breath.

    Looking around, she didn¡¯t see her father anywhere. Their old mule, Daisy, was still tied to the post at the back, and none of the furniture had been loaded into the wagon for the night.

    ¡°Seraiah, honey, over here,¡± Nissa¡¯s mother, Freya, called out, waving to Seraiah from her own stall. It looked like Freya had packed up all of her wares for the night already.

    Seraiah picked her way through her father¡¯s stall over to Freya, still trying to catch her breath from her mad-dash.

    ¡°I waited to make sure Nissa delivered her message. I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡± Freya clasped Seraiah¡¯s arm in what was probably supposed to be a comforting manner.

    ¡°Where is my father?¡± Seraiah scanned the market again, but still didn¡¯t see him.

    ¡°He said he was going to do another sweep of the area to see if he could find anything.¡± Freya leaned in closer. ¡°I don¡¯t think he will. Faeries are such sneaky creatures.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes snapped back to Freya. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°You know. Faeries? Changelings? Surely you have heard of them?¡±

    She had, but she¡¯d assumed it was nothing more than a children¡¯s story. She hadn¡¯t realized people believed they existed.

    ¡°The faeries steal children away and sometimes replace them with one of their own.¡±

    ¡°My sister is fifteen. She isn¡¯t a child.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories of full-grown adults being taken before. They vanish without a trace, just like your sister. It can¡¯t be a coincidence those strangers arrived and now this happened.¡±

    Seraiah shook her head, her brain struggling to follow the conversation.

    She is missing. She is missing. She is missing.

    The words wouldn¡¯t stop repeating.

    ¡°Seraiah?¡± Freya gave her arm a little shake, and Seraiah focused back on the woman.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t hear what you said.¡±

    ¡°I asked if you would like me to wait with you until your father gets back.¡±

    ¡°No, no, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure I will be all right on my own.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I doubt the wicked creatures will be back tonight.¡± Freya pulled her cloak around herself and turned to leave. ¡°Goodnight, Seraiah. Be safe.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight,¡± she echoed, already turning away to scan the market again.

    Still no sign of Papa.

    It wouldn¡¯t hurt to do some searching of her own, she decided. It would only be a matter of minutes before the light completely disappeared. She stepped out into the aisle and set off.

    All the stalls were empty for the night, with everyone having gone home to their families by now. Seraiah scanned back and forth as she walked, not entirely sure what she was looking for. She was about to turn the corner to go up the next aisle when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

    She spun around, searching the area behind her.

    Was someone following her?

    ¡°Hello?¡± she called out tentatively, her heart beating fast in her chest.

    No one answered.

    She thought again of the strangers she¡¯d seen this morning and the peculiar feeling she¡¯d had when she¡¯d made eye contact with the woman. What if Freya was right about them?

    Another gust of wind blew through the empty market, and Seraiah found the source of movement. It was only a bit of an old tarp left behind, flapping in the wind.

    She turned back to continue her search and slammed directly into someone.

    They grabbed her arms to steady her, so she wouldn¡¯t fall on her backside.

    ¡°What are you doing here, Seraiah?¡± Papa asked. ¡°You should be home.¡±

    Papa. It was only Papa.

    ¡°Freya sent Nissa to the house. She told me what happened, and I came as quick as I could to help look. Have you found anything?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s like she disappeared into thin air. She is probably far from here already.¡±

    ¡°Do you think something¡ªI mean, someone¡ªtook her?¡±

    Papa didn¡¯t answer, staring at some distant point over her head.

    ¡°There has to be some kind of trail, right?¡± Even Seraiah could hear the high-pitched, frantic tone her voice had taken on. ¡°We need to go after her before the snow falls.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said, still not meeting her eyes. ¡°We¡¯re going home. There is nothing to be done now.¡± Papa stepped around her and strode back toward his stall, leaving Seraiah to stand there in shock.

    Sterling may not be his daughter by blood, but she knew Papa loved his adopted daughter¡ªor at least she thought he had.

    She whirled around and started after him. His long strides carried him back to the stall well before her, and he immediately began loading up the wagon.

    ¡°Do you think the faeries took her?¡± Seraiah asked as she entered the stall. ¡°Is that why you won¡¯t look for her?¡±

    He paused. ¡°Faeries? Who told you that nonsense?¡±

    ¡°Freya. She said she thought it was faeries, and that she had heard stories of them taking people before.¡± Seraiah left out the part about the strangers.

    Papa shook his head in disgust. ¡°Forget what that woman said. She doesn¡¯t know anything. Go home before it snows. There is nothing to be done, and that¡¯s final.¡±

    He turned his back on her, continuing to load the wagon. He didn¡¯t see the first tears that slipped down his older daughter¡¯s face and the look in her eyes as Seraiah turned toward home.

    The snow began to fall when she was only halfway there.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Six

    The next day, the snow was still falling as Seraiah went through the motions of her day. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion, including her. She wanted nothing more than to continue the search for her sister, but with last night turning up no clues, and the fresh snow covering up any tracks, Seraiah didn¡¯t know where to start. Whoever had kidnapped her sister must have taken her out of Ratha, but where would they go?

    Her only choice might be to leave Ratha and search the nearest cities. The problem was she knew nothing about traveling or the world at large. She¡¯d spent her entire life in Ratha. She was more likely to end up lost in the woods than to be of any use finding Sterling.

    Then there was the second problem of supplies for travel. Those cost money, and the only way she was going to get money was if she went to work. In three days¡¯ time, she would have the coin to purchase something. She would have to wait¡ªno matter how much it hurt¡ªand keep looking for clues in the city until then.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t say one word to her father as each of them got ready for their respective jobs and left the house. She hadn¡¯t forgiven him for saying there was nothing to be done about Sterling.

    While she worked, she made lists in her head of things she might need for leaving Ratha. She couldn¡¯t take a mule and a cart because the trees would be too hard to navigate. A horse would be ideal, but they were hard to come by and expensive. There was the additional complication of having never ridden a horse.

    After further thought, Seraiah decided she¡¯d need to go on foot, which meant she would have to consider how much she could carry with her. A weapon or something to use for protection would be a good idea, but those were expensive too, and she didn¡¯t know the first thing about using one. It would also help to have a map. There had to be one she could copy somewhere in the library.

    In her distraction, the other scribes finished with their work long before her. Even Walter finally gave up on waiting. He instructed Seraiah to place her pages on his desk when she finished, before leaving her to an empty room.

    Once she was alone, her thoughts turned back to her sister and the hopeless situation. The words blurred before her eyes as she struggled to hold back her tears.

    Don¡¯t cry, Seraiah told herself. You¡¯ll ruin the page and have to start over again.

    She should have done a better job of protecting her sister. Then none of this would be a problem. If only she had taken her dreams seriously. Maybe then her sister would still be safe, and she would have kept her promise to Mama.

    Seraiah rubbed her wrist. She¡¯d never told anyone about the promise Mama had her make before she¡¯d died¡ªnot even Sterling.

    She could still remember the smell of sickness that had clung to Mama¡¯s skin.

    Mama had been coughing more than usual, and even though Seraiah had feared catching the blood fever herself, she¡¯d stayed by her bedside, wiping her brow with a cool cloth. When she¡¯d leaned over to help Mama wipe the blood from her lips, Mama had grabbed her wrist before she could touch the cloth to her mouth.

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    Her grip was surprisingly strong for someone so sick.

    ¡°Seraiah,¡± she whispered, her voice rattling in her chest. ¡°Listen to me carefully.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mama.¡±

    ¡°You must take care of your sister when I am gone,¡± she rasped out.

    ¡°No.¡± Seraiah shook her head. She hadn¡¯t wanted to face what was right in front of her: Mama was dying.

    ¡°Please promise me, Seraiah.¡±

    She shook her head again, gritting her teeth to hold back her sobs, but it was no use.

    ¡°Please,¡± Mama begged, her grip tightening. She would have the mark of Mama¡¯s fingers circling her wrist like a bracelet for days.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she choked out. ¡°I will do whatever you say. I will take care of Sterling, but you have to get better.¡±

    ¡°Promise you will protect her, and no matter what happens, you will not let them take her.¡± Mama¡¯s fingers were digging into her skin now.

    ¡°Who? Who would take Sterling?¡±

    ¡°Promise me!¡± Mama demanded, ignoring the question.

    ¡°Yes! Yes! I promise. I promise! Please do not leave me.¡± But Mama never replied because she was already gone.

    As the years had worn on and nothing had happened to Sterling, Seraiah had grown lax in watching over her sister. Now Sterling was paying the price.

    Seraiah picked up her quill and was dipping it into her inkwell to finish the last two lines when a knock on the door made her jump. Her hand bumped the inkwell, knocking it over onto the page she¡¯d been working on.

    She could do nothing but watch as the ink spread across the page, ruining her work.

    ¡°Oh no, Seraiah. I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to startle you. Here, let me help you clean that up.¡±

    She looked up from the ruined page to take in her friend, reaching for a rag to clean up the mess. When Ariya caught sight of her face, she abandoned the task, instead, coming to crouch next to Seraiah¡¯s chair.

    ¡°I see you didn¡¯t take my advice to get a good night¡¯s sleep. Did Sterling keep you up again?¡± Ariya asked.

    At hearing her sister¡¯s name, Seraiah could no longer hold back the flood of tears she had been holding at bay all day. Ariya pulled her into a hug and let Seraiah sob into her shoulder, rubbing Seraiah¡¯s back and murmuring to her.

    When Seraiah was all cried out, she lifted her head from Ariya¡¯s shoulder and wiped at her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your dress,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Nonsense. Don¡¯t worry about the dress. What happened? What¡¯s made you cry like this? Is it the fever?¡± The fever was always the first thing people thought of when something bad happened.

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯s worse.¡±

    Ariya¡¯s brow knit. ¡°What could be worse than blood fever?¡±

    Seraiah told her friend about her missing sister. When she got to the part about how her father refused to go after Sterling, she almost burst into tears again.

    ¡°Shhh, everything will be fine.¡± Ariya rubbed circles on her back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We don¡¯t have to listen to your father. We will get your sister back. All right?¡±

    ¡°But how? I don¡¯t even know where to start. And now with the new snow, there won¡¯t be any trail to follow. I¡¯ve never been outside the city. How will I know where to go? I¡¯m not even sure I can afford the proper supplies to leave.¡± A few more tears slipped down her cheeks.

    Ariya thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to do about all of that either, but perhaps I could ask Lady Zahara for help?¡±

    ¡°You would do that for me?¡± Seraiah knew it would likely do no good, but it was the thought that counted. Any help would be better than nothing.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll go find her right now. You should go home and get some rest. You will be no good to Sterling if you wear yourself out.¡±

    ¡°I will as soon as I redo this page. It¡¯s the last one.¡±

    ¡°And then you promise you will go?¡±

    Seraiah nodded. She would go, but she didn¡¯t intend to go home. She wanted to take another look around the market in case she might have missed something.

    ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll send word as soon as I speak to Lady Zahara. We will get Sterling back where she belongs.¡±

    Seraiah smiled weakly. ¡°I hope you are right.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Seven

    By the second morning in Ratha, the stares had lessened. When Kai and Kestrel went downstairs for breakfast, the inn was not as packed as it had been. There were still a few people seated at the tables, but they had their choice of seating.

    The innkeeper¡¯s greeting was less enthusiastic now that he was no longer playing to an audience. He took their orders and disappeared without comment.

    ¡°I want to head back to the market today,¡± Kai told Kestrel while they waited for their food.

    ¡°You think they¡¯ll talk today?¡± she asked.

    Yesterday he¡¯d learned Ratha did not have shops, but rather employed an open air market system. Although they¡¯d tried to visit, they hadn¡¯t been able to make it there before being mobbed by more people eager to know what they were selling. Kestrel had suggested they take a walk around the city instead.

    The buildings and homes they¡¯d come across had all been in disrepair. This was not unexpected given how long the city had lived under snow. The residents had done their best to survive and improvise with what they had.

    Then they¡¯d seen the graveyard.

    Marker after marker protruded from the snow, many of them with multiple names etched on them. When they¡¯d asked a passerby about it, they¡¯d learned of the blood fever that had ravaged the city.

    ¡°Oh, our population used to be double¡ªno triple¡ªwhat it is now,¡± the woman had told them. ¡°But with the snow came the fever, and there¡¯s no stopping it. It took whole families. Once you got it, you¡¯re as good as dead.¡±

    They¡¯d also learned because of the frozen ground the markers were just that¡ªmarkers. No bodies had been interred because they¡¯d been burned.

    ¡°How awful,¡± Kestrel said after the woman had left.

    Kai had looked out over the markers, wondering if his sister¡¯s name was among them. Were they too late? He¡¯d never know for sure because he didn¡¯t know her name. She hadn¡¯t been given one before his mother had declared her dead. Perhaps they would return home and find the council had already discovered the new heir, and there was no need to worry about their magic disappearing.

    He might never know what had become of his sister.

    They¡¯d spoken to others throughout the day, but much of what they¡¯d learned was the same. Endless snow, the fever, and a few mentions of a beast in the woods. No one wanted to dwell on their problems for long and would rather ask questions about the outsiders.

    ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± Kai said, ¡°but worth a try. Who knows? Maybe we¡¯ll come across her ourselves.¡±

    This time, when they arrived at the market, they found it quiet. The locals talked amongst themselves, but only in whispers. Today, their stares were guarded, and no one approached them.

    While Kai appreciated the new disinterest, he couldn¡¯t help but feel there was something he was missing about the sudden change in reception.

    They decided the best course of action would be to split up and try to talk to as many as possible before their visit to the castle.

    They made their way down aisle after aisle until they returned to the place where they had entered.

    Kestrel poked at a pile of woven rugs in one stall, while Kai talked with a man a few stalls away. As soon as the man realized Kai wasn¡¯t interested in buying anything from him, the friendly conversation died. He¡¯d experienced something similar with almost every vendor. The minute he turned the conversation to something besides the product, they clammed up.

    Kai moved away from the stall and waited for Kestrel to finish speaking to the weaver.

    ¡°That was interesting,¡± Kestrel said a few minutes later, falling into step beside him.

    ¡°Did you learn something?¡± he asked, ducking beneath a hanging piece of tarp to return to the street.

    ¡°I¡¯m uncertain, but I believe I was just accused of being Fae.¡±

    ¡°What? What did you say to her? You didn¡¯t let something slip, did you?¡±

    Kestrel waved his worries away. ¡°No. Nothing like that. I wished her a good day, and she said she doesn¡¯t do business with the Fae because we are nasty creatures, and if we know what¡¯s good for us, we will give the girl back.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t say anything else? What could have made her say that?¡± It was the first time a human had ever called them Fae. There had been stares, and the occasional rumor about magic users, but they¡¯d always been careful to never give away who they truly were.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I swear I didn¡¯t say anything to her or anyone else that would make them suspicious. When I asked her to explain herself, she refused to say anything more.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps it would be best if we steered clear of the market entirely, at least for a few days.¡±

    ¡°I agree. I don¡¯t know what she meant about giving back a girl, but we don¡¯t need those sorts of entanglements,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°If she spreads rumors about us, we¡¯ll need to leave the city whether or not we find your sister.¡±

    Kai frowned. He hoped it wouldn¡¯t come to that. He still felt like he was close to finding her if only he had enough time.

    <hr>

    In the late afternoon, Kai and Kestrel arrived at the castle for their visit with Lady Zahara. If luck was on their side, they¡¯d find Jensira serving in the guard here. Then they could question her about his sister.

    ¡°Right this way,¡± a servant of the castle said when they identified themselves. If the lady kept guards, they were nowhere to be seen around the premises. They¡¯d been able to waltz right in the front door.

    Instead of taking them deeper into the castle like Kai expected, the servant led them back outside and across a snow covered garden. Dead tree limbs dusted with snow and dripping with icicles reached bony fingers toward the sky. He might have thought it beautiful if he didn¡¯t know it was supposed to be spring.

    The servant opened the door to a glass covered structure and ushered them inside. There they found row after row of green plants and warm humid air that quickly bled away the cold from the outside. The air smelled of growing things, a sharp contrast to the winter air on the other side of the glass.

    ¡°My lady,¡± the servant announced with a bow, ¡°your guests have arrived.¡±

    A human woman around the age his mother would have been had she still been alive, turned to greet them. She wore a pale green dress with voluminous skirts. Her reddish-brown curls, streaked with gray, were pinned up in an elaborate style. She would have looked as regal as a queen if not for the smudge of dirt on her cheek.

    Kai bowed politely. Here he wasn¡¯t a prince. ¡°My lady. Thank you for the invitation to your home. It is an honor.¡±

    Beside him, Kestrel also murmured a greeting.

    ¡°I hope you are enjoying your stay in my city,¡± she said. Then, without waiting for an answer, ¡°I¡¯m sure you are wondering why I invited you here.¡± She leaned over a nearby bush and plucked one of the large pink flowers, bringing it to her nose.

    Kai watched in silence. He was indeed wondering why they¡¯d been invited, but knew it would be rude to ask outright.

    ¡°You see,¡± Lady Zahara continued, ¡°we suffer from a slight problem here.¡± She gave them a tight smile. ¡°The snow makes it difficult to grow food and with the blocked mountain pass, it is also difficult to bring in trade. I do the best I can with my greenhouses.¡± She used the flower to gesture at the plants growing around them.

    Kai had seen similar structures around the city yesterday, but none as elaborate as this one.

    ¡°However, it doesn¡¯t provide nearly enough. Therefore, when I hear of visitors who might be able to bring us what we need or at least news of the outside world, I must take the opportunity.¡±

    Kai admired that she hadn¡¯t left the city. She¡¯d the resources to get herself out, and he knew many who would have done so to save themselves. It was unfortunate that they were neither traders like she hoped for, nor could they bring her any news she might be seeking. The only thing Kai cared about was finding his sister. Human affairs mattered little to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure we will be of much help, my lady,¡± he admitted.

    She regarded him with shrewd eyes. ¡°You never know. Why don¡¯t we speak indoors and have some tea? I can offer that to my guests, at least.¡±

    It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but before he could get the words out, Kestrel jumped in.

    ¡°I would love some tea,¡± she said. She asked questions about the greenhouses while they walked back to the castle, leaving Kai to trail behind them. He hoped she had a plan to explain what they were doing here.

    They settled into a receiving room that was comfortably appointed with sofas whose rich fabric was a little worn, but well-kept. A fire roared in the hearth, chasing away the cold while a servant¡ªa different one than before¡ªpoured cups of tea for them.

    Kai accepted his, inhaling the fragrant steam that rose from it.

    ¡°I used to bring tea in from all over the country, but now I must grow it myself,¡± Lady Zahara said. ¡°I do my best, but it isn¡¯t quite the same.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s lovely,¡± Kestrel said, after taking a sip.

    ¡°Thank you. If I have a chance, I¡¯d like¡ª¡±

    The door burst open, and a girl rushed in. ¡°Lady Zahara, I must speak with you about an urgent matter. Oh,¡± her eyes went round as she took in Kestrel and Kai seated on the sofa, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you had company. Forgive me.¡± She curtseyed low, holding it until Zahara bid her to rise.

    ¡°We will speak when we are done here,¡± Zahara said.

    ¡°If it is urgent, please do not wait on our account,¡± Kai jumped in, hoping to stall a little longer and perhaps get a moment alone with Kestrel to make sure they both told the same story.

    ¡°Very well. What is it, Ariya?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªum, well,¡± she stumbled over her words, eyeing them uncertainly, before focusing on Zahara, ¡°you see my friend, who works as a scribe in your library,¡± Ariya tugged on her sleeves, which Kai noted were speckled with black, while she spoke, ¡°her sister went missing last night. Do you think there is anything you could do to help?¡±

    Lady Zahara sighed. ¡°Children go missing all the time,¡± she said gently.

    ¡°But she¡¯s not a child. She¡¯s fifteen.¡±

    Beside him, Kestrel shifted, leaning ever so slightly forward. His sister would be around fifteen now, but it was surely a coincidence, especially if, as the lady had pointed out, children went missing all the time.

    ¡°She¡¯s a very pretty girl,¡± Ariya went on, ¡°with the most unusual silvery hair. Kind of like yours.¡± She was looking at him now. ¡°We think she was kidnapped, and my friend doesn¡¯t know what to do.¡±

    Kai went statue still. No. It couldn¡¯t be.

    ¡°Perhaps we could be of service. We will do anything we can to help your friend,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Tell us everything you know.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Eight

    Dusk had fallen by the time Seraiah had cleaned up the mess of ink and redone her last pages. The snow had stopped, but the air still held onto its bitter bite. Around her, people rushed home to their warm hearths and families. She would have liked to do the same, but instead, she pointed herself in a different direction.

    The market would be closed by the time she arrived, but if she was fast enough, she might catch some of the vendors before they left for the night. There had to be someone who knew something or had seen someone. She¡¯d even ask Freya about the faeries if it meant finding a clue as to what had happened to her sister.

    Seraiah was so lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice the oncoming cart until it was almost upon her. The driver was distracted by someone sitting behind him and hadn¡¯t seen her in his path. She knew she should at least try to scramble out of the way before they ran her down, but her body froze in place, refusing to do anything but watch.

    She blinked.

    One moment she was standing in the street, and the next she was flat on her back in the freshly fallen snow. Instead of being crushed under hooves, Seraiah found herself under a human body with the breath knocked out of her lungs.

    For a moment, neither of them moved.

    Then the man pushed himself off her and held out a gloved hand to help her up.

    She accepted, and he tugged her back to her feet. Her backside was numb from its short time in the snow. Embarrassed, she ducked her head and brushed the ice off her cloak and dress.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± the man asked, an unfamiliar lilt to his words.

    ¡°I-I think so.¡± Seraiah¡¯s voice wobbled as it slowly hit her how close she had come to death. A lot of good she would have done Sterling then. ¡°I should have been paying more attention. Thank you . . .¡± she trailed off, waiting for him to supply his name.

    When he didn¡¯t say anything, she glanced up. The hood of his cloak was pulled forward, so she couldn¡¯t see his face, but she caught a glimpse of gray hair. He hadn¡¯t sounded like an older gentleman though, and he certainly didn¡¯t move like one.

    Then she noticed another slighter figure standing a few steps behind him. Both of them seemed to be watching her.

    When the silence dragged on, Seraiah offered a small, uncomfortable smile and moved to step past them.

    ¡°Wait.¡± The man reached out to stop her. ¡°Are you Seraiah, perchance?¡±

    ¡°Do I know you?¡± As soon as the question was out, she realized where she had seen the two of them before. It was the strangers from the Grumbling Bear Inn.

    ¡°No, but I know what happened to your sister.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes widened, and she took a step back, almost tripping over her own feet and ending up in the snowbank again. ¡°How do you know what happened to my sister?¡±

    Her thoughts raced. What if they were the ones who had taken Sterling? Did they think to extort her for money?

    ¡°We came from a visit with Lady Zahara where we met¡ª¡± he paused like he was searching for a name.

    ¡°Ariya,¡± the woman said, stepping up next to him.

    ¡°Yes, your friend Ariya told us what happened, and we volunteered to help.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s heart lept. Ariya had kept her promise, but why would these strangers offer such a thing? If Ariya had spoken to them, they had to know she didn¡¯t have the means to pay them.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the city tomorrow,¡± he continued. ¡°If you would like to join us, meet us on the edge of the forest at sunrise.¡±

    Seraiah felt herself nod. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡±

    <hr>

    Later that night, Seraiah pretended to go to bed. She waited until she could hear Papa¡¯s snores coming from his room before she tossed the covers aside. She still couldn¡¯t quite believe she had agreed to go with strangers whose names she didn¡¯t know to find her sister.

    Getting down on her hands and knees, she dug around beneath her bed and pulled out a satchel. She could have waited until morning to pack, but her body was such a mess of nerves she doubted she would get much sleep tonight anyway.

    Seraiah stuffed her spare dress into her bag and then looked around the room for anything else she might need. She didn¡¯t know the first thing about packing for travel.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Her gaze landed on Sterling¡¯s favorite book. It was a book of faery tales Mama had given to Sterling. It was her sister¡¯s most prized possession.

    Seraiah stared at it a second longer before pulling the book off the nightstand and stuffing it into her satchel. It was one of the few things she had of Sterling¡¯s, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave it behind.

    She crept out to the kitchen, careful not to wake Papa as she slipped a leftover heel of bread and a bit of dried meat into her bag. It was all that was left of the food Papa had brought home tonight. He will get more tomorrow, she reassured herself as she hurried back to her room.

    With nothing left to pack, Seraiah crawled back into bed and attempted to sleep.

    After hours of tossing and turning, it was finally time. To the east, the sky had turned from black to midnight blue. Seraiah estimated she had about half an hour left until sunrise.

    She bit her lip as she stared out the window at the sky. Should she really join the strangers, or should she wait and make a go of it on her own as she¡¯d originally planned?

    You waited once before, she reminded herself, and look at what happened.

    She had ignored the nightmare¡¯s warning, and now Sterling was missing. Seraiah owed it to her sister to do this¡ªto go after her. If meeting with these strangers was going to help her get Sterling back and prevent her younger sister from becoming that thing of her nightmares, she would do it.

    She would do whatever it took.

    But first, she needed to ask them some questions.

    Seraiah looked around the little house where she had grown up one more time, saying a silent goodbye before putting on her cloak and slipping out the door into the night.

    <hr>

    Kestrel shifted restlessly next to him. ¡°Maybe we scared her away.¡±

    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t come, then she doesn¡¯t come,¡± Kai said. ¡°Does it matter?¡±

    He¡¯d been ready to leave the city immediately after hearing Ariya¡¯s story, but Kestrel had insisted they should find the other girl. Based on a description from Ariya, they¡¯d located her outside the castle and extended an invitation to join them against his better judgment.

    ¡°I think it does,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°I meant to tell you this earlier when I first saw her¡ª¡±

    ¡°You mean when I saved her from being run over,¡± Kai interrupted.

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°No, the first time I saw her was the morning after we arrived. She was near the crowd outside the inn. I thought I had sensed something from her then, but I hadn¡¯t been sure, and you didn¡¯t seem to notice anything.¡±

    He gave her a blank stare. ¡°What was I supposed to notice?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a seer.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Kai thought back to his encounter with her. He hadn¡¯t sensed anything, but then he hadn¡¯t been paying attention. He¡¯d been too distracted by the news of his sister.

    ¡°Almost positive. I¡¯m not sure she¡¯s had any training, but that must be why Jensira picked that family to raise your sister. She was protecting her from something.¡±

    ¡°From what?¡±

    What could Jensira have had to fear other than one day they might come looking for her?

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°but Seraiah might. I think we¡¯re going to need her if we want to have any hope of getting to your sister.¡±

    They fell silent again, watching the line of houses. A few more minutes passed with no sign of Seraiah.

    The sun was poking its first fiery rays over the horizon, setting the clouds aglow, when they saw movement. A small figure darted in the shadows between the houses before stepping out into the snowy field between the tree line and the buildings.

    She had decided to come after all.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me do the talking this time?¡± Kestrel whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce myself first and maybe hold off on introducing you, so she doesn¡¯t run away.¡±

    In response, Kai melted back into the shadows of the trees, leaving the hood of his cloak up. He watched as Seraiah approached them, slowing when she caught sight of Kestrel. She came to a stop, leaving a good twenty paces between her and his Commander.

    Kestrel stepped forward, and the girl tensed, ready to flee at the first sign of danger. Not that she would get far if Kestrel wanted to catch her. Slowly, Kestrel reached up and lowered her hood, and Kai heard the small hitch in the girl¡¯s breathing. He knew exactly what had caused it, too. Kestrel had pulled the top half of her inky black hair up to reveal her pointed elf ears, and it was those ears that the seer was now focused on.

    ¡°Hello, Seraiah. I meant to introduce myself yesterday. My name is Kestrel.¡±

    The girl didn¡¯t respond.

    Kestrel reached out her hand, taking another small step toward Seraiah, as if trying to soothe a frightened animal. Seraiah took one step back, and Kestrel dropped her hand back to her side, staying where she was.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we mean you no harm. You made the right choice in meeting us. We can help you find your sister.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Seraiah asked. ¡°And why? What is your interest in helping me and my sister? If it¡¯s money you want, I don¡¯t have any. I can¡¯t pay you.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t want money. As for the other questions, we can answer them later. Right now, we need to get moving if we are to track her. The longer we delay, the harder it will be,¡± Kestrel told the lie smoothly. They didn¡¯t have a way to track where his sister had been taken¡ªthey could only guess. ¡°We can explain everything along the way.¡±

    Kai watched Seraiah¡¯s face pinch with worry before quickly smoothing out again. She was uncertain, but he could read the lines of guilt weighing down her shoulders. Kestrel must have been right that she was supposed to have protected his sister from something.

    ¡°Where is the other one?¡± Seraiah asked. ¡°The one who spoke to me yesterday.¡± Her eyes roamed over the trees, but she couldn¡¯t find him¡ªhe was too well hidden.

    Kestrel half turned to where she knew Kai was hiding in the shadows and beckoned.

    He stepped forward, keeping the hood of his cloak up, so that Seraiah couldn¡¯t see his face. He wasn¡¯t sure she was quite ready for that yet.

    Her eyes swept over him, probing into the shadows that kept his features hidden from her.

    Kestrel turned away from the girl, motioning for them to follow, and headed into the trees where their horses waited.

    Kai moved to follow Kestrel when the girl¡¯s voice stopped him. She was still rooted in place.

    ¡°I want to see your face,¡± Seraiah demanded, the slight tremble in her voice giving away her fear. ¡°I want to know who I am following.¡±

    He hoped this wasn¡¯t a mistake. Pivoting slowly to face her, Kai reached up and lowered his hood.

    This time, there was no mistaking her gasp. He knew what she was seeing, who his features reminded her of: her adopted sister, his blood sister¡ªthe lost queen.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Nine

    Seraiah blinked slowly, not entirely trusting her eyes. Perhaps it was her mind playing tricks on her after not getting enough sleep. But no, when she looked again, it was the same.

    The stranger who stood before her looked so much like Sterling. He had the same silvery gray hair, eye shape, and those pointed ears.

    The dark-haired girl had the same ones.

    Sterling had always assumed they were a birth defect passed down from Mama. Both Mama and Sterling had kept them hidden beneath their hair, so others wouldn¡¯t notice them and comment on their odd shape.

    The longer Seraiah stared, the more similarities she picked out, down to the way he held his head with a slight tilt to the right, chin jutted out.

    Confident. Proud. A little defiant.

    She wasn¡¯t close enough to make out the color of his eyes, but she would bet they were the same stormy gray. He wasn¡¯t Sterling¡¯s twin exactly, but the resemblance was uncanny.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Seraiah whispered, more to herself than to him. Her step-mother had never mentioned anything about having a son, but the man who stood before her could only be Sterling¡¯s older brother.

    The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure you would believe me if I told you, but I will answer to Kai. Kestrel is right; we need to be moving. There is a lot of ground to cover.¡±

    He lifted his hood again, shrouding his face in shadow, and moved off into the trees after the other girl.

    Seraiah hesitated. Did she trust these strangers who still hadn¡¯t explained the reason they were so willing to help her?

    She thought about Sterling, alone and afraid somewhere far from home. It was enough to get her moving, propelling her forward after the others.

    It didn¡¯t matter if she trusted them. Right now, they were her¡ªand Sterling¡¯s¡ªonly option.

    <hr>

    The underbrush kept grabbing at her skirt.

    Seraiah cursed under her breath as she untangled her hem from yet another thorny bush. Kai and Kestrel were a short distance ahead of her, able to move much more quickly than she was. After some not-so-gentle tugging, the bush released her hem, but not before leaving a long red scratch on her hand for Seraiah to remember it by.

    Now free, she hurried to catch up, nearly tripping over a rock buried in the snow. It was hard to see in the gloom with the trees pressing in around her. Their boughs, heavy with snow, blocked a majority of the early morning sunlight.

    ¡°Can you at least try to be quiet?¡± Sterling¡¯s look-alike snapped. ¡°We don¡¯t need every living thing in the area to know our location.¡±

    Seraiah responded with a glare. It wasn¡¯t her fault she wasn¡¯t as used to traipsing through forests as he apparently was. He also had the advantage of not wearing a wool dress that caught on everything.

    ¡°Kai. Be nice,¡± Kestrel said, warning in her tone, as she suddenly appeared at Seraiah¡¯s elbow. ¡°Feel free to ignore him,¡± she said to Seraiah. ¡°His Royal Highness is not a morning person. The Grumbling Bear Inn, where we were staying, could have been named after him.¡±

    ¡°I heard that,¡± Kai said, over his shoulder.

    Kestrel grinned at her, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but smile back. Under different circumstances, maybe they would have been friends.

    ¡°It¡¯s not much farther to where we left our horses,¡± she told Seraiah. ¡°Then you won¡¯t have to worry about keeping up.¡±

    She¡¯d likely meant it to be reassuring, but Seraiah swallowed nervously. With no experience, she wouldn¡¯t be much better at riding than stumbling along on foot, but she didn¡¯t say so. They would find out soon enough.

    Kai took the lead, leaving Kestrel and Seraiah to bring up the rear. The other girl stayed by her side whenever the trees allowed, and when they didn¡¯t, she dropped back, letting Seraiah go ahead.

    They went along like this in silence until Seraiah worked up the nerve to ask Kestrel a question.

    ¡°Were you teasing Kai when you called him His Royal Highness earlier?¡± She kept her voice low, hoping he wouldn¡¯t hear her.

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Kestrel answered. She lobbed a question of her own before Seraiah could ask what she meant by that. ¡°Did Jensira ever tell you about her life before she arrived in Ratha?¡±

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    Seraiah¡¯s guard instantly went up at the familiar use of Mama¡¯s name. ¡°Did you know her?¡± she asked instead of answering the question.

    Mama had made her promise to protect Sterling and not let them take her. What if Mama¡¯s warning hadn¡¯t been about whoever Sterling was with now, but someone else? Until she knew more about her traveling companions, perhaps she should be careful how much she shared with them.

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°Never met her, but Kai did many years ago. She was your step-mother? Your friend told us you lost her to the blood fever.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, but didn¡¯t elaborate any further as she focused on climbing over a fallen log. She didn¡¯t understand why they¡¯d left their horses so far away.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah mumbled. ¡°To answer your first question, no, she never spoke about her previous life. Whenever I asked, she would always say she would tell me one day when I was older, but that day never came.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Kestrel sounded disappointed.

    ¡°Is Kai related to Sterling and Jensira?¡±

    Kestrel was silent for so long that Seraiah thought she wasn¡¯t going to answer. She snuck a glance over to see the other woman biting her lip, like she was debating what or how much to say.

    Finally, Kestrel spoke, ¡°I think it will be better to let Kai tell you about that, but for the record, I was teasing Kai when I called him His Royal Highness, though it¡¯s technically his title.¡±

    Seraiah frowned. Her brain turned over this new bit of information, trying to fit the pieces of what she knew together. ¡°Are you royal?¡± she asked, before belatedly realizing it might be a rude question.

    Kestrel snorted as if the idea was ridiculous. ¡°No, I am the Prince¡¯s Commander.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I thought maybe with the way you speak to each other . . .¡± Seraiah trailed off, embarrassed.

    Kestrel smirked. ¡°We¡¯re friends¡ªwe grew up together, so Kai puts up with my impertinence. Oh, and here we are,¡± she said, putting an end to Seraiah¡¯s questioning.

    She looked up to see two horses, saddled and waiting. They¡¯d looped their reins over a low-hanging branch so the animals wouldn¡¯t wander off.

    She eyed the beasts. Were horses always so tall? Maybe she should ask to walk instead, since there were only two of them.

    Kestrel took the reins of the smaller horse while Kai took the other. Seraiah watched him swing easily into the saddle, her eyes catching on the sword strapped over a pack behind him. When she checked, she saw Kestrel¡¯s horse had a similar weapon.

    It seemed they were more prepared than she¡¯d thought. When she¡¯d initially seen them waiting for her outside the forest, she¡¯d been concerned to note they weren¡¯t carrying anything in the way of supplies.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that,¡± Kestrel said, holding out a hand for Seraiah¡¯s satchel. ¡°You can ride with me for now, but you¡¯ll have to switch off to give the horses a break.¡±

    Seraiah tried not to let the relief show on her face. While she didn¡¯t know either of them very well, she felt much more comfortable around the friendly woman than the grumpy prince.

    ¡°Do you need help to mount?¡± Kestrel asked, after she¡¯d secured the satchel with her other things.

    ¡°Well, you see . . . I¡¯ve never ridden a horse before,¡± Seraiah confessed.

    ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± Kestrel reassured her.

    She instructed Seraiah how to stand and where to hold on. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a boost, and all you have to do is swing your leg over the horse¡¯s back. Your skirt will bunch up, but you¡¯ll be more secure than attempting to ride side-saddle.¡±

    It sounded easy enough in theory, but in practice¡ªit was another matter.

    ¡°On three,¡± Kestrel counted to three and then boosted Seraiah into the air.

    Unfortunately, Seraiah didn¡¯t get quite high enough, and promptly belly-flopped onto the horse¡¯s side. The horse snorted, taking a few steps forward, and Seraiah lost her grip, sliding off and landing hard on the frozen ground.

    ¡°Whoa.¡± Kestrel grabbed the horse¡¯s bridle before he could get far.

    ¡°Everything all right over there?¡± Kai called.

    Seraiah¡¯s face heated as she stood and brushed off her tender backside.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re fine,¡± Kestrel answered him. Turning back to Seraiah, she said, ¡°Try again.¡±

    It took two more tries before Seraiah successfully made it on the horse and only one for Kestrel to mount in front of her.

    ¡°You might want to hold on, at least until you get used to it,¡± Kestrel warned her, picking up the reins and clicking to the horse to get him moving.

    Seraiah swallowed her fear as the animal shifted beneath her. She could do this. She would do this¡ªfor Sterling.

    <hr>

    They were moving much too slow for his taste. Kai had tried to rein in his impatience, but every moment they wasted was another chance for his missing sister to get further away. The short walk through the woods to their mounts had taken twice as much time as it should have, and then even more time was wasted while Kestrel taught the human girl how to get on a horse.

    Seer or not, she seemed more of a hindrance to his search than a resource.

    He¡¯d listened in on the conversation between her and Kestrel about Jensira and learned nothing. Seraiah had admitted to not knowing anything about Jensira or where she had come from or why.

    It wasn¡¯t too late to send her back to the city. They were still close enough that she could find her way back on her own.

    When he glanced back, Seraiah¡¯s eyes looked like they were closed tight, but Kestrel was looking right at him. She raised a brow in question. He shook his head and turned around.

    Kai knew if he suggested leaving her, Kestrel would have his head. When Kestrel had a feeling, those feelings were more often than not right. If she thought this girl would help their search, then he would have to suffer.

    He guided his horse carefully between the trees. Based on what they¡¯d learned from Seraiah¡¯s friend, it had been roughly a day and a half since his sister had gone missing. More than likely, she¡¯d been kidnapped and taken out of the city. The only way to leave was the way they had come in: through the woods. He knew from their initial journey that even if her captors were riding at the fastest speed they could, they¡¯d still be somewhere in these trees. It had snowed since, but with no other travel in or out of Ratha, there still might be signs of them.

    He kept one eye on the plants and branches, looking for breakage. In a couple of places, he spotted small animal trails. Then, up ahead, he spied a trampled bush where maybe a horse had passed through¡ªor perhaps something else.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Ten

    The odd jolting movement slowed and then stopped altogether. There came a murmur of voices, sounding far away, but Sterling¡¯s brain struggled to make sense of what they were saying. She could only make out one word of every three.

    Open your eyes, she commanded herself, but it was like they were glued shut.

    No matter how much Sterling willed it, the heavy lids would not lift. Her body was not obeying her. She tried to move a hand, wiggle a finger, but nothing seemed to be working.

    Suddenly, she was being lifted and then, just as suddenly, dropped.

    Sterling tried to cry out as pain lanced through her body when it hit the frozen ground, but no noise escaped her throat.

    ¡°Careful.¡± She heard a voice say from somewhere overhead. ¡°If you damage the goods, we won¡¯t get our full payment, and I will take it out of your half.¡±

    A second voice rumbled in response. ¡°How long do you plan to keep her under?¡±

    ¡°As long as possible. It will be easier without us fighting her every step of the way. We need to make it to the drop-off point, and then she isn¡¯t our problem anymore.¡±

    Drop off point? Who were these people, and what did they want with her?

    ¡°Princess is going to make us a pretty penny, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The sharp toe of a boot nudged at her ribs. Sterling wanted to reach out and grab it¡ªfight back¡ªbut her body still wouldn¡¯t move.

    This was the second time she had heard them call her Princess.

    Who did they think she was? Was it some strange pet name they had decided to call her?

    Sterling regretted leaving her father¡¯s stall. She wished now that she had never gotten up from her chair and been content with her boredom.

    A shuffling noise brought her out of her thoughts. It sounded like they were moving away from her. Somewhere nearby, a horse snorted.

    Sterling struggled again to open her eyes.

    This time, she was successful.

    She blinked up at a blurry image of trees overhead. The forest, her brain said¡ªthey must have taken her into the forest. It made sense. With the mountain pass filled with snow, the only way out of Ratha was through the woods.

    She tried to sit up but found that her wrists and ankles were bound with rough rope.

    ¡°She¡¯s coming around,¡± the second voice called from somewhere to her left. He must have noticed her movement.

    ¡°Dose her,¡± the first voice commanded, and that foul-smelling rag descended over her face, blotting out the trees.

    Sterling¡¯s last thought before the blackness sucked her under again was that she hoped the man-eating creature Freya had told her about would find them and tear her captors limb from limb.

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    <hr>

    Their progress was slow. The trees grew close together and, in some places, they brushed their legs on either side, preventing a faster pace. If they were following some kind of path or trail, Seraiah couldn¡¯t tell. She wasn¡¯t even sure which direction they were moving in anymore.

    They stopped for a break in a small clearing sometime around midday¡ªor at least Seraiah assumed it was sometime around midday. It could have been much longer than that since they had entered the forest. Along with her sense of direction, she¡¯d also lost her sense of time.

    Getting off the horse was almost as hard as getting on. Seraiah struggled to lift her leg up and over the horse¡¯s back, and her knees almost buckled beneath her when her feet touched the ground. Grabbing onto the saddle for support, she stayed leaning against the horse¡¯s side for a moment until she was certain her legs would hold her.

    Turning, Seraiah found Kai watching her.

    ¡°See something interesting?¡± she snapped, annoyed that he had seen her in yet another moment of weakness. She was tired and sore and regretting leaving home.

    ¡°Not particularly,¡± Kai said, not embarrassed in the least to have been caught staring at her.

    Seraiah frowned. He¡¯d already had to save her from being run over by a cart, complained that she was slow and noisy walking in the woods, and had now seen she couldn¡¯t ride a horse. He probably thought she was entirely useless.

    Not that she cared what he thought. He was only a stranger, helping her find her sister.

    ¡°Where did Kestrel go?¡± she asked. The other woman had somehow disappeared after she dismounted, without Seraiah noticing.

    ¡°Scouting, most likely. Here.¡± Kai tossed a round object to her.

    Her hands automatically reached up to catch it before it smacked her in the face.

    Seraiah was surprised to find it was a piece of fruit.

    ¡°Have you never seen an apple before?¡±

    She lifted her gaze to find Kai looking at her quizzically.

    ¡°Of course I have. It¡¯s just that fruit is scarce in Ratha.¡± Lady Zahara had access to them because of her greenhouses, but for the rest of the city, it was a rare treasure. This single apple would sell for more than Seraiah made in a month as a scribe.

    ¡°We won¡¯t be stopping long. Eat while you can and walk around a little. It should help with the leg soreness.¡± Kai pulled a second apple from his bag and bit into it.

    Seraiah made quick work of the apple, and then took Kai¡¯s advice and walked laps around the clearing. She circled twice before the cramps worked themselves out of her legs. It wasn¡¯t until after the fourth loop around that she felt like she was walking normally again.

    She looked around for Kai, thinking to ask him about his relation to Sterling, and spotted him leaning against a tree with his eyes closed.

    As if he felt her gaze on him, his eyes opened, meeting hers.

    Before Seraiah could decipher his expression, Kestrel burst through the trees opposite them.

    ¡°I think you might want to take a look at this,¡± Kestrel said, addressing Kai.

    He straightened up, pushing off the tree. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Kestrel grimaced and shook her head. ¡°Nothing good.¡±

    ¡°Show me,¡± he demanded.

    Kestrel headed back into the woods in the direction she had come from, with Kai close on her heels. Curious, Seraiah trailed along behind them. Neither of them seemed to notice.

    Whatever Kestrel wanted Kai to look at, it wasn¡¯t far from the clearing. They stopped abruptly, and Kestrel pointed at something on the ground.

    Kai crouched to get a closer look, his body blocking Seraiah¡¯s line of sight.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.

    Kestrel started, glancing over her shoulder as if surprised to find Seraiah standing there. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something you want to see.¡±

    That only piqued her curiosity. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Kai stood and stepped aside, revealing what they¡¯d been staring at.

    It was a dismembered arm, with what looked like bites taken out of it. At least two fingers were missing from a hand so mangled, Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure you could call it a hand anymore. The exposed bone and meat glistened wetly, the blood still fresh.

    This had happened recently.

    Seraiah wished she had listened to Kestrel as bile burned up her throat. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she murmured, whirling away.

    She made it all of two steps before falling to her knees and heaving up her insides.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Eleven

    Such a waste, Seraiah couldn¡¯t help thinking, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. The first apple she had eaten in years, and it hadn¡¯t even stayed in her stomach.

    ¡°Here,¡± Kestrel said, shoving a water bag in front of her face.

    Seraiah accepted it with thanks. She took a sip, and swished it around in her mouth, before spitting it out to clear the foul taste from her mouth.

    ¡°Maybe next time you will believe me when I tell you not to look.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Seraiah echoed faintly, the image of the mangled arm flashing through her mind again.

    She hoped there wouldn¡¯t be a next time. Her stomach roiled, and she closed her eyes, willing herself not to heave again. When the wave of nausea passed, Seraiah handed the water bag back to Kestrel, who was still standing next to her, her arms crossed over her chest.

    ¡°What kind of creature could do that?¡± Seraiah asked, looking up at Kestrel.

    She frowned and glanced back in the direction of the arm, but didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°A bear?¡± Seraiah suggested. She knew they were fairly common in these woods.

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°We could only be so lucky.¡±

    Seraiah scrutinized the surrounding trees. Was it out there right now, watching them?

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the horses. Kai should be done shortly, and we need to move on.¡± She didn¡¯t have to add ¡®before the creature comes back for its meal.¡¯ Kestrel took off toward the clearing, not checking to see if Seraiah was following.

    Seraiah hastened to her feet and scrambled after the other woman.

    <hr>

    When Kai returned to the clearing, he exchanged a look with Kestrel, some sort of wordless communication passing between them. The moment slipped away before Seraiah could ask about it, and Kai motioned her over to his horse.

    ¡°You¡¯ll ride with me now, so Kestrel¡¯s horse can have a break,¡± he informed her.

    She didn¡¯t care to ride with him, but she let him help her mount before he took his place in front of her. They set off, with Kestrel falling in behind them.

    Kai¡¯s horse was taller than Kestrel¡¯s, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but notice how much farther it was to the ground. Unconsciously, she tightened her arms around Kai as she looked down at the snow passing underneath the horse¡¯s hooves. It felt like their pace had picked up since their gruesome discovery, even though the horses were still only able to walk.

    Maybe it was her wishful thinking.

    ¡°Think you could loosen your hold? It¡¯s getting hard to breathe,¡± Kai said, sounding more amused than annoyed.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Seraiah mumbled, forcing her arms to relax.

    To distract herself, Seraiah tried to recall everything she could about her step-mother and Sterling¡¯s arrival in her life.

    Papa had a story he always recounted about the day they¡¯d first met. Seraiah hardly remembered it, having been only four years old at the time, but apparently, she¡¯d told Papa about a dream she¡¯d had that she would be getting a new sister named Sterling. Papa indulged her, knowing he was unlikely to marry again.

    Imagine his surprise when Jensira had appeared at his market stall, not more than a week later, carrying a tiny baby. Fascinated, Seraiah demanded to know the name of the baby.

    ¡°Sterling,¡± Jensira had told them.

    ¡°See, Papa. I told you,¡± Seraiah had said. ¡°That¡¯s my new sister.¡±

    And so she had been.

    It had been the first of many dreams to come true. Yet, it was not until Jensira passed away that the nightmare began.

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    Seraiah pushed the thought away. She didn¡¯t want to think about the nightmare now. She would get Sterling back before anything could happen to her.

    Instead of nightmares, she turned her thoughts to Papa. She wondered if he¡¯d realized she had left yet. Would he search for her, or would he go on without her like he¡¯d done with Sterling? As much as she hated to think it¡ªshe hoped it was the latter. Even though she was angry at him for doing nothing to help Sterling, he was still her father, and she didn¡¯t want him to worry.

    The forest steadily grew darker as afternoon stretched into night. When it was almost too dark to see, Kai finally reined in his horse. ¡°We will stop here for the night,¡± he said, dismounting, and then helping Seraiah down. ¡°No fires, and we will set a watch. I¡¯ll take the first one, and Kestrel can take the second.¡±

    Seraiah didn¡¯t say anything when he failed to assign a watch to her. Her lack of sleep over the past few days was catching up to her, and she was struggling to stay on her feet.

    ¡°Here.¡± Kai thrust a bedroll in her direction. ¡°You¡¯ll want this to keep warm.¡±

    She accepted it gratefully. Kestrel was already laying out a similar one nearby, and Seraiah rolled hers out next to it.

    After a dinner consisting of dried meat and even drier bread, she retired to her bedroll. It was warm, as Kai promised, and smelled faintly of horse and Kai himself. It only took seconds for her eyes to fall shut and the dream to start.

    This one was like none of her previous dreams, which typically played out entire scenes. Instead, the images were disjointed and passed quickly.

    A flash of trees followed by wrists bound with rope. A horse snorting.

    Faster.

    Faster.

    Bits and pieces swirling past.

    Trees.

    Horse.

    Snow.

    Then a face.

    It was a face more familiar to her than her own.

    Sterling.

    A bruise bloomed on her cheek, her eyes closed as if in sleep.

    Then came a low growl and a glimpse of gray fur.

    Sterling¡¯s eyes flew open in terror, her mouth opening to scream.

    And then the image shattered.

    Seraiah¡¯s own eyes flew open to find Kestrel leaning over her, her long hair brushing Seraiah¡¯s cheek.

    Kestrel, seeing that she was awake, blew out a breath and sat back on her heels. ¡°Finally. I thought I would never get you to wake up.¡±

    Seraiah blinked, trying to orient herself.

    Kestrel studied her face. ¡°What did you see?¡±

    ¡°It was just a dream,¡± Seraiah mumbled, shaking her head.

    She didn¡¯t know who she was trying to convince more¡ªKestrel or herself.

    ¡°We both know that isn¡¯t true,¡± Kestrel said, giving her a knowing look. ¡°Now, tell me what you saw.¡±

    Seraiah closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose for a moment before responding. ¡°Nothing, only flashes of things. It wasn¡¯t anything. It was just a dream,¡± she repeated. She knew it was a lie. The dreams always meant something.

    ¡°Then why did you scream?¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes caught on Kai over Kestrel¡¯s shoulder. He wasn¡¯t looking at them, but off into the trees. She was sure he was listening to every word.

    ¡°I saw my sister,¡± she heard herself confess as she stared at his back in the dark. His silver hair seemed to glow.

    Kestrel leaned forward eagerly. ¡°Where was she? What was happening?¡±

    Kai turned to face them, and even though Seraiah couldn¡¯t make out his features in the dark, she knew he was looking at her, too.

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know. It wasn¡¯t like my other dreams.¡±

    ¡°You mean visions.¡±

    Her focus snapped back to Kestrel. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You mean visions,¡± Kestrel repeated. ¡°Your dreams tend to come true, don¡¯t they?¡±

    Seraiah nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a seer, and those aren¡¯t dreams¡ªthey¡¯re visions.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°We can discuss it in the morning,¡± Kai said.

    The human girl stared at him mutely, tugging the top of the bedroll¡ªhis bedroll¡ªup to her chin.

    ¡°But¡ª¡± The rest of Kestrel¡¯s protest cut off at a look from him. ¡°Go back to sleep,¡± she murmured to Seraiah. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you in the morning.¡±

    He didn¡¯t stick around to hear if anything else was said. The shadows swallowed him up as he stepped into the trees. A sliver of moon shone tonight, but it did little to light the forest.

    A few minutes later, he heard the soft crunch of footsteps over the snow. He should tell Kestrel to go back to sleep too, but he knew she wouldn¡¯t listen until she¡¯d said whatever she¡¯d come to say.

    They stood together in silence, looking out at the night. All was quiet, or as quiet as a forest could be.

    ¡°You need to tell her,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°I will.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure she was ready to hear the entire story.

    Or maybe he wasn¡¯t ready to tell it.

    ¡°Tomorrow.¡±

    Kai turned to stare at her. His eyes were adjusted to the dark, but she¡¯d pulled her hood up to hide her face. He could still feel her gaze on him.

    ¡°I will decide when¡ª¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, before we leave. If we don¡¯t want her keeping secrets from us, then we shouldn¡¯t be keeping secrets from her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I agree,¡± Kai said, returning to watching the woods for movement. After he¡¯d seen signs of the beast, he¡¯d taken to carrying his sword instead of only his knives. He noticed Kestrel had done the same.

    ¡°We need her visions.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I agree with that, either. You heard for yourself. She didn¡¯t know they were visions. She¡¯s untrained, which means she is a liability. You know how much seers are worth.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Seers have worth. So she will need a little guidance. I¡¯ll work with her if that¡¯s your concern.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, and you know it.¡± Seers were rare and valuable. Many would do anything to get their hands on one to harness their abilities to see the future. If Kestrel had noticed her, others would too. It was a complication they didn¡¯t need.

    Kestrel stayed stubbornly silent.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Kai grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Wake me for my watch,¡± Kestrel said, a smile in her voice. Then she was gone, as if she¡¯d never been there.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twelve

    A gentle nudging roused Seraiah the next morning. She blinked up at the trees, confused, before it all came rushing back to her.

    Sterling.

    The dream of her terrified face.

    Something was after Sterling, and it was undoubtedly the same thing that had left the mangled arm. Alarm flooded through Seraiah¡¯s body, and she scrambled to her feet, tangling in the bedroll.

    ¡°Whoa.¡± Strong hands grabbed her arms before her face could meet the ground. ¡°Careful now,¡± Kai said. ¡°Not going to be much use if you break your neck tripping over a bedroll.¡±

    ¡°But we have to find her. We have to find Sterling now,¡± Seraiah said frantically. ¡°Before that thing does.¡± She tried to pull away, but Kai didn¡¯t relinquish his hold.

    He didn¡¯t ask what she meant, either. Instead, he said, ¡°No one is going anywhere yet. I think it¡¯s time we talked, don¡¯t you?¡±

    She froze, meeting his eyes for the first time. They were as cold as a stormy winter sky. He didn¡¯t look like he wanted to be speaking to her, but his voice held none of the animosity from the day before.

    ¡°Then talk,¡± she said, the words coming out harsher than she¡¯d meant. As much as she wanted to know what he had to say, she¡¯d rather be going after Sterling. By the amount of light filtering through the trees, they¡¯d already let her sleep in. They wouldn¡¯t have done so if they knew what she had seen. Every second they dallied was another opportunity for the beast in her dreams to find her sister before she did.

    Kai let go of her arms and moved away to dig in his saddlebag.

    Seraiah crossed her arms over her chest, waiting. She could still feel the places where his fingers had touched, like he¡¯d branded her. He wasn¡¯t wearing gloves.

    The horses nibbled on the underbrush nearby, while Kestrel watched the forest, taking Kai¡¯s place from last night. If she was interested in their conversation, she didn¡¯t show it.

    Finally, Kai turned back to her.

    ¡°Here.¡± He held out another apple. ¡°Don¡¯t waste it this time. It¡¯s my last one.¡±

    She accepted it, her eyes never leaving his face.

    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Yesterday he¡¯d worn it half tied up, but now the silver strands hung loose around his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where to start.¡±

    ¡°At the beginning,¡± she suggested helpfully.

    ¡°Then make yourself comfortable.¡± He indicated the tangled bedroll on which she stood.

    Seraiah took a seat, holding onto the apple. After a moment of hesitation, Kai sat down across from her. Out of the corner of her eye, Seraiah saw Kestrel move closer to them, while still watching the trees for any sign of danger. It seemed she had been paying attention to them, after all.

    ¡°I was eight years old when my sister was declared dead,¡± Kai started, drawing Seraiah¡¯s attention back to him.

    She did a quick calculation in her head. If Sterling was indeed his younger sister, that would make him twenty-three now.

    ¡°I found out, along with the rest of Nyrene, when my mother announced it. Fifteen years ago, the kingdom lost its heir, but I lost my sister. She was only a week old, and I hadn¡¯t had a chance to get to know her. My heart was broken.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s own heart jumped in her chest. His words confirmed her suspicion that he was Sterling¡¯s older brother.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t until years later,¡± he continued, ¡°that my nurse let it slip. My sister hadn¡¯t died that day like my mother had said. She was still alive somewhere. The Queen¡¯s Protector, Jensira, had spirited her away.¡±

    ¡°My step-mother?¡± Seraiah¡¯s brows knit in confusion. She¡¯d known her step-mother was involved thanks to Kestrel¡¯s questions, but she¡¯d always thought Sterling was her true daughter. Now it turned out they weren¡¯t any more related than she and Sterling.

    ¡°So, it would seem,¡± he said. ¡°Once I learned she may still be out there somewhere¡ªalive¡ªI knew I had to find her. Not only did I need to find her for myself, but for our kingdom, because without her, we would be weakened.¡±

    ¡°My adopted sister is your lost princess,¡± Seraiah said slowly. It was hard to reconcile what she knew of royalty with Sterling. To learn Sterling had a long-lost brother and another family was shocking enough, but to find out her younger sister was also the heir to an entire kingdom? It was difficult to wrap her mind around.

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    The apple had slipped from Seraiah¡¯s fingers while Kai had been speaking. She reached for it now, gripping it so hard her fingers dug into its flesh while she tried to process everything.

    ¡°Queen,¡± Kai said quietly, his eyes flicking down to where she held the piece of fruit like it was a lifeline. ¡°She is our lost queen. My mother passed about six months ago. I don¡¯t think she ever recovered from losing Sterling. It was like she faded away, day by day until she was gone.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. First, to lose your sister and then your mother. It¡¯s a hard thing.¡± She would know, having lost both as well¡ªbut there was still a chance they could get Sterling back if only they found her in time.

    ¡°Some might say it was her own fault. She was the one who sent Sterling away in the first place,¡± Kai said, a touch of bitterness entering his voice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why she would do that.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I was never able to find a reason.¡± His fingers curled into a fist against his knee. ¡°And I was so close to getting her back. A day sooner and whoever took her would have never gotten their hands on her.¡±

    ¡°Someone¡ª¡± she started to say and then stopped, remembering how Papa had scoffed when she had mentioned what Freya had said.

    ¡°Someone what? Do you know something?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if this is important or just silly, but someone told me it might be faeries that took her,¡± she blurted before she could lose her nerve. ¡°I was also told they have been taking other people too, and sometimes, they will replace them with one of their own.¡±

    A strange look flitted across Kai¡¯s face. ¡°Faeries? Oh no,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t faeries that took her.¡±

    She ducked her head. ¡°I told you it might be silly,¡± she mumbled. Her cheeks had grown warm, and she once again felt ridiculous now that she¡¯d said it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t faeries. Those were children¡¯s stories.

    ¡°The person who told you this might be thinking of my people,¡± Kai said, as though she hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°We have taken humans in the past.¡±

    ¡°You what? You kidnapped people?¡± Seraiah hastened to stand, every warning going off in her head while he watched, unmoving.

    ¡°We paid them. They were given a home and food, and they were happy.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You kidnapped people, and you think they were happy you ripped them away from their home¡ªfrom their families?¡± She searched his face, looking for some sign that he was teasing, but found nothing.

    Then another thought occurred to her. ¡°Is that why I¡¯m here?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d been feeling sorry for him only moments ago. She¡¯d fallen right into their trap, wooed by the possibility of finding Sterling.

    She¡¯d been worried they might be the ones Mama had warned her about taking Sterling when she should have been more concerned about herself.

    ¡°I have done many things, but kidnapping is not one of them,¡± Kai said, his voice sharpening as though she had insulted him with the suggestion. ¡°My mother outlawed the practice.¡±

    ¡°As you said, your mother is no longer living,¡± she responded. She knew it was an awful thing to say, and she regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

    Before she could apologize, however, Kai spoke. ¡°May I remind you that you volunteered to come with us to find your sister of your own free will? None of my people would kidnap you or Sterling. Whoever took your sister has to be related to the reason my mother faked her death in the first place.¡±

    Seraiah stared down at him. ¡°Then why invite me? You were planning to take Sterling anyway, so why not go off on your own and find her? Why involve me?¡± She fired off the questions, one after another.

    The look he gave her was anything but friendly. ¡°It was not my¡ª¡±

    ¡°We invited you because you¡¯re a seer,¡± Kestrel said, making her jump.

    There it was again.

    Seer.

    A name for what she was¡ªwhy her dreams came true.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± she said stiffly, refusing to meet Kestrel¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Yes, you do. You dreamed about Sterling last night, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said. She wanted to lie, but they both already knew the truth.

    ¡°And like I told you then, those dreams are visions, and they may hold the key to getting Sterling back.¡±

    Seraiah thought of the nightmare. They would want to know about it, but she wasn¡¯t ready to tell them¡ªnot when she couldn¡¯t trust them. Instead, all she said was, ¡°So you do want to use me then.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kai pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked like he was deeply regretting this conversation. ¡°You have a choice. Do you want to help Sterling or not?¡±

    He very well knew she wanted to help her sister, or she never would have come with them.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what I want. It doesn¡¯t change the fact that I can¡¯t control my dreams. Up until last night, I had been having the same one for years. I don¡¯t know that I would consider that useful.¡±

    ¡°But you could learn,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°With training and practice¡ª¡±

    ¡°With time, you mean. We don¡¯t have time.¡± Seraiah caught Kai giving Kestrel an ¡®I told you so¡¯ look.

    ¡°You can¡¯t give up without even trying. Do you have anything of Sterling¡¯s with you?¡± Kestrel asked. ¡°I think sometimes it can be used as a focus.¡±

    Her eyes went to her satchel laying on the ground nearby. She could say no, and they¡¯d never know the difference, but Kestrel had a point. She wouldn¡¯t know if she could control the dreams if she didn¡¯t try.

    ¡°I do have something,¡± she said finally. She tossed the heavily bruised apple back to Kai and fetched the book she¡¯d brought with her. ¡°Would this work?¡± she asked, holding it up.

    ¡°It should if it belonged to Sterling,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°May I see it?¡± Kai asked, extending a hand.

    She hesitated.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to steal it from you. I merely wanted to see what it was.¡±

    Seraiah placed the book spine down across his palm. ¡°It¡¯s a book of faery tales Jensira gifted to Sterling. It¡¯s her favorite possession.¡±

    She watched as he flipped through a few pages before closing it and reading the title stamped on the spine.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a book of faery tales,¡± he said, passing it back to her.

    ¡°What would you call it, then?¡±

    ¡°A history book.¡±

    ¡°How can this,¡± she shook the leather bound volume at him, ¡°be a history book? It¡¯s full of stories about dragons, and faeries, and¡ª¡±

    While she was talking, he had turned his head to the side and pushed his silver hair back behind his ear to reveal that familiar pointed tip.

    Suddenly, all the pieces clicked into place.

    ¡°¡ªelves,¡± she finished. ¡°Oh.¡±

    He just smiled and took a bite of the bruised apple.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirteen

    Seraiah¡¯s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She could do little more than stare at Kai as he took another bite from the apple.

    How could he be so calm when her entire world had shifted? Her little sister was not only a queen, but she also wasn¡¯t human?

    ¡°Remember when you asked me who I was,¡± he said, after swallowing his bite, ¡°and I told you, you wouldn¡¯t believe me?¡±

    He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°Well, this wasn¡¯t quite the reaction I pictured, but it¡¯s close. That¡¯s a remarkable impression of a fish out of water, by the way.¡±

    Seraiah snapped her mouth shut, eyes narrowing. It seemed Kai had reverted to being antagonistic toward her. Not that she didn¡¯t deserve it after the remark she¡¯d made about his mother.

    ¡°Frankly, I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t figure it out sooner. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve read that book,¡± Kai gestured to the book now hanging limply at her side, ¡°several times. You grew up with a step-mother and sister, who were both elves. It¡¯s a wonder this is the first time you had the thought that they could exist. You even suggested that faeries were responsible for Sterling¡¯s disappearance.¡±

    ¡°Kai,¡± Kestrel said, warning in her voice.

    ¡°Why would I think that my sister and step-mother were some creatures out of a children¡¯s story?¡± Seraiah snapped back. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡±

    Kai eyed her. ¡°Says the girl whose dreams happen to come true.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s hands balled into fists at her sides. She¡¯d never been a violent person, but she would like nothing more than to strangle him right now. He seemed to have a way of getting under her skin like no one else did.

    ¡°Stop,¡± Kestrel said, stepping between them. ¡°This isn¡¯t helping anyone, least of all, Sterling. Let¡¯s focus back on what¡¯s important here.¡±

    ¡°My apologies,¡± Kai said, though he¡¯d didn¡¯t look like he meant it.

    As much as she didn¡¯t want to forgive him, Seraiah knew Kestrel was right. Fighting like this would get them nowhere, so instead of hurling another insult, she reluctantly issued her own apology.

    ¡°Good,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Now that we have that out of the way, can we move on to more pressing matters like what exactly that dream of yours was about.¡±

    Seraiah blinked, for a second thinking Kestrel was referring to her nightmare.

    ¡°We need to discuss what you saw last night, and then we can decide how best to proceed from there.¡±

    Right. Last night¡¯s dream. She relayed everything she could remember.

    When she finished, Kestrel was drumming her fingers on the top of her sword.

    ¡°It¡¯s not much to go on,¡± she finally said. ¡°I think it would be best if you tried to see more. As I was saying earlier before Kai showed off his pointy ears, while I don¡¯t have any experience with training seers, I¡¯m fairly certain you can use a possession of the person you wish to see¡ªin this case that book¡ªto help focus your vision.¡±

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    Seraiah hugged Sterling¡¯s book to her chest. ¡°And how would I do that? Would I need to fall asleep?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± Kestrel said, glancing to Kai.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me.¡± He finished eating his apple and tossed the core away. ¡°I don¡¯t have any experience with seers either. Since it was your idea, I¡¯ll leave you to it. Someone has to watch our backs in case the creature hunts us first.¡±

    Seraiah eyed the trees around them nervously. When she¡¯d mentioned the beast with gray fur, they¡¯d questioned her closely on the size. She hadn¡¯t seen the whole thing, but the two of them still seemed convinced it must have been what Kai had seen traces of yesterday and what had left the mangled arm.

    It meant the creature could be lurking nearby, watching them right now.

    ¡°Useless prince,¡± Kestrel grumbled, drawing Seraiah¡¯s attention back to her. The comment was loud enough for Kai to hear, but he ignored it and kept walking.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s experiment, shall we?¡±

    <hr>

    An hour passed without any progress.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t working,¡± Seraiah said, pushing the book away in frustration. ¡°We¡¯re wasting our time. All I¡¯ve done is give myself a headache.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± Kestrel said, flicking a small knife into the air and catching it. ¡°Let me think about what else we could try.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we continue moving?¡± Seraiah suggested, watching the blade go up and down. She¡¯d watched Kestrel play with it all morning and was surprised the other girl hadn¡¯t either cut her hand or stabbed herself in the foot yet. ¡°Or what if we draw the beast to us?¡±

    Kestrel stopped flipping the knife and focused on her. ¡°That¡¯s a dangerous idea.¡± She grinned. ¡°I think I like it.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking, what if we could change my vision? If we take the beast out of the equation, then it can¡¯t harm Sterling, right? We still won¡¯t know where she is, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Kestrel said slowly. ¡°Unless there¡¯s more than one, of course. I think we could try it, though, if you¡¯re willing. Do you have any skills with a blade?¡±

    ¡°Um, well, I¡¯ve never cut myself chopping vegetables,¡± she offered.

    Kestrel blinked. ¡°I guess it could be worse. All right, new plan. I¡¯m going to teach you some basics. Then we will find a way to deal with the beast.¡±

    She flipped the knife again, so that she was holding the blade, and held it out to Seraiah. ¡°Let¡¯s begin your first lesson.¡±

    It quickly became apparent Seraiah wasn¡¯t any better with fighting skills than she was at focusing her visions.

    ¡°Try it again,¡± Kestrel said.

    Seraiah swiped a sweaty strand of hair away from her face. She was breathing hard as she arranged her feet the way Kestrel had shown her. The knife had disappeared back into Kestrel¡¯s boot, and they were now focused solely on how to stand and fall.

    Her body did not appreciate any of this.

    ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Kai asked, appearing between the trees.

    In Seraiah¡¯s momentary distraction, Kestrel swept her feet out from under her. She hit the ground hard and lay there, letting the cold soak through her dress.

    ¡°Another lesson for you. Never let your guard down,¡± Kestrel said, holding out a hand to help her up.

    ¡°I¡¯m not an expert,¡± Kai said, ¡°but this doesn¡¯t look like working on visions.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because we¡¯re working on my new plan,¡± Kestrel told him.

    ¡°Your new plan,¡± Kai repeated. ¡°And when were you going to tell me about this new plan? The only reason we¡¯re still sitting here was so she could practice her visions.¡±

    ¡°I have a name,¡± Seraiah said.

    Kai waved her off, focusing on Kestrel. ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°We weren¡¯t making progress on the visions, but Seraiah had another idea. She suggested we try changing her vision by drawing the beast to us.¡±

    ¡°And you were going to teach her how to battle it herself? I¡¯ve been watching for a while, and if it¡¯s her against the beast, the beast is going to win.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Seraiah cut in. It pained her to say it, but it was true. ¡°I¡¯m useless at fighting. I can¡¯t do anything against the beast. It would all be up to you two. I understand if you don¡¯t want to use my idea.¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes flicked from her face, down to her feet, and then back up again like he was evaluating her. ¡°I think we can still try it,¡± he said, ¡°but you will need to rethink your part in it.¡±

    She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly self-conscious. ¡°I will do anything to protect my sister.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± A slow smile spread across Kai¡¯s face. ¡°Then I think I have a way we can do this.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fourteen

    Sometimes, Seraiah questioned if she would truly go as far as she said she would for Sterling. Now was one of those moments.

    But it was originally your idea, she reminded herself as she paused to take in her surroundings.

    No, she couldn¡¯t give up now. Sterling would surely put herself in harm¡¯s way to protect her if their situations were reversed.

    The underbrush was thick here. If anything approached, it would have to get through the bushes, and she would hear it. There were plenty of trees, but not too many that it made fighting with a sword difficult.

    This was as good a place as any, she decided.

    Silently, she counted to ten, giving Kestrel and Kai a chance to get into place.

    While she counted, Seraiah studied the trees around her, turning slowly in a circle. She knew the two elves were there with her, but she couldn¡¯t detect them.

    Good.

    If she couldn¡¯t find them, then hopefully the creature wouldn¡¯t know they were there either until it was too late.

    Kai had decided since her weapon skills were so abysmal, she would act as bait, drawing the creature to her. It was more likely to seek her out if it thought she was alone. A single person was easier prey than a group. It also didn¡¯t hurt that she was small and harmless looking¡ªan easy target.

    If they were lucky, it would go for Seraiah, rather than pursue Sterling and her kidnappers. While she liked the thought of the creature tearing her sister¡¯s kidnappers limb from limb, she didn¡¯t want it to do the same to Sterling.

    Reaching ten, Seraiah stopped turning and sucked in a deep breath of cold air.

    Then she screamed, long and loud.

    It was the fastest way she could think of to draw attention to herself. A nice big ¡®here I am, come and get me¡¯ to anything lurking within hearing distance. If Sterling and her kidnappers were nearby, it would also act as a warning. They would hear it and avoid the area.

    After her scream faded away, the forest sounds returned to normal again. Business as usual.

    And she waited.

    Seraiah rubbed her sweaty palms on her dress, her eyes darting around.

    Would it come? Was this going to work?

    She fidgeted nervously.

    A few more seconds ticked by. Birds chirped in the branches above her.

    This was a terrible idea.

    What if she got them all killed? Who would save Sterling then?

    Seraiah shifted uneasily, looking back over her shoulder, alert for any signs of movement. Something crunched in the bushes to her left.

    Whipping around, she faced the wiggling bush, her heart threatening to beat out of her chest.

    A moment later, a small brown hare appeared, pausing to eye her before scampering off again.

    Her body sagged with relief. It was only a rabbit, nothing to fear.

    Her heart was just returning to its normal speed when she noticed the silence. The birds were no longer chirping, and not even the wind disturbed the trees.

    It was unnatural.

    The sound of her ragged breathing filled her ears. Something was out there watching her, and the forest knew it. It was like it was holding its breath, trying not to draw attention to itself.

    A twig snapped nearby, making her jump.

    It was here. She could feel it.

    Her eyes swept over the surrounding underbrush, looking for movement, but everything was still. Another twig snapped, and then a frightened squeak came from the direction the rabbit had disappeared.

    The image of the mangled arm flashed through her mind again.

    Seraiah curled her hands into fists, her nails biting into her palms. The pain helped her shake the image¡ªhelped her focus.

    She was doing this for Sterling. Kai and Kestrel were there with her, and everything would be fine. She would not end up like the poor person that arm belonged to.

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    She wouldn¡¯t.

    The bushes crunched and shook as something large moved through them, stalking closer to her. Unwittingly, she took a few steps back, keeping her eyes on the movement. She caught a flash of gray-brown fur and a glowing yellow eye before Kai appeared beside her.

    ¡°About time,¡± Seraiah murmured.

    He drew his sword, the metal singing as it left its sheath, and they waited together.

    Kestrel was still hidden somewhere in the trees. She was to circle around behind the beast, while they drew it forward, trapping it between them.

    The beast growled, and Seraiah felt it in her bones. This was undeniably it¡ªthe creature from her dream.

    ¡°Get behind me,¡± Kai ordered, not taking his eyes off the bush. ¡°Your job is done. Now you need to keep out of the way.¡±

    Seraiah wanted to do what he said and flee, but her body had frozen like a scared rabbit. It was the cart incident all over again. Not a muscle would move.

    The stench of it reached her first, almost a rotten meat smell, but not quite. It reminded Seraiah of her step-mother¡¯s sickroom in her final days of the fever.

    Then, the creature made its grand entrance.

    It was large, easily as big as a bear¡ªmaybe bigger¡ªand covered in gray-brown fur that was matted in places with something dark. She didn¡¯t want to think about what that could be.

    Its face reminded her a bit of a dog, but there was something odd about it. It pulled back its lips, snarling at them, to reveal multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth.

    The urge to scream bubbled up in her chest, but Seraiah tamped it down. Screaming would not help her now.

    The monster rose on its hind legs, swiping at the air with clawed hands. Those were definitely fingers she was seeing, oddly human looking, but double the size of normal hands and tipped with pointed talons.

    It was twice the height of Kai, as it towered over them.

    Beside her, Kai whispered a word she didn¡¯t understand, staring at the monster before them in shock. He appeared to be frozen in place just as Seraiah was, making no move to attack the beast before them.

    The monster ignored him, instead focusing its yellow eyes on her. There was an intelligence there that no beast she had ever seen possessed. It dropped back down to all fours as it watched her.

    Seraiah kept her chin up, meeting its gaze.

    Then, as if it had received some unseen signal¡ªit charged.

    Startled, she stumbled back and lost her footing, her arms pinwheeling in the air before she landed hard on her already tender backside. Quickly, Seraiah brought her arms up to protect her face as it rushed at her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she prepared for the monster to rip into her.

    Its hot breath washed over her, smelling of rancid meat. Vaguely, she heard Kestrel shout something. Why weren¡¯t they doing anything? Couldn¡¯t they see this beast was about to take a bite out of her?

    A moment ticked by and nothing happened.

    She cracked her eyes open and found the monster hovering over her, a clawed hand planted on either side of her head. Those talons digging into the dirt. Her body trembled as it leaned down to sniff her, a drop of saliva falling from its jaws to land on her exposed throat.

    What was it waiting for?

    Seraiah had expected it to tear into her immediately, but instead, it held her trapped beneath it. Its stink was overwhelming, burning her nose and making her gag. Its snout brushed her hair as it snuffled at her.

    She held as still as possible.

    Where were Kai and Kestrel? Why weren¡¯t they doing anything?

    The beast growled low, sounding almost like a purr¡ªlike it approved of what it was smelling¡ªand drew back its lips, showing off those rows of teeth again, in a fearsome grin.

    This is it, Seraiah thought, squeezing her eyes shut again and holding her breath. Hopefully, it would kill her quickly.

    But instead of the scrape of teeth, as she had expected, hot liquid sprayed her in the face, her hands blocked some of it, but not all. There was a thump, and then a crushing weight on her body, squeezing out her air.

    Her eyes snapped open, and she gasped, trying to breathe with the weight on top of her. Some of the liquid slipped into her mouth. It was salty and metallic¡ªutterly disgusting. Seraiah spat and wiped at her face as best she could. The sight that met her eyes was a grisly one, and she couldn¡¯t stop the scream from escaping this time.

    Kestrel shushed her, appearing in her line of sight. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡±

    Seraiah could very well see with her own eyes that it was over, and that¡¯s why she was screaming.

    The headless body of the creature was the source of the crushing weight. Dark blood still leaked from the place where its head used to be.

    It was blood that Seraiah was covered in, soaking her dress and pooling around her. That was what had sprayed her in the face, and now leaked into her hair¡ªher mouth.

    She turned her face away from the sight in front of her and came face to face with the monster¡¯s head. Its sightless eyes bored into her even in death.

    Maybe it was better if she just kept her eyes shut.

    ¡°Get it off me,¡± Seraiah croaked. The blood on her face was already drying.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Kestrel grunted, shoving hard at the beast¡¯s body.

    It rolled, and then the weight was lifted.

    ¡°I hate to tell you this, but I think your dress is ruined.¡±

    Seraiah opened her eyes again to find Kestrel staring down at her with her hands on her hips. She didn¡¯t care about her dress right now. She was just happy to still be in one piece.

    ¡°Here, let me help you up.¡± The other girl held out her hand, and Seraiah reached for it, her own hand still trembling.

    ¡°I thought for sure you were a goner when Kai froze up.¡± Seraiah picked up on the forced lightness in her words. Kestrel was as shaken as Kai, but was trying her best to hold it together.

    Kai stood a few feet away, wiping off his blade. Perhaps that was what he¡¯d intended. He¡¯d made his dislike for her very clear.

    ¡°Good thing he finally came to his senses because I wouldn¡¯t have made it to you in time.¡±

    Seraiah nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet.

    ¡°We will have to burn the body and probably your dress, too,¡± Kestrel continued, filling the silence. ¡°Don¡¯t want to take any chances, and you¡¯re never going to get all that blood out.¡±

    Seraiah looked down at her dress. She was indeed almost completely covered in blood, as though she had bathed in it. The fabric that had once been brown was now black and heavy.

    ¡°What was that thing?¡± she asked, finding her voice again.

    She felt the blood that had dried on her face crack as she spoke. Using a bit of her sleeve that wasn¡¯t completely soaked, she scrubbed at her face, trying to get it off.

    ¡°A Varanem,¡± Kai said, repeating the word Seraiah hadn¡¯t understood earlier. ¡°A dark beast that doesn¡¯t belong in this world.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s it doing here, then?¡±

    Kai shook his head, looking grim as he stared off into the trees at something she couldn¡¯t see, before finally responding. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifteen

    Kai volunteered himself to burn the body. It would give him some time alone to think and figure out what the hells they were going to do next. Things hadn¡¯t exactly been going how he¡¯d expected them to from the moment he and Kestrel had arrived in Ratha.

    ¡°Go back to camp,¡± he told them. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you there when I¡¯m done here.¡±

    Kestrel looked like she wanted to protest, but she kept her mouth shut. Instead, she turned to Seraiah. The poor girl was covered head to toe in the beast¡¯s blood and swaying slightly on her feet. After seeing her reaction to the mangled arm, it surprised him that she was still standing at this point.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Kestrel said, taking her arm, ¡°let¡¯s see if we can get you cleaned up.¡± Seraiah allowed herself to be led away into the trees.

    Once they disappeared from sight, he turned back to examining the beast¡¯s body.

    He had meant what he¡¯d said when Seraiah asked him why the beast was here, and if there were more of them. He didn¡¯t know for certain, but he had an idea.

    This creature¡ªa Varanem¡ªdidn¡¯t belong in the human world. It belonged in his.

    He nudged the headless body with the toe of his boot. Never before had he seen one, but he had heard plenty of stories about them.

    It was this sort of creature that the elves protected the human world from¡ªthe reason they controlled the portals so carefully, and why it was important that they find their missing queen. If this creature had managed to slip through the portal, what else had followed it?

    The elves¡¯ power was already weakening without a queen, and it would only be a matter of time before they lost their hold on the portals completely. If that were to happen, this creature would be nothing compared to the chaos that would be unleashed here.

    It would be a bloodbath, unlike anything this world had seen before.

    He gathered wood while he thought, piling it around the body before lighting it on fire. The scent of cooking meat and burning hair filled the air¡ªnot the most pleasant scent. Then again, it was better than the reek of the beast itself.

    Kai watched the flames eat at the body. He sincerely hoped that this was the only one to have made it into this forest, but he couldn¡¯t be certain. He remembered the panic that had crossed Seraiah¡¯s face at the idea that there was more than one out there.

    What if this wasn¡¯t the one she had seen in her vision of Sterling? What if they hadn¡¯t stopped the vision from happening?

    He mentally shook himself. It would do no good to think like this. He needed to figure out what they should do next.

    Now that they knew Seraiah¡¯s visions were unreliable, they couldn¡¯t wait around for her to have another one. It might be different if Kestrel¡¯s suggestion of using a focus had produced immediate results, but it hadn¡¯t. Like Seraiah had said, they needed time, which they had precious little of if they meant to find Sterling alive.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Sterling. He turned the name over in his mind.

    It was still strange to finally have a name for his lost sister. After all these years, he finally knew what to call her.

    The flames burned hot and fast, making quick work of the body. Soon it would be time to head back to camp, and he needed something to tell them. He was the gods-damned Prince, after all¡ªthe de facto leader of their little group. If he couldn¡¯t even lead them, how was he supposed to lead a kingdom?

    He hadn¡¯t been raised as a leader¡ªthe job should never have fallen to him¡ªbut here it was just the same, so he had better get used to it.

    Squaring his shoulders, he made a decision. They would continue on and head for the nearest city, Baromund, where they¡¯d first heard of a city stuck in endless winter. He suspected the kidnappers would have to pass through there for supplies.

    If they were headed for the nearest portal like he thought, they would need to go this way. There was also the possibility that whoever had taken Sterling was acting as a go-between and was planning to hand her off to someone else. Baromund would be a good place to do that.

    The last of the flames guttered and went out, leaving behind a pile of ash.

    <hr>

    When Kai returned to camp, the horses were already saddled, and Kestrel and Seraiah were waiting.

    They looked up expectantly.

    ¡°We ride for Baromund,¡± he announced.

    He half expected Kestrel to question him as to his reasoning but was surprised when it was Seraiah who spoke instead.

    ¡°Why Baromund?¡±

    He saw she¡¯d gotten most of the blood off and was wearing a new dress¡ªalmost identical to her old one.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to track them in the woods, even though we know they¡¯re here thanks to your vision. I suspect once they leave the woods, they will be headed for Baromund for supplies.¡±

    She raised one eyebrow. ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re chasing after another hunch?¡±

    He felt his temper rise. This girl had a way of getting under his skin.

    He caught Kestrel out of the corner of his eye, struggling not to laugh. She was enjoying this entirely too much.

    ¡°Do you have any better ideas?¡± he asked through gritted teeth.

    It was hard not to give in and snap at her like he¡¯d done earlier. He still felt a little bad about calling her crazy¡ªbut only slightly. She had used his dead mother against him.

    Seraiah shrugged. ¡°Not really, no.¡± Then she flashed a smile that said she had been baiting him and knew she¡¯d been successful.

    He¡¯d obviously left her alone with Kestrel for too long. These two had somehow become friends in the two short days they had spent together, and that was a very dangerous thing for him. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving then,¡± he growled, striding over to his horse.

    Seraiah moved to follow Kestrel, but Kestrel stopped her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ride with Kai again today?¡±

    It was an innocent enough suggestion, but if he knew anything about his childhood friend, it was that she was up to something. What exactly she was plotting, he didn¡¯t know. Perhaps she meant to annoy him to death.

    Seraiah looked none too pleased about the suggestion either, but she didn¡¯t argue. He helped her onto his horse before mounting in front of her. She slid her hands around his waist as he nudged his horse toward Baromund.

    Suddenly, she leaned in close and whispered in his ear, ¡°You smell like burnt hair.¡±

    He turned his head and found her face only inches away from his. ¡°And you smell like beast and blood,¡± he retorted.

    It was true, while she may have cleaned up¡ªthe scent still clung to her.

    He expected her to at least glare at him, but he was pleasantly surprised when she laughed.

    ¡°Guess that makes us a perfectly matched pair, then,¡± she answered.

    He turned back around to focus on the path in front of them. He did not like the direction his thoughts were going in.

    A perfectly matched pair, indeed.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Sixteen

    One day slipped into the next as they made their way toward Baromund.

    Kai kept to himself, only grunting responses when asked a question, and often slipping away into the trees when they stopped for the night.

    And every night while Kai disappeared, Seraiah practiced trying to focus her visions using Sterling¡¯s book. So far, nothing she tried had been successful. She couldn¡¯t summon a vision when she was awake, nor did she dream once she fell asleep.

    Maybe I should be grateful, she thought, setting the book aside for the night and pinching the bridge of her nose to relieve her headache. The nightmare hadn¡¯t returned, and neither had any dreams about strange beasts. Maybe she should take it as a sign that Sterling wasn¡¯t in immediate danger.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t feel reassured.

    The next morning, they had only been traveling for about an hour when she noticed a change in the air. At first, she thought it was her imagination. Wishful thinking, maybe.

    She no longer felt the need to pull her cloak close around her to ward off the cold. In fact, she almost felt too warm. When Kai unclasped his own cloak as they rode, and stuffed it into his saddlebag, she knew the rising temperature hadn¡¯t been her imagination.

    He noticed her watching. ¡°We¡¯re close to the edge of the forest now,¡± he said. ¡°And then maybe two more days until we reach Baromund.¡±

    Seraiah tried to picture Baromund on the maps she¡¯d seen in Lady Zahara¡¯s library, but kept coming up blank. The only city she remembered was the capital, far down to the south.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Kestrel spoke from in front of her. It was her turn to share her horse with Seraiah. ¡°I need to see the sun again. I¡¯m sick of being cold all the time.¡±

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t stop the snort that slipped out.

    Kai raised an eyebrow at her.

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be sick of the cold. Do you have any idea what it¡¯s like to live stuck in winter for five years?¡± She heard her voice rise with every word, but she didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°The people we spoke to mentioned it had been a few years, but I assumed they meant two, maybe three at most. Not five,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°We try not to think about it, but it¡¯s been five¡ªalmost six years now. Never able to shake the cold that¡¯s seeped into your bones. Never seeing flowers bloom. The fresh food slowly disappeared until only the wealthy have access. Our once thriving market is now dead because of the snows blocking the mountain pass, and no one is daring enough to make the journey through the woods. Add in the fever and half the population of Ratha is dead. We have little hope left, and if you think about all those things too long, it makes it hard to go on.¡±

    She felt the hot prick of tears behind her eyes. It took my step-mother, she thought, but didn¡¯t say aloud. It didn¡¯t matter that Jensira had lied about where she was from and who she really was. It didn¡¯t matter that she could have helped Seraiah with her visions and explained what she was, but chose not to.

    Jensira was the only mother Seraiah had ever known.

    She took a deep breath and blinked the tears away. It wasn¡¯t like her to rant about things out of her control. She was the level-headed one who didn¡¯t complain about much and kept everything together, even in the face of her world falling apart. She was the one everyone relied on¡ªespecially when Mama passed¡ªwhile Sterling was the one who was as quick to anger as she was to cry or laugh.

    With all the events and new information overwhelming her, her emotions felt raw and close to the surface. Sometimes it felt like she was on the edge of a cliff and one push would send her tumbling down to a place Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure she could pull herself out of¡ªand she didn¡¯t think she wanted to stop it either. It was only the thought of Sterling, scared and alone, that kept her moving.

    After several minutes of silence passed, Kestrel spoke, ¡°Do you think¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, it has to be,¡± Kai said, before she could finish.

    ¡°But the timing seems off. Wouldn¡¯t you expect¡ª¡±

    Kai cut her off again. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to expect anymore. There is far more going on here than we know about, but I believe everything is connected.¡±

    Seraiah was lost. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°The weather,¡± he answered.

    She waited for him to continue, but he didn¡¯t. When she glanced over at him, she caught the hint of a smile. He was teasing her, she realized.

    She glared back at him. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±

    ¡°As am I.¡± The smile faded. ¡°This endless winter, the Varanem, Sterling¡¯s kidnapping, and her being in this world in the first place have to be connected. We need to figure out how and quickly. I think that¡¯s going to be the key to getting Sterling back where she belongs.¡±

    ¡°Jensira must have known something,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°Most likely,¡± Kai said. ¡°The problem, I¡¯m finding, is that most of the people who knew something are dead, and it doesn¡¯t seem they told anyone what they knew when they were living.¡±

    ¡°So, we¡¯re stuck,¡± Kestrel declared. ¡°Same as we¡¯ve always been. What else is new?¡± She unclasped her own cloak, and Seraiah leaned back so she could pull it off.

    Something about Kai¡¯s comment struck a chord with Seraiah. ¡°I think Jensira told my father something,¡± she blurted. As soon as the words were out, she realized how true they were.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Kai asked sharply. ¡°Did he ever suggest he knew they were anything but human? Or mention he might be concerned for Sterling¡¯s safety?¡±

    ¡°No, but he was acting strange when Sterling disappeared,¡± she told him. She fiddled with the clasp of her own cloak while she spoke, not quite ready to take it off.

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°I told him I wanted to search for Sterling¡ªto do something to get her back, and he forbid me.¡± She paused a moment, remembering the night of her sister¡¯s disappearance. ¡°He told me there was nothing we could do, and that I should go home.¡±

    ¡°So, you think he didn¡¯t want you looking because he knew something?¡±

    She nodded, slowly. It was making more sense to her now. Her father loved Sterling, and he would never have said what he had without a good reason. ¡°I think Jensira must have told him what she knew, and maybe warned him about something like this. When I suggested it might be faeries who took her, he refused to look at me and told me it was nonsense, but he could have been trying to hide what he knew. Or my step-mother had him make a promise like she did with me.¡±

    ¡°What did she have you promise?¡± Kai asked.

    Seraiah bit her lip, realizing she might have said too much. She hadn¡¯t intended to tell anyone about the promise.

    ¡°We need every scrap of information we can get, no matter how unimportant it might seem,¡± Kai said. ¡°If you know something, you need to tell us. We only want what¡¯s best for Sterling.¡±

    She stared at him. He appeared sincere. Despite their rocky introduction, she believed she could trust that he was telling the truth. Now, whether what they thought was best for Sterling was aligned was a different matter.

    ¡°On her deathbed, my step-mother made me promise to protect Sterling,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°Did she say from what?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°She told me I couldn¡¯t let them take her, but nothing more.¡±

    Understanding dawned on Kai¡¯s face. ¡°You thought she might mean us.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to think,¡± Seraiah admitted.

    ¡°And now?¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t, though the more time I spend in your company, I¡¯m less sure she was referring to you.¡±

    ¡°We will never know the truth because Jensira is no longer here to explain it to us,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°It will be up to you to decide on your own. There is a reason she chose your family¡ªchose you¡ªto protect Sterling. Trust your instincts.¡±

    ¡°If I had to guess,¡± Kai said, ¡°I would think Jensira was referring to whoever grabbed Sterling from Ratha. She is the queen of Nyrene, and anyone looking to hurt or weaken us would need to take Sterling off the board.¡±

    ¡°Off the board¡ªas in kill her?¡± Seraiah didn¡¯t care for that implication.

    ¡°No, I think that would be a last resort. If they were to kill her, the magic would pass to someone else.¡±

    ¡°Like you?¡±

    ¡°Kai wishes,¡± Kestrel teased.

    ¡°Hardly,¡± he said dryly. ¡°But no, the magic, or rather control of the magic, only goes to females. Since there are no more females in my line, it would have to choose another.¡±

    ¡°So, you wouldn¡¯t be a prince anymore then?¡± Seraiah asked.

    He shrugged. ¡°I suppose I wouldn¡¯t be, and as much as I might like that idea, I don¡¯t think that is their aim. If whoever took Sterling were to kill her, they would lose their advantage over us. The magic would move on, and the elves, thinking she was already dead, would be none the wiser. It would serve no purpose. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t think the faeries would take her. They would have to keep her alive and hidden, which would be more trouble to them than it¡¯s worth. It¡¯s someone else who wants to take power for themselves.¡±

    The image of dark eyes from her nightmare flashed through Seraiah¡¯s mind as Kai spoke. It was starting, just as she had feared. Seraiah knew what was going to happen to Sterling if they didn¡¯t get her back.

    And they weren¡¯t planning to kill her.

    ¡°I think there is something else you should know,¡± she said. She told them about the nightmare as best she could, while the horses picked their way through the trees. ¡°I don¡¯t know how else to explain it other than Sterling looked like her usual self, but her eyes were different. It was like something inside of her had changed and now someone else was looking back at me from her eyes.¡±

    ¡°Mages,¡± Kai murmured when she finished. ¡°Mages might have the means to twist her magic.¡±

    ¡°What are mages?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re humans. Like you, some of them are born with magical abilities, but most of them aren¡¯t. They use other ways to get the magic they so desire,¡± he explained.

    ¡°Other ways like what?¡± She was almost afraid to know.

    ¡°Sacrifice. Rituals. Spells. If anyone had a reason to take an Elven queen as a grab of power, it would be them. When was the last time you had this dream, and did you tell anyone else about it?¡±

    ¡°Sterling was the only one I ever told, and she thought it was silly. It had been recurring for years, so I didn¡¯t think anything of it when I had it again the night before Sterling went missing. The next time I dreamed, it was about the beast.¡±

    ¡°It might not be mages, Kai,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°There could be others.¡±

    He grunted in response. ¡°We¡¯ll see. But if it is, I understand why your father was trying to protect you, Seraiah. A seer is a valuable thing to possess¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a possession,¡± she said forcefully, cutting him off.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re not, but I¡¯m sure they would see it differently. Your father obviously wanted to stop you from coming into contact with them, which means¡ª¡± he broke off, looking lost in thought.

    ¡°Which means,¡± Kestrel said, picking up where he had left off, ¡°that it wasn¡¯t mages who took Sterling from Ratha. They would have sensed Seraiah and taken her as well. Even I was able to sense something about her when she was halfway up the street.¡±

    Seraiah recalled the strange feeling she¡¯d had the first time she¡¯d seen the two of them. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in the market when Sterling was taken. I was either still in the castle or on my way home.¡±

    Kestrel shrugged, looking back over her shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t think it would have mattered if they were close or not. They have spells and other things that make them much more attuned to that sort of thing than I am. If they caught wind of a seer¡ªtrained or not¡ªthey would have been after you in a heartbeat. If Kai is right, and it was the mages that wanted Sterling, then they sent someone else to do their dirty work.¡±

    Seraiah fiddled with the clasp of her cloak again. She was now uncomfortably warm and had started to sweat. ¡°Does any of this change our plan to go to Baromund?¡± she asked, as she carefully pulled her cloak off, laying it in between her and Kestrel. ¡°Do you think we should go back and talk to my father? See what he knows? Maybe he could be in danger, too.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kai answered, guiding his horse around a fallen tree ahead of them. ¡°We can¡¯t go back now. If we did, we¡¯d have no hope of picking up the trail. Your father should be perfectly safe. They got what they wanted already. However, we will need to be careful if Baromund is the intended drop-off place. The last thing we need is mages sending someone after us¡ªor more specifically, you.¡±

    <hr>

    It was mid-afternoon by the time they left the shelter of the trees. Seraiah squinted at the sudden brightness of the sun. She¡¯d become accustomed to the semi-darkness of the woods.

    When her eyes had adjusted, she gasped at the sight in front of her. She blinked once, twice¡ªnot trusting what her eyes were showing her.

    Before them lay a lush green valley with rolling hills. Every way she looked was green and dotted with flowers.

    Not a single pile of snow in sight.

    The air smelled the way she remembered springtime smelling, fresh and new. She slid off Kestrel¡¯s horse into the soft green grass. Taking two steps forward, she stumbled and fell to her knees, reaching out to grab one of the flowers.

    She stared at its bright open face. Its center was a warm yellow, like the sun on a spring afternoon. Bright white petals circled that sun. Seraiah ran her finger over one of those petals, feeling its silky softness as the tears that had threatened earlier came bubbling back up and spilled down her cheeks.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kai called out to her.

    She hastened to wipe the tears from her cheeks before looking back. Kai and Kestrel were still mounted on their horses, watching her. She held up the flower for them to see.

    ¡°It¡¯s a daisy.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Seventeen

    Kestrel smiled at her. It was the kind of smile you give a person when you don¡¯t want to push them over the edge.

    Kai swung down from his horse and approached slowly. ¡°Are you crying over a flower?¡± he asked, bewildered.

    Seraiah wiped at her cheeks again, embarrassed. When Kai reached her, she offered the flower to him.

    He studied it as if he was waiting for it to do something. ¡°This is a regular flower,¡± he said after a moment, dropping it back to the ground.

    Seraiah watched it fall, floating gently down to come to rest in front of her. She picked it up again.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just any flower,¡± she said, twirling it in her fingers. ¡°This is Sterling¡¯s favorite flower. When she was younger, she would spend hours in the field behind our house, laying amongst them. They would cover every surface of our home when they were blooming. She even named our mule after them. Every time it stopped snowing and warmed up, she would always become hopeful that this was the time winter would end, and she could see the flowers again. So, to answer your question, no, I¡¯m not crying over a flower. I¡¯m crying because Sterling isn¡¯t here with me to see this.¡±

    When she looked at Kai again, she swore his eyes held a sheen of unshed tears, but he turned away quickly.

    ¡°We need to keep moving,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s a stream up ahead where we can camp for the night.¡±

    Seraiah tucked the flower behind her ear and stood to follow him. He helped her mount Kestrel¡¯s horse before returning to his own. Now that they were out of the forest, the horses were no longer restricted to a walk.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Kestrel warned her, before a second later pressing her heels into the horse¡¯s sides.

    Seraiah yelped and grabbed onto Kestrel for dear life as the horse took off at full speed. Just when she thought she¡¯d gotten used to riding a horse and might enjoy it¡ªthis happened.

    Kestrel let out a whoop. ¡°Isn¡¯t this fun?¡± she shouted back to Seraiah.

    ¡°Sure. Fun,¡± she answered. She didn¡¯t think Kestrel heard her, as the wind whipped her words away. She risked a glance down at the ground and immediately wished she hadn¡¯t. Squeezing her eyes shut, she whispered to herself, ¡°Please don¡¯t fall off. Please don¡¯t fall off. Please don¡¯t fall off.¡±

    Eventually, the horses began to tire and slow, before coming to a stop.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at our campsite,¡± Kestrel announced, tugging on Seraiah¡¯s arms. ¡°You can let go now.¡±

    Seraiah dropped her hold and looked around to find another beautiful view. They were on the banks of a creek. Its waters were crystal clear as it bubbled happily over rocks worn smooth by years of rushing waters. It was much larger than she had anticipated. When Kai had said they would be camping near a stream, she had expected something that was barely a trickle of water.

    This looked deep enough to bathe in.

    Scrambling down off the horse, Seraiah made a beeline for the water. She knelt on the muddy bank and dipped her fingers in. To her disappointment, it was ice cold.

    So much for that bath she had been dreaming about. The air here was warm, so she¡¯d assumed the water would be, too. Her fingers were numb when she pulled them out.

    Then again, perhaps it would be worth freezing to get the smell of blood and beast off. Even with a change of clothes, she could still smell its reek clinging to her skin. A dip in the water might help, even if she didn¡¯t have soap.

    She was about to stand and inquire if the others had any soap when a wave of icy water splashed her. Sputtering, she used her sleeves to dry her face. When she looked up again, she found Kai standing on the bank next to her, looking rather amused.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Did you splash me?¡± she demanded. Her cheeks were numb where the water had hit.

    He smirked. ¡°Now how would I do that? You would have seen me.¡±

    He had a point. She¡¯d been distracted by the thought of a bath, but not that distracted.

    ¡°Then how would you explain it?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps the creek thought to help you with the smell.¡±

    Seraiah scowled. Then she caught sight of Kestrel creeping up behind Kai. Kestrel held a finger to her lips before shoving Kai hard.

    For a moment he teetered, his arms windmilling.

    Seraiah thought he would regain his balance, but another small shove from Kestrel pushed him into the freezing water, where he landed with a splash. Seraiah barely scrambled back in time to avoid being soaked herself as he floundered.

    ¡°Thought he deserved a little payback for splashing you,¡± Kestrel said, grinning down at the soaked Prince. ¡°He has an affinity for water magic, you know.¡±

    They watched as Kai pulled himself out of the water to stand, dripping on the bank.

    After a moment, droplets began forming in the air around him, looking like little crystals before falling back into the creek. In a matter of seconds, Seraiah couldn¡¯t tell he¡¯d fallen in.

    ¡°Show off,¡± Kestrel muttered. ¡°Come on,¡± she said to Seraiah, ¡°let¡¯s set up camp and see if we can find you some soap.¡±

    <hr>

    Kai tended to the horses while Seraiah and Kestrel went to wash in the creek. Thanks to Kestrel, he knew firsthand how cold the water was and did not envy them. Kestrel might be able to heat the water to a pleasant temperature if she had full use of her magic, but he doubted she would have much success today.

    He hadn¡¯t meant to splash Seraiah earlier. He¡¯d only been testing his magic. As he¡¯d feared, his control had gotten worse since the last time he¡¯d tried. Drying himself should have been done without a second thought, but it had taken all of his concentration. If Kestrel had noticed his struggle, she didn¡¯t say anything.

    Once the horses were brushed and happily munching on grass, Kai set out to find fallen branches for a fire. Out here on the rolling hills, the trees were few and far between. By the time he collected enough for a small cook fire, Seraiah and Kestrel had returned to the creek.

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re back. You can light the fire for me,¡± he said, dropping the bundle of sticks at Kestrel¡¯s feet.

    It would be a simple enough task for her.

    ¡°I can do it,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°If you have flint and steel, it will be faster, but I can do it without.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Kestrel kicked at the sticks. ¡°This is going to burn up fast, though. Was this all you could find?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to go look for yourself.¡±

    Kestrel made a face, but went to dig in her pack. As he¡¯d suspected, her magic must not be doing any better than his. She should have been able to light the branches with a snap of her fingers.

    Beside him, Seraiah shivered. Her hair hung in long wet ropes down her back.

    ¡°I could dry your hair for you if you¡¯d like,¡± he offered.

    She blinked up at him. Her lips were tinged blue. ¡°C-could you? The water was colder than I thought. I should have waited until we got to the city.¡±

    He instructed her to turn and held his hands over her hair, not quite touching. Slowly, droplets of moisture coalesced in the air, and Seraiah¡¯s hair went from a deep black to a mahogany brown.

    He let the water rain into the grass at his feet.

    ¡°There,¡± he said. This time his control had been better, but it still hadn¡¯t been as easy as it should have been.

    She turned back to face him, gently touching the loose strands. ¡°Magic,¡± she murmured. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You never offered to dry my hair,¡± Kestrel said.

    While he¡¯d been distracted with Seraiah, she¡¯d gotten a small flame going.

    ¡°You have your own magic, but I¡¯ll do it if you really want me to.¡±

    He didn¡¯t like the knowing look she was giving him. He¡¯d only helped Seraiah so she didn¡¯t catch cold and die. They needed her to find Sterling. That was all.

    As the sun went down, they settled in around the fire to eat their evening meal. Seraiah and Kestrel talked softly, discussing something about her vision practice while he made plans for their search once they reached Baromund.

    ¡°Tell me about your family,¡± Seraiah said.

    At first he thought she was talking to Kestrel, but when he looked up, he found her gaze on him.

    ¡°I told you already,¡± he said.

    ¡°You told me about your mother, the Queen, and I already know Sterling, but what of the others? Your father? Other siblings?¡±

    ¡°There are no others. I have no siblings other than Sterling, and I never knew my father. I assume Sterling and I share the same father, but I don¡¯t know for sure. My mother never spoke of him. I don¡¯t know if he is alive or not.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s brow knit. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t your father be king?¡±

    ¡°Rulers don¡¯t tend to marry. Some may keep a consort, but not always.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s essentially an orphan like me,¡± Kestrel chimed in, ¡°until we learned Sterling was alive.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°That sounds . . . lonely.¡±

    ¡°What about your family?¡± Kai asked, turning the question back on her.

    ¡°I suppose I am like you.¡± He watched the light of the flames dance over her face. ¡°I have my father, but I never knew my mother¡ªmy birth mother, that is. Then Jensira and Sterling came into our life only to leave again.¡±

    ¡°And now you have us,¡± Kestrel said. She held up her water skin like she was making a toast. ¡°To finding family.¡±

    ¡°To finding family,¡± Kai echoed.

    Seraiah, he noticed, remained silent.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Eighteen

    The steady clip-clop of the horse¡¯s hooves stopped abruptly, along with the gentle swaying. They must have arrived at their destination wherever that was. Sterling didn¡¯t dare open her eyes to find out and let them know she was awake. Instead, she strained her ears, listening for any sign of movement¡ªanything that would give a clue as to their location.

    Leather creaked, followed by the thud of boots on the ground.

    At any moment, they were sure to check on her. She tried to keep her breathing slow and even in hopes they wouldn¡¯t notice she was awake.

    The few times she had been conscious, they would immediately dose her again before she could figure out where she was¡ªbut the last time, they hadn¡¯t been quite fast enough, and she had seen they¡¯d left the forest.

    It was warmer wherever they had taken her.

    She¡¯d already been awake for a few minutes now, her brain slowly coming out of the fog. So far, she¡¯d been able to figure out very little, but she had noticed there still seemed to be only two horses. No one else had joined their little party.

    They¡¯d draped her over one of the animals, like a sack of flour, so she was facing downward, with her hands bound behind her back and her feet tied at the ankles. They hadn''t bothered to gag her, presuming she would stay unconscious..

    She might be able to get away with taking a peek around if she was careful.

    Sterling cracked her eyes just a slit, giving herself a view of the horse¡¯s hooves and the hard, rocky ground beneath them.

    No sign of green, but no sign of snow either. Nothing she recognized.

    Sterling strained her ears again, trying to tell if anyone was coming to check on her, but if her captors were nearby, they were silent. Cautiously, she wiggled her fingers, trying to get a feel for the tightness of the bonds. She had to bite her lip to keep in the hiss of pain as her raw skin pulled against the rope.

    It was too tight. There would be no slipping out of this.

    The pounding in her head was getting to her as whatever they had been using to keep her unconscious worked its way out of her system. Had they been feeding her? She tried to think, but her memories were a fog. Who knows how many days had passed since they had taken her from the market?

    The market.

    Papa.

    Seraiah.

    A wave of panic washed over her. She knew they must be worried about her. Especially Seraiah. Her older sister had been out of sorts the last time Sterling had seen her, having had one of her nightmares again.

    Seraiah had broken down once and confessed the nightmares were always about her. Her sister had refused to go into too much detail, but from what little she had said, it sounded like Seraiah was dreaming about her death. There was something about someone else looking out from her eyes. It was nonsense, of course, but it always left Seraiah a mess for a day or two after it happened.

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    Sterling hoped her sister wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid like try to come after her. As much as she wanted to be rescued, she didn¡¯t want anyone to get hurt because of her. It had been her own choice to go off alone in the market, and no one else should have to pay for it but her.

    The crunch of boots on the dirt snapped her back to reality.

    It sounded like they were moving closer.

    She froze, hoping they wouldn¡¯t figure out she was awake. Better to let them think she was still unconscious. Sterling hated the way the drug made her feel. If she could stay awake long enough, maybe they would speak in front of her, and she could get an idea of what they planned for her.

    Sterling held her breath as she listened to the approaching steps. It sounded like only one of them. Then a pair of scuffed boots appeared in her vision. She could barely see them beneath her lashes.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re awake, girl,¡± a man¡¯s voice came from somewhere near her head. ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll stay quiet. Do not make us gag you.¡±

    She cringed and waited for him to dose her, but it never came. Instead, he gripped her shoulders hard, fingers digging into her skin, and pulled her from the horse.

    Or rather, he let her fall. With her hands tied behind her back, Sterling had no way of stopping her face from meeting the ground.

    Pop.

    Then the pain hit.

    Her vision went white for a moment, and her eyes filled with tears. She faintly registered someone screaming.

    It wasn¡¯t until the man kicked her hard in the ribs that she realized she had been the one screaming. She could feel the blood gushing from her nose and down her face¡ªtaste the coppery tang of it.

    As she lay in the dirt, trying to breathe through her mouth, a second man approached.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± he hissed. She assumed he was talking to the first man who had pulled her from the horse.

    ¡°Unloading the cargo,¡± came the unapologetic response.

    ¡°What did I tell you about being careful?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s alive, isn¡¯t she? That¡¯s all they asked for, and they better be grateful for that much.¡±

    The other man grunted. ¡°Just hurry up and bring her. Try not to injure her further. We don¡¯t want to risk losing our payment.¡±

    She heard him move away as the first man nudged her with the toe of his boot in the same bruised spot he had kicked earlier. That pain didn¡¯t even come close to touching her throbbing nose. Sterling could already tell it had swelled.

    He nudged her a second time when she gave no response. It was all she could do to focus on her breathing and cling to consciousness. ¡°I¡¯m going to untie your legs and you are going to stand up and walk. I don¡¯t want any trouble now. You hear me?¡±

    She ignored him. A few seconds later, she felt the rope around her ankles loosen.

    ¡°Get up.¡±

    Sterling didn¡¯t move.

    After being drugged into unconsciousness for who knows how long, her body was weak. Even if she could use her hands to push herself up, she wasn¡¯t sure she could stand. It took him a minute to come to the same conclusion and pull her roughly to her feet.

    Once upright, the pain in her nose became unbearable again. She swayed as the dizziness hit her. A fresh wave of blood ran down over her lips and dripped off her chin. Keeping her eyes down, she watched the pattern that was taking shape at her feet with each new drop.

    The man gave her a shove between the shoulder blades that sent her stumbling forward. It was almost enough to push her back to her knees. Her legs and feet were numb after being tied up for so long.

    ¡°Walk,¡± he commanded.

    She took one shaky step forward and then another.

    ¡°Faster,¡± he hissed in her ear. Then he gave her another shove. This one sent her to her knees.

    Her legs were too weak to carry her, and she was quickly losing the battle to stay conscious as spots swam before her eyes.

    ¡°I told you to hurry up. Just carry her if she won¡¯t walk.¡± Sterling heard the other man say from somewhere up ahead.

    Her companion cursed under his breath but did as the other man instructed.

    She didn¡¯t bother to fight him as he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. The movement was enough to jostle her nose, and she was thankful when the blackness finally returned to claim her.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Nineteen

    They arrived in Baromund a day and a half later.

    Like it had been a shock to feel warm weather, it was also a shock to see a city teeming with life. Children darted in and out of the traffic on the street as they played, shouting and laughing. People were everywhere¡ªwalking, riding horses. No one stopped to stare at the three dirty strangers among them. It reminded Seraiah of how Ratha used to be before the fever had stolen so many.

    Kai led them through the maze of streets, choosing a small inn sandwiched between a millinery and a cobbler.

    ¡°I will do the talking this time,¡± he told them. ¡°And remember to keep your head down.¡± He directed this last bit at Seraiah.

    She didn¡¯t think she had a particularly memorable face. If anything, Kai was the one who stood out the most of the three of them, but she did as he said.

    As soon as they dismounted, a young boy approached them. He looked to be around Sterling¡¯s age. ¡°A copper to stable your horses,¡± the boy said, looking at Kai and ignoring her and Kestrel.

    Kai grunted and dropped a copper into his eager hand.

    The boy grinned and tucked the coin into his pocket, waiting for them to remove their belongings before leading their mounts away.

    Seraiah watched as he disappeared around the side of the building, presumably to where the stables were located. She could detect the faint odor of manure mixed in with the smells of the city.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Kestrel called, ¡°or you¡¯ll be left behind.¡±

    Inside, Kai spoke with the innkeeper and paid for two rooms while she hung back with Kestrel. Seraiah caught the flash of silver as he pulled out another coin and placed it on the counter in front of the innkeeper.

    ¡°We were never here,¡± he murmured, his voice so low Seraiah could barely hear him, even though she was standing directly behind him.

    The innkeeper nodded, sliding the coin off the counter and into his pocket.

    Kai herded them upstairs where they found their rooms next door to each other. Seraiah counted four other doors along the hallway. If those rooms were occupied, she couldn¡¯t tell.

    Kestrel unlocked the first room and pushed the door open to reveal a straw mattress on the floor and a small washbasin in the corner.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to go home,¡± she grumbled, stepping into the room with Seraiah on her heels.

    Kai disappeared briefly into the second room before returning, catching Kestrel poking the mattress with her toe. ¡°There are no fleas, if that¡¯s what you are afraid of. The innkeeper swore his rooms are the cleanest in the area.¡±

    Kestrel stared dubiously at the offending mattress. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I believe that.¡±

    Seraiah silently agreed with her. This was not much of a step up from sleeping outside on the ground. Then again, she didn¡¯t have money to pay for anything else, so she couldn¡¯t complain.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kai said, ¡°with any luck we won¡¯t be here long.¡±

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°I think we may have already used all of our luck.¡±

    He ignored her. ¡°We will start our search now. And you,¡± he looked at Seraiah, ¡°will wait here.¡±

    She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off before she could get a word out.

    ¡°No arguments. If there are mages lurking in this city, it will be dangerous for you to be out. We can¡¯t risk it.¡±

    ¡°They will sense her here just as well as if she were outside,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°She¡¯d be safer with us than left alone, given her lack of skills.¡±

    Seraiah should have been offended by Kestrel¡¯s commentary on her skills, but if that was what it took to sway Kai into letting her join them, she would take it.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said after a long silence, ¡°but you will have to watch her.¡±

    Kestrel mock saluted him as he left the room.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah said. She¡¯d dreaded being left alone to pace and worry.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. I have to get supplies, and someone has to carry them for me.¡± Kestrel grinned at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go pack mule.¡±

    <hr>

    By the time Seraiah and Kestrel made it back to the streets of Baromund, Kai had already disappeared.

    ¡°Scouting,¡± Kestrel told her when she asked.

    ¡°For what? Sterling?¡± She practically had to jog to keep up with Kestrel as she wove her way through the traffic.

    Kestrel shrugged. ¡°Information.¡±

    Seraiah stared at the back of Kestrel¡¯s head. She¡¯d left her dark hair loose to cover her ears, allowing her to blend in with the people around her. She wished Kestrel would tell her more of what Kai was planning.

    ¡°And what happens if we already missed them? Then what? How long will we spend looking?¡±

    ¡°As long as necessary.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± she asked when they were forced to stop on a corner to let a cart go by.

    ¡°It means it¡¯s not up to me. Kai decides on where we go and when. For now, we are here, and that is all we need to know.¡±

    Once the street was clear of carts, they crossed and entered an open-air market, much like the one in Ratha.

    ¡°And you¡¯re happy with that?¡±

    ¡°I pick my battles,¡± Kestrel said, giving her a sideways glance. ¡°Now, where shall we start?¡±

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    They walked the aisles with Kestrel pointing out things they needed, like food and soap. As they walked, Seraiah kept one ear on the chatter of the crowd, but no one seemed to be talking about anything of interest.

    Nothing about a young girl with gray hair.

    Package after package was loaded onto her arms as they went. A few people greeted her, perhaps mistaking her for someone else, and a wave of homesickness washed over her. She recognized some of the vendors here. These were the people that used to sell in Ratha until the mountain had become impassable. Even though Ratha was no longer a bustling city, a small part of her still missed it¡ªmissed her father.

    Then another thought occurred to her. Had she missed her own birthday? Seraiah tried to count back in her head how many days it had been since she left Ratha, but she wasn¡¯t sure. Four days? Five? Surely not more than a week.

    ¡°This should fit,¡± Kestrel said, holding something up in front of Seraiah and tilting her head. ¡°I¡¯ll take it, and those too.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seraiah asked when Kestrel added the wrapped parcel to the ones Seraiah already held.

    ¡°New clothes for you. You¡¯re going to overheat in that dress and nothing of mine fits you.¡±

    Kestrel had offered Seraiah clothes after the beast incident, but she was taller by several inches and had the benefit of proper nutrition and regular exercise.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I will repay you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you will earn your keep if you practice your visions.¡±

    Seraiah cringed at the reminder. She still hadn¡¯t made any progress and had nothing to offer when they asked her questions.

    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°I think we can return to the inn now so you can practice. We should have everything we need to get by, at least until we visit another city.¡±

    They headed back the way they¡¯d come when Kestrel suddenly jerked to a stop in front of her. Seraiah struggled to keep hold of the packages in her arms.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked after she was sure she wasn¡¯t going to drop anything.

    ¡°I thought of one more thing you need.¡±

    Seraiah wanted to groan. Her arms weren¡¯t going to last much longer.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Kestrel said, seeing the look on her face. ¡°You can wait here, and I¡¯ll run back and grab it. Won¡¯t be long,¡± she promised.

    Seraiah shifted the packages around in her arms as Kestrel went back to the stall she had bought clothes from. What else could Kestrel possibly be buying, she wondered. There were enough people between them that she couldn¡¯t get a clear view.

    She shifted again, trying to relieve the burn, and spotted a group of tables and chairs. Two older gentlemen sat at one table holding hands of cards and puffing away on pipes, but the others were unoccupied. It was the perfect place to set down her packages and give her arms a break while she waited for Kestrel.

    But Kestrel had told her not to move.

    Seraiah looked back at the clothing stall. It wasn¡¯t far, and the tables were still in sight of it.

    Mind made up, she hurried over and set the packages down before taking a seat and rubbing her sore arms. Kestrel was still busy speaking with the seller, so Seraiah took a moment to look around the market.

    Brightly colored scarves waved in the breeze from the stall across from the tables. If Freya could see them, she would be jealous of the stunning hues. Next to it was a stall with beautiful silver work. There was everything from candlesticks to teapots to utensils. Seraiah squinted. She thought there might be a display of rings, too. It was tempting to go look, but she didn¡¯t have money and couldn¡¯t leave the packages.

    She settled back in her chair and began rearranging the packages in stacks for something to do when she felt a prickle on the back of her neck. She caught a flash of black out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned to look, there was nothing. People flowed past her table, going in and out of the market, but none of them gave her a second glance.

    You¡¯re being paranoid, she told herself. All those warnings from Kai about being careful and not going anywhere alone were making her see things that weren¡¯t there. The flash of black had likely been one of the scarves.

    ¡°Now we really have everything,¡± Kestrel said, appearing across the table and holding up a pair of short brown leather boots for her to see. ¡°Is everything all right?¡±

    ¡°Fine. I was just looking at those scarves, and you startled me,¡± Seraiah said, forcing a smile. ¡°Are those for me?¡± She hadn¡¯t found any hint of black in the sea of scarves, but it had to be there.

    ¡°I thought you could use something more practical for our journey, and before you ask no, I will not be buying you your own horse.¡± Kestrel took some of the packages from the table. ¡°I get much more enjoyment from tormenting Kai.¡±

    The two of them returned to the inn with their purchases to find that Kai was still out. While they waited, Kestrel made Seraiah put on her new clothes to be sure they fit, and practice trying to summon her visions.

    When evening turned into night, they headed down to the tavern for a meal.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Kai be back by now?¡± Seraiah asked when they were settled in their room again. The hour was growing late.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s fine,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°I¡¯ll wait up for him, but you should get some sleep. This could be the night you have another dream.¡±

    Exhausted from the long day of travel and shopping, Seraiah didn¡¯t argue. She got ready for bed and tucked Sterling¡¯s book beneath her pillow. She¡¯d started the habit at Kestrel¡¯s suggestion even though it wasn¡¯t the most comfortable.

    It only took minutes for her to drift off.

    However, she wasn¡¯t asleep for long before something jerked her awake again. Seraiah didn¡¯t move as she tried to figure out what had disturbed her. A sound?

    The bed was empty beside her, and the room was lit only by the light of the moon streaming in from the open window.

    The open window.

    Seraiah was fairly certain the shutters had been closed when she¡¯d gone to sleep. Now they were thrown wide.

    The creak of a footfall on the floor brought a dark figure into her line of sight. At first she thought it was Kestrel, but no, this person was taller and broader.

    Seraiah¡¯s heart fluttered, and she quickly sat up. At the same time, the figure lunged and grabbed for her. She twisted away and tried to crawl across the bed.

    The other person was fast, and before she could get far, she felt fingers latch around her ankles. With a yelp, she was yanked backward and bodily lifted from the mattress. No matter how she lashed out, she couldn¡¯t seem to land a hit on them. The only thing she did was knock her pillow and Sterling¡¯s book to the floor.

    All her struggling stopped the instant she felt the cold bite of metal against her neck.

    ¡°Make a noise again, and you¡¯ll regret it,¡± her assailant whispered in her ear, the deep voice revealing it was a man who had grabbed her. His arm tightened around her, digging the blade into her skin as he dragged her backward toward the window.

    Seraiah knew she couldn¡¯t let him take her, but he seemed more likely to slit her throat than let her go.

    She was debating throwing herself against the knife anyway when the door to the room flew open.

    Kai rushed in but froze as soon as he saw her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll only tell you once. Let her go.¡± Kai¡¯s voice was utterly calm, but even in the dark, Seraiah could see the lines of tension in his body. One hand had fallen to the hilt of his sword, but he didn¡¯t draw it yet.

    Kestrel appeared in the doorway behind him, a knife in each hand.

    ¡°No,¡± her assailant said, dragging her backward again.

    They were almost at the window now. She needed to do something.

    Seraiah went limp, forcing him to take on her extra weight. A bright spark of pain lanced through her throat as the blade bit into her skin.

    Then he began to choke, making an awful gurgling sound.

    Her eyes went to Kai, who held one hand out in front of him, fingers forming claws like he was gripping something she couldn¡¯t see.

    No, she realized, her captor wasn¡¯t choking.

    He was drowning.

    A second later, he shoved her away and dove for the window.

    Kai caught her, pulling her close as Kestrel raced past.

    Seraiah took one shuddering breath and then another, leaning into Kai¡¯s warmth. She was free. She was safe.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked.

    Seraiah¡¯s cheeks heated as she realized she was clinging to him. She quickly took a step back, and Kai let her go. His eyes focused on her neck.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, as he lifted a hand and gently traced his fingers over the place where the blade had cut her.

    ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she lied, suddenly uncomfortable under his intense gaze. ¡°It would have been much worse if you hadn¡¯t shown up.¡±

    ¡°Shall I follow them?¡± Kestrel asked from where she leaned out the window. ¡°I think I could catch up.¡±

    Kai pulled his fingers away from Seraiah¡¯s skin. ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°Get your things. We¡¯re leaving.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty

    The warmth of Seraiah¡¯s skin lingered on Kai¡¯s fingers as he returned to his room. In the flickering light of a single candle, he could make out a smear of blood from the cut on her throat.

    Something had come over him when he¡¯d seen the blade bite into her, her eyes wide with fear and something else. He hadn¡¯t intended on using his magic against her attacker with how unstable it had been of late, but seeing her hurt had changed his mind.

    He was lucky he hadn¡¯t lost control and caused her further harm.

    Perhaps he should have let Kestrel go after the intruder, or gone after them himself, but the only thing he¡¯d cared about in that moment¡ªcared about now¡ªwas Seraiah¡¯s safety.

    Kai washed his hands at the basin and gathered his things. He and Kestrel had been going over what he¡¯d learned when he¡¯d heard sounds coming from the room next door. Kestrel hadn¡¯t seemed worried, but he was glad he hadn¡¯t ignored it or their seer would have fallen into the wrong hands.

    He had no doubt the mages were behind the attack tonight. There had been rumors of them spotted in the city, but no mention of Sterling. If she¡¯d ever been brought to Baromund, she wasn¡¯t here now.

    Kai shouldered his bag and looked around the room one last time. He could hear Kestrel and Seraiah moving around next door. He¡¯d give them a little extra time while he collected their horses. At this hour, the stable boy was likely dead asleep, so he¡¯d have to saddle them himself.

    Downstairs, the fire in the main hearth was nothing but coals and all was silent. If the innkeeper had heard the commotion, he hadn¡¯t bothered to check on it. Even though Kai had paid for his silence, he suspected the mages might have paid more to stay out of their business.

    In the stable, Kai quickly saddled his horse and then moved on to Kestrel¡¯s. The faster they got out of here, the better. Now that the mages had discovered Seraiah, Kai knew they¡¯d continue to chase them. Continuing the search for Sterling would not be an option as long as Seraiah was with them.

    There was only one place he could take her where she might be safe from their reach.

    Home.

    Kai dreaded what might await him there.

    <hr>

    ¡°You should clean that,¡± Kestrel said as soon as Kai left.

    Seraiah was still standing in the center of the room with a hand pressed to her neck¡ªthe same place where Kai¡¯s fingers had touched. At Kestrel¡¯s words, she sprang into action, grabbing a towel from the washbasin and wetting it before using it to dab at the cut. It barely stung anymore.

    Kestrel picked up Sterling¡¯s book from where it was splayed open on the floor and shoved it into Seraiah¡¯s satchel. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have left you alone. If I were here, he never would have been able to grab you.¡±

    ¡°I thought he was you at first,¡± Seraiah said, watching her move around the space.

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°You were asleep when Kai came back, and I didn¡¯t want to wake you, so we went to his room to speak about what he found. I assumed you would be fine.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Seraiah said, glancing down at the towel. It was tinged pink now. ¡°Did Kai hear anything about Sterling?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, no. He only heard rumors about the mages, who it seems have now heard about you.¡±

    ¡°Is that who . . .¡± she trailed off, gesturing to the window that was still open to the night.

    ¡°Afraid so,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°so get dressed because now we have to run.¡±

    Seraiah set down the towel and hurriedly put on the new clothes and boots Kestrel had gotten for her. When she was done, Kestrel led them downstairs, where Kai waited for them with the horses.

    While Kestrel got their packs situated, Kai helped her onto his horse. Then they were off, heading back down the same streets they¡¯d arrived on less than twelve hours ago.

    ¡°Where are we going now? Do you have another idea where they might have taken Sterling?¡±

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    ¡°We aren¡¯t looking for Sterling anymore,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°What? But why?¡±

    ¡°Because now that you have been discovered, you aren¡¯t safe anymore.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t abandon the search. Sterling is your queen. You need her.¡±

    She needed her. The whole reason she¡¯d left Ratha with them was so they could help find her sister. If they were no longer going to search for her, then maybe it was time for them to part ways.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t like the thought of being alone. Not after tonight.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you quite understand the danger you are in.¡±

    ¡°I understand perfectly,¡± she said, ¡°but I¡¯m not the one you should be protecting.¡±

    Kai remained silent. She could feel the tension in his body beneath her hands.

    ¡°Please. You said you would help me find her.¡±

    ¡°And I will, but right now, your safety comes first.¡±

    It felt like she was arguing with a wall and getting nowhere. She should tell him she wouldn¡¯t go any further with him if they weren¡¯t going to look for Sterling, but she couldn¡¯t make the words come out. Instead, she said, ¡°Then at least tell me where we are going.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m taking you home.¡±

    ¡°To Ratha?¡± A part of her loved the idea of returning to her own familiar space in the world, but another part dreaded the return to snow. She¡¯d be right back where she started¡ªno, further from where she had started, because Sterling was long gone, and she¡¯d have no hope of catching up again, especially not alone.

    ¡°No,¡± Kai said softly. ¡°Not your home. Mine. I¡¯m taking you to the one place the mages won¡¯t be able to reach you. We¡¯re going to Nyrene.¡±

    Seraiah sat back.

    Nyrene. It was a name she only knew from faery tales. He was taking her to the capital of the Elven kingdom.

    <hr>

    Once they were out of Baromund, they pushed the horses into a flat-out run, only slowing when they tired. The sky remained dark except for the moon.

    ¡°Did you see anyone following us?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°No, no one,¡± Kestrel answered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be long before they send someone after us. We¡¯ll give the horses a break for a few hours and get some sleep. Then we need to be moving again.¡±

    At the mention of sleep, Seraiah realized she was exhausted and yet she was the only one who had gotten any rest that night.

    They tended to the horses and set up a small camp. Even though Seraiah tried to volunteer to keep watch, Kestrel wouldn¡¯t hear of it.

    ¡°You look dead on your feet,¡± she said, ¡°and it¡¯s not as though I¡¯ve never spent long periods of time awake before. I¡¯ll be fine taking first watch. You can have my bedroll.¡±

    Too tired to protest any further, Seraiah laid out the bedroll while Kai placed his right next to it. She would have made a comment about it, but she didn¡¯t have the energy. Instead, she curled up and went promptly to sleep.

    And for the first time since learning she was a seer, she dreamed.

    This dream felt different from the others, but still familiar.

    Seraiah found herself standing in a dark room. The air smelled damp and musty, like it was underground. She brushed her fingers against the wall. Stone. Same as the floor under her feet. Looking around, she noticed someone huddled in a shadowed corner. The soft sound of crying reached her ears.

    Curious, Seraiah moved closer to the figure to investigate, but she had a feeling she already knew who it would be.

    Sterling.

    Her wrists and ankles were encircled with metal manacles, and her wool dress¡ªnearly identical to Seraiah¡¯s own¡ªwas torn and dirty. When Sterling lifted her head from where it rested on her knees, Seraiah gasped.

    Sterling¡¯s nose was swollen and looked as if it had been broken. A bruise bloomed across her right cheek. Her silver hair fell forward, covering the left side of her face, and Seraiah could see something dark matted in it.

    She crouched in front of her sister and reached for Sterling¡¯s hand. Normally, in her dreams, she couldn¡¯t touch anything. Her hand would pass right through. She expected this time to be no different.

    Then her fingers grazed the back of Sterling¡¯s hand. Her skin was cold to the touch.

    Sterling pulled her hand away, and her head jerked up. For a second, Seraiah thought Sterling had felt her touch, but then she heard the door swing open behind her. She stayed crouched in front of her sister, waiting.

    ¡°Hurry up and get the girl,¡± a voice instructed. It sounded like a man, but his accent was unfamiliar to her. ¡°We can¡¯t keep them waiting.¡± A figure entered the room, but the voice continued speaking from somewhere outside the doorway. ¡°Bring her to the meeting room.¡±

    A figure approached them, while sharp footsteps retreated down the hall, echoing through the open doorway. Sterling curled in on herself as the figure got closer.

    ¡°Come on, girl. Time to meet your new family.¡± This man had the same unfamiliar accent the other voice had. He grabbed the chain attached to the manacles around Sterling¡¯s wrists, his hand passing right through Seraiah as if she weren¡¯t there, and yanked, forcing Sterling to stand.

    Seraiah stood as well as he pulled Sterling toward the door. Her sister had no choice but to follow or be dragged. Staring at the floor, Sterling followed behind the man, not even putting up a fight. She looked so sad and broken.

    ¡°Sterling,¡± Seraiah called her name, even knowing her sister wouldn¡¯t be able to hear her. She never did.

    Then the second strange thing happened.

    Sterling lifted her head slightly, as if she¡¯d heard Seraiah call out.

    ¡°Sterling.¡±

    This time, Sterling¡¯s head came all the way up, and she turned to look over her shoulder at Seraiah, just as the man pulled the door shut between them.

    Seraiah ran to the door but found it only opened from the outside. Pounding her fist on the rough wood, she screamed Sterling''s name over and over. There was no doubt in her mind that Sterling had heard her the second time. She had to get to her sister. She had to stop them from taking her sister to whoever they were meeting.

    ¡°Seraiah. Seraiah, wake up.¡±

    Someone gave her a hard shake, and her eyes popped open as the dream released her, and she returned to the world.

    She found herself looking up into Kai¡¯s concerned gray eyes. ¡°You were having a nightmare, and you were screaming.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she whispered, her throat raw. ¡°I was having a vision. I saw where they were holding Sterling.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-One

    When Sterling came to again, she found herself propped up against something cold. It took her a moment to figure out the cold was coming from a stone wall. It was almost pitch black wherever they had left her.

    As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she saw she was in a small room. A heavy wooden door with a small barred window was directly across from her. The window was too high for her to see out¡ªonly a giant could reach it.

    She spied a pile of straw in one corner that was probably meant to be a bed. A bucket stood in the other corner. She could already guess what that was for.

    Sterling shifted uncomfortably on the hard floor, and the clink of metal brought her attention to her wrists. They were now bound in front of her; the rope replaced with heavy metal manacles attached by a length of chain. Similar ones were around her ankles.

    Her nose throbbed painfully when she moved her head, and the taste of blood still filled her mouth. More than anything, she wished for some water to rinse the taste away. Sterling could feel the dried blood crusted on her skin¡ªon her lips. She tried to brush at her face with the sleeve of her dress.

    That was a mistake.

    The slightest touch on her nose sent pain shooting through her head. The dried blood would have to stay there. Tentatively, she felt around her nose. It was crooked and seemed twice as big as normal.

    A hot tear rolled down her face before she could stop it¡ªanother quickly followed the first. She brushed them away, careful not to bump her nose.

    Now is not the time to be crying and feeling sorry for yourself.

    Her brain didn¡¯t listen as more tears slipped down her cheeks.

    It was the scraping of the door against the stone floor that snapped her out of her self-pity.

    She was determined not to let her captors see her cry. Quickly, before the door swung all the way open, she wiped the tears from her face. She pretended like she was still unconscious, observing from beneath her lashes.

    A tall figure entered the room first, followed by a shorter, wider one. The short one approached her and nudged her leg with the toe of his boot. ¡°Looks like she is still out,¡± he reported to the other, who had stayed near the doorway.

    She recognized his voice. This must be the one who had pulled her off the horse and broken her nose.

    The taller one sighed. ¡°Leave the cup for her when she wakes up.¡±

    The short one set something down next to her ankle¡ªthe cup she presumed¡ªand turned back to the door.

    ¡°They should be here to get her soon, and then she won¡¯t be our problem anymore.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure this is the girl they want?¡±

    Sterling couldn¡¯t see his face, but she could feel the short one looking at her.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look very powerful. They made her sound like she would be putting up a fight. Seems like a regular girl to me.¡±

    What in the world was he talking about?

    ¡°I¡¯m positive it¡¯s her. No one else possesses hair like that, and soon she will be making us very rich,¡± the taller one answered.

    She cursed her silver hair. Never in her life had it felt more like an affliction than at this moment.

    The short one cackled. ¡°Thank yooou, Princess. Do you think we could get her to do a magic trick before they take her?¡± he asked eagerly.

    Now she was sure he was just plain crazy. This man must have been eating the mushrooms in the woods if he thought she could perform magic. Was this all because she had looked at the amulets in the market? Her interest didn¡¯t make her a magic user.

    The tall man did not reply. He simply turned on his heel and strode out of the room. The other followed, pulling the door closed behind him. A few seconds later, it sounded like a heavy bar locked in place.

    Sterling opened her eyes and inspected the tin cup next to her feet. Slowly reaching forward, she picked it up and brought it to her nose before remembering she couldn¡¯t smell anything. From what she could tell, it looked like it was plain water.

    She wanted nothing more than to drink it and get rid of the taste of blood in her mouth, but a small part of her brain nagged at her. What if it was poisoned?

    No, she reminded herself; they said that whoever wanted her¡ªwanted her alive. If these men wanted their payday, it wasn¡¯t in their best interest to poison her water.

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    She downed it quickly and let the cup fall to the floor, watching as it rolled a few feet away from her, only stopping when it hit the opposite wall. The water had been warm, and not nearly enough to quench her thirst, but at least she could no longer taste copper.

    Sterling drew her knees up to her chest and rested her forehead on them. She let her hair fall forward to hang in limp tendrils around her, like a curtain between her and her cell.

    How was she going to get out of this one?

    <hr>

    Sterling wasn¡¯t sure how much time passed as she sat there, huddled in the dark. It could have been days for all she knew. Time had become irrelevant to her.

    The tears came again as her thoughts wandered back to her family. She was going to miss Seraiah¡¯s birthday, Sterling thought, irrationally.

    Then she felt something brush her hand.

    When she lifted her head to see what it was, the door to her cell swung open, and the short man entered.

    It seemed it was time to hand her over.

    He said something, but Sterling ignored him. She didn¡¯t bother putting up a fight when he jerked on the chain connected to the manacles on her wrists, forcing her to her feet. As he pulled her toward the door, Sterling thought she heard a noise behind her.

    She brushed it off. It was probably nothing.

    When she reached the door, it came a second time.

    Sterling could have sworn it was someone calling her name, but when she turned to look, her jailer shut the door, blocking the cell from her view.

    I must be getting delirious, she decided as she shuffled along.

    It had almost sounded like Seraiah calling her name, but that couldn¡¯t be right. Her sister was far away from here, most likely at home with Papa. Even if she was out searching for her, it wasn¡¯t possible for her to have gotten into Sterling¡¯s cell.

    Still, against all logic, Sterling couldn¡¯t shake the sense Seraiah had been there. She must be losing her mind. It was the only explanation. They¡¯d always been there for each other in times of need, so now, when she needed her sister the most, maybe Sterling¡¯s mind had conjured her.

    The man led her up a flight of stairs, huffing and puffing the entire way, and then down another hallway. This hallway ended at a set of double doors. Pushing one open, he shoved her inside ahead of him.

    The room was circular and large¡ªcavernous, even¡ªlit by torches in wall sconces. The flames sent odd shadows dancing across the walls, giving a menacing cast to everything. Sterling dared a glance upward to find the ceiling hidden in shadow before the man shoved her again toward the center of the room.

    ¡°Almost there, Princess,¡± he said, loud enough for her ears only.

    At the center of the room, a cluster of figures stood together. The tall man Sterling recognized from the market. He had been the seller of amulets. Now, he had his back to them and was quietly speaking to three people in front of him.

    These must be the people who had paid for her. She squinted, trying to get a better look at them in the semi-dark. Large hoods covered their faces, obscuring them from view, and she couldn¡¯t tell if they were male or female.

    As she and the short man joined the group, the tall man fell silent. The short one put pressure on her shoulders, forcing her to her knees. She hit the stone floor hard enough to bruise, but she bit back her cry of pain, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

    She kept her gaze pinned to the ground, but Sterling could feel the stares of the hooded figures burning into her. While she couldn¡¯t see their faces, she knew they were studying her¡ªtaking her measure, determining if she would live up to their expectations.

    A hand shot out and lifted her chin, bringing her gaze up to the shadowed hood.

    The tall man cleared his throat. ¡°This is the princess you wanted. Do we have a deal?¡±

    None of the figures answered. The one holding her chin let go, and instead, reached out to take her hand. His skin was dry and papery against hers¡ªthe nails filed into sharp points, scraped against her skin. He turned her hand over so that her palm faced up.

    The figure on the right moved forward, and quick as a flash drew a blade across the skin of her palm. The blood welled up before she even knew what was happening. As it started to sting, the figure who gripped her hand held out a small bowl and turned her palm so the blood dripped into it.

    Each drop sizzled as if it were made of acid.

    Sterling shuddered with revulsion and yanked her hand away, making her chains rattle against the floor. To her astonishment, the cut healed over, leaving nothing but a tiny red line where it had been. She blinked.

    Was this all a weird dream¡ªmaybe a side effect of all the times they drugged me?

    The figure on the left who had stayed perfectly still up until now stepped forward, extending a large bag. By the sound of it, the bag was full of coins¡ªa lot of them.

    The tall man was quick to snatch it and look inside, while the short man hovered eagerly behind him. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you,¡± he said after he had finished his inspection of the bag¡¯s contents.

    Then he turned, taking the other man with him, and disappeared through the double doors Sterling had entered only a few minutes ago.

    She looked back at the hooded figures.

    None of them had uttered a word at this point. The one in the center, who had held her bleeding hand over a bowl, helped her to stand and motioned for her to follow the figure who had paid for her. She decided she would call him Mr. Moneybags.

    Mr. Moneybags headed to the opposite side of the room from where Sterling had entered. Slowly, she followed, while the other two trailed silently behind them.

    As they approached the far wall, Sterling could barely make out the shape of a door. It blended almost perfectly into the wall. A hidden entrance¡ªor exit, in their case.

    Mr. Moneybags used a concealed handle to pull the door open. It looked heavy, at least a foot thick, but it swung open with ease, revealing a narrow, dark tunnel. The blood-stealer moved to take the lead. He seemed to be the one in charge of this odd little group.

    The other two waited, presumably for Sterling to follow. They didn¡¯t try to pull on the chain attached to her wrists or shove her in the back like the short man had done. Instead, they simply waited in silence as if they had all the time in the world, and they knew she would choose to move forward on her own.

    Sterling took two steps into the darkness and waited for her eyes to adjust before following the leader. The other two stepped in behind her, while Mr. Moneybags closed the door with a resounding thump, cutting off any chance of escape.

    The tunnel sloped gently upward, and after what seemed like an eternity of walking, they arrived at another door.

    This one had a lock on it.

    Blood-stealer drew a key from somewhere inside his robe and unlocked it, pushing the door outward to fill the tunnel with light. Sterling was quick to shield her eyes against the brightness. After being in the dark for who knows how long, the light burned her eyes. The others waited patiently behind her until she was ready.

    Finally, her eyes adjusted, and Sterling lowered her hands as she stumbled out the door and into another world.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Two

    ¡°I saw where they were holding Sterling.¡±

    Kai sat back on his heels as the words sank in. The mere two hours of sleep he¡¯d managed had not been nearly enough, and his thoughts felt fuzzy around the edges.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Kestrel asked, coming over to join them. ¡°What¡¯s happened? Did you have a vision?¡±

    Instead of answering, Seraiah asked a question of her own. ¡°Have you ever heard of a seer being able to interact with their visions?¡±

    Kai scrubbed a hand down his face, trying to think through the fog. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by interact?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°Like touch things or talk to someone and have them see and hear you,¡± Seraiah said, tilting her head to look up at Kestrel.

    His eyes went to the cut on her throat. It was scabbed over now and barely visible in the moonlight. He might not have noticed it if he hadn¡¯t already known it was there. ¡°You spoke with Sterling?¡±

    ¡°Hold on. What? Can one of you tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Kestrel crossed her arms over her chest.

    ¡°I saw Sterling. I saw where they were holding her,¡± Seraiah paused and looked down at her hands twisted together in her lap, ¡°and I think she might have seen me.¡±

    She fell silent again, and he waited for her to continue when she was ready.

    Kestrel had no such patience.

    ¡°And then what happened?¡± she demanded, dropping down next to them on the bedrolls.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be keeping watch?¡± he asked.

    She waved him off. ¡°This is more important. Now tell us what happened from the beginning,¡± she said to Seraiah.

    Seraiah looked at him, and he nodded his encouragement.

    ¡°I dreamed I was in a small room. It looked like a prison cell,¡± she said.

    He listened intently as she explained how she¡¯d seen Sterling wearing metal manacles and how she touched her hand.

    She described the two men who came to collect her.

    ¡°Do you remember their exact wording?¡± he asked. Whatever they¡¯d said might be a clue to who they were or who they were working with. He still suspected it was mages.

    Seraiah pressed her lips together while she thought. ¡°No. It was something about taking her to the meeting room. It sounded like they were handing her off to someone.¡±

    ¡°What can you remember about the room she was being held in?¡± Kestrel asked. ¡°Give me every detail.¡±

    ¡°I think it was underground. It was cold and musty like a cellar might be. Everything was stone except for the door¡ªthat was wood, and I think there was a window. It was up really high, though, and barred.¡±

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Kestrel tapped her fingers against her leg, a nervous habit she¡¯d had since childhood.

    ¡°Um, there was some straw in the corner and maybe a bucket? I didn¡¯t look closely. I was focused on my sister.¡±

    ¡°You said you watched them take Sterling out of the room. Did you see anything beyond the door?¡± he asked.

    He already had a suspicion he knew the place Seraiah was describing.

    ¡°No, it was too dark. Do you think it was some place in Baromund? If they were hiding her underground, then that could be why no one saw her. We could go back.¡± She looked so hopeful as she suggested it, he almost didn¡¯t want to tell her she was wrong.

    ¡°There is no going back,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°There would be no point,¡± Kestrel interrupted, ¡°because that place isn¡¯t in Baromund.¡±

    Kai exchanged a look with her. He could tell she¡¯d come to the same conclusion he had.

    ¡°Then you know where it is? Is it close? We have to go there.¡±

    This time Kestrel was quiet, leaving him to explain their theory.

    ¡°The place you described sounds like an old prison. It hasn¡¯t been used in years. Not since the early days of my mother¡¯s reign. Maybe even before that. Not many would remember it, which would make it the perfect place for a trade. It also has portal access.¡±

    ¡°That could be a problem,¡± Kestrel added.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Seraiah said, looking back and forth between the two of them. ¡°What do you mean by portal access?¡±

    ¡°Portals are how we get from our world to yours and vice versa,¡± Kestrel explained. ¡°We are heading for one now to get back to Nyrene. The prison happens to be closer than the one we were going to use.¡±

    Kai knew what Seraiah¡¯s next question would be before she asked it.

    ¡°Then why aren¡¯t we going there?¡±

    ¡°The portal in the prison should be sealed, and while mages shouldn¡¯t be able to unseal it, it doesn¡¯t mean they haven¡¯t,¡± he said, thinking of the Varanem. If the mages had found a way to alter the portals, they could have been the ones to let the beast in.

    ¡°Then Sterling might still be there. We have to go.¡±

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    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous, and if they did get access to the portal, they would be long gone by the time we arrived.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re already gone, then how would it be dangerous?¡± Seraiah leaned forward.

    ¡°I mean, Sterling would already be long gone, but other mages could still be there. These are the people who tried to grab you in Baromund. If they got their hands on you, they would make you a slave to their whims. By going there, you would be running straight to them. Is that what you want?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°What I want is my sister back,¡± Seraiah said, her hands clenching into fists.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°You talk some sense into her,¡± she said to him.

    Kai studied Seraiah¡¯s face, his eyes dropping to the cut on her neck again. Ending the search for Sterling and rushing Seraiah to Nyrene had been a decision made in panic. He wanted to keep her out of danger, but it wasn¡¯t his choice to make.

    ¡°Oh. Oh no,¡± Kestrel said, having seen the look on his face. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±

    ¡°She deserves a say in the matter. If we make her choices for her, then we are no better than them,¡± he said.

    ¡°You¡¯ll let me go?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°Not alone.¡±

    Kestrel threw her hands up and climbed to her feet.

    ¡°And now where are you going?¡± he asked.

    ¡°To prepare the horses, and for the record, I think this is a very bad idea,¡± she said over her shoulder.

    ¡°Noted,¡± he said dryly. ¡°You can tell us I told you so later.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I will, but it won¡¯t be as satisfying if your corpse can¡¯t hear it.¡±

    <hr>

    The sun rose partway through their journey, and the green landscape gradually gave way to rock and dirt. Large boulders appeared here and there as though sprinkled about by a giant. This time Seraiah rode with Kestrel, who had been quiet since her declaration about this being a bad idea.

    She¡¯d been surprised it was Kai who had agreed to the idea of going to the prison. He had been so adamant about giving up the search for her safety, she¡¯d expected him to argue against chasing her vision. She wasn¡¯t sure what had changed his mind, but she was happy about it all the same.

    Suddenly, Kestrel reined in their horse and dismounted. ¡°Wait here,¡± she said, passing the reins to Seraiah.

    She hoped the horse understood Kestrel¡¯s words because she wasn¡¯t sure what to do to stop it. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked as Kai brought his horse up next to her.

    Kestrel didn¡¯t answer. She bent to study something in the dirt.

    From on top of the horse, the only thing Seraiah could make out were hoof prints. There were more of them in the powdery dirt than their horses alone could create.

    Kestrel looked up after a moment. ¡°It¡¯s blood.¡±

    Kai dismounted, dropping into the dirt next to Kestrel. He studied the spot grimly. ¡°Looks like a body was laying here. Someone small.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s stomach twisted. She¡¯d seen dried blood on Sterling in her vision, but this could be from whatever happened after she¡¯d woken.

    The horse shifted beneath her, and Seraiah decided she¡¯d rather face Kestrel¡¯s wrath than be on the beast any longer. ¡°Are we close to the prison?¡± she asked, when she was safely on the ground again.

    Kai surveyed the area. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too much further. If we didn¡¯t know where it was, I imagine all we would have to do was follow those footprints.¡± He pointed to two sets of prints leading away from them.

    Neither of them looked Sterling sized.

    ¡°We can leave our horses here,¡± Kai indicated a large boulder that would conceal their mounts, ¡°and continue on foot.¡±

    Kestrel stood. ¡°I still don¡¯t think this is a good idea.¡±

    ¡°If she isn¡¯t here, we can carry on with the original plan,¡± Seraiah offered.

    Kestrel gave her a pointed look, as if to say that wasn¡¯t the problem, and Seraiah knew it.

    She pretended not to see and turned away to follow the footprints.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kai and Kestrel to catch up with her. They¡¯d only walked for maybe five minutes before the footsteps disappeared.

    Seraiah stared at the spot where the last one was. ¡°Now what?¡±

    ¡°There should be a trap door around here somewhere. It was rarely used, but necessary in the case of emergency.¡± Kai scuffed his boots in the loose dirt, sending clouds of it into the air.

    Seraiah coughed and covered her nose and mouth with her tunic as she watched Kai search.

    ¡°Here it is,¡± Kestrel said from a few feet away. She pulled on a metal ring, and the wooden door lifted with a groan.

    Seraiah and Kai gathered around her to stare down at the rough stairs carved into the earth.

    ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± Kestrel asked.

    Seraiah stayed quiet, her earlier bravado having faded as she stared down into the dark.

    ¡°No volunteers?¡± Kestrel said. ¡°I¡¯m shocked. I¡¯ll have to pick someone then. Kai, why don¡¯t you go?¡±

    Seraiah looked up in time to catch the face he made at Kestrel. ¡°Isn¡¯t it your job to protect me?¡±

    She would have thought he was serious if it weren¡¯t for the smirk he was wearing.

    ¡°Even I can¡¯t protect you from all of your stupid decisions,¡± Kestrel retorted.

    ¡°Then the least you could do is light the way for us, fire girl,¡± he shot back. ¡°None of the present company can see in the dark.¡±

    Fire girl?

    ¡°Fine,¡± Kestrel huffed. She cupped her hands together, staring at them intently. After a few moments, a glowing ball took form in her palms. It looked like little dancing flames. When Kestrel seemed satisfied with it, she took a step down into the tunnel.

    Seraiah watched Kestrel transfer the orb to her left hand to allow her right to dangle next to her sword. Then she turned to Kai, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Fire and water? I didn¡¯t think those two elements worked well together.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± he said, gesturing for Seraiah to step into the tunnel ahead of him.

    Kestrel¡¯s little sphere of light did a surprisingly good job of lighting up the dark. As they descended into the earth, the air grew colder and took on the musty smell Seraiah remembered from her dream.

    The stairway ended at a narrow passage, only wide enough for them to walk single file. The dust was thick on the ground, but Kestrel¡¯s light revealed it had been recently disturbed.

    They followed the passage for a short distance before it branched off in two different directions.

    ¡°Which way?¡± Kestrel whispered.

    The footsteps led in both directions.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Seraiah said. She hadn¡¯t seen any of this in her dream.

    Kai leaned in close to get a look. He was so close that she could feel the heat coming off of his body.

    ¡°Right,¡± he decided. ¡°If we don¡¯t find anything, we can always go back the other way.¡±

    They hadn¡¯t progressed far down the corridor before the doors appeared.

    Seraiah stopped in her tracks, forcing Kai to stop with her as she stared at the first one.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Kestrel asked, doubling back, and holding her light up to the door.

    ¡°This is the place.¡± Seraiah brushed the rough wood with her fingertips. ¡°This is just like the door I dreamed about.¡±

    Kestrel held up the light, illuminating more of the hallway. There were at least a dozen identical doors stretching out on either side. ¡°If we keep following the footprints, they should take us right to the cell.¡±

    As they moved further, the doors began to have heavy metal bars across them. It was in front of one of these doors that the footprints stopped.

    Seraiah and Kestrel moved aside to allow Kai to lift the heavy bar and open the door.

    Seraiah followed him inside.

    It was exactly the way she remembered it, and it was empty. No Sterling. She tried not to think about what that meant. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she¡¯d known it would be this way, but it was still disheartening.

    Kai bent down to retrieve something from the floor.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Seraiah asked.

    He held it up for her to see. The light from Kestrel¡¯s ball of flames danced off its tarnished surface. ¡°A cup.¡± He touched his fingers to the inside. ¡°And it¡¯s still wet. She may not be here now, but she hasn¡¯t been gone long.¡± He dropped the cup back to the floor with a clatter. ¡°We might not be too late.¡±

    For a moment, Seraiah¡¯s heart lifted with hope before she quickly tamped it down.

    They followed the footsteps back in the other direction, which led them to a short flight of stairs. At the top was another corridor. This one was short, dead-ending at a set of double doors.

    ¡°The portal should be this way,¡± Kai whispered. He drew his sword.

    ¡°Here, take this.¡± Kestrel passed Seraiah the ball of light. She was surprised to find it was cool against her palm.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Kai asked, as Kestrel drew her own sword and got into position next to him.

    ¡°Ready,¡± Kestrel answered.

    Together, they pushed open the double doors.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Three

    The room was empty.

    Torches burned in the wall sconces around the perimeter, but there was no one in sight. Kai sheathed his sword, shoulders slumping. He¡¯d allowed himself to get his hopes up and only found disappointment.

    They were too late again.

    ¡°Seems you didn¡¯t have to worry, after all,¡± he said to Kestrel as she sheathed her own sword and took the fire globe back from Seraiah.

    ¡°Did they use the portal?¡± Seraiah asked, turning away from them to look around the room. She wasn¡¯t quite fast enough to keep him from seeing the sheen of tears in her eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s a distinct possibility,¡± he said. ¡°Either that, or they used the same entrance we did.¡±

    ¡°We would have noticed,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°My money is on the portal. Although, I don¡¯t sense it.¡±

    When Kai tried to feel for it, he couldn¡¯t find anything either.

    Seraiah moved to the center of the room and turned in a circle. ¡°I may not know what a portal looks like,¡± she said, ¡°but all I see is an empty room.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because you wouldn¡¯t be able to see it,¡± Kestrel informed her. ¡°Someone who works with magic would be able to detect it, but even we can¡¯t see it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying I could walk right into it and not even know it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Kai said, watching as Kestrel circled the perimeter of the room, ¡°but that¡¯s why we control them. They also tend to be in unpopulated locations in your world to cut down on the chance of a human stumbling into it by mistake.¡±

    He joined Kestrel in her search, dragging his fingers along the wall in the opposite direction.

    ¡°And what are you doing now?¡± Seraiah asked. He could feel her tracking him as he passed in front of her.

    ¡°Looking for this,¡± Kestrel answered. She gave a tug on the wall, and it swung open, revealing another dark tunnel.

    The door she¡¯d opened looked exactly like the wall on either side of it and was at least a foot thick. Nothing else could be on the other side but the portal.

    ¡°How did you know to look for it?¡± Seraiah asked, reaching out to touch the door as Kai came up behind her.

    ¡°She¡¯s good at her job,¡± he said. ¡°Or at least certain aspects of it,¡± he amended.

    Kestrel made a face at him. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a thing or two about this place,¡± she told Seraiah. ¡°As Kai said, it¡¯s my job to know about it in the event it was ever needed again. The portal was likely hidden like this in case there was an escape.¡±

    Seraiah straightened up from her inspection of the door latch mechanism. ¡°You brought prisoners here from your world, and you didn¡¯t want them to find their way back, but it was fine if they ended up escaping into our world?¡± She directed this accusation at him.

    ¡°It was a different time. Things have changed. As you can see, we don¡¯t use it for that purpose anymore,¡± Kai said.

    The look she gave him clearly said she didn¡¯t like his answer. She turned to Kestrel. ¡°So this is the portal then? We walk in, and we will be in another world?¡±

    ¡°No, no.¡± Kestrel shook her head with a small smile of amusement. ¡°This is only the tunnel that should lead us to the portal.¡± Kestrel held out the orb of light to him. ¡°Your turn to lead the way through the dark tunnel.¡±

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    He grumbled, but took the light from her and stepped inside. He heard the two women step in behind him. This tunnel was similar to the one they had taken to get down to the prison, but unlike the first one, there were no stairs. It was completely flat, gently sloping upwards. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the small place. If anyone waited at the other end, they would know they were coming well before they appeared.

    More worrying, though, he still couldn¡¯t sense the portal. Even if it was still sealed, he should be able to feel something.

    Then, after a few more moments of walking, he felt it. He stopped abruptly, and Seraiah collided with his back.

    ¡°A little warning would have been nice,¡± she grumbled.

    He didn¡¯t point out she should have been watching where she was going because he was too focused on the strange feeling. It was the portal, but not. There was something wrong with it.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± he ordered.

    He continued on his own, taking the light with him. Kestrel could always make another one if they needed it.

    He let his free hand fall to the hilt of his sword, but he didn¡¯t draw it. The blade would only be helpful against a physical enemy. It would do nothing against magic.

    The tunnel dead ended at what looked like a blank wall. Kai touched his fingers to the stone. His hand should have passed right through, but instead it met a solid surface.

    He closed his eyes, concentrating on feeling with his magic. The portal was here, but there was something blocking it. He poked and prodded at it, but it was no good. This was a different kind of magic, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to break it.

    The mages had almost certainly taken Sterling through here and then locked the door behind them.

    Kai slammed his fist into the wall. It did nothing but make his knuckles smart.

    ¡°Is it the portal?¡± Kestrel called to him as he made his way back.

    He didn¡¯t answer until he reached them.

    ¡°It was.¡± He offered the light to Seraiah, but she didn¡¯t take it.

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Kestrel demanded at the same time Seraiah said, ¡°What did you do to your hand?¡±

    ¡°They sealed it,¡± he said, ignoring Seraiah¡¯s question.

    Kestrel scoffed. ¡°So unseal it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. They used a different type of magic. Perhaps if I had full use of my power, things would be different, but as they stand, I can do nothing,¡± he said. It stung more to say the words than the scrapes on his knuckles did. ¡°We¡¯ll have to return¡ª¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡± Kestrel asked, cutting him off. She had stiffened beside Seraiah, her hand reaching for her sword.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°Neither did I.¡±

    Kestrel held a finger to her lips to signal them to stop talking and turned her face back in the direction they had come from.

    That¡¯s when he heard it, too.

    ¡°Someone is here,¡± Kestrel whispered.

    Kai reached for his own sword, but Kestrel waved a hand at him without turning around.

    He let his hand fall back to his side, his thoughts racing through all of their options. It was likely the mages from Baromund who had tracked them here. If their number was small, they might be able to fight. Otherwise, the best option they had was to hide.

    ¡°Did you leave the door to this tunnel open?¡± Kai murmured.

    Kestrel turned then, and it was easy to see the look of horror dawning on her face, even in the dim light. Then she took off back down the tunnel, the dark swallowing her up.

    ¡°Go.¡± Kai pushed Seraiah after Kestrel. He shoved the ball of light back into her hands, so she could see as she ran.

    It may have been safer to leave her to wait for them, but he didn¡¯t trust the magic on the portal. Better he knew where she was than give the mages easy access to grab her.

    Kestrel reached the door well before they did and had pulled it shut again, trapping them inside the tunnel.

    ¡°Is it the mages?¡± Seraiah whispered. She may have put on a brave face earlier when she was warned about them, but now he could hear the fear in her voice.

    Kestrel lifted her hands, indicating she didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°If it is,¡± Kai said, ¡°we better hope they don¡¯t know the location of this tunnel.¡± He wanted to reassure Seraiah and tell her everything would be all right, but he didn¡¯t like to lie. Besides, perhaps the fear would keep her safe.

    Kestrel shushed them and pressed her ear against the door. For a few tense moments, they waited. ¡°It sounds like humans,¡± Kestrel finally whispered.

    ¡°Humans as in mages?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°No. Regular humans. They¡¯re discussing how to split up the money they earned from selling a girl.¡±

    ¡°Sterling¡¯s kidnappers!¡±

    Kai cringed as Seraiah¡¯s voice bounced off the tunnel walls. ¡°How many?¡± he demanded.

    Kestrel listened for another moment. ¡°It seems like only two.¡±

    That matched with what Seraiah had been able to tell them about her vision. Two regular humans who had caused his sister pain.

    Kai shoved past Seraiah and Kestrel and was out the door, drawing his sword before either of them could stop him.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Four

    ¡°Take this,¡± Kestrel pressed something into Seraiah¡¯s free hand, ¡°and wait here.¡±

    Before Seraiah could figure out what Kestrel had given her, she was gone, leaving Seraiah with only the sphere of light for company.

    She couldn¡¯t help but notice the light didn¡¯t appear as bright as it used to be, and the dark seemed to press in around her. When she examined the object Kestrel had given her, she discovered it was one of her many knives. The blade was plain and short, but wicked sharp.

    Seraiah gripped the handle tight. It was better than nothing, even if she didn¡¯t quite have the skills to use it.

    Kestrel had left the door open a crack, so she crept forward, getting as close to it as she dared.

    First, she tried listening, but when she couldn¡¯t hear anything, she decided to risk looking out. Nudging the door with her foot, she opened it a little wider.

    There was no one in the circular room. It was as empty as it had been when they¡¯d entered it the first time.

    But where did they go?

    Seraiah pulled back into the dark tunnel. The safe choice would be to listen to Kestrel and wait for either her or Kai to return. However, a part of her wanted to go find them. She hated the idea of waiting here in the dark alone, and she didn¡¯t like standing around while Sterling¡¯s kidnappers ran free.

    It was the distant crash of two swords meeting that made up her mind.

    Seraiah slipped out the tunnel door, careful to leave it cracked in case she needed to return, and made her way across the room to the double doors. The torches along the walls still burned if a bit lower than they had before. The shadows that previously had appeared menacing now seemed to wave her forward.

    At the doors, she stopped to listen again, but there was nothing. They were too solid for her to make out the sound of conversation, and she could no longer hear the clash of swords.

    Seraiah hoped it was her side who had won the fight, and she wasn¡¯t walking into a trap.

    She eased one door open, ready to slam it at the first sign of danger, but yet again, she was met with emptiness.

    When the opening was wide enough, she slipped through and into the hallway. Now, without the barrier of the door, Seraiah heard the quiet murmur of voices as she crept to the stairs. At the top, Kai¡¯s voice reached her clearly.

    ¡°Tell us who you sold her to,¡± he demanded.

    The response was muffled.

    Seraiah rushed down the stairs but stopped short from reaching the bottom, surprised by the sight that met her.

    In the narrow corridor, which was barely wide enough for one, Kai and Kestrel had trapped a man between them. Kestrel held her sword to the man¡¯s back while Kai¡¯s was leveled at his neck. An old chipped sword lay abandoned not far from them.

    Seraiah¡¯s attention returned to the man. She recognized him from her vision as the one who had yanked Sterling out of her cell. She remembered the way Sterling had cowered away from him. He must be the one who had hurt her. All reasonable thoughts left her head and anger burned hot through her veins as she imagined Sterling¡¯s pain.

    Then she was running, knife lifted.

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    A strong arm wrapped around her waist, hauling her backward before she could reach him.

    Seraiah dropped the light ball to claw at the arm that held her. She had to get to him. She had to make him pay for what he had done.

    The arm tightened, drawing her into a chest.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Kai said softly. His breath tickled her ear. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what he did,¡± she snarled, still fighting Kai¡¯s hold.

    The man on the ground was staring at her like she was a wild animal.

    ¡°Seraiah.¡± She could feel the vibration of Kai¡¯s voice. ¡°Let me handle this before you do something you will regret.¡±

    ¡°He deserves to die for laying a hand on my sister,¡± she said, letting venom slip into her words.

    ¡°I-I did no such t-thing,¡± the man stammered, avoiding her gaze.

    ¡°Then how did she break her nose?¡± she hissed. ¡°Where did those bruises come from? They didn¡¯t appear on their own.¡±

    ¡°H-How do y-you know?¡± He trembled under her gaze. If he shook any harder, he was likely to impale himself on the end of Kai¡¯s sword. ¡°Witch,¡± he accused, before spitting at her.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you,¡± Kai warned, brushing the tip of his sword ever so slightly against the man¡¯s neck.

    The man fell silent as the tiniest drop of blood appeared on his broken skin, glittering like a ruby in the light.

    Some of the fight went out of Seraiah at the sight of blood, and she lowered the knife as logic returned. What exactly had she thought she would do? Stab the man? She¡¯d never in her life lifted a hand against someone, much less a knife. She wouldn¡¯t be any better than him if she used a weapon against someone who was defenseless, no matter what they may have done.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she relented.

    Kai¡¯s hold loosened, but he didn¡¯t let her go like he was afraid she may change her mind and go charging again.

    ¡°I promise I won¡¯t stab anyone.¡±

    Kestrel snickered, but Kai finally released her, shoving her behind him.

    ¡°Stay out of the way,¡± he ordered.

    Seraiah crossed her arms over her chest, mindful of the knife blade in her hand. The light ball she¡¯d dropped had rolled close to the man, but no one made a move to retrieve it.

    ¡°Now where were we,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°I believe he was going to tell us who he sold Sterling to,¡± Kestrel said. She nudged the man in the back with her blade. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know nobody named Sterling,¡± he grumbled, flinching away from her blade.

    ¡°Then who was it?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°Some girl¡ªa princess or something. Said we¡¯d know her by her strange silver hair.¡±

    ¡°Then tell us about this girl,¡± Kai said, ¡°and who you sold her to.¡±

    The man was silent for a moment, but another warning poke from Kai got him speaking. ¡°We saw her in Ratha and grabbed her. Then we brought her here, where we were to trade her for our reward. We never saw the people who wanted her,¡± he said sullenly.

    ¡°Then who did you hand her off to?¡± Kestrel asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t leave her in an empty room, did you?¡±

    ¡°They were wearing robes with hoods. I never saw their faces,¡± he insisted. ¡°They didn¡¯t even speak.¡±

    ¡°What happened, then?¡± Seraiah asked. Kai had told her to stay out of the way, but he hadn¡¯t told her she couldn¡¯t speak.

    The man glared at her but continued answering. ¡°We met them in that circular room with the girl. One of them cut her with a knife and then . . .¡± he trailed off.

    Seraiah scowled. Whoever that person was who cut Sterling would pay for it. ¡°And then?¡± she prompted.

    ¡°And then he put her blood in a bowl where it sizzled. After that, another of them handed over a bag of coins, and we left. That¡¯s all I know.¡±

    ¡°How did you find out about the job?¡± Kestrel asked.

    The man jumped a little at the sound of her voice. ¡°My partner told me. I had nothing to do with it.¡±

    That¡¯s what had been bothering Seraiah.

    There was only one of them, but she remembered hearing another man speaking from outside Sterling¡¯s cell, and Kestrel had said she heard two people arguing.

    ¡°Where is your partner now?¡± Seraiah asked.

    He shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t know. We were only working together for this job. Then we were splitting up.¡±

    ¡°Did you see the other one?¡± Seraiah asked Kai.

    He flipped his sword, using the hilt to knock the man unconscious before answering her. ¡°He took off before we could grab him.¡±

    ¡°Do you think¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t finished the question before Kai was already nodding.

    ¡°Undoubtedly, headed back to Baromund.¡±

    To tell the mages their whereabouts if they didn¡¯t know already.

    ¡°We need to get to that portal as soon as possible before they catch up to us.¡± Kai sheathed his sword, stepping around the man¡¯s unconscious form.

    ¡°What about him?¡±

    ¡°Leave him,¡± Kai answered.

    ¡°And if he wakes up?¡±

    ¡°That will be awhile, and by then it won¡¯t matter. We should be long gone.¡±

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t argue with that, but she still thought he deserved more of a punishment. She kicked him hard before stepping over him. ¡°That¡¯s for Sterling,¡± she whispered, as she followed Kai and Kestrel, leaving the man to the dark.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Five

    The trio returned to the surface and found their horses exactly where they had left them.

    ¡°Seraiah, you¡¯re with me,¡± Kai said when she followed Kestrel to her horse.

    Reluctantly, she joined him, wondering if she was in for a lecture about involving herself in the interrogation of Sterling¡¯s kidnapper.

    Kai was silent as he boosted her onto the horse and then swung on behind her. When he picked up the reins, she found herself caged in by his arms.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be going fast,¡± he said, as though that explained anything.

    More likely he was scared she might stab him in the back. Kestrel hadn¡¯t asked for her knife to be returned, so Seraiah had tucked it away.

    The horse shifted suddenly beneath her, and Seraiah grabbed for its mane in a panic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I got you,¡± Kai said, one hand going to her hip to steady her while the other holding the reins patted the horse¡¯s neck. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡±

    She had no idea if he was trying to soothe the horse or her, and she wasn¡¯t about to embarrass herself by asking.

    Kai released her and rested his hand on his leg, giving her a glimpse of the scrape along his knuckles.

    ¡°What happened to your hand?¡± He¡¯d ignored the question when she¡¯d asked back in the tunnel.

    ¡°Got in a fight with a wall,¡± he said.

    She snorted. ¡°What really happened?¡±

    ¡°Exactly as I said. I was frustrated when I couldn¡¯t open the portal and may have punched a wall. Not one of my finer moments.¡±

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t picture him losing his cool. Even when she¡¯d annoyed him, he¡¯d remained calm and detached. ¡°You should clean it so it doesn¡¯t get infected,¡± she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll be gone soon anyway.¡±

    Before she could ask him what he meant by that, Kestrel called out. ¡°Ready? I¡¯ll follow you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll want to hold on,¡± Kai warned. Then he nudged the horse into a run.

    Their speed was breakneck.

    ¡°How far are we from the portal?¡± Seraiah had to shout to be heard over the wind as they raced away from the prison.

    ¡°A day, maybe,¡± Kai said close to her ear, sending tingles down her spine. ¡°If we ride through the night, we might reach it by mid-morning.¡±

    The thought of another sleepless night was not appealing, but there wasn¡¯t any other choice. They needed to cross over before the mages found them here, and perhaps if they were fast enough, they might catch Sterling on the other side.

    Seraiah kept this thought to herself. She knew it was likely hopeless that they would catch up to Sterling now, but she didn¡¯t want Kai to confirm it. Hope was the only thing keeping her going at this point.

    Well, hope and fear.

    They¡¯d lost several hours of daylight while they were underground, and it was now nearing dusk. Her stomach took that moment to grumble. When was the last time they¡¯d eaten? Was it before she had the dream? Seraiah couldn¡¯t remember. Either way, it felt like ages ago.

    ¡°We can stop briefly after dark, but not for long,¡± Kai said. She felt the vibration of his voice when he spoke and realized she¡¯d been leaning back against him. She quickly sat upright, making a conscious effort to put space between them so he wouldn¡¯t feel any more of her stomach¡¯s complaints.

    By the time Kai deemed it safe to stop, Seraiah was starving and grumpy. After watering the horses, the three sat down to a meal of dried meat and stale bread. They were almost finished eating when Seraiah caught a flicker of light on the horizon behind them.

    She squinted, but couldn¡¯t quite make out what it was.

    ¡°Campfire,¡± Kai said, answering her unvoiced question.

    ¡°You think it¡¯s them?¡± By them she meant the mages.

    ¡°Has to be. We¡¯ll have to hope they¡¯re stopping for the night, and we can get ahead.¡±

    After they finished eating, they hurried back to the horses and rode through the night with no further sightings of their tail.

    When they stopped again for a morning meal and for Seraiah to switch back to Kai¡¯s horse, the horizon was clear.

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    It didn¡¯t stay that way for long.

    Kestrel was the first to spot them, and as the sun rose, it lit up their dust cloud. It appeared the mages hadn¡¯t stopped for the night as Kai had hoped, unless this was a different group.

    Urging their horses faster than Seraiah thought possible, they raced over the rocky ground. For a moment, she wondered how it was that their horses didn¡¯t trip.

    Better to not think about it, she decided, lest she accidentally jinx them.

    By Kai¡¯s earlier estimates, they should be getting close to the portal now. They just needed to hang on for a little longer.

    Seraiah heard Kai utter a low curse behind her, and when she looked back, she immediately saw the problem.

    The mages were gaining on them.

    It didn¡¯t seem like it was possible with the way their horses were flying over the ground, but there was no doubt about it. The mages were closer, eating up the space between them.

    Kai leaned in close. ¡°Do you see that large boulder up ahead?¡± He didn¡¯t need to point for her to know which he was referring to. It looked more like a small mountain than a boulder. ¡°When we are parallel to it, I¡¯m going to slow the horse, and I want you to jump.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Did she hear that right? Had he just told her to jump off a moving horse?

    ¡°Did you hear me?¡± he asked when she didn¡¯t respond.

    She nodded.

    ¡°It will be fine,¡± he reassured her. ¡°Tuck into a ball and roll.¡±

    He made it sound like it was easy and normal to be jumping off a horse.

    ¡°Kestrel will see you and follow. Then I will take Kestrel¡¯s horse and draw them off while the two of you continue on foot. I¡¯ll meet you on the other side of the portal. Do not wait for me.¡±

    He sounded fairly certain that Kestrel would be willing to jump from her own horse, but Seraiah was still skeptical. She didn¡¯t have long to contemplate it, though.

    ¡°Get ready. It¡¯s coming up fast.¡± He leaned back and shifted the reins to one hand to give her room.

    The boulder loomed up ahead.

    You can do this, Seraiah told herself. It will be perfectly fine. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves.

    It didn¡¯t work.

    She couldn¡¯t do this.

    Panic set in. There was no way she was jumping off this horse.

    ¡°Now,¡± Kai roared as they came up on the boulder.

    Seraiah swore Kai hadn¡¯t slowed down at all. That liar.

    Quickly, she pushed herself off and away from the horse¡¯s sharp hooves. She did her best to tuck herself into a ball and squeezed her eyes shut tight, bracing herself for impact.

    It was over in a matter of seconds.

    She let herself lay there in a heap, trying to catch her breath when the sound of another body hitting the ground reached her. A moment later, Kestrel appeared in her vision.

    ¡°Move! We have to get out of sight or whatever hare-brained idea Kai has cooked up isn¡¯t going to work.¡±

    Kestrel yanked Seraiah to her feet and pulled her around the other side of the boulder. They crouched there, waiting for the sound of the other riders to pass by.

    Carefully, Seraiah felt the side of her ribs. They were tender to the touch where she¡¯d hit a rock. Kestrel, her saddlebag slung over one shoulder, was a little dusty but didn¡¯t seem any worse for the wear.

    As the sound of hoofbeats grew louder, Seraiah held her breath. She hoped they hadn¡¯t seen her and Kestrel jump and would continue to follow Kai.

    The hoof beats slowed and then stopped not a few feet from where they were hidden.

    Seraiah looked to Kestrel, and Kestrel held a finger to her lips. The sound of voices drifted to them.

    ¡°It looked like at least one of the horses lost its rider,¡± one man said. ¡°One minute they were there, and the next gone.¡±

    ¡°Has to be a trick of the light,¡± someone else responded. ¡°Do you see anyone around here? They wouldn¡¯t have jumped off. Could be one of them has that ability to bend light and cloaked them.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Why wouldn¡¯t they have been cloaking themselves this whole time, then?¡±

    ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t last forever, you dim-wit. You should know that. Come on. We¡¯re wasting time here while they¡¯re getting farther away.¡±

    After a few tense moments, the sound of the horses moved off. When Kestrel determined they were far enough away, she stood, brushing the dust from her clothes. ¡°Did Kai happen to tell you anything about his plan before he kicked you off his horse?¡±

    Seraiah squinted up at her and repeated what little Kai had told her.

    ¡°Typical,¡± Kestrel murmured when she finished. ¡°He better get back here before we get to Nyrene because I don¡¯t know how he thinks I am going to explain a missing prince and a human girl,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Come on.¡± She strode off in the direction they¡¯d been traveling. ¡°Portal is this way, but it¡¯ll take us a few hours on foot. Best get moving before anyone else comes along.¡±

    Seraiah didn¡¯t move. ¡°Were those men right about being able to bend the light? Is that possible?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Kestrel said, turning back to look at her. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it, but I¡¯ve never met anyone who could do it. It¡¯s a rare ability, even more so than yours. Now, come on.¡±

    Seraiah climbed to her feet, trying not to jar her bruised ribs, and followed Kestrel. Her entire body was slowly starting to ache. Kestrel continued to grumble to herself as she walked, and Seraiah swore she heard Kai¡¯s name and stupid mentioned a few times. There might also have been something about strangling him.

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to become drenched in sweat as the sun rose higher in the sky, beating down on their heads.

    ¡°Please, tell me we are almost there,¡± Seraiah panted as she fanned herself in the shade of one of the many boulders scattered around.

    Kestrel shrugged, wiping a rivulet of sweat from her temple. ¡°Should be close,¡± she said, taking a swig of water from her water bag before passing it to Seraiah.

    ¡°You said that the last time I asked,¡± Seraiah accused her before taking a sip of the warm water.

    ¡°And the time before that. Eventually, I figure you¡¯ll stop asking.¡±

    Seraiah glared and took another sip before passing the bag back. She couldn¡¯t help but notice how light it was starting to feel.

    They stepped back into the blazing sun and continued on.

    After a few minutes, Kestrel abruptly stopped in the middle of a large open area. ¡°Here we are,¡± she declared.

    Seraiah shaded her eyes and looked around. She didn¡¯t see anything different about this place. In fact, it seemed suspiciously familiar, and if she didn¡¯t know any better, she would say they¡¯d been walking in circles. ¡°What now? Do we just walk through, and we will magically be there?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± Kestrel answered. She had tilted her head sideways and appeared to be listening to something Seraiah couldn¡¯t hear. Her eyes took on an unfocused look. Slowly, her lips curved up into a smile, and she held out her hand.

    Seraiah took it uncertainly. ¡°Is there anything special I need to do?¡±

    Kestrel refocused on her. ¡°Walk with me,¡± she said and led Seraiah forward.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Six

    When Kai looked back, he found Kestrel¡¯s riderless horse still following him. Seraiah and Kestrel had disappeared from sight.

    Knowing Kestrel, she was extremely angry with him right now and would like to murder him herself for going off on his own.

    It¡¯s for her own good, he thought, leaning further forward on his horse to avoid as much of the wind as he could.

    His horse wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up this frantic pace for much longer, but he would have to hope it was good enough.

    He snuck another glance back and spotted the mages approaching the boulder where he¡¯d left Seraiah. From the looks of it, there were only two of them. If it came down to a fight, he might be able to take them¡ªassuming his magic played along.

    Then, to his horror, they slowed and stopped.

    Kai sat up, slowing his horse and wheeling the beast around to face the direction they¡¯d come. Kestrel¡¯s horse kept going.

    He stood in his stirrups and shaded his eyes against the harsh sun. From what he could tell, they didn¡¯t appear to be leaving their horses. They stood there, hands gesturing in the air like they were having an argument.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t find them,¡± Kai murmured. ¡°Chase me.¡±

    Kestrel should be able to hold her own well enough against the two of them. However, she had Seraiah to watch out for, and there was no telling what sort of magic these mages might be able to use.

    Finally, after several long moments, there was movement in his direction.

    He quickly turned his horse and urged it onward.

    Eventually, their speed began to falter.

    ¡°Not yet. Not yet. Just a little further,¡± he said to his horse. ¡°You can do it.¡±

    He had to be careful. If he pushed the beast too hard, he¡¯d find himself on foot, and then he¡¯d really be in trouble.

    A check on the mages showed they were still following, but their mounts had begun to tire, too. The distance between them grew until they were small specks behind him.

    Kai let his horse slow and searched the horizon. Kestrel¡¯s horse was nowhere to be seen, but he did spy a stream of water.

    Perfect.

    Kai let his horse walk and kept an eye on the mages. They were still a way off, giving him plenty of time to set his trap.

    The stream may have been little more than a trickle of water, but with some help from his magic, it became a torrent of rushing water. Until he let it go, the mages would be unable to cross to the other side. They¡¯d have to find another way around.

    Kai dismounted and led his poor, exhausted horse a short distance upstream and out of direct eyesight.

    Then he waited.

    The drum of hoof beats announced their arrival, but all fell silent as they beheld the water.

    ¡°Was this here before?¡± one of them asked.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. We have to get to the other side. Go, you stupid beast.¡±

    ¡°If we can¡¯t cross, then they couldn¡¯t either.¡±

    ¡°You see those tracks?¡±

    Kai smiled. He¡¯d made sure to leave a very clear trail for them.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll have¡ª¡±

    A horse¡¯s snort was followed by a loud splash and a string of curses. Then came hoofbeats.

    ¡°Why are you standing there? We¡¯re wasting time. Go get my horse, and we¡¯ll find another place to cross.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t think . . . maybe we can share one horse,¡± the first voice stammered.

    After much grumbling, Kai heard the sounds of a horse moving away. He waited a few more moments before leaving the safety of his hiding spot. Downstream, he spotted a single horse with two riders on its back. The second horse was nowhere to be found.

    Kai waited, holding on to the water for as long as he could, giving his horse a break and allowing the mages to get a good distance away.

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    Finally, when he could feel the magic weakening, he let go. Then he mounted his horse and pointed it back in the direction of the portal.

    ¡°Time to go find out how mad Kestrel is,¡± he said, giving the horse a pat on the neck. ¡°You¡¯ll protect me from her, right?¡±

    His horse did not respond.

    <hr>

    One step.

    Two.

    On the third, Seraiah felt a strange tugging sensation. It was as if her body was being pulled in different directions. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it was a strange feeling.

    When she tried to speak to ask Kestrel what was happening, Seraiah realized she couldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t form the words.

    Was Kestrel still there?

    She could no longer feel Kestrel¡¯s hand in hers. In fact, she could no longer feel anything.

    Then the portal spat her out.

    Waves of nausea washed over her, and she found herself on her knees, in the dirt¡ªretching. Kestrel stood a few feet away, calmly waiting for her to finish.

    When it finally passed, Seraiah wiped her mouth on her tunic sleeve and glared at Kestrel.

    ¡°What the hells was that?¡±

    ¡°That was the portal.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to warn me? I thought it was going to be like walking through a door!¡±

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Kestrel frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not usually like that. However, I¡¯ve never brought a human with me. I barely feel a tingle when I pass through it.¡±

    Seraiah looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers to make sure they were truly there. It was so strange to not be able to feel or control her body. When she was satisfied that everything was still there and whole, she looked up to take in the new world.

    It was identical to the one she¡¯d just left.

    Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure what she had expected to see, but she¡¯d thought it would at least be somewhat different.

    Instead, the same dry desert landscape surrounded them as far as the eye could see. ¡°Did we even go anywhere?¡± she asked. ¡°Maybe the portal isn¡¯t working because this looks like the same place.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s working all right.¡± Kestrel laughed. ¡°The area around the portal looks the same, but as soon as we take a few steps away¡ªit will change. Speaking of which, we should hurry up and move away from here, in case someone else comes tumbling through. I know we didn¡¯t see anyone following us, but I would rather not take any chances.¡±

    With a little help from Kestrel, Seraiah regained her footing, shaking off the dizziness. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait for Kai?¡±

    Kestrel shrugged. ¡°He told you not to. I¡¯m sure he is perfectly fine wherever he is.¡± She tried to sound nonchalant, but Seraiah could still hear the undercurrent of worry in her words.

    They started off in what Seraiah estimated was a northward direction.

    ¡°Here¡¯s a warning for you,¡± Kestrel said, as they walked. ¡°Everything here can kill you, but I can do it the most efficiently.¡± She delivered this with a perfectly straight face.

    Seraiah paled. Had Kestrel just threatened to kill her?

    Kestrel cracked a smile. ¡°Stay close now.¡±

    Seraiah stopped in her tracks.

    ¡°Oh, come on.¡± Kestrel turned, walking backward. She was full-on grinning now. ¡°I was teasing.¡± She paused. ¡°Except for the part about everything being able to kill you, that part is true.¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t find it amusing,¡± Seraiah said, but she started walking again. ¡°You should work on that.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like someone needs a nap.¡±

    Truer words had never been spoken.

    Seraiah was exhausted. Still, she preferred when Kai was the victim of Kestrel¡¯s teasing, not her. As she trudged forward, the world took on a fuzzy quality. She rubbed her eyes and when she looked again¡ªthey were standing in a field of knee high grass.

    ¡°See, what did I tell you?¡± Kestrel held out her arms, gesturing at the new scenery around them.

    ¡°Does this mean we can stop now?¡± Seraiah imagined the long grass would make a decently comfortable bed.

    ¡°See those trees up ahead?¡±

    Seraiah squinted, looking for the trees Kestrel was referring to. They were nothing more than tiny specks on the horizon.

    ¡°When we reach the trees, we can stop.¡±

    Seraiah groaned. ¡°You really are trying to kill me, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that far,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°I promise.¡±

    <hr>

    Kestrel lied.

    It was that far, and Seraiah¡¯s feet were killing her by the time they made it there. She slumped at the base of one of the trees and pulled her boots off, afraid of what she was going to find. Her feet were raw from all the walking they had done that day. She wasn¡¯t used to long treks on foot and her feet certainly showed it. She counted at least five blisters, including one between her toes.

    ¡°How far is Nyrene from here?¡± she asked, afraid of the answer.

    ¡°On foot?¡± Kestrel thought a moment. ¡°A few days, maybe. If we still had our horses, it would only be a day or so.¡±

    ¡°I never thought I would say this, but I miss those horses.¡± Seraiah sighed and leaned her head back against the trunk behind her, closing her eyes.

    ¡°Me too.¡± Seraiah heard Kestrel respond quietly, and then she was asleep.

    <hr>

    The sun woke Seraiah the next morning. Sometime during the night, she had curled up in a ball at the base of the tree. Now, she sat up slowly, blinking in the morning light.

    ¡°Good morning, Sunshine,¡± Kestrel greeted her. ¡°Hope you¡¯re ready for more walking today.¡±

    Seraiah groaned. She most certainly wasn¡¯t ready for more walking. Her body hurt in places she hadn¡¯t known existed.

    ¡°Did you even sleep?¡± she asked Kestrel as she got to her feet and brushed herself off. She was not looking forward to putting her boots back on.

    ¡°A little,¡± Kestrel responded. ¡°Someone had to make sure nothing came to eat us in the night.¡±

    ¡°Is it not safe here?¡±

    ¡°Remember the Varanem?¡±

    Seraiah nodded. How could she forget? She swore the stink of it still lingered in her hair.

    ¡°Well, some of the creatures that inhabit this world make the Varanem look like a puppy.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Seraiah choked out. She didn¡¯t want to think about what could be worse than the Varanem.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This area is a relatively peaceful place, but one can never be too careful. By the way, you might want to find a different way to carry my knife. May I suggest your boot?¡±

    Kestrel showed her how to safely tuck it away so that she wouldn¡¯t cut herself. ¡°I thought you would want it back,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°I have plenty of other ones and if it means you¡¯ll practice learning to use it, fine by me. Just don¡¯t stab anyone I like.¡±

    ¡°And who would that be?¡±

    Kestrel pretended to think. ¡°You know, I¡¯ll have to get back to you about that.¡±

    Seraiah snickered. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Kai doesn¡¯t make the list?¡±

    ¡°It really depends on the¡ª¡± Kestrel froze.

    In the quiet, Seraiah heard the drum of approaching hoofbeats.

 The Lost Queen Book 1 : Chapter Twenty-Seven

    ¡°Quick! Hide in the trees,¡± Kestrel ordered, her hand falling to her sword.

    Instead of following Kestrel¡¯s orders, Seraiah turned toward the sound. A lone rider had appeared on the horizon. From here, she couldn¡¯t make out any details, but something in her gut told her she didn¡¯t have to be concerned. Apparently, Kestrel felt the same way because she dropped her hand from her weapon, and together, they waited.

    Kestrel launched herself at the rider as soon as he stopped and dismounted.

    ¡°Whoa.¡± Kai attempted to dodge her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t be mad.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to hug you, you idiot. Now stand still.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were going to murder me,¡± Kai said, gazing over Kestrel¡¯s shoulder to Seraiah.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what was happening either.¡± Seraiah tried and failed to suppress a smile. ¡°We were worried about you, though.¡±

    ¡°You were worried about me?¡±

    He was definitely staring at her now.

    Before Seraiah could amend her statement, Kestrel ended her hug and punched him in the shoulder.

    ¡°Ow! What was that for?¡± he asked.

    Seraiah was grateful for the distraction.

    ¡°That was for being stupid and making me worry,¡± Kestrel said, folding her arms over her chest. ¡°Also, where is my horse?¡±

    Kai backed away from her. ¡°I may have lost him.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, you may have lost him?¡±

    ¡°I mean, I definitely lost him, and you will have to walk back to Nyrene.¡±

    ¡°Seraiah?¡± Kestrel looked back at her.

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°He is not on my list today. You have my blessing.¡±

    Kai swung onto his horse. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to know what that means, but I promise I¡¯ll send someone back to fetch you. Seraiah, you¡¯re welcome to ride with me or wait here with Kestrel.¡±

    She looked back and forth between the two of them. As much as she¡¯d like to be in a city again with all of its comforts, she felt bad leaving Kestrel by herself. ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay.¡±

    For a second, Seraiah thought she saw a flash of disappointment, but Kai¡¯s expression quickly returned to neutral.

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he said. ¡°Expect someone to find you in two days.¡±

    Then he disappeared into the trees, leaving them alone again.

    Seraiah sat back down, making herself comfortable.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kestrel asked, hands on her hips.

    ¡°Waiting.¡±

    ¡°Since when do you wait?¡± Kestrel gave her a meaningful look.

    ¡°It was one time you told me to wait, and I didn¡¯t listen.¡±

    Kestrel narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°What? What are we going to do? Start walking?¡±

    Please, no, Seraiah thought. She wasn¡¯t sure her feet could take any more.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we are going to do,¡± Kestrel said to Seraiah¡¯s horror. ¡°Put your boots on and let¡¯s get moving.¡±

    <hr>

    As Kai rode away from Seraiah and Kestrel, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Seraiah had turned him down and chosen to stay with Kestrel. It couldn¡¯t be that she enjoyed being in the woods with no shelter. He would have thought she¡¯d want to rest in a room of her own in the castle.

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    Was it him?

    He knew what Kestrel would say.

    Yes. You could stand to be nicer.

    He would work on it in Nyrene. Not that it mattered if Seraiah liked him or not. As long as she continued working with him to get Sterling back, that was all that mattered.

    When he reached Nyrene, the gates of the city stood wide open, and guards patrolled the entrance as they always did.

    When they caught sight of him, they did a double-take and then quickly bowed. Kai saluted them but didn¡¯t stop. He took the fastest route to the castle, dreading who might greet him there. With any luck, he could put off speaking to any of the council until he had at least bathed.

    His horse clattered into the stable yard, where Kai was immediately surrounded by stable elves and more members of the guard. They talked over each other as they bowed and greeted him and asked after his travels.

    There was one voice, however, who cut through all of them and sent them scattering.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded, grabbing hold of Kai¡¯s reins.

    ¡°Good to see you too, Eryx,¡± Kai said, dismounting.

    Eryx inclined his head in an approximation of a bow. ¡°Tell me nothing happened to her.¡±

    ¡°Kestrel is fine, of course. A little angry with me, perhaps, but perfectly fine. She does, however, require a horse.¡±

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she will tell you all the details herself when you see her. Oh, and there is a surprise with her. Do try not to draw attention when you return. I¡¯ll be here with someone to show our guest to her rooms.¡±

    Kai turned to remove his saddle bag and discovered he¡¯d forgotten to return Seraiah¡¯s satchel. If she didn¡¯t like him now, that certainly wasn¡¯t going to change if he didn¡¯t give it back to her.

    He hefted her bag and his own over his shoulder before some servant could try to take it from him. When he turned back again, Eryx was still standing there.

    ¡°A word of warning before I leave,¡± Eryx said, keeping his voice low. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to hold them off as best I could, but the council has questions and they want answers.¡±

    Kai sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t they always,¡± he muttered.

    He squared his shoulders and then set off for the castle and all the duties of ruling a kingdom that awaited him.

    <hr>

    Thanks to Kestrel forcing them to walk, it took a bit less than two days for someone to reach them.

    ¡°Heard there was a lady in these woods who needed a ride. Think you could point me in her direction?¡± an unfamiliar voice addressed them.

    Seraiah looked up to find a dark-haired young elf mounted on a silver horse, holding the lead of a second black and white one.

    ¡°Very funny, Eryx.¡± Kestrel scowled. ¡°Took you long enough to get here.¡±

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but notice the way Kestrel¡¯s eyes had lit up when she looked at this newcomer. Whoever this was, was clearly on her list of people she liked.

    ¡°Prince Kaimana said I should go at a leisurely pace. No rush,¡± Eryx teased.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he did.¡±

    Eryx looked away from Kestrel, his eyes landing on her. ¡°And who is your new companion?¡±

    ¡°This is Seraiah. Seraiah meet Eryx. He is my second in command.¡±

    ¡°What she means to say is I do all her work while she is out gallivanting with the prince.¡± He grinned at Kestrel, who rolled her eyes.

    When his gaze returned to Seraiah, his face became serious. His smile fading as he studied her. ¡°You brought a human back with you?¡± Eryx asked, eyebrows raised. ¡°Kaimana mentioned you had a surprise with you, but I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be a human.¡±

    He said human, the way Seraiah might say insect.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go spreading this around, but Seraiah is a seer.¡± Kestrel held up her finger when he opened his mouth to ask another question. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you anything else. If Kai decides it¡¯s necessary for you to know, then you will.¡±

    ¡°He told me you would tell me everything,¡± Eryx said.

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that when we get back.¡±

    Eryx didn¡¯t push for any more details. Instead, he said, ¡°Can¡¯t wait to see how the court reacts to this. Our prince has certainly gotten himself wrapped up in something, hasn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Nothing new. Now can we please hurry? I would kill for a hot bath right now,¡± Kestrel declared, taking the lead of the second horse from Eryx and motioning Seraiah over.

    ¡°You sure need one,¡± Eryx commented as he waited for them to mount their horse.

    ¡°You try traveling for weeks on end and see how good you smell,¡± Kestrel retorted, wheeling the horse around and kicking him forward.

    <hr>

    They were much faster on horseback. In only a few hours, they emerged from the forest to be greeted by steep hills with a well-trodden road winding through them. It was this road that they now followed.

    As they made their way up and over a second large hill, Seraiah started to faintly detect a salty tang in the air, mixing with another scent that she couldn¡¯t quite name. It was vaguely familiar, but it took her a minute to figure out why¡ªit reminded her of Kai.

    She asked Kestrel about it.

    ¡°We are close to the sea. That¡¯s what you¡¯re smelling. An hour or two ride that way,¡± Kestrel pointed slightly east of the direction they were headed, ¡°and you will reach it. Nyrene sits on a cliff overlooking it.¡±

    ¡°Sounds beautiful,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the sea.¡±

    ¡°You will love it,¡± Kestrel assured her. ¡°It is truly a sight to behold.¡±

    They crested the last hill, and the city came into view.

    ¡°Oh, my,¡± Seraiah said in awe. ¡°It¡¯s so . . . shiny.¡± It was the only word she could think of to describe it.

    The city started at the base of the cliff, winding all the way up to the top where a castle was perched, its spires reaching for the sky. With the sun high overhead, those spires seemed to glow red, orange, yellow¡ªalmost like they had been set aflame. It was nothing like the cold gray stone of Ratha¡¯s castle.

    The scent of salty sea air grew stronger the closer they drew to the base of the cliff. Finally, Kestrel brought their horse to a stop at the massive gates leading into the city.

    She swept a hand out in a grand gesture and announced, ¡°Welcome to Nyrene.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Eight

    Sterling stopped a few paces outside the door on a little stone platform to take in her surroundings. Every way she looked was covered with golden sand.

    Dunes stretched off into the distance as far as her eyes could see, taking on a wavy appearance as the heat rose off the grains. That delicious heat now warmed her skin¡ªsomething Sterling had craved to feel for so long.

    She closed her eyes and turned her face into the sun¡¯s rays. For just that moment, she allowed herself to forget. Forget she had been kidnapped and was far from anyone she knew. Forget she had been handed over to mysterious people shrouded in dark robes who had mistaken her for a princess. Forget the aches in her body, the bruises, her broken nose, her hunger.

    Forget everything.

    A touch on her shoulder shattered the moment. Sterling opened her eyes and saw one of the figures had come up behind her, their face still hidden within the shadows of their robe. No matter how hard she stared, she still couldn¡¯t make out a face in the darkness. Her gaze moved over the figure¡¯s shoulder to the door she had come through¡ªor rather, where it had been.

    It was gone.

    There was no trace there had ever been a door. There was only more golden sand stretching off into the horizon. The only thing left was the stone platform she and the others were standing on in the middle of a sandy ocean. Even the third robed figure, the one she had thought of as their leader, was missing.

    ¡°Where am I?¡± Sterling murmured to herself. She didn¡¯t expect an answer, but to her surprise, the figure closest to her lowered his hood.

    Sterling was startled to find herself looking into the dark eyes of a young man. He couldn¡¯t have been much older than Seraiah.

    ¡°Hello, Princess,¡± he drawled as she stared at him.

    ¡°My name is not Princess,¡± she snapped back before she could stop herself.

    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the best idea to be lashing out at her kidnappers, she thought belatedly. They were the only ones who had information about what was going on.

    She¡¯d never been good at keeping her mouth shut.

    Instead of the anger Sterling would have expected from her previous keepers, he just smirked. ¡°My mistake. What would you prefer I call you?¡±

    Sterling kept her mouth shut, holding his gaze. A bead of sweat slid down her skin beneath her heavy wool dress. The heat no longer felt so pleasant as the sun¡¯s rays beat down on their heads.

    There was a moment of silence as they stared each other down.

    ¡°Very well,¡± he finally said, glancing at the other robed figure before returning his gaze to her. ¡°Princess, it is then¡ªor should I say Queen, since I suppose that is technically what you are.¡± There was that little smirk again.

    She continued holding his stare as her thoughts swirled. Now I¡¯m promoted to a queen? What next?

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    He either didn¡¯t notice her expression or didn¡¯t care as he continued speaking. ¡°I rather like Princess myself. It has a nice ring to it, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Again, Sterling stayed silent, wishing she could wipe that smirk off his face. She had barely met him, but already his smugness was grating on her. The other figure, Mr. Moneybags, turned away, putting his back to them, apparently uninterested in their conversation.

    ¡°Now that we have that settled, I think we can get rid of these,¡± the young man said, reaching a gloved hand toward her.

    On instinct, she took a step back¡ªright off the edge of the platform and sank into the sand.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, dropping his hand back to his side, not moving from where he stood, ¡°if you like those bracelets so much, I suppose you can keep them.¡±

    It took Sterling a moment to realize he was referring to the manacles on her wrists. Quickly, she held up her wrists to him. She wouldn¡¯t say no to having them removed.

    He chuckled and stepped towards her again. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Not exactly the height of fashion, are they?¡±

    She didn¡¯t bother to answer him. ¡°What happened to your leader?¡± she asked instead.

    ¡°He had obligations elsewhere,¡± he said shortly. He called Mr. Moneybags over to join them. ¡°You will want to hold still for this,¡± he told her.

    Mr. Moneybags reached out, placing his hands over the metal encircling her wrists, and mumbled something under his breath. As she watched, the metal melted beneath his hands and slid from her wrists to hit the sand with a hiss.

    Sterling stared down at the molten manacles in astonishment. If she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she would have said it was impossible. Those shackles should have needed a key or a blacksmith to remove them, but he had done nothing more than rest his hands atop them. His work accomplished, Mr. Moneybags stepped back, moving away from her and the young man again.

    ¡°Magic,¡± the young man said, wiggling his gloved fingers. ¡°Unfortunately, you will have to wait to get that,¡± he indicated her nose, ¡°fixed. Healing isn¡¯t my . . . specialty.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Sterling breathed. Besides crazy, she thought. Magic? He had to be joking. But she couldn¡¯t deny that what she had witnessed defied any reasonable explanation.

    He grinned as if he could read her thoughts. ¡°I think what you meant to ask is ¡®what are you?¡¯. And the answer to that is mage.¡± He held out his hand to her. ¡°Name¡¯s Arren, but you can call me Ren.¡±

    She stared at his proffered hand. No way was she going to take it after what she had seen the other one do to those manacles. Sterling turned over the word mage in her mind. It sounded vaguely familiar to her, but she couldn¡¯t quite place her finger on why.

    ¡°Right,¡± Ren said slowly, dropping his hand back to his side. ¡°Well, then.¡±

    ¡°My name is Sterling,¡± she said begrudgingly.

    His eyes flicked to her dirty silver hair. ¡°I can see why. Someone was feeling creative when they gave you that name.¡±

    She snarled at him, balling her hands into fists at her side. She had half a mind to punch him in his arrogant face. The only thing stopping her was the fear of what he could do to her.

    ¡°Relax, I meant no offense, Silver.¡± His expression said otherwise.

    Before Sterling could respond, Mr. Moneybags cleared his throat.

    ¡°We should be going. We have quite a walk ahead of us,¡± Ren said.

    Mr. Moneybags walked away from them, his robes skimming over the top of the sand. He seemed to float above it rather than sinking into it like she had.

    ¡°After you,¡± Ren said, waving his hand with a flourish and a small bow.

    Sterling had no choice but to follow Mr. Moneybags wherever he was leading them.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the heat to wear on her. Her winter dress had become suffocating and was soaked with sweat, but the other two seemed to have no trouble in their dark robes. It had been gods knew how long since the last time she had eaten, and the small cup of water back in her cell hadn¡¯t been nearly enough.

    Little spots swarmed before Sterling¡¯s eyes as waves of dizziness overtook her. Try as she might to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, she couldn¡¯t do it anymore.

    She stumbled and fell, sprawling on the sand as more little spots crowded her vision. Her skin felt like it was on fire. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the spots.

    It didn¡¯t work.

    Someone spoke, and it sounded as if they were speaking through water. The words were so garbled she couldn¡¯t understand.

    The spots coalesced¡ªcompleting the darkness, and Sterling knew no more.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Twenty-Nine

    Seraiah tilted her head back to take in the massive entry to the Elven city. The gates, made from unadorned wood, stood open to allow traffic to pass in and out.

    It wasn¡¯t the gates themselves that had drawn Seraiah¡¯s attention. No, it was the stone pillars carved to look like twin dragons, their flames arcing high over the opening to meet in the middle that had her mouth falling open. They were made from a pale gray-green stone that seemed lit from within.

    She had never seen anything quite like it.

    ¡°I was instructed to bring you to the castle and draw as little attention as possible,¡± Eryx said. ¡°Prince Kaimana said he would meet us in the stable yard with someone to show our guest to her rooms.¡±

    ¡°We are hiding her then,¡± Kestrel said.

    It wasn¡¯t a question, but Eryx answered anyway. ¡°Seems that way. Now that I know the guest in question is a human, I can see why Kaimana would want to keep her hidden. You know Gavaran is going to be displeased.¡±

    ¡°And how long does Kai think he is going to be able to hide her? Eventually, someone is going to talk, and Gavaran finding out through court gossip is going to be worse than if Kai tells him himself.¡±

    ¡°My guess?¡± Eryx said, tilting his head back to look up at the sky. ¡°I¡¯d say he plans to introduce her tonight at Eostre.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Kestrel yelped. ¡°That¡¯s tonight?¡±

    Seraiah itched to ask what Eostre was, but she didn¡¯t want to interrupt their conversation. They seemed to have completely forgotten she was present and listening to every word they spoke.

    Eryx nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone awhile. What were you doing all that time, anyway? Chasing a seer? I wasn¡¯t aware we needed a new one.¡±

    Interesting, Seraiah thought, it seemed no one knew Kai had been hunting for their lost queen.

    Kestrel stayed silent, which all but confirmed Seraiah¡¯s suspicions.

    ¡°Kes, what aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± Eryx asked. ¡°I can¡¯t help if I don¡¯t know.¡±

    The way he was looking at Kestrel made Seraiah feel like she was intruding on a private moment. She cleared her throat to subtly remind them of her presence.

    This seemed to snap Kestrel¡¯s attention back to the matter at hand.

    She kicked their horse forward, ignoring Eryx¡¯s question. ¡°We need to get moving. People are going to start staring the longer we sit here.¡±

    Kestrel was right. Several people were already glancing curiously in their direction. Most of their eyes skipped over Kestrel and Eryx to land on her.

    Seraiah avoided meeting anyone¡¯s stare by keeping her gaze up, studying the buildings they were passing as they wound their way through the main street toward the castle. The houses here were nothing like they had back home. All of them were made with the same pale stone from which the pillars at the gate had been carved. There wasn¡¯t a thatched roof in sight.

    Even the streets were different. Instead of heavily rutted dirt and mud, these streets were paved with cobblestones and perfectly clean, as though someone swept them daily. There were no children running in and out of the traffic, and the noise of people going about their lives, that Seraiah had become accustomed to hearing, was absent.

    Gradually, the houses gave way to an area of shops. None of the shopkeepers were outside, shouting their wares to draw customers in. Instead, hand-painted signs hung from the doorways depicting what sort of goods were offered at each.

    ¡°Do you not have a market here?¡± Seraiah asked Kestrel.

    ¡°No,¡± she answered. ¡°Only these shops that you see here.¡±

    ¡°Then where would someone from outside Nyrene sell their items?¡±

    ¡°There is no one from outside Nyrene.¡±

    ¡°How can that be?¡±

    ¡°At one point in time, all the races who lived in our world would interact, but that time is long past,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Now, we mostly keep to ourselves.¡±

    As they rounded the last corner, the castle loomed ahead of them. Instead of following the main road, Eryx turned off on a smaller side street. There were fewer elves here, and most didn¡¯t bother to look up as the trio passed.

    The street dumped them out into a busy stable yard. Seraiah¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to Kai, where he stood near the castle, speaking with someone dressed in a uniform like Eryx¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t help noticing how different he looked here. There was no mistaking he was a prince. From the simple golden circlet adorning his brow down to his polished leather boots, he looked every inch a royal.

    ¡°He cleans up nice, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Kestrel whispered to her after they¡¯d dismounted. She grinned and gave her a knowing look.

    Seraiah¡¯s cheeks heated at being caught staring. ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    Kestrel winked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your secret is safe with me. I won¡¯t tell. He doesn¡¯t need a bigger ego, anyway.¡±

    Before Seraiah could protest again, Kestrel sauntered off and disappeared into the castle, leaving her standing in the stable yard alone.

    Eryx had gone to greet Kai and when their conversation finished, Kai¡¯s attention turned to her. He gestured for her to come closer.

    She approached slowly, unsure if she was supposed to curtsy. She¡¯d seen the other elves bow to him, but she wasn¡¯t an elf. Would it be rude if she didn¡¯t?

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Before she could decide what to do, a young girl appeared at Kai¡¯s elbow.

    ¡°This is Wisteria,¡± Kai informed her. ¡°She will show you to your rooms and help you with anything you may require.¡± He sounded so formal, as if they hadn¡¯t spent weeks together in close quarters.

    The girl curtsied to her. ¡°This way, miss,¡± Wisteria said, moving soundlessly toward the door Seraiah had seen Kestrel use.

    ¡°One more thing.¡± Kai stopped her as she moved to follow Wisteria. ¡°Don¡¯t go wandering. It¡¯s better if you stay in your rooms. The fewer people who know of your presence, the better.¡±

    Seraiah nodded she understood and let the girl escort her inside.

    The castle was a maze of corridors and staircases. Seraiah tried to keep track of all the turns they took and stairs they climbed, but it didn¡¯t take long for her to lose count. By her guess, they had to be reaching the top of the pointed towers she had seen as they approached the city.

    Perhaps Kai was afraid of her running away, and that¡¯s why he¡¯d arranged for her rooms to be as far as possible from the ground. It would be highly unlikely for her to find her way out of here on her own.

    Huffing and puffing, Seraiah climbed the last few steps and was relieved to see Wisteria waiting for her at a single door.

    ¡°Here we are, miss,¡± Wisteria said, unlocking the door and holding it open for her. Seraiah noted the other girl wasn¡¯t even winded.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°You can call me Seraiah if you would like.¡± She smiled in what she hoped was a friendly way. She had a feeling Wisteria was the only person she might have contact with for a while.

    ¡°Of course, miss.¡± Wisteria curtsied again, keeping her eyes downcast.

    The girl reminded Seraiah a bit of Sterling. She had to be around the same age, and her pale blond hair was pulled back in a similar braided style that her sister had always favored.

    ¡°Is something the matter, miss?¡± Wisteria asked.

    ¡°What? Oh, um¡ªno.¡± She shook her head, embarrassed to be caught staring for the second time that day. ¡°You reminded me of someone, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Wisteria smiled but made no move to walk inside the room. After a moment of standing there awkwardly, Seraiah realized Wisteria was waiting for her to enter first.

    Hastily, Seraiah stepped inside the entrance hall. She caught a glimpse of a sitting room off to the left of the hallway that looked to be filled with books.

    ¡°If you will follow me, I will show you where you can bathe,¡± Wisteria told her, starting off down the hallway.

    Seraiah sneaked a peek at the sitting room as they passed by, and she saw the walls were indeed lined with bookshelves. Two plush looking chairs and a settee completed the room. It was the perfect spot for reading.

    The hallway brought them to another living area, complete with an intricately carved dining table. Floor to ceiling windows gave her an uninterrupted view of the sea crashing on the beach below. Seraiah stopped and stared for a moment, entranced by the view, before realizing Wisteria had disappeared through another doorway.

    She hurried to catch up and found herself in a bedchamber. An enormous bed that looked large enough to hold four people sat against the opposite wall, bracketed by two more beautifully carved tables. She looked around for Wisteria, but the girl was nowhere in sight.

    Just when Seraiah was about to call out to her, Wisteria popped her head out of yet another doorway she hadn¡¯t noticed.

    ¡°This way, miss.¡±

    Seraiah joined Wisteria in the bathing room, which held a steaming pool of water the size of a small pond.

    Her new rooms were larger than her entire house in Ratha. They might even be bigger than two of her houses.

    ¡°I will leave you to bathe. Leave your dirty things, and I¡¯ll lay out something for you to wear on the bed. Is there anything else you require?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you.¡± The words had barely left her lips before Wisteria bobbed another curtsy and withdrew.

    Seraiah sat on the lip of the pool and pulled off her boots.

    She dipped her blistered toes in the water and sighed in pleasure. The temperature was perfect. Not scalding hot, but not lukewarm either, like most of the baths she had experienced in her life. She glanced over her shoulder, checking to make sure Wisteria hadn¡¯t come back before slipping out of her clothes and immersing herself.

    This was something she could get used to.

    <hr>

    Seraiah stayed in the bathing pool long past the time she needed to clean herself, and her skin turned wrinkly. The growl of her stomach was the only reason she finally forced herself to leave the heavenly water.

    She donned the dress Wisteria had left for her and peeked out of the bedroom into the living area. Wisteria was waiting for her next to the dining table, which Seraiah could see was set with a tray of food.

    There was also a very familiar satchel sitting there.

    ¡°Prince Kaimana asked me to give this to you,¡± Wisteria said, noticing her stare. ¡°I can brush out your hair for you while you eat.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah said. She wanted to open the satchel and make sure Sterling¡¯s book was still there, but the smell of the food was calling to her. Pieces of what appeared to be seasoned chicken rested on a bed of greens, and was that¡ªwas that cake?

    Eagerly, she pulled a chair from the table and sat down. It took all her willpower not to immediately stuff the little cake in her mouth. Instead, Seraiah forced herself to eat the chicken and greens while Wisteria brushed out the knots in her hair.

    ¡°Do you mind if I braid it?¡± Wisteria asked.

    ¡°You can do whatever you like,¡± Seraiah told her, setting her fork down and preparing to devour the cake. It was yellow, with white icing, in the shape of little flowers decorating the top. The yellow made her think it was likely to be lemon flavored.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Wisteria exclaimed. She had lifted the top of Seraiah¡¯s hair to start braiding. Her fingers brushed the smooth, round curve of Seraiah¡¯s ear. ¡°You aren¡¯t one of us.¡±

    ¡°Kai didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Seraiah asked, surprised.

    ¡°No, and he told me not to ask you questions, but¡ª¡±

    Seraiah already knew what Wisteria wanted to ask. ¡°I¡¯m human,¡± she told her, saving her the trouble.

    A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and as Wisteria went to answer it, Seraiah took her first bite of cake. The sourness hit her tongue first, making her pucker her cheeks. This was a lemon cake, all right. The sourness faded quickly, replaced by sugary sweetness as the small bite melted on her tongue.

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Seraiah sighed happily as Wisteria returned with Kestrel in tow.

    ¡°Interesting choice of rooms,¡± Kestrel commented, strolling up to the table and pulling out a chair.

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°These were the Queen¡¯s rooms. The best in the castle. Though I suppose,¡± Kestrel mused as Wisteria returned to arranging Seraiah¡¯s hair, ¡°it would be the least likely place for anyone to come snooping.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Kai have these rooms?¡± Seraiah asked, taking another bite of cake.

    Kestrel laughed. ¡°Kai has very simple tastes. He would hate it up here. No,¡± she shook her head, ¡°even my rooms are nicer than where Kai chooses to call home. Between you and me, I think he made that choice to annoy the council. Where did you get that cake?¡± Kestrel eyed the dessert in her hand. ¡°I thought those were for Eostre.¡±

    ¡°I snuck one out,¡± Wisteria confessed as she tied off Seraiah¡¯s braid and stepped back. ¡°I thought she might like it.¡±

    ¡°And I do,¡± Seraiah hurried to reassure her. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Think you could snag one for me, too?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    ¡°What is Eostre?¡± Seraiah asked Kestrel after Wisteria had left.

    ¡°It¡¯s a celebration of the vernal equinox.¡± At Seraiah¡¯s blank look, she continued, ¡°You know, spring?¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Seraiah nodded in understanding. They used to have a similar celebration in Ratha.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I came to talk to you about, actually. Kai wasn¡¯t planning to have you attend the court celebration, but I convinced him it would be a good idea.¡± Kestrel smirked. ¡°I also can¡¯t wait to see the look on Gavaran¡¯s face when he sees you, and since it will be in front of the entire court, he wouldn¡¯t dare throw a fit.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s a good thing?¡± Seraiah asked uncertainly. The more she heard about this Gavaran person, the less she wanted to meet him.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Kestrel confirmed. ¡°Now, I suggest you get some rest before tonight. These things tend to go on late into the evening.¡± She stood, pushing her chair back into place. ¡°I¡¯m off to see about that lemon cake and find a suitable outfit. I¡¯ll see you tonight.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty

    Later that evening, Seraiah lifted the skirts of the finest dress she had ever worn and prepared to be presented to a room full of elves.

    Ariya would love this dress, she thought, looking down at herself.

    The skirt was a confection of floor-length tulle in a pale green. Green silk, a shade darker than the skirt, made up the bodice, which was embroidered with tiny pink and white flowers. Sleeves in the same tulle as the skirt covered her from shoulder to wrist.

    Wisteria had pinned her hair up in a braided crown and tucked flowers into it. Seraiah could smell their perfume every time she moved. To finish the look, Wisteria had lined her eyes in a glittering gold, drawing out elaborate swirls on her temples that called attention to her brown eyes.

    Seraiah had never felt more like a princess.

    She took a deep breath and then stepped through the double doors, getting her first look at the room below her.

    It was alive with a gentle hum of conversation, and to her relief, no one had looked up at her entrance.

    ¡°Seraiah Visrel of Ratha,¡± a hidden voice announced, booming out over the room.

    She didn¡¯t recall ever telling anyone her family name, Seraiah thought as she stared down at what might possibly be the longest flight of stairs she had ever seen.

    The announcement of her name was met with instant silence.

    Seraiah pulled her gaze up from the stairs and froze in place as she found every eye in the room boring into her.

    Vaguely, she heard the disembodied voice announcing someone else, and Seraiah knew she should move to walk down the stairs, but all those eyes were holding her in place.

    There was a light touch on her shoulder as whoever had been announced came up behind her. The crowd below dropped into curtsies and bows, and Seraiah pulled her gaze away from the lowered faces to find Kai next to her.

    The stares, she realized, hadn¡¯t been entirely for her. They were also for him.

    Kai was dressed head to toe in white with gold stitching. The top half of his hair was pulled back to expose his pointed ears, and the gold circlet she¡¯d seen him wearing earlier had been replaced by a more elaborate crown of golden leaves studded with green gemstones, the like of which Seraiah had never seen.

    ¡°Come on,¡± he said softly, taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his elbow. ¡°Don¡¯t let them see your fear, or they will pounce on it and use it against you.¡±

    Easier said than done, she thought as he led her forward. She could feel the tension in Kai¡¯s arm through his sleeve, yet his face gave nothing away. Outwardly, he appeared perfectly at ease.

    Seraiah tried to remember what Sterling had done when people would stare at her gray hair.

    Her brave little sister had held her chin high and ignored them. On the rare occasion, she even dared to smile at them until they were the ones to look away in embarrassment. Seraiah lifted her own chin and tried to channel her sister now.

    Kai let his court hold their bowed positions as, together, they made their way to the floor. ¡°Rise,¡± he finally commanded when they had reached the last step. The crowd rose almost as one and returned to their conversations.

    Seraiah smiled in relief and removed her hand from Kai¡¯s arm as Kestrel, wearing a gown the color of new grass, came up to join them.

    Her relief was short-lived though, as she heard snippets of the conversations around them.

    ¡°Why is she here?¡± someone asked.

    ¡°A human,¡± someone else spat with distaste, not even bothering to keep their voice down. ¡°At a court celebration?¡±

    ¡°Do you think the prince is going to bring back the servants?¡± another asked.

    ¡°I certainly hope so,¡± came another¡¯s response.

    Kestrel quickly reached out and linked her arm with Seraiah¡¯s. ¡°Ignore them,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°Try not to judge our city by a select few. Not all of us think the same way.¡±

    It seemed to Seraiah that it was more than a select few who still thought of humans as beneath them, but she kept that thought to herself.

    As they stepped away from Kai, he quickly became surrounded by his court. All of them were eager to greet their prince and find out more about the human girl he had brought with him. Seraiah didn¡¯t catch what his responses were to the questions as Kestrel pulled her further away.

    For the first time, Seraiah looked around at the room itself. It was softly lit by glowing orbs¡ªnot unlike the one Kestrel had used to light the abandoned prison¡ªsuspended in the air above their heads. They illuminated the beautiful carvings on the stone walls. Each of the carvings seemed to depict a different scene. Some of them appeared happy, while others were pictures of war, but each of them told a story. It was like a book brought to life. Seraiah would have liked to study them, but Kestrel was setting a fast pace, weaving in and out of the gathered people.

    A cluster of long tables stood at the far end of the room. One was raised above the others on a dais, and this seemed to be what Kestrel was leading her toward. They had almost reached it when someone stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

    ¡°Show time,¡± Kestrel mumbled under her breath, just loud enough for Seraiah to hear. ¡°Hello, Councilman. How are you this evening?¡± She greeted the man blocking their path.

    He sniffed in disdain, ignoring Kestrel¡¯s question.

    This had to be none other than Gavaran, Seraiah thought as she studied him. Unlike the rest of the courtiers, who were dressed in mostly light colors or various shades of green like herself and Kestrel, this man was dressed from head to toe in black. An odd choice for a spring celebration. His dark red hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck, making his sharp features appear all the more severe.

    ¡°After weeks of disappearing, this is what our Prince comes back with?¡± He was looking at Seraiah as though she were something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of his boot.

    She instantly disliked the man.

    Kestrel opened her mouth to respond, but Kai cut in first, appearing on Seraiah¡¯s other side after having disentangled himself from the rest of his courtiers. ¡°She has a name, Gavaran, and you would do well to use it. She is here to assist me in some important matters.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Gavaran inclined his head as he regarded Kai. ¡°And what, pray tell, would those be, Your Highness? I don¡¯t recall the council ever hearing about any such matters.¡± He smiled, but his eyes remained cold.

    There was a war of power going on here that Seraiah didn¡¯t fully understand.

    ¡°I have yet to inform the council. I intend to do so at an appropriate time.¡±

    While Kai was speaking, Seraiah noticed a young woman had appeared behind Gavaran. Her hair was the same dark shade of red as his, so Seraiah suspected they were related. She also had the same sharp features, but where Gavaran¡¯s appeared severe¡ªhers were striking.

    The girl was currently glaring at the place where Kai¡¯s hand was now gripping Seraiah¡¯s right elbow.

    ¡°How about tomorrow, then?¡± Gavaran suggested. ¡°I am sure the rest of the council is as eager to hear about this as I am.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Kai agreed smoothly.

    Gavaran held out his hand, and it took a moment for Seraiah to realize he was waiting for her.

    Hastily, Seraiah pulled her elbow out of Kai¡¯s grip and placed her hand in Gavaran¡¯s. She could have sworn a brief look of surprise crossed his eyes.

    ¡°Make sure you are there as well, Seraiah,¡± he said, giving her name an extra emphasis while squeezing her hand so that she could feel the points of his nails digging into her palm. ¡°I am sure we would all love to get to know you better.¡±

    Just as quickly as it had begun, the moment passed. Gavaran dropped her hand and turned on his heel, disappearing into the crowd. With one last glare over her shoulder, the girl followed behind him.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t nearly as fun as I thought it would be,¡± Kestrel remarked. ¡°What are you going to tell them tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°The truth,¡± Kai answered shortly, looking harried.

    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice anymore,¡± Kai said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any excuses left to give, and we will need the council¡¯s help to find Sterling.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª,¡± Kestrel started to argue.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a good time to discuss it,¡± Kai said, cutting her off before moving away toward the dais.

    They watched him go.

    ¡°I take it this wasn¡¯t part of your plan?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Kestrel sighed. ¡°A meeting with the council should never be part of anyone¡¯s plans. Come on. Our seats for the dinner are on the dais with Kai and the rest of the council.¡±

    ¡°Are the others like Gavaran?¡± Seraiah asked, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard.

    ¡°Thankfully, no, he is the worst one. Unfortunately, he holds the most sway with the other members, but there are a few that will side with us.¡± Kestrel flicked a hand as though shooing away an annoying insect. ¡°Enough about them. We can worry about it tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate.¡±

    <hr>

    The dinner portion of the celebration passed uneventfully, and by the time the desserts were set before them, Seraiah was ready to burst. She was contemplating if she could eat one more lemon cake without making herself sick when Kestrel leaned over.

    ¡°After this, the dancing will start, and then we can sneak away,¡± she whispered in Seraiah¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she whispered back.

    Kestrel¡¯s only response was a wink, and a finger held to her lips.

    Wherever it was surely had to be better than here, and if she could skip out on dancing¡ªall the better.

    The dessert course seemed to drag on now that she knew she would be leaving soon. Finally, when all the plates were cleared, and a soft lilting music filled the air, people began to leave their tables.

    Seraiah and Kestrel stayed seated as, one by one, their dinner companions left the dais to join the crowd below.

    Even Kai had disappeared.

    Seraiah scanned the room and spotted him talking to the red-haired girl from earlier. It looked like a friendly enough conversation. In fact, it might have been more than friendly. ¡°Who is that?¡± she asked Kestrel.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to be a little more specific. There are a lot of people in this room,¡± Kestrel said, twirling a dessert fork through her fingers the same way Seraiah had always seen her twirling her knives.

    ¡°The girl Kai is talking to. The red-haired one in white.¡±

    Kestrel leaned forward, putting the fork back on the table as she scanned the room.

    ¡°Ah, that would be Virelai,¡± she said when she spotted them.

    ¡°She was glaring at me earlier when we were talking to Gavaran.¡±

    Kestrel chuckled. ¡°That sounds about right. Virelai is Gavaran¡¯s daughter and has had her eye on Kai for years.¡±

    Seraiah continued studying the pair, and as she watched, Virelai reached out to touch Kai¡¯s arm, laughing at something he said. The way they were dressed so similarly made it appear like they were a couple.

    ¡°You sure seem interested in them,¡± Kestrel observed. ¡°Something you want to tell me?¡±

    Seraiah ignored Kestrel¡¯s question, forcing herself to look away. ¡°Is it time to slip out of here yet?¡±

    Kestrel grinned. ¡°I think it is.¡±

    <hr>

    Kai looked out at the sea of courtiers below him. Some watched the dais¡ªwatched him in particular¡ªwhile others talked with their table partners and finished their meals.

    He had not missed this. He had not missed any of it.

    A night sleeping on the hard ground in the middle of nowhere was preferable.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Kai murmured, pushing back his chair. More eyes looked up at his movement, but no one stopped him.

    They could not stop a prince, but he knew a few would like to try.

    Kai exited the dais and slipped out a door located behind it that was mostly used for bringing food into the room. He only wanted a few minutes alone before he was thrust back into the middle of things.

    Of course, there was no such thing as time alone when you were a prince.

    Guards followed him, though they kept a polite distance away.

    He certainly didn¡¯t miss having every move watched.

    Kai leaned against the stone wall of hallway and took a breath. It was a relief to be in the near silence after the clamor of the celebration. He¡¯d been dreading it since he¡¯d been reminded it was his duty to make an appearance. A few days more and he would have missed it.

    A few days more might have meant the difference between Seraiah being here or in the hands of mages.

    He thought of Seraiah as he¡¯d seen her before entering that room. She¡¯d looked radiant in the dress Wisteria had found for her with her hair all done up in flowers. He¡¯d meant to tell her so, but she¡¯d entered the room before he had a chance.

    Then his court had ripped away her sparkle with their reaction to her. He¡¯d known they would likely react like this. A human at a court function was not done.

    The few humans who still remained in Nyrene kept to themselves and stayed well away from the castle. If he could have saved Seraiah from it, he would have. Kestrel had rightly pointed out it would be the easiest way to introduce her to the court, but Seraiah should have at least been warned about what might happen.

    When he¡¯d taken her hand at the top of the stairs, Kai had half-expected her to pull away and leave. She¡¯d already made it very clear to him what she thought of the elves¡¯ past treatment of humans. Instead, she¡¯d raised her chin and walked down with him. He¡¯d felt the tension radiating through her with every step, but she let none of it show.

    He¡¯d wanted to say something to quell her fears, but the moment he¡¯d told his court to rise, his time to speak with her was over. She¡¯d left with Kestrel, and he became surrounded by those seeking his favor and looking for a bit of gossip about where he¡¯d been.

    He was putting off the probing questions when he¡¯d seen Gavaran approach.

    Kestrel could handle him well enough, but it should have been his responsibility as prince to introduce Seraiah. He¡¯d raced to her side as fast as he could in time to hear Gavaran insult her.

    Kai looked down at his hands, flexing them. Usually, Gavaran and his insults didn¡¯t bother him, but it had been different when it was directed at Seraiah. He wasn¡¯t sure how he was going to get through tomorrow¡¯s council meeting if Gavaran made any more remarks. It would already be difficult enough when he finally explained his search for his dead sister, who wasn¡¯t so dead after all.

    Kai hoped Kestrel was ready. He¡¯d need to speak with her tomorrow to make sure they were both in agreement on what they would say.

    The sound of the guards moving brought Kai out of his thoughts. He should be getting back. There was only the dancing left to get through, and then he could retire for the evening.

    Once he stepped back inside, the music was already playing. It was a familiar song he¡¯d heard his mother hum many times when he was a child.

    ¡°Excuse me, Prince Kaimana. May I have a word?¡± someone asked.

    Kai sighed inwardly. So it began again.

    A few minutes later, he found himself in conversation with Virelai. Tonight, she¡¯d dressed in white, a perfect match for his own outfit. He knew it was anything but a mistake. Everything about Virelai was calculated, including the way she was smiling at him now. She was her father¡¯s daughter.

    They exchanged pleasantries and talked about nothing in particular. He knew she was waiting for him to ask her to dance. Other couples had already taken to the dance floor. Being the first to dance with him was considered a sign of favor. Unfortunately for Virelai, there was someone else he¡¯d like to dance with first.

    Kai glanced back at the dais, scanning the faces seated there.

    The place where Kestrel and Seraiah should have been was empty.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-One

    Kestrel and Seraiah snuck out the back entrance and into a deserted hallway. It was strangely quiet after the noise of the room they had left behind.

    ¡°When are you going to tell me where we¡¯re going?¡± Seraiah asked, as they hurried away from the courtiers.

    ¡°Yes, Kestrel, where are the two of you running off to?¡± Eryx asked, appearing in front of them to block their exit.

    ¡°None of your business, Eryx. Now, step aside,¡± Kestrel ordered.

    One brow rose. ¡°Does Prince Kaimana know you¡¯re leaving with his special guest?¡± He moved slightly, leaving enough space for them to pass by if they wanted.

    ¡°No, and you aren¡¯t going to tell him, either. If you must know, we¡¯re going into the city to see the real Eostre celebration and not that stuffy one,¡± Kestrel said, gesturing back the way they¡¯d come.

    To Seraiah¡¯s surprise, Eryx laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll give you that one. The court¡¯s version of celebrating isn¡¯t exactly exhilarating.¡±

    ¡°A bunch of preening and favor trading,¡± Kestrel grumbled. ¡°That¡¯s not a party.¡±

    ¡°All the same, do you think it¡¯s a good idea to take her out of the castle?¡±

    Kestrel tilted her head, her chin jutting out ever so slightly as she regarded him.

    Seraiah hid a grin behind her hand. She¡¯d seen Kestrel give Kai this look before and knew Eryx was in for it now.

    ¡°Since when do you question your superiors, Commander Eryx?¡± Kestrel¡¯s voice had sharpened, and no longer held that playful quality.

    ¡°Since my superior goes missing for months on end for no apparent reason,¡± he responded.

    Kestrel¡¯s eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, Seraiah jumped in. ¡°If you are concerned for our safety, Commander Eryx, why don¡¯t you join us?¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s glare turned on her, and she gave a slight shake of her head. Seraiah ignored her. If this kept up, they might stand here arguing all night, and then she¡¯d never get to see this party Kestrel had been excited to attend.

    Eryx pretended to think about it. ¡°I suppose I could,¡± he drawled.

    ¡°Well, I think it would be better served if you stayed here¡ªwhere you are supposed to be,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Then I shall have to go inform Prince Kaimana of your disappearance.¡± He took a few steps toward the ballroom.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°All right, fine. You can come with us, but don¡¯t interfere with our fun.¡±

    ¡°I am the fun,¡± Eryx tossed over his shoulder.

    Kestrel snorted and rolled her eyes. She thought she may have covered up the way she¡¯d looked at Eryx, but Seraiah had seen it.

    This should be a very interesting night, she thought as she followed the pair.

    <hr>

    Their little threesome exited the castle and caught a ride on a wagon heading to the party. Seraiah felt overdressed in her fancy gown, perched on a straw bale.

    ¡°It would be a long walk¡ªmost of the celebration is technically held outside the city walls on the beach below,¡± Kestrel explained, as they bumped along over the cobblestones.

    Seraiah tilted her head back to take in the stars glittering overhead and sucked in a deep breath of the salty air. Already she was feeling more at ease than she had in the castle.

    When their wagon came to a halt, Seraiah got her first look at the party. This was more like what she had expected.

    Kestrel thanked their driver, and Eryx helped them down.

    ¡°Take off your shoes, and it will be easier to walk,¡± Kestrel instructed, as she slipped off her own.

    Seraiah did as Kestrel said, the cool sand squishing between her toes as they made their way toward the revelers.

    Lilting music similar to what was played in the castle filled the air, but where the music in the castle had been refined and elegant, this music seemed wilder. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach blended with it¡ªmaking it all the more beautiful.

    Tiny orbs of glowing light, no bigger than her pinky fingernail, filled the air, blinking on and off. It felt to Seraiah as though they were walking among the stars. She tried to touch one of the orbs, but it disappeared as soon as she reached for it.

    ¡°Care for a drink, miss?¡± A young girl held out a tray of glasses filled with a bubbly golden liquid.

    ¡°She would love one,¡± Kestrel answered for her, swiping two from the girl¡¯s tray and handing one to Seraiah.

    When the girl offered her tray to Eryx, he declined.

    Kestrel finished her drink off in a few sips before Seraiah had even tried hers.

    ¡°Taste it,¡± Kestrel urged, switching out her empty glass for another one from a different passerby¡¯s tray.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Seraiah asked, sniffing it first. It smelled slightly fruity.

    ¡°Nectar,¡± Eryx answered her.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°From flowers?¡±

    ¡°Of course, silly. What else?¡± Kestrel already seemed more relaxed now that they were away from the castle.

    ¡°There is also fruit involved. I believe the closest thing humans have to it is wine,¡± Eryx told her.

    She¡¯d only had wine once, and it had been awful, so she didn¡¯t have high expectations as she lifted the glass and took a small sip.

    The liquid was sweet, but tangy, and tasted a bit like fruit, but none that she could name. In short, it was delicious.

    Her glass was empty almost as fast as Kestrel¡¯s, and before she knew it, Kestrel was pressing another one into her hands.

    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea? She probably shouldn¡¯t have too many,¡± Eryx said disapprovingly.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Kestrel waved her hand at him. ¡°I think you could use a few as well. Come on, Eryx. Enjoy yourself a little. You said you were the fun.¡± She winked suggestively.

    He frowned at her. ¡°Someone needs to make sure you two don¡¯t hurt yourselves.¡±

    ¡°We are fine. See.¡± Kestrel gave a little twirl, almost spilling her glass. ¡°We don¡¯t need you hanging out and ruining our night.¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s words sounded funny to Seraiah¡¯s ears, but she didn¡¯t comment on it.

    Another elf approached them with an armful of flowers woven together in circles. She offered them each one. Kestrel accepted, placing the circle of flowers on her head like a crown. It made her look exactly like what Seraiah imagined the faery princesses from Sterling¡¯s book would look like.

    Kestrel linked her arm with Seraiah¡¯s, pulling her toward the music, with Eryx trailing along behind them. ¡°We must dance,¡± Kestrel proclaimed.

    Suddenly, the idea of dancing no longer seemed that bad to Seraiah. It almost felt like the music was calling to her. ¡°Yes, we do,¡± she agreed, finishing off her third¡ªor maybe it was her fourth glass of the delightful golden nectar.

    The group of dancers took up the part of the beach closest to the ocean, twirling in and out of the waves. The girls joined them, and it didn¡¯t take long for them to lose themselves in the music. They laughed and twirled with the others as the ocean pulled at their dresses and lapped at their legs.

    Eventually, they stopped for a break and were sipping on fresh glasses of nectar when Seraiah remembered Kai and Virelai.

    ¡°I hate that girl,¡± Seraiah declared.

    ¡°What girl?¡± Kestrel asked from the ground. She had sat down on the sand and was drawing shapes with her fingers.

    ¡°Vi¡ªVe¡ª,¡± her tongue was not cooperating as she tried to say the girl¡¯s name.

    Kestrel burst into a fit of giggles.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Seraiah pouted, plopping down next to Kestrel on the sand.

    ¡°You,¡± Kestrel said, waving a finger in her face. ¡°You have a crush on the prince,¡± she singsonged.

    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome.¡± As soon as the words were out, she clapped her hands over her mouth, wishing she could stuff them back in.

    ¡°I knew it!¡± Kestrel shrieked, drawing more than a few stares. She burst into giggles again, falling back on the sand.

    ¡°All right, you two. I think it¡¯s time to get you back to the castle before you embarrass yourselves further,¡± Eryx said, standing over them.

    He helped them to their feet, but as soon as Seraiah tried to walk, the world swayed beneath her. Eryx caught her before she could hit the sand, while Kestrel burst into giggles again.

    ¡°Someone had too much nectar,¡± Kestrel declared.

    Eryx sighed. ¡°I think you have both had too much nectar. And don¡¯t think I am going to let you forget about this tomorrow, Kes.¡±

    ¡°You never do,¡± she answered as he helped both of them back to the castle.

    <hr>

    When Kai determined he¡¯d danced enough dances and spoken to enough of his court, he bid everyone good night. As soon as he was free of the ballroom, he loosened his collar. Dealing with so many of the elves at once was exhausting. He¡¯d rather go back to traveling all day and night with little to no sleep.

    Kestrel and Seraiah, he¡¯d noted, had never returned to the ballroom. He was slightly concerned about their whereabouts, but more than anything, he was jealous they¡¯d managed to escape.

    ¡°Has Eryx been around?¡± Kai asked the guard trailing him down the hall.

    ¡°He was last seen a few minutes ago, headed upstairs with the Commander and the human girl,¡± the guard reported. ¡°Would you like someone sent for him?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you. I can find him myself.¡±

    At least now he knew Seraiah was in the castle. He changed directions and headed for the stairs to the Queen¡¯s rooms.

    ¡°You may go for the night,¡± Kai said to his guard before he started the climb.

    The guard shifted uncomfortably, but knew better to argue with him. Instead, he bowed and left.

    Kai climbed three flights of stairs before he heard voices in what sounded like an argument.

    When he turned the corner, he found Seraiah sitting on the steps while Kestrel leaned against the wall. Eryx stood opposite Kestrel with his arms crossed over his chest.

    ¡°I only need a small break,¡± Seraiah was saying. ¡°There are too many stairs.¡± Her words were slightly slurred.

    ¡°It¡¯s been ten minutes already,¡± Eryx said. ¡°You¡¯re falling asleep.¡±

    ¡°Oh, leave her alone,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°It is a lot of stairs. Did you add more while I was gone?¡±

    Eryx sighed and then caught sight of him.

    ¡°Something I can help with?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°Thank the gods you¡¯re here.¡± Eryx looked so relieved that it was a struggle for Kai not to laugh.

    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked.

    ¡°There are too many stairs,¡± Seraiah answered. Sand clung to the bottom of her skirts, and he noticed she was no longer wearing any shoes.

    ¡°Noted,¡± Kai said. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look into removing some of them.¡±

    Eryx gave him a long suffering look. ¡°These two went to the celebration on the beach and had a little too much nectar. I¡¯m trying to return them to their respective rooms, but as you can see, we have not made much progress. Now that you are here, you can deal with this one,¡± He gestured to Seraiah, ¡°and I¡¯ll get Kestrel to her bed.¡±

    ¡°Aw,¡± Kestrel leaned across the stairwell and grabbed hold of the lapels on Eryx¡¯s uniform jacket, ¡°I thought you were taking me to your bed.¡±

    Eryx looked pained as he slowly unlatched her fingers. ¡°I never said that. Now, come on.¡± Eryx tugged Kestrel past Kai and down the stairs.

    ¡°You said you were fun, but I think you¡¯re being very unfun right now,¡± Kai heard Kestrel say.

    He chuckled. He did not envy Eryx.

    ¡°What¡¯s funny?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°Oh, nothing. Think you can walk, or do you need me to carry you?¡±

    ¡°I can walk. See,¡± she said, pulling herself to her feet using the railing. She wobbled, and she hadn¡¯t even let go of the rail yet. There was no way she was going to make it up the remaining flights of stairs on her own.

    ¡°Wait. What are you doing?¡± she demanded, when he hooked one arm behind her knees and scooped her up.

    Her skirt was still damp from the ocean, and her hair smelled like flowers.

    ¡°Trust me,¡± he said. ¡°This will be faster.¡±

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Seraiah murmured sleepily against his neck.

    Kai carried her up the stairs to her rooms. At the door, he had to set her on her feet again. He doubted Wisteria was still around at this time of night, but maybe he should fetch her.

    As Kai reached past Seraiah to open the door, she swayed on her feet. He quickly wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her upright and prevent her from falling backward into the room.

    ¡°You all right?¡± he asked. She was going to feel terrible in the morning, which might pose a problem for their council meeting tomorrow. He was going to have a word with Kestrel about this.

    Seraiah nodded. Her eyes didn¡¯t make it to his face, but stayed glued on the bit of exposed skin where he¡¯d unbuttoned his collar.

    ¡°Do you want me to find Wisteria?¡± he asked, trying to walk her into the room. ¡°Or will you be fine on your own?¡±

    Seraiah didn¡¯t budge and only pressed closer to him. She also didn¡¯t appear to have heard his question.

    Kai brought his free hand to her chin and tilted it up, forcing her to meet his eyes. ¡°Seraiah, did you hear what I asked?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Her skin was soft and warm under his fingers.

    She leaned closer, bringing her face mere inches from his. The gold paint lining her eyes was smudged. ¡°You¡¯re not as awful as I thought,¡± she said, not slurring a single word.

    Then she pressed her mouth to his.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Two

    ¡°You sure you want to be here for this?¡± Kai asked his guard.

    They stood outside Kestrel¡¯s door in the early morning.

    The two elves responsible for watching him today exchanged looks. They knew very well Kestrel was not a morning person after celebrations, and Kai was likely about to get his head ripped off.

    ¡°You can find me in half an hour,¡± Kai told them.

    Half an hour should be plenty of time to go over the plan for the council meeting.

    He waited for the guards to leave before he rapped his knuckles on the door.

    Inside, there was a thump followed by a curse, and then a disheveled Kestrel stuck her head out.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Are you alone?¡±

    Kestrel scowled. ¡°Of course I¡¯m alone. Who else would be here?¡±

    ¡°Well, when I saw you last night¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about,¡± Kestrel said, cutting him off. ¡°Now, what do you want?¡±

    ¡°We need to talk.¡±

    Kestrel looked him up and down and then stepped aside. ¡°Did something happen?¡± she asked as he entered her room.

    ¡°You tell me. Where did you go last night?¡±

    Kestrel picked up a mug of tea and settled into one of the two overstuffed chairs, taking up a corner of her room.

    Kai took a seat in the one across from her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see. I believe I attended the boring court Eostre celebration where Seraiah met Gavaran, and then once that torture was over, we went to the real celebration on the beach.¡±

    ¡°And you let her drink too much nectar.¡±

    Kestrel took a sip of her tea, eyeing him over the rim of her cup. ¡°Eryx was there watching us. Did you know it was Seraiah¡¯s birthday? She told me while we were dancing, so of course we had to celebrate that, too.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t known because Seraiah hadn¡¯t said a word about it to him.

    ¡°Anyway, Eryx made sure we made it back, and then . . .¡± She trailed off, giving him a look again. ¡°And then you showed up,¡± she smirked, ¡°and that¡¯s when something happened.¡±

    ¡°Nothing happened,¡± Kai said, ¡°except the two of you had too much to drink.¡±

    ¡°Liar. You wouldn¡¯t have come to speak to me at this ungodly hour if nothing happened.¡±

    He¡¯d known Kestrel was going to be difficult, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to figure it out so fast. ¡°We have the council meeting today,¡± he said, attempting to steer her away from asking more questions. ¡°We need to discuss what we are going to say.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not why you¡¯re really here. This is about Seraiah. What happened? She made it to bed safely, didn¡¯t she?¡±

    Kai stared at her, keeping his face as blank as possible.

    Kestrel saw right through him. ¡°I knew it,¡± she crowed, nearly spilling her tea. ¡°Now tell me what happened after I left.¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I carried Seraiah upstairs to her room, since she couldn¡¯t walk on her own. Then she told me I¡¯m not awful and kissed me,¡± he mumbled.

    Kestrel cackled. ¡°Oh, this is too good. You should see your face right now.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°And then what happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I got her to bed.¡± He realized a second after the words were out how they sounded.

    ¡°Kai! I am shocked,¡± Kestrel said while looking absolutely delighted.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    He gripped the arms of the chair, ready to bolt from the room. ¡°I did not mean it like that. She went to bed alone.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± was all Kestrel said, before taking another sip of her tea.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°So how was it?¡±

    ¡°I do not know what you mean,¡± he said stonily. Kestrel was enjoying this entirely too much.

    ¡°The kiss. How was the kiss?¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Or perhaps I should ask Seraiah that.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡±

    Kestrel blinked at him, all innocence. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because I doubt she remembers, and you will not remind her.¡±

    ¡°But what if she does? Then what are you going to do?¡±

    He had absolutely no idea. There were other, more pressing matters he needed to concern himself with right now. Like the council meeting they were supposed to be preparing for. He had no time to be thinking about the way Seraiah had felt when she pressed up against him. Or the softness and heat of her mouth sliding over his.

    Or the way she tasted.

    Kestrel was smirking at him again, a knowing look in her eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t test me,¡± he said.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    ¡°You were thinking it. Promise you won¡¯t say anything about this to Seraiah and don¡¯t ever let her drink that much again.¡±

    Kestrel rolled her eyes. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t get Seraiah drunk again even if it was her birthday, and she had fun.¡±

    ¡°Kestrel.¡±

    ¡°And I won¡¯t say anything.¡±

    It was the best he was likely to get out of her. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Now let¡¯s talk strategy for this meeting.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Seraiah,¡± someone called her name softly. When she didn¡¯t respond, they tried again, louder.

    She groaned and rolled over, trying to get away from the sound.

    ¡°Seraiah, you need to wake up,¡± the voice demanded. ¡°The council meeting is supposed to start in half an hour.¡±

    That penetrated her sluggish brain, and her eyes flew open to find Wisteria at her bedside. The girl held a steaming mug of something in her hands. Seeing Seraiah was awake, Wisteria extended the mug to her.

    ¡°Here, this will help with the headache,¡± Wisteria told her.

    As soon as Wisteria said it, Seraiah felt a throb of pain right behind her eyes. When she sat up, the pain intensified. It was like there were little people in her head hammering on the back of her eyeballs.

    What happened last night?

    She still wore her fancy gown from the night before and there were flowers scattered over her pillow from her hair. She remembered returning from the beach celebration with Kestrel and Eryx, and then . . .

    And then Kai had shown up.

    ¡°Seraiah?¡±

    ¡°Oh. Uh-thank you,¡± she said, taking the mug from Wisteria. It seemed to be some kind of herbal tea. Carefully, she took a sip of the hot liquid. The pain behind her eyes eased almost instantly.

    ¡°You have a little something.¡± Wisteria gestured to her cheek.

    Seraiah touched her own cheek in the spot Wisteria had indicated and found dried drool crusted on the corner of her mouth. Hastily, she wiped it off.

    Wisteria moved to the other side of the room and started rummaging through the wardrobe. When she emerged again, she held up a dress for Seraiah to see. It was a subdued brown, nothing flashy or eye-catching.

    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Seraiah said, after swallowing another mouthful of tea. With every swallow, the pain disappeared a little more. Two drummers down, twenty more to go.

    ¡°It¡¯s boring,¡± Wisteria countered, ¡°but better to blend in, unlike last night. You and Kestrel certainly seemed to be having fun.¡± Wisteria grinned at Seraiah¡¯s horrified look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t see you do anything too embarrassing, but I only saw you earlier in the night. Who knows what you did after that?¡±

    Seraiah had a terrible feeling about what she had done later in the night.

    Wisteria laid the dress on the end of the bed. ¡°What were you two doing there, anyway? I thought you were supposed to be at the court¡¯s celebration.¡±

    ¡°We were,¡± Seraiah answered, ¡°but Kestrel wanted to sneak out.¡±

    ¡°And took Commander Eryx with you. I saw him lurking around behind the two of you.¡± Wisteria sighed. ¡°Isn¡¯t he dreamy?¡±

    ¡°Umm,¡± Seraiah said, unsure how to respond. ¡°I suppose?¡±

    Wisteria laughed. ¡°Too bad he follows Kestrel around like a love-sick puppy. He only has eyes for her, but she doesn¡¯t seem to notice. I would appreciate him.¡± She ran her hands over the dress, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles.

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but notice how relaxed Wisteria seemed around her now. She had a feeling it was because she knew Seraiah was human. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a little old for you?¡± she asked Wisteria.

    Wisteria made a face. ¡°Age is just a number,¡± she responded, waving the question away.

    Seraiah snorted, almost choking on her tea.

    Her thoughts turned back to the party on the beach. Try as she might, she could only dimly recall the night before. She remembered dancing in the waves, her body feeling almost as though it were floating, but after that, everything was fuzzy. Maybe Kestrel would be able to fill in the blanks for her.

    Oh, gods, she hoped she hadn¡¯t said anything stupid. She remembered confessing it was her birthday, but beyond that, she didn¡¯t remember them speaking about much of anything.

    Seraiah finished the rest of the tea and let Wisteria help her get dressed. She could still feel grains of sand between her toes as she slipped on a pair of soft shoes, but there wasn¡¯t enough time for another bath.

    ¡°Is it afternoon already?¡± Seraiah asked in surprise when they left the darkened bedchamber. The sun was shining brightly through the windows, and the ocean glittered far below.

    Wisteria giggled. ¡°Nectar can do quite a number on you if you aren¡¯t used to it. I¡¯m sure if I had let you, you would¡¯ve slept until nightfall.¡±

    I am never drinking anything Kestrel offers me again, Seraiah vowed silently.

    ¡°Why would Kestrel encourage me to drink it?¡± she wondered aloud. She remembered Eryx warning Kestrel not to let her drink too much, but Kestrel had brushed him off, passing her glass after glass.

    Wisteria shrugged. ¡°You had fun, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± For the first time in a very long time, she hadn¡¯t worried about anything and simply enjoyed herself. It had been nice.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Three

    Seraiah found the room where the council meeting was being held with help from Wisteria.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so worried,¡± Wisteria told her as they stood outside the door. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be fine. It¡¯s not like they will sentence you to execution or anything.¡±

    ¡°They can do that?¡±

    Wisteria smiled as she backed away. ¡°Best of luck. I have to get to my other duties now.¡± Then she turned on her heel and fled, leaving Seraiah standing in the hallway alone.

    ¡°Right,¡± Seraiah mumbled, taking a breath and squaring her shoulders. ¡°We can do this.¡±

    She knocked.

    ¡°Come in,¡± a voice called. A very familiar voice.

    When Seraiah opened the door, she found Kai sitting at the far end of a large oval table. It appeared no one else had arrived yet.

    He looked up from the papers he was studying and offered her a small smile.

    Her eyes locked on his mouth, and her heart stopped.

    Suddenly, she remembered with excruciating clarity what had happened the night before.

    First she¡¯d confessed her possible feelings for him and jealousy over his interaction with Virelai to Kestrel, and then, when left alone with him, she¡¯d kissed him.

    But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. The worst part was that prior to throwing herself at him, she had told him she didn¡¯t think he was awful.

    Seraiah wished the floor would open up and swallow her.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± Kai said, indicating the chair on his left.

    She made her way around the table even though she wanted nothing more than to flee the room and possibly never see Kai again. What was she supposed to say to him? Did she apologize?

    The chair scraped loudly against the floor in the silence as she pulled it from the table and sat. They were close enough to bump elbows, and she could feel the heat of his body.

    Or maybe that was her imagination.

    She knit her fingers together in her lap to resist touching them to her mouth as she remembered the heat of his lips and the way . . .

    No. She could not do this right now.

    ¡°Did you have a good night?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°I-um, yes,¡± she squeaked. Her cheeks burned. Now might be the time to apologize, or perhaps she could pretend she didn¡¯t remember anything. Yes, that might be for the best. Then things could go back to the way they were, and they could both forget about how she had embarrassed herself.

    ¡°The court celebration was nice,¡± Seraiah said, ¡°and then Kestrel took me to a party on the beach. Unfortunately, I think I may have had too much to drink because I don¡¯t remember much after that until Wisteria woke me up for this meeting.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that tends to happen around Kestrel. When I spoke to her this morning, she was also feeling the effects of the nectar.¡±

    There, Seraiah thought, I¡¯ve fixed things. As long as Kai doesn¡¯t say anything, we can put this behind us.

    ¡°The council should be here in a few minutes,¡± Kai warned her as he flipped through pages. ¡°Be prepared to be questioned. They will want to know everything, including about your seer abilities.¡±

    ¡°Should I tell them everything?¡± she asked. The nerves from earlier came flooding back.

    Kai nodded. ¡°It¡¯s time they know that their Queen still lives, and that my mother lied about her death. The future of this kingdom depends on getting her back.¡±

    ¡°Do I need to be worried¡ª¡± Seraiah paused a moment, gripping the arms of her chair, ¡°for myself? They won¡¯t want to execute me, right?¡±

    Kai looked at her sharply. ¡°Who told you that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, um, no one.¡± She traced a finger over the tabletop. The nervous energy was making it impossible for her to sit still. ¡°I was just thinking what with everyone¡¯s reaction to me . . .¡±

    Kai placed a hand over hers, stilling her movement. ¡°Seraiah.¡± He waited until she looked up to continue. ¡°You will be safe here. You have my word. I will do everything in my power to make sure of it.¡±

    At that moment, Kestrel arrived. Her eyes went straight to their hands.

    ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± she asked with a knowing smile. ¡°I can go if you¡¯d like.¡±

    Kai sat back, withdrawing his hand. ¡°We were just discussing what to tell the council.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Kestrel said, coming around the table. She pulled out the empty chair on Seraiah¡¯s left and took a seat.

    ¡°You remember what we spoke about this morning?¡± Kai asked.

    ¡°Of course. How would I forget? By the way, how are you feeling, Seraiah? Sorry about last night.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Only a little tired. Wisteria gave me a tea to help with my headache,¡± as she spoke, she glanced back at Kai, who for some reason was glaring at Kestrel. She was clearly missing something, but she was too afraid to ask what.

    ¡°So you made it to bed all right then?¡± Kestrel placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands.

    ¡°Kes.¡± There was a warning in Kai¡¯s tone.

    Had Kai told Kestrel about their kiss? Was that what this was about?

    ¡°Yes, Kai?¡±

    Before he could respond, the door opened, and several newcomers joined them.

    Three older male elves Seraiah didn¡¯t recognize filed in, taking seats around the table. Gavaran brought up the rear, selecting the seat directly across from Kai.

    His eyes moved straight to her. ¡°Good afternoon, Seraiah,¡± Gavaran said pleasantly, reaching for the water glass placed in front of each of the seats. ¡°Did you enjoy the Eostre celebration?¡± he asked, over the rim of his glass. He kept his eyes on her as he took a sip of water and set the glass back on the table.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°It was lovely,¡± she responded, forcing a smile. She was not at all prepared for this.

    Gavaran looked like he was about to say something else, but Kai spoke up first.

    ¡°We can start this meeting as soon as the others arrive,¡± he said, drawing everyone¡¯s attention back to him. ¡°I am sure you are all eager to hear my news.¡±

    The other council members nodded, though they hardly looked eager. All three of them kept a perfectly blank face, mirroring Gavaran.

    ¡°Yes, Kaimana.¡± Gavaran sat back in his seat, steepling his fingers, keeping his eyes locked on her. ¡°We are all eager to hear about your¡ª¡± he paused a moment as though trying to think of a proper word, ¡°adventures.¡±

    Seraiah looked down at the table, uncomfortable under his gaze as the room fell into silence.

    Finally, the last three members of the council appeared and took their seats.

    Kai introduced the six council members she had yet to formally meet. Their names went in one ear and out the other.

    She couldn¡¯t help thinking how odd it was that in a kingdom ruled by a queen, the council was made up entirely of males.

    ¡°We are here today because I have important news to discuss that affects the entire kingdom,¡± Kai began. ¡°Kestrel and I have been away for some time because we had reason to believe my sister is alive.¡±

    Seraiah covertly watched the council¡¯s faces and saw their surprise at Kai¡¯s revelation. Gavaran, however, appeared unaffected by this news.

    ¡°What makes you think your sister, who was declared dead by the Queen some fifteen or so years ago, is still out there?¡± one of the councilmen asked.

    ¡°I have suspected for years based on comments from Neorah and things my mother has mentioned. After a lot a searching, it seems I was correct. We found her.¡±

    ¡°Send someone for Neorah, and we will ask her for ourselves,¡± Gavaran said. The council member on his right stood to do his bidding. ¡°Please, continue, Your Highness,¡± Gavaran said, once the other elf had returned to his seat.

    ¡°As I was saying, I found her. I tracked the princess and Jensira to the city of Ratha in the human lands.¡±

    ¡°And now you are trying to pass off this human,¡± the councilman who had spoken earlier, gestured to Seraiah, ¡°as your sister.¡±

    ¡°Hardly, Councilman Harloth. I think it¡¯s quite obvious to everyone that Seraiah isn¡¯t the missing queen. Seraiah is a seer who grew up as the queen¡¯s older sister, while Jensira acted as a mother to her.¡±

    Gavaran raised one eyebrow at this pronouncement. ¡°Is this true?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said quietly. She once again had the sense that Gavaran had more power here than Kai, though she didn¡¯t understand how.

    ¡°I see, and if it¡¯s as you say,¡± Gavaran said, slowly, ¡°then where are Jensira and the princess now? You return to us with this human, but neither of the two missing elves. How are we to know if what this girl says is true?¡±

    Seraiah did not care for the implication that she was a liar. ¡°Jensira is dead, and Sterling was kidnapped. I am sure you are well-aware of my seer abilities. I know you felt it when you took my hand last night.¡±

    The other council members murmured amongst themselves, but Gavaran didn¡¯t bat an eye. He held up his hand and silence immediately fell.

    ¡°Please tell us how this came to happen then, Seraiah.¡± He all but sneered her name.

    She opened her mouth to tell her story when a knock sounded on the door.

    ¡°Enter,¡± Gavaran called.

    The door opened to reveal an older female elf. She stepped inside and curtsied to Kai.

    ¡°You summoned me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, Neorah.¡± It was Gavaran who answered her. She turned her eyes to him. ¡°We have a few questions for you regarding the princess.¡±

    Seraiah noticed Gavaran never referred to Sterling as their queen.

    ¡°The princess, sir?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you remember her, Neorah. You delivered her, and if I recall correctly, you were present when the Queen announced her death.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir, I was.¡±

    ¡°Prince Kaimana has suggested to the council that the princess may not be dead after all, and you were the one who told him this.¡±

    Neorah¡¯s eyes flicked to Kai and then back to Gavaran.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Neorah. You can tell them what you told me,¡± Kai reassured her.

    She took a visible breath. ¡°What Prince Kaimana says is true. The princess did not die as the Queen proclaimed.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else you can share with us?¡± Gavaran asked her.

    ¡°No, sir,¡± Neorah answered, her gaze turning to the floor.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what happened to the princess, or why the Queen decided to declare the heir dead when she was, in fact, not?¡±

    ¡°No, sir,¡± she said again.

    ¡°Thank you for your time, Neorah,¡± Kai said.

    She curtsied again and fled the room.

    ¡°There you have it,¡± Kai said, gesturing to the door Neorah had just exited.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Gavaran said, leaning forward to place his hands on the table. ¡°Now we know that at some point the princess was alive, but that doesn¡¯t mean she still is. Why would Jensira flee with her to the human lands to raise her with this?¡± He indicated Seraiah.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let her tell her story, Gavaran?¡± Kestrel cut in.

    From the corner of her eye, Seraiah could see that Kestrel was gripping the edge of the table so hard her knuckles were turning white. ¡°That is what we are here for, after all, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Speak up, girl.¡±

    So, Seraiah told them. She told them every detail she could think of. From the moment she had her first dream to the moment she set foot in this city, she told them everything. As she spoke, she watched their faces, trying to gauge their reactions. Most of them seemed interested, and a few of them even appeared to believe her. When she dared a look at Gavaran, she couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking. No sign of emotion passed over his features.

    The only sound in the room after she finished speaking was the ticking of Gavaran¡¯s nails against the table as he drummed his fingers in thought. No one seemed to know what to say.

    Kai was the first to speak. ¡°You can see how important it is that we find her. The strange weather in Ratha, the Varanem showing up in the human lands¡ªI believe they are connected. Something is happening, and our portals are weakening. We can¡¯t let this continue.¡±

    Several of the council members were already nodding their heads in agreement as he spoke.

    ¡°Do you have any idea where they¡¯ve taken her?¡± Gavaran asked. ¡°We can¡¯t be wasting our time searching for a girl who mages may or may not have taken.¡± He didn¡¯t seem inclined to offer them any help.

    The elf who Kai had called Harloth spoke up. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should bother with this at all.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s our queen,¡± Kestrel growled. ¡°We can¡¯t abandon her.¡±

    Harloth snorted. ¡°A human raised queen. Can you imagine?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kai said, answering Gavaran¡¯s original question, ¡°we don¡¯t know where she was taken, but,¡± he directed his gaze to Harloth now, ¡°we do know that things will become much worse if she isn¡¯t returned, human raised or not. You have heard what Seraiah said. Her vision is a warning of things to come.¡±

    ¡°Well, you brought the seer here. Put her to work. She should be able to tell you where the princess is being held,¡± Harloth responded.

    ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree with Harloth,¡± Gavaran said. ¡°You brought the human girl here and caused quite an uproar with the court. Use her or get rid of her.¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Gavaran asked, pinning her with that stare again.

    ¡°He can¡¯t use me,¡± Seraiah said, raising her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not trained. I can¡¯t control the visions. They don¡¯t come when I will them.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so this is the reason you are telling us all of this now,¡± Gavaran said. ¡°You¡¯ve run into a problem you couldn¡¯t solve.¡±

    Kai appeared remarkably calm in the face of Gavaran¡¯s words, while Seraiah was struggling to control her temper. She had to remind herself it would serve nothing to lash out. Gavaran was goading them, and she could not fall for it.

    One of the friendlier looking council members spoke up, ¡°If the girl can¡¯t call the visions, then we must look elsewhere for information. We absolutely cannot ignore this issue. I¡¯m agreeing with Prince Kaimana. Matters are only going to get worse.¡±

    ¡°What would you propose we do, Nilos?¡± Gavaran asked. He didn¡¯t seem pleased that Nilos had spoken up.

    Before Nilos could respond, Kestrel jumped in. ¡°What about speaking to the Seelie Court?¡±

    Gavaran frowned.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t had contact with them in some time,¡± Nilos said.

    ¡°But could they not help us? They have eyes and ears both here and in the human lands. If anyone would have information, it would be them.¡±

    ¡°And how much are you willing to pay for the information?¡± Harloth countered. ¡°They never give out anything for free.¡±

    Another member spoke up, but Seraiah stopped listening. Instead, she stared at her hands in her lap, thinking. If it were up to her, she would pay any price that was asked if it meant getting closer to finding Sterling.

    ¡°The choice to go to the fae is up to you,¡± Gavaran said. ¡°As you pointed out, there will be a price to pay, but I certainly won¡¯t be the one footing the bill. Now, if that is all you have to say. I think we are done here.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kai said. ¡°This meeting is over. Leave, all of you.¡±

    The others were fast to stand and exit, sketching bows in Kai¡¯s direction, while Gavaran took his time.

    ¡°Think about what I said.¡± His gaze darted to Seraiah before returning to Kai.

    His words echoed in her head. Use her or get rid of her.

    He hadn¡¯t called for her execution like Wisteria had suggested, but he might as well have.

    ¡°Good day, Gavaran,¡± Kai said, dismissing him.

    After Gavaran was gone and the door shut behind him, Kai sighed and slumped in his seat in a very unprincely manner. ¡°Well, that went about as well as I expected.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Four

    Sterling woke to find herself in a bed with a tangle of sheets around her. Her wool dress was gone, replaced by a light cotton shift. She tried not to think about some stranger undressing her.

    She pushed herself up on her elbows to look around the room. The light was dim and murky, making her surroundings appear in shades of gray. A wash basin stood on the far wall, but otherwise, there was nothing else in the room.

    Hunger clawed at her stomach¡ªan angry beast demanding to be sated. Sterling tried her best to ignore it as she sat up all the way, propping herself against the wall behind her. Her body was weak, but besides the hunger, Sterling realized, she could no longer feel any of the other aches and pains she had acquired.

    She touched her nose with a single finger. There was no sharp stab of pain as she had expected. In fact, her nose felt normal, no longer swollen¡ªslightly crooked, perhaps¡ªbut normal.

    A door creaked open, startling her, to reveal a woman holding a tray. The delightful aroma of soup reached Sterling''s nose. "Oh," the woman exclaimed when she saw Sterling sitting up. "You''re finally awake."

    Sterling noticed she was wearing a dark robe like the one Ren wore. She had the brief thought that perhaps she had been taken by a cult.

    "If you are feeling up to it, I brought soup for you," the woman said, stepping closer to the bed with her tray.

    "That would be nice." Sterling''s voice came out rough from disuse. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth.

    "Careful," the woman said, setting the tray down on Sterling''s legs. "It''s hot."

    As Sterling thanked the woman, she caught a movement behind her. Ren was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest¡ªwatching them. When he noticed Sterling looking at him, his mouth curled up in that infuriating smirk.

    She glared back, and the woman turned to see what Sterling was staring at.

    "Shoo," she said when she spied Ren. "She is still recovering. You can bother her later."

    Ren winked at her before pushing himself off the door frame. "I''ll see you later then, Silver."

    Sterling couldn''t tell if that was a promise or a threat.

    <hr>

    After the meeting, Kai excused himself to attend to other matters, leaving Seraiah with Kestrel.

    ¡°What happens now?¡± Seraiah asked, following behind Kestrel as she left the meeting room.

    ¡°Now, you go back to your rooms and practice those visions, and I go to prepare to leave again.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to the Seelie Court then?¡±

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not ideal, but it¡¯s our current best option unless you manage to have another vision.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±

    Kestrel stopped so abruptly that Seraiah almost crashed into her. She turned and placed her hands on Seraiah¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Listen to me. You are not coming. This may be dangerous, and I will be going alone.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. Stay here where you are safe. Understood?¡±

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m safe here,¡± she said.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Kestrel dropped her hands and took a step back. ¡°What? Why do you say that? Did something happen?¡±

    Seraiah looked down. ¡°Nothing has happened. Yet. You¡¯ve seen how I am not welcome here.¡±

    Kestrel waved her worry away. ¡°Everything will be fine. Kai is here. He can protect you.¡± She started walking again toward the stairs. Seraiah followed closely on her heels.

    ¡°That¡¯s just it, though. I don¡¯t think he can. I don¡¯t pretend I know everything about ruling, but my impression is that Kai is not the one who holds all the power here. If he did, I don¡¯t think he would have entertained the meeting we just attended. He wouldn¡¯t have been concerned about telling them about where he has been. Kai is not the true ruler of this kingdom.¡±

    Kestrel shushed her and looked around like she was checking to see who could be listening. ¡°Look. Come with me to my rooms. We¡¯ll talk about this there.¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s rooms were the opposite of what Seraiah expected. They were cozy and comfortable, but appeared as if a whirlwind had gone through them. A blanket was draped over the back of an overstuffed chair and empty cups and plates littered the surfaces.

    ¡°Make yourself at home,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Then she disappeared into another adjoining room.

    Seraiah stepped over a pile of discarded clothes and took a seat on a second overstuffed chair. She supposed Kestrel simply didn¡¯t have the time to clean, and maybe she didn¡¯t like having someone like Wisteria do it for her.

    Kestrel returned a few moments later and settled in the opposite chair. ¡°Now,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss Kai.¡±

    ¡°What about him?¡± Seraiah asked, afraid Kestrel was going to bring up last night again.

    ¡°What you said about him not being the true ruler of this kingdom is true. As you know, Sterling is our queen. She is our well of magic, so to speak. Without her, our magic will fade, possibly disappearing entirely. We don¡¯t know for sure what will happen as there are no accounts of this. In the meantime, Kai is our temporary ruler, but a ruler is nothing without the backing of their people. If Kai was the holder of all our magic, things might be different because magic is power here.¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s not.¡±

    ¡°No, so Kai must gather power through the normal means. He needs to play the court games and win favors. He must build loyalty. Such a task is difficult to do with our lengthy absences. The council members have, meanwhile, had plenty of time to garner favor.¡±

    ¡°I see. Then my point about not being safe here stands,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°If Gavaran has more power than Kai . . .¡±

    ¡°The Seelie Court is far more dangerous than Gavaran. You know nothing about its customs.¡±

    ¡°I know nothing about yours either, and yet here I am,¡± Seraiah countered.

    Kestrel sighed. ¡°If you can convince Kai it would be a good idea for you to go, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡±

    Seraiah arched a brow. Kestrel seemed to think she had already won, but Seraiah had the perfect argument to use against Kai. ¡°Done.¡±

    Kestrel went back to preparing to leave for the Seelie Court, which to Seraiah seemed to consist of pulling out every article of clothing she owned and scattering them around the room. Next came the weapons.

    ¡°Do you have an entire armory in there?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°I would not be surprised,¡± Kai said from the doorway.

    ¡°No one asked you,¡± Kestrel said, poking her head out from the other room. She held some kind of curved sword. ¡°Also, who said you could come in?¡±

    ¡°I knocked, but you must not have heard me.¡± Kai crossed the room, taking the chair Kestrel had used earlier.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you can barge in.¡±

    Kai smirked. ¡°It¡¯s my castle.¡±

    ¡°Not for long,¡± Kestrel grumbled before disappearing again. ¡°What do you want, anyway? Am I in trouble again? I had nothing to do with whatever it is,¡± she called from the other room.

    ¡°I came to speak with you about the Seelie Court.¡±

    This was her chance.

    ¡°I¡¯m going with her,¡± Seraiah announced.

    Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Was this Kestrel¡¯s idea?¡±

    ¡°No, it was mine.¡± She paused, looked him dead in the eye and said, ¡°You won¡¯t take my choices away from me, will you?¡±

    Kai stared back. ¡°I suppose you have me there.¡±

    Kestrel swore, and Seraiah grinned. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± she called. ¡°I do believe it means you¡¯re taking me with you.¡±

    Kestrel stomped into the room. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do the prince thing and have her locked in a tower?¡±

    ¡°I believe you have me confused with the villain,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°And it¡¯s always the princess who is locked in the tower. Last I checked, I¡¯m not a princess,¡± Seraiah added.

    Kestrel grinned. ¡°I know a way we can change that.¡±

    ¡°Kes, you don¡¯t have time to plan my wedding,¡± Kai said. ¡°You have other assignments.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s face warmed.

    ¡°Well, your assignment was to talk some sense into her.¡± Kestrel jabbed a finger at her. ¡°She has no business at the Seelie Court. It¡¯s dangerous. Do you want to lose her to the fae?¡±

    ¡°Never,¡± he said. The look he gave her set off a riot of butterflies in her stomach. ¡°But I¡¯m also not going to stop her from doing something she wants to do. You understand the risks?¡±

    Seraiah nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. You¡¯ll go with Kestrel to seek help from the fae.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Five

    It turned out when Kestrel said she was leaving for the Seelie Court soon, she had meant the next morning.

    "Are you going to miss babysitting me?" Seraiah asked Wisteria as the elf laid out her clothes.

    "I''m not your babysitter, but yes, I will miss you. You''re the first human I have ever met, and I kind of like you."

    "Thanks?" Seraiah supposed that was a better response than she had gotten from the rest of the elves.

    "You''re welcome. Now try this on.¡±

    Seraiah quickly changed into the close fitting pants that were made of some type of leather material. The linen top had a looser fit, but it was covered by a laced corset vest in the same leather as the pants. Finally, she pulled on a pair of brown boots that laced up to just below her knees. There was even a place for the knife Kestrel had given her.

    Everything fit perfectly, as though it were custom made for her, which shouldn¡¯t have been possible considering she¡¯d only been here for two days. Perhaps it was another type of magic, she decided.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s perfect,¡± Wisteria said when Seraiah joined her in the main living area. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, but I packed some things for you.¡± She held up Seraiah¡¯s familiar satchel from home.

    ¡°The book that was in there?¡±

    ¡°Still there,¡± Wisteria confirmed. ¡°Though I doubt you will have time for reading. You might be better served using the space for something else.¡±

    A sharp knock echoed through the entrance hall. The girls looked at each other.

    Seraiah was not expecting anyone. She was supposed to meet Kestrel in the stable yard.

    "I''ll go see who it is. You wait here," Wisteria said.

    A moment later, the sound of footsteps came toward her. To Seraiah¡¯s surprise, it wasn''t Wisteria who appeared¡ªbut Kai. He wore his golden circlet again and looked entirely too put together for the early hour.

    His eyes tracked down her body and then back up again in a slow perusal that brought a blush to her cheeks. ¡°I see you got the outfit I sent.¡±

    ¡°It was you?¡± she asked, nervously smoothing her hands down the front of the vest. She wasn¡¯t used to wearing something so tight-fitting, but it moved easily with her body.

    ¡°It should offer you better protection, though not as much as armor would,¡± he said. ¡°Speaking of which, I brought a gift for you. A belated birthday gift.¡±

    ¡°Kestrel told you.¡±

    ¡°She did. You should have mentioned it.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t important.¡±

    ¡°I disagree.¡± He held something out to her.

    When Seraiah accepted it, she discovered she was holding a dagger. It was longer than Kestrel¡¯s knife and much more ornate, with a dark red stone set in the pommel.

    Seraiah pulled it from its leather sheath, testing the weight of it in her hand. She attempted to flip it the way Kestrel had shown her, and was proud when she didn¡¯t drop it on her foot.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing,¡± Kai said as he watched her.

    ¡°A little,¡± she admitted. ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to learn much.¡±

    The corners of his mouth turned up. ¡°I fear the day that you do. Do you like it then?¡±

    She nodded, slipping the dagger back into its sheath. There were fastenings attached to it, but she wasn¡¯t sure what they were meant to be strapped to. They were too small to be a belt, but too large for a wrist.

    Kai must have noticed her confusion. "It goes here," he said, indicating his thigh. "Here, let me help you."

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    He took the dagger from her hand and knelt before her. ¡°May I?¡±

    Seraiah nodded and watched as he brought his hands to her leg. She barely contained her gasp when she felt him touch the inside of her thigh. It was like there was no material between them. Every movement sent a lick of heat through her. By the time he was done, she felt like she might burst into flame.

    ¡°All right?¡± he asked, looking up at her. It almost sounded like his voice had gotten deeper.

    It took her a second to realize he was talking about the tightness of the straps.

    Seraiah nodded again. It was taking all of her self-control not to bury her fingers in his hair.

    ¡°Good,¡± he said and stood.

    Now she was the one looking up at him.

    She had a vivid memory of the way he¡¯d lifted her chin before she¡¯d kissed him.

    ¡°Seraiah?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± She hoped he hadn¡¯t noticed the way her eyes had drifted to his mouth.

    ¡°Promise me something.¡±

    She waited.

    ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll be careful. We need you to find Sterling.¡±

    The words were like a splash of cold water. She noted his use of we and not I and the mention of her sister. It was a reminder he only cared for her insofar as finding his lost queen. Once she served her purpose, she would no longer be needed.

    Seraiah took a step back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t put your asset in danger.¡±

    He reached for her. ¡°That isn¡¯t what I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Seraiah! Are you ready? Kestrel will be waiting for you. You don¡¯t want¡ª¡± Wisteria rounded the corner. ¡°Oh, Prince Kaimana. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you were still here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Seraiah said before he could respond. She picked up her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. ¡°Thank you again for the gift,¡± she said to Kai. Then she headed for the door without another look back.

    <hr>

    When Seraiah reached the stable yard, Kestrel was already there¡ªand she wasn''t alone. Seraiah watched as Eryx leaned in closer until mere inches separated the two of them. Kestrel had one hand resting against his chest while the other clutched the reins of her horse.

    Seraiah slowed her pace, not wanting to interrupt. They appeared to be deep in conversation, completely unaware of the world around them. Perhaps Wisteria had been wrong, and Kestrel was well aware of Eryx''s feelings. It certainly seemed that way, if the scene in front of her was any indication.

    With Seraiah''s attention on the couple, she didn''t see the loose pebble until it was too late, and she sent it skittering over the cobblestones.

    Kestrel''s head snapped away from Eryx''s gaze, and the moment was broken as her eyes landed on Seraiah watching them.

    Kestrel promptly dropped her hand from Eryx''s chest and took a step back, putting space between them. Seraiah swore Eryx''s shoulders sagged a bit as he turned to regard her as well.

    "Good morning," Seraiah greeted them tentatively. She could practically feel the charge in the air from whatever had been happening between them.

    "Good morning," Kestrel responded in turn, while Eryx merely nodded his head. He offered the reins he held in his hand to her.

    "Congratulations. You get to have your very own horse this time," Kestrel said, cracking a smile and breaking some of the tension in the air.

    "Lucky me," Seraiah murmured as Eryx stepped away.

    Just then, two male elves rode up to join their little group. Both dismounted and saluted Kestrel and then Eryx, completely ignoring her.

    "What''s this?" Kestrel asked.

    "They¡¯re going with you," Eryx answered.

    "By whose orders?" Kestrel cast cool eyes in his direction.

    "Mine. I will not let you and the hu¡ª" at the last minute he corrected himself, "¡ªSeraiah, go by yourselves."

    Seraiah was certain he had been about to refer to her as the human, but she had to give him credit. At least he was trying.

    She watched the war going on in Kestrel''s eyes. Her friend looked ready to snap back that they didn''t need protection, but there was something stopping her.

    Instead, Kestrel merely nodded once, a quick jerk of her head, before she mounted her horse. Eryx''s eyes followed her movements and even he seemed startled by her acceptance.

    "We should leave before the rest of the court awakens," Kestrel said, not looking at anyone in particular.

    The two newest members of their party were quick to mount their horses again and wait for Kestrel''s orders. Only Seraiah remained on the ground, still clutching her horse''s reins.

    Kai was noticeably absent. He hadn¡¯t come to see them off, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but wonder if their conversation had something to do with it. Maybe she should have apologized, but at the same time, she didn¡¯t think she was wrong in what she had said. She was an asset in this search and nothing more. She needed to remember that.

    ¡°Up you go,¡± Eryx said. He helped her mount and, with a quick goodbye, they were off.

    As they clattered their way through the sleepy city streets of Nyrene, Seraiah couldn''t help wondering what awaited her at the Seelie Court. Even though she¡¯d insisted on going, a snake of dread still coiled in the pit of her stomach.

    She couldn''t shake the feeling something awful was going to happen, but it was probably only because of all the warnings she¡¯d gotten from both Kai and Kestrel about the dangers of the fae court¡ªas if their own weren¡¯t just as treacherous.

    Trying to distract herself, Seraiah stared forward between her horse''s ears at Kestrel''s back, thinking about how she had observed Kestrel and Eryx. She would have to tease her friend about it later. After all, she had to get back at Kestrel for teasing her about Kai.

    The cool weight of the dagger Kai had given her pressed into her thigh. Did he also suspect something would not go as they¡¯d planned? Was that the real reason he had gifted her with this weapon? Seraiah mentally shook herself to rid her brain of those negative thoughts. She had to stop thinking this way, or she would bring it down upon them.

    Everything would be fine, and their visit to the fae would bring them one step closer to getting Sterling back.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Six

    Kai stood in the center of Seraiah¡¯s room, staring at the place she¡¯d vacated. One minute she¡¯d been close enough to touch and then the next she was pulling away and leaving. A wall had gone up between them, but he couldn¡¯t figure out why.

    He sighed and tried to run a hand through his hair before remembering he was wearing a circlet that made it impossible. He was about to rip the thing off and throw it across the room when Wisteria returned.

    ¡°Is there something else you require, Your Highness?¡± she asked, curtsying to him.

    ¡°No, carry on. I¡¯ll get out of your way.¡± He brushed past her and out of the room, ignoring her curious stare.

    He should go down to the stable yard and see them off. He¡¯d had every intention to, but now something held him back.

    Instead, Kai headed for his study.

    He was still mulling over their conversation when he took a seat behind his desk with its piles of paperwork. Kestrel would know what he¡¯d said wrong, but it wasn¡¯t like he could ask her. She was on her way to the Seelie Court now.

    He picked up a paper at the top of the stack near his right elbow. It was a report on the kingdom¡¯s finances. Lines of numbers danced before his eyes as he skimmed the page. He should care about this since it was his responsibility now, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to focus.

    Kai was relieved when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± he called, setting the report aside.

    Eryx entered, closing the door softly behind him and approaching the chairs in front of Kai¡¯s desk. He did not sit.

    ¡°I take it they¡¯ve left,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°They have, and I sent two others with them for all the good it will do. At least they won¡¯t be entirely alone.¡±

    ¡°You know I didn¡¯t force her to go. She made the choice on her own.¡± Kai could have been talking about either of them, but there was only one Eryx cared about.

    A smile ghosted over Eryx¡¯s face, there and then gone again. ¡°I don¡¯t think you could force Kestrel to do anything she didn¡¯t want to do.¡±

    ¡°She seems to have taught Seraiah the same thing. I should have told her not to go, even if she wouldn¡¯t have listened.¡±

    Eryx¡¯s brows rose. ¡°Is she the reason you didn¡¯t come to the stable yard?¡±

    Kai appraised him, wondering exactly how much Kestrel had told him. ¡°I had work to attend to.¡± He gestured to the paperwork.

    ¡°That¡¯s a yes, then. What happened?¡±

    ¡°Why does everyone always think something¡¯s happened?¡±

    Eryx leaned on the back of one of the chairs. ¡°I¡¯ve known you almost as long as Kestrel has. You aren¡¯t that hard to read. Besides, I may have heard a thing or two when the girls were talking about you on the beach.¡±

    ¡°They were talking about me?¡±

    Eryx grinned.

    ¡°Not that I care about what they may have said.¡± Kai picked up the finance report again and pretended to read it.

    ¡°Good, because I wasn¡¯t going to tell you. For my own safety, you understand.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be more afraid of me, given that I¡¯m your prince?¡±

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    Eryx shook his head. ¡°We both know you aren¡¯t the scary one.¡± He straightened up. ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to your work.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll be back in a fortnight,¡± Kai called after him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so,¡± Eryx said over his shoulder before pulling the door shut behind him.

    <hr>

    The journey to the Seelie Court took a little over four days. The Court was buried deep within the forest she and Kestrel had first traveled through on their way to Nyrene.

    Something buzzed near Seraiah¡¯s ear, and she swatted what she thought was a small insect away from her face. She startled when the thing let out a high-pitched squeak.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡± she murmured, trying to get a closer look at the creature she¡¯d smacked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a tree sprite,¡± Kestrel said, swatting one away from her own face. ¡°Annoying little things.¡±

    A different one zoomed by Seraiah¡¯s face, giving her a better look at it. It appeared human-shaped with tiny stained-glass wings, almost like a dragonfly¡¯s. She reached out a finger to touch it, but it darted away.

    ¡°We have about two hours until we reach the Court if the sprites are any indication. Just in time for dinner,¡± Kestrel informed her.

    ¡°Are the sprites part of the Court?¡± Seraiah asked, tracking one of the little creatures with her eyes.

    ¡°Sort of. They live on the outskirts, but they don¡¯t seem to be ruled by the Summer King like the other fae.¡±

    ¡°Ow!¡± Seraiah exclaimed as one of the sprites tugged a piece of hair that had come loose from her braid.

    Kestrel laughed. ¡°Like I said, they¡¯re annoying, but mostly harmless. The faeries are the ones to be concerned about.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Seraiah murmured, rubbing the sore spot on her head.

    Kestrel dropped back to ride beside her. ¡°When we reach the Court, try not to engage any of the faeries in conversation. I¡¯ll do the talking.¡±

    Seraiah nodded. That was fine with her.

    ¡°Also, I wouldn¡¯t eat or drink anything they give you. Stick to what we brought with us.¡±

    ¡°You think they might poison us?¡±

    Kestrel shrugged. ¡°You can never be too careful. Oh, and one last thing, don¡¯t agree to any favors even if they sound insignificant. The faeries have a way of twisting words, and it will always be in their favor. It¡¯s better not to agree to anything at all.¡±

    ¡°But I thought faeries couldn¡¯t lie?¡± Seraiah seemed to recall that much from Sterling¡¯s book, at least.

    ¡°They can¡¯t, but they find ways around it.¡±

    ¡°So, let me see if I have this right. I¡¯m not to speak, eat, drink, or breathe while we are there?¡±

    Kestrel grinned. ¡°I suppose you can breathe, but I would be careful about that, too.¡±

    Seraiah could tell the moment they truly entered the faery court. There weren¡¯t any signs of the faeries yet, but the air had taken on an unwelcoming feeling, leaving her with a sense of unease.

    They let their horses walk, riding in pairs down the path. Seraiah and Kestrel led the group, while the other two elves took up the rear.

    The forest growth around them was lush and dark green. A tangle of vines with bright flowers the size of her head seemed to blanket everything, filling the air with an enchanting perfume. She half expected the trees to start speaking with how magical they looked.

    The tree sprites who had been following them suddenly disappeared, perhaps unwilling to get any closer to the Court.

    It should have been a sign.

    Abruptly, the trees thinned out to reveal houses lining the path. Seraiah would have said they were exact replicas of the houses back home in Ratha, but there was a sense of wrongness about them. She was so busy staring at the houses, trying to figure out what was so strange about them, she didn¡¯t notice Kestrel had pulled to a stop until Seraiah¡¯s own horse jerked to a halt.

    A girl stood in the middle of the path, seemingly having appeared out of thin air. She looked young¡ªten years old at most. The first word to come to mind when Seraiah laid eyes on her was fragile. She was so thin Seraiah suspected a strong gust of wind would be enough to knock her over.

    At first glance, the girl could have passed for human. And just like the houses, the longer Seraiah stared at her, the easier it was to sense the wrongness. Her face was narrow¡ªmuch narrower than any human face, and her skin molded to her bones in a way that made her look skeletal. Her hair, that at first appeared blonde¡ªwas actually a pale shade of green. The tips of her ears poked up through the strands.

    The girl must have felt Seraiah scrutinizing her and shifted her gaze from Kestrel to her. Seraiah was unable to stop the gasp from escaping her mouth.

    The girl¡¯s pupils were vertical slits like a cat¡¯s.

    If the girl heard her gasp, she gave no indication. ¡°Welcome to the Seelie Court,¡± she greeted them in a gravelly voice, as if she were unused to speaking. ¡°What an interesting group you make¡ªthree elves of Nyrene and a human seer.¡± She tilted her head as she studied them, and then she grinned, revealing a mouthful of pointed teeth.

    ¡°You may call me Maescia. What brings you to us?¡± She paused a moment. ¡°You are seeking something, I think.¡±

    ¡°Well met, Maescia,¡± Kestrel greeted her. She introduced the others, leaving Seraiah for last. ¡°We are seeking information and an audience with the Summer King.¡±

    ¡°Information. Yes.¡± She looked thoughtful. ¡°Perhaps, perhaps,¡± Maescia singsonged. ¡°Follow me. I will take you to the King.¡±

    Without waiting for an answer, she turned and skipped up the path, looking for all the world like any normal human child.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Seven

    Maescia¡ªsmall as she was¡ªwas fast. Every so often, she would pause and wait for them before skipping ahead again.

    The farther she led them, the more buildings appeared, but there were no other faeries in sight. It was quiet and oddly deserted.

    Maescia paused again to wait for them, and this time when they reached her, four more faeries appeared, fanning out behind her. ¡°Your horses go no further,¡± she informed them.

    Seraiah shot Kestrel a wary look, but Kestrel seemed unruffled. ¡°Of course,¡± she said, dismounting. Kestrel had no sooner pulled her saddlebag from her horse than one of the new faeries whisked the horse away.

    The rest of the group followed Kestrel¡¯s example, and one by one, their horses disappeared. When they were alone with Maescia once again, she gave them another one of those pointy-toothed grins. ¡°Follow, follow,¡± she singsonged, beckoning them forward.

    She led them through narrow twisting streets, humming all the while. In some spots, the buildings were so close together they had to turn sideways to squeeze through.

    The faint sound of music drifted in the air, blending in with Maescia¡¯s humming. The farther they walked, the clearer it became. It sunk into her body¡ªinto her very bones¡ªurging her to dance. The music at the Eostre celebration had made Seraiah want to dance as well, but not with this sense of urgency. Her body swayed along with the eerie beat.

    Kestrel caught her eye and gave a slight shake of her head. ¡°Fight it,¡± she mouthed. ¡°Be strong.¡±

    Seraiah knew from the stories if she were to give in to the urge to dance, she would never stop. Kestrel had warned her she would never want to leave or see her sister again. She wouldn¡¯t even spare a thought for Sterling as she spun and twirled with abandon.

    The idea of forgetting everything might be appealing to some¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t want their problems to disappear¡ªbut Seraiah wasn¡¯t ready to let go.

    Finally, they popped out into an open-air courtyard.

    The courtyard was filled with the swirl of other dancers and revelers. Food and drink were passed around freely, and everyone moved to the music. Everyone, except a lone figure on a throne at the very center of the circle, that was.

    This must be the Summer King. The ruler of all these cavorting creatures.

    Maescia wove a path through the dancers toward the throne.

    Seraiah tried her best not to stare at the faeries as she followed behind Kestrel, but it was difficult not to. They¡ªlike Maescia¡ªappeared almost human until you looked at them directly. Then you saw their true features, and most were frightful.

    She also spotted a few humans in the mix. These must be the ones Freya had told her were stolen away. They all wore dreamy expressions on their faces, as though they were in another world as they danced and twirled with the faeries around them. Most were thin¡ªnothing more than skin and bones¡ªas if they had danced away their bodies.

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    Maybe they had.

    The urge to join them became harder to resist the closer they drew to the center of the circle. Even the elves were having difficulty ignoring the call of the music. She caught the other two eyeing the crowd, not like they were suspicious, but like they wanted to join in. Their hands had fallen away from their weapons and hung loosely at their sides. So much for the protection Eryx had wanted them to provide.

    Seraiah drew her hands into fists, letting her nails bite into her skin. But I will not join them. I am not like them. I am stronger.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought some guests, Your Majesty,¡± Maescia said, bowing low to her king.

    Kestrel bowed as well, and Seraiah quickly followed suit. All of them held their bows until the Summer King bid them to rise. That was when Seraiah got her first good look at the King.

    Unlike the others, he didn¡¯t even pretend at being human. His bronze skin glowed as if he had swallowed the sun itself. A gilded crown, the exact color of his molten gold eyes, sat perched atop his copper curls. Everything about him radiated.

    ¡°Welcome to my Court, friends¡ªor are you foe?¡± His voice caressed them like the air on a warm summer afternoon. He chuckled to himself. ¡°I suppose that remains to be seen.¡±

    He paused, appearing to listen to some unheard voice.

    ¡°You seek information about your missing queen. How desperate you must be to come here. I can¡¯t recall the last time I hosted any elves.¡± His eyes passed over Kestrel and moved to Seraiah. ¡°But humans, on the other hand . . .¡±

    Fear gripped Seraiah¡¯s heart at his wicked grin. Kestrel had been right. She was safer in Nyrene. This was a mistake, and she should have never come here.

    None of them should have.

    ¡°And what will you exchange for the information about your precious queen?¡± His eyes stayed glued to Seraiah, even though the question was directed at Kestrel.

    No one spoke. They all knew better than to offer anything. The faery would name his own price, and they would be free to accept or walk away.

    The Summer King rose to his feet, surprising Seraiah with his height as he towered over them. Perhaps it was only an illusion to make them feel small and powerless, but she couldn¡¯t be sure.

    He stalked down the few short steps to the floor where they stood and quicker than her eyes could see, grabbed hold of her chin, forcing her to stare into those molten eyes. Seraiah could feel their pull¡ªfeel herself sinking into their depths, and she knew if she wasn¡¯t careful, she would drown.

    ¡°How about this girl? This human seer. I have not seen one of you in quite some time. You might be fun to have around. You could tell me all the greatness I have in my future.¡± His words seemed to reach her from far away. His fingers burned her skin, and yet she could do nothing but stare into those eyes.

    Still, no one else spoke.

    ¡°On the other hand, I already know my greatness, and humans are quite fragile. They wear out so easily.¡± He let go of her chin and turned away.

    Seraiah blinked slowly, coming back to the surface. Her skin was still on fire where he had touched her, but she resisted the urge to check for damage. Instead, she stayed perfectly still and quiet. She didn¡¯t want to draw that attention back to herself again.

    This is for Sterling, she reminded herself. She¡¯d failed her sister once, but she would not do so again.

    The king paced in front of his throne, his hands behind his back. ¡°I think we should make a game of this. What do you think, Maescia?¡±

    Maescia, who Seraiah hadn¡¯t realized was still there, spoke up. ¡°Oh yes, my King, games are just delightful. It¡¯s been so long since we have played a game.¡± She clapped her hands together gleefully, bouncing on her toes¡ªthe picture of an excited child.

    It sent another shiver of fear down Seraiah¡¯s spine. A game would not end well for them.

    ¡°Let me think, then. We cannot make this too easy now.¡± He paced back and forth some more, ignoring them entirely.

    Seraiah stole a glance at Kestrel and could see from the look of horror in her eyes that this was not going at all how she had planned. It only solidified Seraiah¡¯s fear. Maybe if she had stayed in Nyrene, the negotiations with the Summer King would have been more favorable.

    Too late for that now.

    Suddenly, the King stopped, and his eyes alighted on her again¡ªa smile spreading slowly across his face.

    ¡°Ready to play?¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Eight

    Seraiah swallowed hard, but did not respond.

    ¡°I will give you the information you seek,¡± the Summer King said slowly, ¡°but only you, seer, will be able to see it.¡± He cackled at his own joke. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He scrubbed his hands together. ¡°I will give you a vision of your precious queen.¡±

    Seraiah waited. She knew there would be something he wanted in return, and that was what she was dreading.

    ¡°But you must do something for me,¡± he continued.

    She caught a glimpse of Kestrel out of the corner of her eye, looking ready to protest. Kestrel had promised Kai she would keep Seraiah out of this, but Seraiah knew there was nothing Kestrel could do or say now. It was too late.

    Much too late.

    ¡°I hear the dragons are shedding their scales this time of year. I would love to possess one of those beauties. A golden one.¡± His eyes lit up with delight. ¡°Yes, seer, bring me a golden dragon scale, and I will give you your vision.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kestrel spoke for the first time. The minute the word left Kestrel¡¯s mouth, Seraiah knew it was a mistake.

    The Summer King whirled on her. ¡°No one asked for your opinion, elf.¡±

    He turned back to Seraiah. ¡°Let¡¯s make this more interesting, shall we? Bring me the dragon scale, and I will give you the vision and your friends back.¡±

    ¡°And if I refuse?¡± she asked nervously. Kestrel had said they didn¡¯t have to accept any deals. They could walk away. She knew it would be safer for all of them if she declined, and they tried to seek the information elsewhere.

    ¡°And if you refuse . . . you and your elf friends will remain here with me, as my honored guests.¡±

    He did not need to add the forever part. Seraiah understood he had no intention of letting them go.

    ¡°Think carefully, seer. Enjoy my court for the night and give me an answer in the morning.¡±

    If they could slip away, maybe they could get back to Nyrene before anyone noticed they were missing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, human. You would never make it.¡±

    Kestrel bowed. ¡°Your Majesty, thank you for your hospitality.¡± She spoke as though they had been having a pleasant chat about the weather, and he had invited them to stay for tea¡ªas though he hadn¡¯t just given them a death sentence.

    The others bowed as well, and Seraiah forced herself to bend at the waist before Kestrel grabbed her arm and pulled her away. She led their group off the dais and back into the revelers.

    The music was no longer pulling Seraiah to dance.

    They followed Kestrel over to the edge of the circle, into the shadow of a building. ¡°This was a mistake,¡± Kestrel hissed when they were hidden. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have come here when we don¡¯t have enough leverage to use for bargaining. I was hoping they wouldn¡¯t know how desperate we were, but of course, they did.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we can leave now,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°The second I thought about it, he knew like he¡¯d read my mind.¡±

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°He can¡¯t read minds. He only wants you to think he can.¡±

    ¡°Then how did he know I was trying to think of ways out of here?¡±

    Kestrel folded her arms over her chest and leaned back against the side of the building. Her eyes roved over the dancing crowd. ¡°He¡¯s lived an incredibly long time and knows how to read people. We might think we¡¯re unique, but he knows better. It¡¯s why he¡¯s difficult to bargain with. He can play the game far more successfully than we could ever dream of.¡±

    Seraiah had known all this before she¡¯d agreed to come, and yet she¡¯d still hoped that Kestrel could outmaneuver him. ¡°So what are we going to do?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to accept.¡±

    Before she could protest, Kestrel continued, ¡°We do not have a choice. If you accept, we at least have a chance of leaving here with the information we need.¡±

    They both knew it was a very slim chance. Seraiah knew next to nothing about the world she was in. She didn¡¯t have the slightest idea where to find a dragon. And if the faery king couldn¡¯t get a dragon scale himself, how was she, a human, supposed to retrieve one?

    ¡°Maybe I could go back to Nyrene and get some help,¡± she suggested.

    Kestrel was already shaking her head. ¡°They aren¡¯t going to allow you to go back to Nyrene. You¡¯re going to have to do this on your own. You wanted to come here even knowing what might happen. Now you must deal with the consequences of that choice.¡±

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    ¡°Well, I hope you like the Seelie Court because this will be your new forever home.¡± Seraiah did not miss the hopeless looks on the others¡¯ faces at her words. It hadn¡¯t been their choice to be dragged into this. They¡¯d only been doing their job as they¡¯d been ordered.

    Kestrel grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard. ¡°Listen to me. You can do this. There are others who will be willing to help you. The faeries might block any help from the elves, but they will not limit anyone else. Seek out those who will help you¡ªwho would help Sterling. You can and you will do this. Not only Sterling¡¯s life is at stake. Remember the failing portals? Think about the family and friends you left behind in Ratha. They need you to do this. They need you to protect them from this.¡± She gestured to the dancing fae.

    Kestrel had likely meant her speech to be encouraging, but it was anything but. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on Seraiah¡¯s shoulders. Was this what Kai felt like taking care of Nyrene? She did not envy him.

    ¡°I will do it,¡± she said. ¡°But what about you? What will you do while I am out there?¡±

    ¡°The only thing we can do,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Stay here and try not to piss off the faeries and maybe get some intel of our own while we are here.¡±

    A faery girl passed by them with a tray of drinks, holding it out in offer. Kestrel picked one up. The liquid in the glass sparkled as she took a small sip of it.

    ¡°I thought you said we weren¡¯t supposed to eat or drink anything while we were here?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter for us anymore. We are stuck here unless you get that scale. Try this.¡± She held the glass out.

    For a moment, Seraiah had a flashback to Eostre and her vow to never take drinks from Kestrel again.

    But that was before I knew I¡¯d be playing a faery game and likely about to die. One little sip couldn¡¯t hurt anything.

    To her surprise, the drink was warm and slid easily down her throat.

    ¡°Like liquid sunlight,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°It¡¯s extremely addicting, and the Summer King is the only one who has it.¡±

    Seraiah quickly passed the drink back to Kestrel, resisting the urge to take another sip of the golden elixir. Kestrel polished it off and deposited the glass on another server¡¯s tray as they passed by.

    ¡°Feel like dancing?¡±

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°I just want to be away from here.¡±

    ¡°Soon you will be.¡± Kestrel gave her a small smile, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Maybe Kestrel wasn¡¯t as confident in her abilities as she had wanted Seraiah to believe.

    ¡°One dance for old times¡¯ sake, and then we will go find the rooms the Summer King has granted us.¡±

    Seraiah knew Kestrel was only trying to distract her, so she allowed Kestrel to pull her into the swirling bodies.

    They danced for half of the night, and Seraiah was exhausted by the time they retired to their designated room.

    The smart thing to do would have been to make sure she was well rested for whatever came tomorrow, but there was no way she would have been able to sleep.

    Kestrel flopped face down onto one of the small beds in their shared room. It was a simple room¡ªvery similar in style to the one they¡¯d shared at the inn in Baromund. Seraiah was just glad she would not be alone.

    Sitting down on the edge of the other bed, she tugged off her boots. By the time she had them off, Kestrel was sound asleep. Picking up the blanket from the foot of the bed, Seraiah laid it over Kestrel, tucking her in, before crawling into her own bed.

    <hr>

    Morning arrived much too quickly.

    A loud banging on their door roused Seraiah from sleep. It had been such a lovely, deep, dreamless sleep, and it took a moment for her to remember where she was.

    Kestrel stumbled out of bed and opened the door to reveal Maescia. The young faery skirted around Kestrel and entered the room.

    ¡°It is time for your decision, seer. The Summer King is waiting,¡± Maescia said, staring at Seraiah with those cat-like eyes. ¡°Oh, yes. We are all waiting.¡±

    ¡°Can you give us a moment to get presentable?¡± Kestrel asked, still holding the door open.

    Maescia huffed. ¡°You have a moment. I must retrieve your companions as well. When I return, you will be ready.¡±

    It was not a question.

    They stayed silent as she skipped from the room, and Kestrel shut the door behind her.

    ¡°Must be nice to be a faery who can dance all night and look fresh in the morning,¡± Kestrel grumbled, patting down her hair where it was sticking up from the back of her head.

    Seraiah would have said the same thing about Kestrel. This was the first time she had seen her look anything less than perfect.

    She pulled herself out of bed and shoved her feet back in her boots. Finger-combing her hair, she re-braided it as best she could. She was finishing up when another knock sounded on the door.

    Before either of them could answer, the door swung open and Maescia came in. ¡°Your time is up,¡± she announced. ¡°Up, up, up. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Seraiah could see the other two elves over her shoulder. They looked as tired as she felt.

    ¡°We¡¯re coming,¡± Kestrel grumbled at the faery.

    Maescia led them back to the same courtyard they had been in last night. Now, however, there was no music or dancing, but all the faeries were still there. Maescia hadn¡¯t been jesting when she¡¯d said they were waiting. The faeries circled the throne at the center where the Summer King lounged, waiting for them¡ªwaiting for her.

    ¡°So, seer, what will your answer be?¡± he asked, as they approached the throne. ¡°Will you play our game?¡±

    Seraiah cast a glance at Kestrel¡ªher mouth set into an unhappy line¡ªbefore looking back at the King.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°I will play your game.¡±

    The crowd of faeries watching the exchange erupted into cheers after Seraiah gave her answer. A wide grin spread across the Summer King¡¯s face as he regarded her, and she could see that Maescia was also smiling at her response, putting her pointy teeth on full display.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± the King crowed, sitting up straighter on his throne. ¡°I knew you were smarter than the average human. Pity I might not get to keep you.¡±

    He snapped his fingers, and another faery appeared holding a small vial, which he swiftly handed over to the King.

    ¡°Drink this,¡± the King commanded, holding out the vial to her.

    Seraiah hesitated a moment, looking to Kestrel again for guidance, but Kestrel appeared as lost as she felt.

    Seraiah accepted the vial, careful not to brush the King¡¯s hand with her own. Her skin still burned where he had touched it the evening before.

    The vial was small, no larger than her thumb, and filled with a bright blue liquid.

    ¡°Drink it,¡± the Summer King said again, leaning towards her eagerly, ¡°and let the game begin.¡±

    The crowd chanted behind her as Seraiah uncorked the vial, brought it to her lips, and downed the contents.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Thirty-Nine

    Kai had put it off long enough. He needed to speak with Gavaran.

    Rumors were swirling about his lack of power¡ªand not in the magical sense, though that was technically true, too. There¡¯d been less than flattering talk about his lengthy absence and the reasons for it. The elves did not believe Sterling was alive. Some thought him crazy.

    Some thought to remove him.

    While Kai knew there would always be a certain amount of discontent because he would never be able to please everyone¡ªthis was different. If left alone any longer, this would turn into a problem. It was one of many reasons he hadn¡¯t gone with Kestrel and Seraiah to meet with the Summer King. He¡¯d neglected Nyrene for far too long.

    Kai strode down the hall in the wing of the castle Gavaran had laid claim to. All of the council members kept rooms in the castle, but Gavaran was the only one who had taken up an entire wing. It hadn¡¯t always been this way, but in Kai¡¯s absence, Gavaran had set himself up nicely, knowing that even when Kai returned, there would be nothing he could do about it.

    He scowled. None of this would be an issue if they didn¡¯t have a council in the first place. He wouldn¡¯t be made to feel like an outsider in his own home who needed to ask for permission to do anything.

    As much as Kai wanted to do away with the council entirely, he knew it wasn¡¯t the solution. Perhaps it was something that could be addressed when his sister took the throne, but for now, he needed to work with them and present a united front to the elves.

    The rumblings of discontent needed to be stopped.

    Kai rapped twice on the door to Gavaran¡¯s study and waited. Besides himself and the two guards who followed him everywhere, the hallway was empty.

    Minutes dragged by and no sound came from within.

    Kai lifted his hand to knock again when a voice made him pause.

    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for my father, he isn¡¯t here,¡± Virelai said.

    He turned to find her watching him from a nearby doorway.

    She smoothed her hands over her emerald green skirts and smiled at him from beneath her lashes.

    Kai didn¡¯t want to be trapped into conversation with Virelai, but he needed to speak with Gavaran, and she was the only one around who might know his whereabouts. ¡°Where is he?¡±

    Virelai lifted one shoulder and let it fall. ¡°Away.¡±

    Kai barely contained his eye roll. ¡°When will he return?¡±

    She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Then tell him I would like a word when you see him.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    Kai turned on his heel.

    ¡°Not that it will do you any good.¡±

    The words were so soft, Kai wasn¡¯t sure he was meant to hear them. When he looked back, Virelai was already gone.

    <hr>

    A leaf crunched under Seraiah¡¯s cheek. She blinked sluggishly to clear the fog from her vision. Lifting her head up slightly, she took in her surroundings and discovered she was lying on the forest floor in a bed of fallen leaves. Seraiah pushed herself up to sitting and brushed the bits of leaves and soil off her face as she looked around.

    She was alone.

    Completely alone.

    Her satchel lay at her feet, and Seraiah was relieved to find the dagger Kai had given her was still securely strapped to her thigh. She touched the hilt lightly, trying to draw strength from the weapon.

    How had she ended up by herself in the forest?

    It came back to her in bits and pieces. The faeries. She¡¯d made a deal with the faeries. She was playing their little game, and not just Sterling¡¯s life depended on her winning.

    Seraiah¡¯s head pounded, and a surge of dizziness hit her when she tried to stand. She had to grab onto the tree trunk next to her to keep from collapsing back into the leaves.

    Must be a side effect of whatever was in the vial the Summer King made me drink, she thought as she waited for the sensation to pass.

    She couldn¡¯t remember anything that had happened after she¡¯d swallowed down the blue liquid. One minute she was drinking from the vial, and the next she was waking up here in the middle of a forest.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    After Seraiah was sure the dizziness had passed, she let go of the tree and retrieved her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She was surprised they¡¯d let her keep it, but she was grateful that they had. With the food Wisteria had packed, she should be able to survive at least a week without having to worry about finding more or starving to death. Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t take her longer than that to find the dragon.

    If more than a week passed, Kai would realize something had gone wrong. He expected them to return within a fortnight, if not sooner, and it had already been five days. It would take four days to travel back from the Seelie Court, which meant she had exactly five days to fetch the scale and return with it unless she wanted Kai to start a war with the fae.

    A war was the last thing they needed right now, but there was no way he would allow Kestrel to remain in the Summer King¡¯s possession.

    She couldn¡¯t let that happen. I have to get this done not only to free Kestrel, but to make sure the search for Sterling continues.

    Seraiah squared her shoulders. She would get that golden scale¡ªor die trying.

    Seraiah surveyed the trees around her, struggling to determine which direction she should take. Everything looked the same and like nothing she could remember seeing on her brief journey through this world. For all she knew, this wasn¡¯t even the same forest they had passed through to reach the Seelie Court in the first place. The faeries could have dumped her off somewhere on the opposite side of the continent.

    After a few moments of blank staring, she finally decided to pick a direction at random and start walking. Eventually, she had to run into something or someone, she reasoned. She just hoped whoever she ran into would be friendly and not one of those creatures Kestrel had said made the Varanem look like a puppy.

    <hr>

    After walking for what felt like hours, the scenery began to change.

    That was a bit of a relief.

    Seraiah had been beginning to think she was going in circles and seeing the same trees over and over again. Now, however, the ground had started to gradually incline, and the trees were growing sparser. She suspected she was moving up the side of a mountain.

    This had to be a good direction, right?

    She tried to recall where the dragons had lived in Sterling¡¯s book. This was something she should know by heart. After all, the dragon stories had always been Sterling¡¯s favorite. Before Sterling could read them for herself, she would constantly demand that Seraiah read them to her until she could repeat them word for word without even looking at the book.

    Unfortunately, that had been years ago now, and Seraiah¡¯s memory of the stories had grown fuzzy.

    She thought she remembered there being something about a cave in the side of a mountain range, but she was almost certain that had been a story about red and blue dragons¡ªnot a golden one. In fact, now that she was thinking about it, she¡¯d never read any stories about a golden dragon.

    A moment of panic froze her in place.

    What if a golden dragon didn¡¯t exist?

    Seraiah shook the thought from her head and pushed herself to keep going, even though her legs burned from the climb. There was no time for that kind of thinking now. She needed to find a good place to stop for the night. It wouldn¡¯t be safe to rest out in the open.

    A blanket of loneliness settled over her. She missed Kestrel and Kai more than ever as she thought about trying to sleep with no one to watch her back. Scanning the small patch of sky she could now see through the trees, she tried to gauge how long it would be before nightfall. She was so focused on the sky, she didn¡¯t see the hole in the ground before it was too late.

    Her foot hit empty air, and Seraiah¡¯s heart dropped into her stomach. She threw her arms out in an attempt to catch her balance as she teetered on the edge.

    It did no good.

    A scream ripped from her throat as she tumbled down into the darkness.

    Seraiah smacked the water hard¡ªthe weight of her bag pulling her under. Once she got over the initial shock, she struggled, clawing frantically at the water as she tried to swim to the surface. Her clothes and bag made it difficult, but she wasn¡¯t willing to part with anything.

    Just when Seraiah thought her lungs would burst, her head broke the surface.

    She greedily sucked in lungfuls of cool air before paddling her way over to the nearby edge of the pool. She could barely make it out in the small amount of light filtering through the hole above her head.

    Grasping onto the edge with one hand, she used the other to pull her bag off and toss it with a wet thump on the stone. With that accomplished, she pulled herself out of the water and lay panting on the ground, staring up at the place where she had been only a moment ago. Seraiah could see now that she had been lucky to land in the water rather than the rock. A few feet more to the right, and she wouldn¡¯t be breathing right now.

    As she stared up at the hole, she realized there was no way she was going to be able to get back out that way. It was too high above her and, based on her cursory look around, there wasn¡¯t anything for her to use to reach it.

    After she caught her breath, Seraiah sat up, wringing the water from her braid. Her wet clothes were sticking to her skin in a most uncomfortable way. If she got lucky for the second time that day, the spare clothes in her bag would be dry. The bag was supposed to be waterproof in case it rained, but she wasn¡¯t sure how it would survive a dunk in an underground lake.

    And Sterling¡¯s book was in there too.

    Seraiah quickly pulled the satchel into her lap and unbuckled the flap. When she stuck her hand inside, she found wet fabric.

    ¡°No. No. No. Please, no,¡± she murmured, yanking things out.

    Her spare set of clothes on the top were soaked, but beneath them, everything else felt dry. The clothes must have sucked up all the water that had leaked in through the flap. Beads of water sat on top of the wax cloth wrapped food, but none seemed to have reached the book at the bottom.

    Perhaps today was her lucky day. She¡¯d have to make do with her wet clothes, but it was a small price to pay.

    Seraiah was wringing the water out of her tunic when the bobbing light of a lantern caught her attention.

    ¡°I thought I heard something over this way,¡± a deep voice boomed off the walls of the cave¡ªthe echo making it sound louder and closer than it actually was.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing,¡± another voice answered, ¡°just another animal that fell in the hole again.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± the first voice insisted. ¡°I heard a scream. Animals do not scream.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± the second voice grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look then. If it is an animal, I¡¯m going to make you fish it out and carry it home.¡±

    The light danced closer.

    It wouldn¡¯t be long before it revealed her, crouched there by the edge of the lake. Seraiah looked around for a place to hide, but there weren¡¯t any spots she could see in the dark. Her only option would be getting back in the lake and hiding beneath the water.

    She hesitated and missed her chance as the lantern lit up the cave.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty

    ¡°Ho, who goes there,¡± boomed the first voice, who¡¯d insisted he¡¯d heard Seraiah¡¯s scream.

    She shaded her eyes against the sudden light. It was impossible to make out the person who had spoken behind the bright glow.

    ¡°I¡¯m Seraiah,¡± she said, hoping he might be one of the friendly people Kestrel had said would be willing to help her. ¡°I accidentally fell through the hole and into the lake. Can you help me get out again?¡±

    The lantern lowered, revealing a short man¡ªhis head couldn¡¯t have been higher than her hip¡ªwith a long salt and pepper beard that reached almost to his knees. He turned to his companion, who had stayed behind him. ¡°See! What did I tell you? It wasn¡¯t an animal.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it?¡± the other one asked. He hadn¡¯t stepped forward enough for Seraiah to get a good look at him.

    The first one turned back to her, walking closer to where she was still crouched by the edge of the lake.

    ¡°Looks like a girl,¡± he announced, holding the lantern up and blinding her further.

    ¡°What sort of girl?¡± the other asked.

    ¡°What sort of girl are you?¡± the first one asked her, peering at her face.

    ¡°Human,¡± she answered reluctantly.

    ¡°Did you hear that, Therill? The girl says she is a human.¡± His voice echoed off the walls.

    ¡°Keep it down, Lonan. Do you want to bring the beetles down on us?¡± Therill hissed.

    Seraiah was afraid to ask about the beetles. ¡°Who might you be?¡± she asked instead.

    ¡°We¡¯re gnomes from Metrius,¡± the one nearest her declared proudly. ¡°I am Lonan, and my companion is Therill.¡±

    Gnomes? Seraiah racked her brain, trying to recall what she knew about them. The only thing she could come up with was that they were distantly related to faeries, but then again, so were the elves.

    Therill stepped out of the shadows to inspect her, giving Seraiah her first look at him. He was the same height as Lonan and also had a long beard, only his was a reddish brown. If she had to guess, she would say he was the younger of the two, even though he appeared to be the one in charge.

    ¡°Human, you say?¡± Therill scoffed. ¡°We never get any humans down here. How did you get here?¡±

    It seemed they hadn¡¯t been listening when she¡¯d first introduced herself.

    Seraiah pointed to the hole above their heads. ¡°I fell in.¡±

    ¡°I know that,¡± Therill said peevishly. ¡°I mean, how do you come to be in this world?¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to tell them anything about the elves or the faeries until she knew they could be trusted. ¡°It¡¯s um . . . kind of a long story,¡± she said, hoping they wouldn¡¯t press her for more.

    ¡°Save it for the clan leaders, then. For now, come with us.¡± Therill motioned for Lonan, who held the lantern, to lead the way.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t move. After her dealings with the other leaders in this world, she wasn¡¯t eager to meet any more of them.

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Care to greet the cave beetles?¡± Therill asked.

    The mention of beetles had Seraiah reconsidering. Perhaps she¡¯d been mistaken, and she did want to meet their leaders, after all. They couldn¡¯t possibly be worse than whatever these cave beetles were.

    She stuffed her wet belongings back into her bag and followed Lonan. Therill brought up the rear.

    ¡°What¡¯re we going to do with her?¡± Lonan asked, as if Seraiah weren¡¯t right behind him.

    ¡°That will be for the clan leaders to decide,¡± Therill answered.

    ¡°But we found her.¡±

    ¡°Makes no difference. They will decide what¡¯s to be done. Now, please be quiet. I don¡¯t want to deal with the beetles today. If you heard her scream, then undoubtedly, they did too and will already be on their way. I don¡¯t care to be here when they arrive.¡±

    Seraiah silently agreed with Therill. She had a feeling these beetles would be nothing like the ones she was familiar with.

    Lonan remained quiet after that, leading them through several dark tunnels running deep within the mountain Seraiah had previously been climbing. The further they went, the smaller the tunnel grew. The ceiling became low enough that it was no longer possible for her to stand up straight. Therill and Lonan had no such problems with their shorter height.

    Eventually, they made it out of the tunnel system and into a large cavern. Seraiah¡¯s eyes widened at the sight before her.

    ¡°This is Metrius,¡± Lonan said, sweeping his hand at the city that lay before them.

    Homes carved from the same rock as the walls filled the cavern. There was even a castle.

    ¡°Lonan,¡± Therill said, coming up behind them, ¡°please alert the leaders of our guest. I will take the girl to get some food and dry clothing. Find us when they¡¯re ready.¡±

    Lonan hurried off toward the castle to carry out his mission while Therill led her down a side street to one of the small houses.

    She eyed it uncertainly, hoping he wasn¡¯t expecting her to go inside. The front door was about shoulder height. If she hunched like in the tunnels, she could make it work, but it would be uncomfortable.

    ¡°You can wait out here,¡± Therill told her. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in a moment. Don¡¯t go wandering off.¡±

    Seraiah settled herself in Therill¡¯s front yard, wondering if gnome food worked the same way faery food did. She didn¡¯t want to be trapped here, but how did you politely ask something like that? The food in her bag was still good, so maybe she could¡ª

    ¡°You what?¡± a squawk came from inside the house. It sounded female. Moments later, Therill was back, followed by a female gnome. She wore a blue apron dusted with flour over a deep brown dress.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    ¡°See, I told you,¡± Therill said to her. ¡°She says her name is Seraiah.¡±

    The gnome pushed her dark hair out of her face and eyed Seraiah.

    ¡°This is my wife, Pibble,¡± Therill said.

    Seraiah attempted a smile. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°You should come inside,¡± Pibble said. She turned to Therill. ¡°The neighbors are going to have questions.¡±

    Therill rolled his eyes. ¡°Let them talk. They¡¯ll find out soon enough, anyway.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine right here,¡± Seraiah said before they could bicker anymore. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m still wet from falling in the lake. I wouldn¡¯t want to dirty your home.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you poor thing. Do you not have anything else you might wear?¡±

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°My spare clothes got wet too.¡±

    ¡°If you give them to me, I can dry them by the fire for you,¡± Pibble offered. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have anything that might fit you here, but perhaps at the castle. . .¡± She looked at Therill again.

    ¡°I already sent Lonan off,¡± he said.

    ¡°You should have gone there straight away.¡±

    Seraiah quickly dug her spare clothes out of her bag and handed them over, stopping their argument.

    ¡°I can take your boots as well,¡± Pibble said, eyeing Seraiah¡¯s feet.

    Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to give up her only pair of boots, but her feet were uncomfortable, and it wasn¡¯t like she had anywhere to run.

    She slipped them off and handed them over.

    ¡°Therill, bring the girl some stew and a bit of the fresh bread,¡± Pibble said, over her shoulder to her husband as she disappeared back inside the house.

    Therill immediately jumped to do his wife¡¯s bidding, and Seraiah decided she liked Pibble.

    Therill emerged from his home a few moments later with a steaming bowl and a large hunk of bread in his hands, both of which he passed to her before settling in to watch her eat.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°This isn¡¯t umm . . . it¡¯s not going to¡ª¡±

    ¡°We are not the fae,¡± Therill said. ¡°It is safe.¡±

    Seraiah was glad because the stew smelled delicious. She ate slowly, uncomfortably aware of Therill staring at every bite she put in her mouth.

    ¡°What kind of stew is this?¡± she asked, using the bread to soak up the last bit in the bowl.

    ¡°Mushroom,¡± he answered.

    ¡°Just mushroom?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°We make use of what will grow here. With little to no light, it is primarily mushrooms.¡±

    Seraiah would have sworn there were pieces of meat in the stew. She had never had a mushroom with such a meat-like texture before.

    Therill took the empty bowl back from her and returned to his house. He disappeared for long enough that she wondered if he was coming back.

    Then Lonan came running up the street.

    ¡°Hello, Seraiah,¡± he greeted her breathlessly with a little bow, making his beard touch the ground. Then he too, disappeared into the house.

    Not long after, all three gnomes reappeared.

    ¡°The clan leaders are gathering to hear your story and decide what to do with you,¡± Therill informed her.

    ¡°I told them all about you. They are very interested in meeting you,¡± Lonan said happily, stroking the end of his beard.

    It was the interest that worried her.

    Pibble stepped forward and held out Seraiah¡¯s boots and spare clothes. She wasn¡¯t about to change in the middle of the street, so she tucked the clothes away and pulled on her boots. She¡¯d have to settle for being soggy for a little longer.

    ¡°Thank you again for the food. It was delicious,¡± Seraiah said, climbing to her feet and picking up her bag.

    ¡°Of course, dear. Do come back and see me again after the gathering if you can.¡± Pibble waved from her front yard as Therill and Lonan herded Seraiah toward the castle and whatever awaited her at the gathering of the gnome leaders.

    <hr>

    Sterling spent most of her days alternating between eating and sleeping. She felt so weak after everything that had happened, but day by day as her food went from thin broths to full meals, her strength returned.

    One day soon, she might be able to escape this place, but first she needed a plan, and plans required information.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll be able to leave the room today?¡± Sterling asked the woman who brought her breakfast. Even though she¡¯d asked many times, the woman still hadn¡¯t told her a name. The only person¡¯s name she knew so far was Ren, but thankfully, he hadn¡¯t been around.

    ¡°Not today. Things are busy. It¡¯s better if you stay put.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Sterling asked, poking at the boiled egg. She¡¯d never cared for eggs before, but it wasn¡¯t as if she had much of a choice here.

    ¡°We will have a visitor,¡± the woman said, gathering Sterling¡¯s dirty linens.

    ¡°Oh? Someone important?¡±

    She didn¡¯t expect an answer and was unsurprised when the woman said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing to concern yourself with.¡±

    Sterling kept one eye on the woman as she bustled around the room and then left with the laundry.

    It was always this way. No one wanted to answer her questions. What Sterling had been able to figure out had been on her own.

    From what she could tell, she was underground somewhere. It wasn¡¯t nearly as cold and damp as the prison cell, but it still felt very cave like.

    This might have been in part due to the lighting. Besides a candle, and the occasional oil lantern her visitors forgot to take with them, the only light in the room came from a small hole far above her. If Sterling squinted, she imagined she could make out a blue speckle of sky.

    Today would be different though, she decided. Today was the day she would leave this room.

    Sterling wolfed down her breakfast and set the tray aside. She¡¯d already changed from her sleeping shift into a simple dress. They never left her any shoes to wear and the ones she¡¯d arrived in had disappeared along with her original clothes. She could only guess that they thought if she was barefoot, she wouldn¡¯t be able to run away. The other women who brought stuff to her room always wore heavy soled shoes which meant there must be sharp rocks around.

    Here inside her room, the floor was made of smooth gray stone. Sterling crept across it now and pressed an ear to the wooden door. She¡¯d noticed in all their comings and goings that no one seemed to use the lock. Once she was caught sneaking out, however, that would likely change. She would have to make the most of this adventure because it might very well be her last.

    It was quiet on the other side of the door, so Sterling reached for the latch, careful not to open it all the way and squeak the hinges.

    She found a hallway on the other side. Torches burned in brackets along the wall, lighting up the other doors. As far as she could tell there were no people around.

    Sterling slipped out, shutting her door softly behind her. Then she went left.

    The floor beneath her feet sloped gently downward. She stopped every couple of steps to listen, but only once did she hear a voice. It sounded like they came from somewhere behind her.

    When she paused in one doorway to listen, she considered trying to see what was inside the room behind her. Were they rooms like her own, or would she find something new?

    Curiosity got the better of her, but to her disappointment the knob refused to turn. Locked or stuck shut from disuse, she couldn¡¯t tell.

    Sterling hurried on.

    When the hallway intersected another one, she turned left again.

    This one was wider, but more sparsely lit. It seemed to stretch on forever before her. Sterling did not have the energy for forever. She was already tired from her short walk.

    But this may be my only chance, she reminded herself. I have to keep going.

    She pushed on. The first room she came to was on her right. There was no door blocking her view this time. An arched doorway led to a grouping of wooden tables.

    Sterling peered through the gloom. Empty glass bottles littered the surfaces along with various tools like mortars and pestles. Some kind of workroom, she concluded. A bundle of dried flowers resting on the corner of one bench caught her eye. Perhaps no one would notice if she snuck them back to her room.

    She checked for anyone coming and then scurried up to the bench, carefully plucking a sprig from the top of the pile. The little flowers reminded her of daisies, but a quick sniff told her these were chamomile blossoms.

    Sterling turned to leave the room with her prize and ran smack into someone.

    ¡°Stealing flowers, are we?¡± Ren asked, arching one brow. ¡°You could have asked someone if you fancied a cup of tea.¡±

    Sterling stared at him, not saying anything. If he wanted to believe she was stealing flowers for tea, she was more than happy to let him.

    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you back to your room. You¡¯re lucky I was the one who found you wandering.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked. There was no point in trying to get away from him. She didn¡¯t have the energy nor the footwear to escape.

    ¡°Because I won¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯ve been wandering,¡± he said.

    The walk back to her room was much faster than the journey away. Sterling realized she hadn¡¯t gotten far at all.

    ¡°Will you at least tell me where I am or why I¡¯m here?¡± she asked.

    For a moment, Sterling thought he might give her an answer¡ªa real answer. But then he said, ¡°Maybe next time, Silver. I¡¯ve got places to be.¡±

    He patted her on the head like a puppy and left her alone in her room.

    When Sterling tried the door again, it was locked.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-One

    Lonan led the way to the gnomes¡¯ castle with a little spring in his step.

    At least someone was excited about this.

    Luckily for Seraiah, the castle was built to accommodate larger persons than Therill¡¯s house. The doorways were all high enough that she didn¡¯t have to duck her head as she walked through them.

    She followed Lonan inside and up a flight of stairs to a large meeting hall. The gnomes Seraiah presumed were the clan leaders sat at a long table at one end of the room. Unlike most rulers who sat above their subjects, they were on the same level as everyone else.

    Quite a number of gnomes had gathered, standing on either side of the room, leaving a straight path to the table. Word of her presence must have spread quickly for so many to have gathered in such a short time.

    Therill and the clan leaders exchanged greetings while Seraiah studied them. She noticed they were male and female alike and a variety of ages, unlike the Elven council.

    ¡°This is the human girl Lonan and myself found at the underground lake.¡± Therill motioned to where Seraiah stood a few steps behind him. ¡°She calls herself Seraiah.¡±

    Neither Therill nor Lonan had instructed her on the proper way to approach the clan leaders.

    ¡°Hello. It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± she said, adding a bow at the end of her greeting. She figured it couldn¡¯t hurt.

    The leaders studied her in silence.

    Seraiah shifted uncomfortably. She was well-aware her appearance was bedraggled and waterlogged, but there was nothing she could do about that. However, maybe the bow had been a mistake, or perhaps she wasn¡¯t supposed to speak at all. She wished she would have thought to ask Therill about all this before they¡¯d arrived.

    Then one of the younger females at the right end of the table spoke. ¡°Step forward, Seraiah.¡±

    She moved so that she was standing next to Therill, directly in front of the table.

    ¡°What brings you to Metrius?¡± the same gnome asked. There was no malice in her voice, only curiosity.

    A glance at Therill gave her no clue what she meant to say, so Seraiah decided to be honest.

    ¡°Well you see, I did not mean to come here,¡± she started. ¡°I fell in the hole above the lake by accident. I was climbing up the mountain and looked up at the sky for a moment. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late.¡±

    ¡°Do you belong to the fae?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly.¡± They must think she was one of the faeries¡¯ playthings, she realized. She wondered how many humans had escaped them and fallen into the hole like she had.

    The gnome asking the questions cocked her head to the side. ¡°Explain.¡±

    Thus far, the gnomes had been kind and respectful to her. They hadn¡¯t intentionally tried to frighten her like the fae or mocked her like the elves when they found out she was human. If anyone might be willing to help her find a dragon scale, it had to be them, she decided.

    She told them about her missing sister and the importance of getting her back, not necessarily for the elves¡¯ benefit, but because she didn¡¯t want any harm to come to Sterling. Then she explained the deal she had made with the Summer King. If she were to bring him a golden dragon scale, he would give her information that would help her find her sister.

    The clan leaders listened intently, not interrupting even once. When Seraiah finished, the female gnome, who had been questioning her, nodded. ¡°We will discuss now. Please wait in the hall.¡±

    Seraiah turned, and with every eye on her, left the room. She would have rather been there for a discussion about herself, but on the bright side, at least they hadn¡¯t immediately ordered something bad done to her.

    As soon as the door swung shut behind her, the chatter started up. It was tempting to press her ear to the door to see what they were saying, but Seraiah resisted. She intended to move on with or without their help. The only way there would be an issue would be if they refused to let her go.

    Her hand drifted to the dagger Kai had given her. If they refused to let her go, she would need to come up with another plan.

    It wasn¡¯t long before Seraiah was summoned to return.

    Silence had once again fallen, and only the sound of her boots on the floor could be heard as she made her way back to where Therill stood.

    ¡°We would offer our support to you. The elves have always been friendly with the gnomes, and once upon a time, we were even allies.¡±

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    Seraiah¡¯s shoulders sagged in relief at the gnome¡¯s words. A part of her had been terrified she might need a backup plan to escape after all.

    ¡°We believe this mission to be an important one, and it is in our best interest to see that you are successful.¡±

    She waited with bated breath to see what exactly their support would be.

    ¡°However, we must think of our people. We cannot spare anyone to go with you on your journey. Lonan has volunteered to escort you to the surface, and then we must leave you. I¡¯m sorry that we can¡¯t do more for you.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Thank you for your help.¡± The pronouncement was better than she¡¯d expected, but less than she had hoped.

    When she turned to the gnomes who had brought her here, Seraiah found Lonan grinning proudly, while Therill looked concerned.

    Once the last gnome had left the gathering, Therill finally spoke. ¡°I tried to volunteer myself to go with you, but the leaders wouldn¡¯t agree. It can be a dangerous journey going to the surface, and as they said, we can¡¯t spare anyone.¡±

    ¡°Do not worry. I understand. I am grateful for the small help I have been offered,¡± she told him. ¡°How soon do you think I will be able to reach the surface?¡± Her time was running out faster than she would have liked.

    Therill rubbed his beard in thought. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. I haven¡¯t been to the surface myself in quite some time, and there is the occasional tunnel collapse to take into consideration. My guess would be maybe a day or two if the way is clear.¡±

    ¡°Is there not a ladder or something to use to reach the hole that I fell in?¡±

    Therill shook his head.

    ¡°It will only take a day to go my way. I know the fastest route to the surface,¡± Lonan chimed in. He puffed up his chest. ¡°That is why the council said I would be the best one to take you.¡±

    Therill looked pained at the declaration, making Seraiah think that was not, in fact, the reason the council had chosen him.

    ¡°Fast is great,¡± she said. ¡°I need to find the golden dragon as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Yes, time is of the essence in your situation,¡± Therill agreed. ¡°But you must still be cautious. Sometimes the fastest way isn¡¯t always the safest.¡± He gave Lonan a look.

    ¡°True,¡± she acquiesced. ¡°I know you can¡¯t take me to a dragon, but do you think you could tell me where I might find one at least?¡±

    Therill¡¯s face took on that pained look again.

    ¡°Or maybe point me in the right direction?¡± she asked quickly. ¡°Anything you could tell me would be helpful.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t leave our mountain often,¡± Therill said slowly.

    ¡°No one leaves the mountain is what he means to say,¡± Lonan piped up.

    ¡°No, no,¡± Therill said, waving away Lonan¡¯s words. ¡°I am sure someone has left the mountain before, but they tend to not return.¡±

    ¡°We rarely get visitors either,¡± Lonan said mournfully. ¡°Until you came, that is.¡±

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Therill continued, as though Lonan hadn¡¯t interrupted. ¡°Those who leave tend to not return, and as Lonan has pointed out, we don¡¯t have many visitors either. Therefore, we haven¡¯t any news of the outside world.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand that,¡± Seraiah said, trying not to lose her patience.

    Therill didn¡¯t look like he was going to say anything more.

    ¡°The dragon,¡± she reminded him. ¡°What can you tell me about the golden dragon?¡±

    ¡°Right, right, dragon. The dragon is an elusive creature¡ªvery fearsome, I am told.¡±

    The way he spoke made her think Therill didn¡¯t know much more than her. Perhaps it hadn¡¯t been a matter of not having enough gnomes to help her, but not having the knowledge.

    ¡°I believe they live on mountains,¡± he said. ¡°I once heard a rumor of a dragon living in a cave on Mt. Tybort.¡±

    Seraiah perked up. This could be helpful.

    ¡°Where is Mt. Tybort?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Not far from here. It¡¯s in the same mountain range we are in. In fact¡ª¡± Therill¡¯s face glowed in excitement before it abruptly fell. ¡°But no¡ªno, I don¡¯t think so. Never mind,¡± he mumbled.

    ¡°What? What is it?¡±

    ¡°I was just thinking,¡± he said, scuffing his boot on the floor, ¡°that maybe there was a way through the mountain range to the mountain where the dragon might live. It might save you some time, but I¡¯m not sure if that is the case.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Lonan said eagerly. ¡°I think you are right, Therill. I know of a tunnel that could take us there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know Lonan. It¡®s probably caved in.¡±

    Lonan was shaking his head. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be caved in, but it will be dangerous¡ªmuch more dangerous than the way I was going to take you.¡±

    ¡°And why is that?¡± she asked, afraid of the answer.

    ¡°Well, because of the beetles, of course. We don¡¯t have the resources to keep it clear.¡±

    ¡°All right. Then why don¡¯t you just take me to the surface, and I will find the mountain I need from there?¡±

    ¡°You could do that,¡± Lonan agreed, ¡°but this way would be faster. Also, who knows what kind of creature you may encounter on the surface.¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip. He had a point there. Did she go with faster and dangerous or slower and likely just as dangerous?

    It wasn¡¯t a hard choice, given her time limit.

    ¡°Would you be willing to show me this tunnel?¡± she asked Lonan. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡±

    ¡°No trouble at all.¡±

    ¡°Lonan,¡± Therill said, warning in his voice, ¡°That¡¯s not what the leaders told you to do.¡±

    ¡°Pah. They won¡¯t notice the difference.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to get you in trouble,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°No trouble,¡± Lonan said, waving her concern away.

    ¡°In that case, how soon can we leave?¡±

    ¡°We could go now,¡± Lonan said eagerly.

    ¡°Perhaps you should rest first, before you set out,¡± Therill interjected. ¡°It will be difficult to sleep out there with the threat of cave beetles.¡±

    As soon as he said it, Seraiah knew he was right. Fatigue weighed down her limbs and then there was the matter of her still soggy clothes.

    Lonan sighed. ¡°Therill is right, of course.¡±

    ¡°I will inquire about a room for you here in the castle. They should have something for you,¡± Therill told her.

    Before she could thank him, he scurried off, leaving her with Lonan.

    ¡°I think I will run home and prepare a few things to take with us. I will see you in the morning.¡± He scurried off as well before Seraiah could ask him how she would know when it was morning.

    It wasn¡¯t long before Therill reappeared. ¡°There is a room for you in the west wing,¡± he announced.

    He showed her the room himself before bidding her good night.

    ¡°Will you see us off?¡± Seraiah asked, before he could disappear again.

    ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for all of your help, Therill. I truly appreciate it.¡±

    He waved her off and bid her good night again.

    Seraiah settled herself into her room, finally relieving herself of her soggy clothes and washing away the smell of the lake before falling into bed. She was asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the dream to suck her in.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Two

    Seraiah found herself standing at the foot of a young woman¡¯s bed. It took her a moment to realize she was looking at Ariya. The girl in the bed was a pale imitation of her good friend.

    Dark bruises threatened to engulf Ariya¡¯s sunken eyes, which were shut tight¡ªwhether in sleep or pain, Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure. Ariya¡¯s once glossy hair was now lank and matted, pieces of it sticking to her sweaty forehead. Even under the heavy blankets, Seraiah could see Ariya had lost weight.

    She stepped around to the side of the bed and took a seat at Ariya¡¯s side. When she reached for Ariya¡¯s hand, her friend¡¯s eyes snapped open. Startled, Seraiah pulled her hand back and sprang from the bed.

    Could Ariya see her like Sterling had?

    No.

    No, Ariya¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t focused on her. They weren¡¯t focused on anything at all. Coughs racked her frail body, and she pressed a white handkerchief she¡¯d been gripping to her lips. Seraiah watched helplessly, waiting for the fit to end.

    Finally, the coughs subsided, and Ariya pulled the handkerchief away from her mouth. There was no mistaking the bright spot of red that had bloomed on the lily-white linen. Ariya had the fever, and by the looks of things, she only had days left to live.

    Abruptly, the scene changed.

    Now Seraiah found herself in the market¡ªin Papa¡¯s stall, to be exact. Her father sat on a stool at the back. It was the stool where she had sat as a child, and then Sterling after her. As Seraiah approached, she saw deep wrinkles lined Papa¡¯s face, and his hair had lost most of its color. He looked as if he had aged ten years in the time since she¡¯d last seen him.

    Seraiah glanced around. It seemed to be midday, but there wasn¡¯t a single customer in sight. It was quiet. There was a larger number of empty stalls now than the last time she had been here¡ªincluding the one next to Papa¡¯s.

    Seraiah stared at the open space, not quite believing it.

    Freya¡¯s stall was empty. There was no sign of her or her daughters. She didn¡¯t want to think about what that might mean.

    Seraiah turned back to her father, and the scene dissolved before her eyes.

    This time, the vision left her standing in a green field that was vaguely familiar to her. It was the daisies dotting the grass that jogged Seraiah¡¯s memory.

    This was the field outside the woods. The one she¡¯d traveled through with Kai and Kestrel on their way to Baromund.

    But why would the dream bring her here?

    Seraiah had her answer a moment later when an icy breeze tore her hair back from her face. She knew that smell¡ªwas intimately familiar with it after five years of winter.

    Snow was coming.

    Not a minute later, the flakes began to fall. The green grass beneath her feet wilted and browned. The daisies dropped their petals, and they too disappeared as a blanket of snow rapidly covered the ground.

    It happened so fast.

    In the blink of an eye, the lush field before her was a barren wasteland of ice and snow.

    Seraiah sank to her knees in the white powder¡ªnot even feeling the cold biting at her skin. Her tears froze on her cheeks as she mourned what had once been here.

    <hr>

    Someone pounding on the door of her room woke her from the dream.

    ¡°Seraiah,¡± Lonan called through the wooden door. ¡°Are you in there? It¡¯s time for us to be leaving.¡±

    Hastily, Seraiah brushed the tears from her cheeks. She must have been crying in her sleep, just as she had been shedding tears in her dream.

    ¡°Give me a minute,¡± she called back.

    She scrambled out of bed and quickly dressed in the set of clothes that Therill¡¯s wife had dried for her. They still smelled a little like the lake, but she didn¡¯t have time to wash them now. At least they were dry.

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    When Seraiah opened the door, she found not only Lonan waiting for her, but Therill as well.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± both gnomes greeted her brightly.

    ¡°We brought you breakfast,¡± Therill said, holding up a tray with food for her to see.

    Lonan had a bag, similar to the one Seraiah carried, slung over his shoulder.

    She stepped aside so they could enter the room.

    ¡°After you eat,¡± Lonan told her, ¡°we will be on our way.¡±

    Therill carried the tray of food over to the table next to the bed while Lonan made himself at home. She noticed Therill was carrying a bag, too.

    ¡°Did you change your mind?¡± she asked him hopefully.

    ¡°Changed my mind?¡±

    Seraiah pointed to the bag in his hand.

    ¡°Oh, this.¡± Therill held the bag out to her. ¡°This is more food for your journey. Pibble insisted I bring it for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seraiah accepted the bag from him, ¡°and tell Pibble thank you, as well. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t get to see her again like she asked.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Therill said, looking bashful. ¡°I told her it would be too much. You could feed an army with all this food, but she refused to let me leave the house without it.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s greatly appreciated. One can never have too much food.¡± She smiled at him, and he returned her grin. It would be more for her to carry, but she didn¡¯t dare mention that when the thought had been kind.

    While Seraiah ate the porridge they had brought her for breakfast¡ªshe suspected it was somehow made with mushrooms like the stew had been¡ªLonan and Therill debated about what was the best way to avoid cave beetles.

    After she had finished and gathered up her things, the three of them set out for the tunnel that would lead them through the mountain range.

    Therill accompanied them only to the edge of the city. ¡°Here is where I must say my goodbyes. I hope we meet again one day, Seraiah. Perhaps next time you visit Metrius, you can stay longer, and we can show you around our city.¡±

    ¡°I would like that very much.¡± Seraiah thanked him again for all his help.

    Then she and Lonan were on their own.

    Lonan kept up a steady stream of conversation as they walked, and at first, it was pleasant, but it didn¡¯t take long before she wished he would be silent. When he started telling yet another story about the time he found a glowing mushroom patch, her thoughts wandered.

    As much as Seraiah wished what she¡¯d seen in her dream the night before wouldn¡¯t happen, she had a bad feeling it already had. More of her world might be covered in ice and snow right now, and her friends and family might be suffering, but she wasn¡¯t there to help them. No, instead, she was traipsing through a cave system under a mountain in search of a dragon scale for a scrap of information about her sister.

    ¡°Are you listening?¡± Lonan asked.

    ¡°Yes, of course, I¡¯m listening,¡± Seraiah lied.

    ¡°What was I talking about then?¡±

    ¡°Mushrooms?¡± she guessed. Mushrooms seemed to be the only thing he¡¯d talked about for the last few hours.

    ¡°Oh, good, you were listening.¡± Lonan proceeded to tell her yet another mushroom story.

    It took her a moment to realize he¡¯d already told her this one.

    ¡°Umm . . . Lonan?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already told me this story before.¡±

    ¡°I did?¡± He stopped walking and turned to look at her, the lantern he held lighting his face. His forehead was scrunched up in thought.

    ¡°Yes, you found glowing purple mushrooms growing from the roof of a cave, and when you brought them back, the clan rewarded you for your discovery and wanted to name the mushrooms after you.¡±

    ¡°Oh well,¡± he finally said, ¡°I suppose I did tell you then. My memory isn¡¯t quite what it used to be.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Seraiah reassured him. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡±

    ¡°Right, right.¡± Lonan started walking again.

    It wasn¡¯t long before he began another story.

    Once again, it was a story about mushrooms, and this time, Seraiah didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him he¡¯d already told her this one, too.

    If she ever made it out of here, she never wanted to see or hear about mushrooms again.

    She kept quiet, trudging along behind him.

    He finished telling the story and immediately launched into the one about the glowing purple mushrooms again.

    Now Seraiah was concerned.

    Was Lonan¡¯s memory going? She hoped that wasn¡¯t the case because she wouldn¡¯t be able to find a way out of here on her own.

    They reached the first split in the tunnel, and their journey came to a halt as Lonan held the lantern up to first one tunnel, and then the other, mumbling under his breath all the while.

    To Seraiah¡¯s eyes, both tunnels appeared to be identical, branching off in different directions. She had no sense of direction underground, but Lonan should have no problem knowing which was the direction they wanted. He had lived his whole life underground, after all.

    A few more minutes passed, and Lonan still hadn¡¯t made up his mind which tunnel they should take.

    ¡°Are you sure you know the way through the mountain?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°Of course,¡± he snapped. ¡°It¡¯s this way.¡± He shined the lantern into the tunnel on the left.

    ¡°If you need more time to think about it, we can wait.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s this one. Let¡¯s go.¡± Lonan marched off down the left tunnel, clearly annoyed that Seraiah was questioning him.

    She sighed and followed along behind him. She hoped he was right.

    He went back to animatedly chatting about mushrooms while she followed silently behind.

    A few pebbles rolled down the wall next to her, landing at her feet.

    Lonan was still chattering away and didn¡¯t seem to notice as he ambled along in front of her.

    ¡°Lonan?¡±

    He stopped and swung around to face her. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Is it normal for pebbles to come down the wall here?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± He scratched his beard. ¡°No, this part of the tunnels is usually stable, and no one should be working out this way.¡±

    As he finished speaking, a larger shower of pebbles rained down the wall onto them, and Lonan¡¯s eyes grew comically large.

    ¡°Is that¡ª¡± Seraiah started to ask before Lonan cut her off.

    ¡°We should run now.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Three

    Seraiah didn¡¯t question Lonan as they took off sprinting down the tunnel.

    Instead of turning back toward Metrius, they continued running forward, deeper into the mountain. As they ran, the tunnel opened up until the ceiling was high above their heads and bathed in shadow.

    Seraiah tried not to imagine what else could be skulking up there, waiting for the moment they would run by.

    More pebbles rained down on them, and Seraiah was sure she could hear a faint clicking sound echoing down the tunnel behind them. She slowed to look over her shoulder but couldn¡¯t see more than a few feet.

    There was no question a beetle was chasing them, but was there more than one lurking out there in the dark? Were they being herded?

    She didn¡¯t want to find out.

    Lonan scrambled ahead of her with the light bobbing up and down in time with his steps, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t help herself from looking back again. She was waiting for the moment she would finally see the thing that was chasing them, but there was still no sign of it.

    It was probably better that she couldn¡¯t see it, she reasoned, because if she could¡ªthey were as good as dead.

    Suddenly, Lonan jerked to a stop in front of her. It was so unexpected she almost tripped over him.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked breathlessly, unable to keep the terror out of her voice. She could still hear the noises of the beetle coming from behind them, and this time Kai wasn¡¯t here to save her like he had with the Varanem.

    Lonan lifted the lantern higher, revealing the gaping hole in their path where a section of the tunnel floor had fallen away.

    ¡°Oh, gods,¡± Seraiah murmured at the sight. ¡°What are the chances we could jump across that?¡± She knew even as she asked that there was no way they could clear it in a single jump, and if they could¡ªit wouldn¡¯t stop the beetle from chasing after them.

    Lonan mutely shook his head and lowered the lantern again.

    There was a skittering sound against the rocks.

    ¡°We have a few minutes before the beetle reaches us. With any luck, it will be alone. They rarely hunt in groups.¡± Lonan sounded surprisingly calm for someone who was about to be eaten by a beetle.

    He outlined his plan, and Seraiah, unable to come up with anything better, agreed.

    They would use the hole in their path to their advantage and lure the beetle in close¡ªhoping it wouldn¡¯t see the hole until it was too late.

    There was a small outcropping of rock high above their heads that Lonan wanted to loop a piece of rope over. He thought they could swing over the hole and land safely on the other side while the beetle would fall to its death below.

    It would have to be timed perfectly for the plan to succeed.

    Lonan got to work on securing the rope to the rocks while Seraiah held the lantern for him. The clicking of the beetle approaching grew louder with each passing second.

    For one beetle, it sure made a lot of noise.

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not more than one?¡± she asked Lonan nervously, casting a look back down the tunnel.

    ¡°Almost positive. They don¡¯t like to share their prizes,¡± Lonan reassured her as he finished tying off the rope. He gave it an experimental tug before declaring it ready.

    ¡°Now, then,¡± he said, taking the lantern back from her. ¡°You lure it closer, and when I give you a signal, we will swing off on this rope.¡±

    Seraiah scowled at once again being relegated to bait. ¡°Why am I the one that has to lure the beetle in?¡±

    ¡°Because it¡¯s you it will want. You are bigger and therefore more food.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she ground out. ¡°This had better work.¡±

    They took up their positions, and then they waited.

    It wasn¡¯t long before the beetle came scurrying out of the gloom, and Seraiah got her first look at it. This was a giant version of the harmless little beetles she was familiar with. Its pincers looked strong enough to snap her in half.

    The lantern light glinted off those sharp black claws, which were raised in front of it¡ªready to grab its prey.

    Ready to grab her.

    The beetle paused when it saw her standing there, waiting for it, before suddenly darting forward and snapping its pincers.

    Seraiah backed up until her foot hit the edge of the hole, and she could go no farther.

    The beetle kept coming¡ªcloser and closer.

    Just when she thought Lonan had given her up, he gave the signal.

    At the same moment, the beetle charged forward, ready to take both of them plunging down the hole.

    Seraiah reached out to seize the end of the rope as Lonan swung by. She would only have one chance to grab it.

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    The end brushed her fingers.

    She frantically snatched at the air, trying to grab hold before it was too late.

    Finally, her fingers made contact and, using what little upper body strength she possessed, she pulled herself out of reach of the beetle.

    Its pincers snapped at the empty air where she¡¯d been standing not moments before as she and Lonan swung across the hole.

    The beetle wobbled on the edge.

    It tried to scramble back, but it was no use. Its weight pulled it down into the blackness below.

    The sound of its hard-shell crunching on the rocks below came moments later, and Seraiah cringed. That had almost been her.

    As they swung over the ground on the other side of the hole, Lonan ordered her to let go of the rope.

    He landed gracefully on his feet as though he did this sort of thing often, while she landed in a heap. It was worse than the time Kai had made her jump off a moving horse. She would be feeling this for days.

    ¡°That worked much better than I had hoped,¡± Lonan declared.

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®much better than you had hoped¡¯? Wasn¡¯t that exactly what was supposed to happen?¡± Seraiah demanded.

    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t sure the rope would be enough to swing us both over to the other side. I also wasn¡¯t sure we would get the timing right¡ªas it was, you almost missed grabbing the rope.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter now. We made it, and the beetle didn¡¯t, so let¡¯s keep going before some of its friends show up.¡± Seraiah stood, dusting herself off.

    Lonan blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t think the beetles have friends,¡± he told her, retrieving the lantern and setting off down the tunnel.

    And then he was back to telling her stories about mushrooms.

    <hr>

    The rest of their journey through the mountains proved uneventful.

    The tunnel weaved its way down, deeper into the mountain, before heading back up again. They sporadically heard cave beetles scurrying in the dark, but none approached them.

    Sometimes, the tunnel would open up into caverns of glittering stone. It was these caverns where the beetles must have liked to make their homes because several that they passed through were littered with bones.

    Seraiah told herself they were animal bones as they stepped over them as best they could. In some places, there were so many that she had no choice but to step on them¡ªcringing as the brittle ones cracked beneath her feet.

    She shuddered as she remembered how close she had come to joining the pile herself.

    When they would stop to rest, they always made sure to never stop in or near a cavern, no matter how tempting it might be. Even if there were no bones present, it would be harder to fight a beetle if it were to find them. Lonan always preferred to sleep in the tunnel¡ªthe narrower the better¡ªand they would take turns watching for any signs of danger.

    The tunnel split off several times. Sometimes, they would only have to make a choice between two different paths, but other times, it was as many as four. Seraiah always left the decision of which way to go to Lonan, even though he sometimes chose wrong.

    Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure how many days she¡¯d spent underground at this point. She tried her best to gauge the days based on the times they stopped to sleep. They¡¯d slept five times since saying goodbye to Therill, making it approximately eleven days since she¡¯d left Nyrene.

    It was after the fifth sleep that Lonan declared they were almost there.

    ¡°Can you not smell the fresh air?¡± He breathed in deeply, his nostrils flaring.

    Seraiah stopped walking and took a deep breath as well.

    She still couldn¡¯t smell anything or feel the difference he insisted was there. The air felt and smelled the same way it had when they were deep in the mountain¡ªstale and musty, like a room that had been shut up for too long. There was also a bit of the stench she¡¯d come to associate with the beetles.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be out of the underground today, and then it¡¯s only a short climb to the cave where the dragon is supposed to reside,¡± Lonan promised.

    Seraiah hoped he was right. She was running out of time. Kai expected them back in Nyrene in three days, if her count was right. As it was, they were already going to be late. She could only hope he¡¯d hold out a few extra days before doing anything rash.

    Besides the imminent threat of a possible Elven-fae war, Seraiah missed seeing the sun and the sky. She would never be able to live underground for a long period of time.

    When they stopped to eat, Seraiah suddenly knew exactly what Lonan had been talking about earlier. She could smell it¡ªthe scent of fresh air, clean with the faintest whiff of pine trees.

    She swallowed her food down as quickly as possible and hurried Lonan along, eager to be free of the mountain.

    The tunnel ascended sharply now, and her legs burned with the effort, but the smell of the fresh air urged her onward.

    Bit by bit, the tunnel grew lighter, and Lonan called for a stop.

    ¡°Why are we stopping now? We¡¯re so close.¡± Seraiah gestured to the end of the tunnel, which she could see up ahead. She could barely make out a little sliver of blue sky beyond.

    ¡°You have to be cautious,¡± he warned. ¡°You don¡¯t know what could be outside waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°I sincerely hope the dragon is out there, waiting for me,¡± she told him.

    Lonan looked like he wanted to say something, but didn¡¯t know how to put it into words.

    Then it dawned on her.

    He¡¯d been instructed to take her to the surface and return to Metrius, but he probably wanted to go with her to see the dragon. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t sure if he was welcome to join her and didn¡¯t know how to ask. She couldn¡¯t very well leave him to return to Metrius on his own, especially with the hole in the tunnel.

    ¡°I would feel safer if you were with me,¡± Seraiah hinted.

    Lonan¡¯s face relaxed, and he smiled. ¡°Well, I suppose if you truly wanted me to, I could accompany you to see the dragon. No one will miss me back in Metrius.¡± He sounded sad as he said this last part.

    ¡°What do you mean, no one would miss you? What about Therill? There have to be others, too.¡±

    He shook his head dejectedly. ¡°No, not really. Why do you think the clan leaders allowed me to guide you?¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip but didn¡¯t say anything. She was fairly certain by now that they¡¯d sent him because of his memory problem. He was expendable to them.

    ¡°Everyone else is important to the function of the city¡ªeveryone but me.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t you have an important job too?¡± she asked, trying to cheer him up. ¡°You told me all those stories about finding mushrooms. Isn¡¯t that important?¡±

    Lonan shrugged. ¡°Not anymore. Not since the accident.¡±

    Even though she knew it was impolite to pry, curiosity got the better of her. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked.

    ¡°A lapse in memory. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed by now that I occasionally forget things.¡±

    Seraiah nodded.

    ¡°Well, this time it cost several good gnomes their lives. The clan leaders immediately banned me from future jobs.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Seraiah didn¡¯t know what else to say. She couldn¡¯t blame the gnomes if a slip in memory was that dangerous.

    ¡°I tried to see if they would let me take another job¡ªone that wouldn¡¯t put anyone¡¯s lives at risk, but they refused.¡±

    ¡°So, what do you do all day then?¡±

    ¡°Therill was kind enough to let me accompany him on his job. It was likely Pibble¡¯s doing, but I appreciate it just the same.¡±

    ¡°And what exactly does Therill do?¡± she asked.

    ¡°He checks the tunnels around Metrius for cave-ins. If a collapse has occurred or seems likely to occur, he reports it, and a crew is sent to fix it.¡±

    ¡°So, he finds things like the hole we ran into?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly, but closer to the city in the frequently used tunnels.¡±

    ¡°I see. Well, if you don¡¯t want to return to that, then you¡¯re welcome to continue on the journey with me. I would be happy to have you, but I have one request.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lonan asked eagerly.

    ¡°No more mushroom stories, please.¡±

    ¡°I think I can do that.¡±

    Seraiah smiled. ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s get on with it. Let¡¯s go meet a dragon.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Four

    The opening of the tunnel was a small hole, similar in size to the one Seraiah had fallen in to end up in Metrius in the first place.

    She emerged first, followed by Lonan, and they stood for a few minutes, blinking in the sunlight as their eyes adjusted to the sudden change.

    The sky seemed enormous after being underground.

    ¡°Guess we won¡¯t be needing this anymore,¡± Lonan said, extinguishing the lantern.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave it behind. We might need it again,¡± Seraiah warned him. She didn¡¯t anticipate having to return to the underground, but if she¡¯d learned anything since leaving home, it was to prepare for the unexpected.

    Seraiah scanned the nearby area, looking for the dragon cave or any signs of a dragon. The sky was clear, and there were so many trees in her way, it was hard to tell what the mountainside looked like. Maybe if she could get a better angle.

    She took a few steps forward.

    ¡°Be careful of the edge,¡± Lonan called. He hadn¡¯t moved from next to the tunnel entrance.

    She looked down and hurriedly stepped back. If not for Lonan¡¯s warning, she might have stepped right off the side of the mountain, and it was a long way down. She doubted there would be a lake at the bottom to catch her this time.

    Seraiah retreated to the tunnel entrance. ¡°Any idea which direction the cave might be in?¡±

    Lonan tugged on his beard and then pointed to the left, where a thin path wound past them and disappeared into the trees. It appeared animal created, but passable if Seraiah was careful where she stepped.

    ¡°That looks like it goes up,¡± Lonan said. ¡°Dragons might like being on the highest peak for easier flying.¡±

    That sounded reasonable to her. ¡°All right,¡± Seraiah said, ¡°let¡¯s head that way then. I don¡¯t want to waste any of the sunlight.¡±

    Lonan nodded. ¡°Best not to meet a dragon at night.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Nighttime is when dragons go hunting. Everyone knows that. If we were to see a dragon at nightfall, they would just be waking up for the night, and I don¡¯t care to meet a hungry dragon. I¡¯m not sure they¡¯re discerning when it comes to what to eat for dinner.¡±

    Seraiah frowned. It would mean another night going by before she got her hands on a scale. Then there was the matter of getting it back to the Summer King and returning to Nyrene. She was going to be very, very late.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lonan continued, ¡°it isn¡¯t a good idea to even meet the dragon. We could sneak into its cave while it¡¯s away hunting.¡±

    ¡°And look for a scale that has fallen off?¡± The idea was tempting.

    ¡°Yes, and then we can be long gone by the time it discovers someone was in its cave.¡±

    ¡°But what happens if there aren¡¯t any scales lying around for us to grab?¡± She didn¡¯t want to see a dragon either, but she didn¡¯t know how dragon¡¯s scales worked. What if they didn¡¯t shed?

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    Lonan didn¡¯t seem to have an answer either.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t find one, we¡¯ll have to wait for it to come back so I can ask it for a scale,¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t think there is any asking a dragon for anything. There¡¯s a reason the faeries sent you rather than retrieve the scale themselves.¡±

    Lonan made a good point. The Summer King wouldn¡¯t have sent her on a quest he thought she could win.

    ¡°How about this? First, we find the cave and scout the area. Then we can decide what to do from there. If you don¡¯t want to go anymore,¡± she told him, ¡°now would be the best time to change your mind. You could still turn around and go home.¡±

    ¡°No, no. I will go with you.¡± Lonan picked up his pack and put it over his shoulder. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    Seraiah smiled. She was surprised to find that she was glad he was coming with her, and she wouldn¡¯t be doing this alone. Sometime during her stint in the underground, she had come to like the gnome¡¯s company, mushroom stories and all.

    Besides the birds chirping happily in the trees, it was quiet as they climbed the mountain. Lonan stayed uncharacteristically silent as he trudged along behind her.

    The air grew colder the higher they climbed, and soon Seraiah was wishing for her wool dress. Then she remembered Wisteria had packed her a cloak.

    She stopped and dug it out of her bag. It wasn¡¯t the heavy wool cloak she¡¯d brought with her from home, but when Seraiah settled the lightweight fabric around her shoulders, she was surprised to find it just as warm.

    She would have to remember to thank Wisteria when she returned to Nyrene¡ªif she returned to Nyrene.

    Lonan lasted a little longer before he donned a cloak as well. By then, there was a light dusting of snow on the ground, and the trees were becoming sparse as the ground turned craggy. The animal trail they were following had dwindled away to almost nothing.

    Seraiah took it as a sign they were getting close to finding a dragon.

    ¡°Do you see that shadow there?¡±

    Seraiah squinted, trying to see what Lonan saw. ¡°I think so.¡±

    ¡°Looks like a cave. We could wait here and be able to see when the dragon leaves.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get closer so it¡¯s faster to get in and out?¡± She wasn¡¯t a great judge of distance, but it seemed at least a half hour climb away from them¡ªif not more.

    ¡°We don¡¯t want it to catch our scent, or we will end up as it¡¯s dinner.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± she said, deciding to trust Lonan¡¯s instincts.

    They went about setting up camp, but the cave drew her eyes every few minutes. The scale she needed to free Kestrel and help her sister was so close. She wanted to grab it now and be done.

    They settled in to wait, with both of them keeping an eye on the cave. With the fading light, it was hard to distinguish where the cave entrance was anymore.

    Then, as the last of the light faded, and the stars appeared, a slight movement caught Seraiah¡¯s eye.

    She grabbed Lonan¡¯s arm and pointed to the disturbance, making sure he was seeing it, too. He nodded and held a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.

    They stared intently, waiting for another sign of movement.

    At last, they were rewarded as a large dark mass came lumbering out of the cave entrance, separating itself from the shadowy rocks.

    They watched as it spread its wings and took off into the night. Seraiah held her breath as the great beast flew above them. Its wings and body blocked out the starlight for a moment before it dove down the side of the mountain.

    It was incredible.

    Sterling would have loved it.

    As soon as the thought crossed Seraiah¡¯s mind, a wave of sadness washed over her, but she pushed it away. She was doing this for her sister, and one day Sterling might be able to see this magnificent sight for herself¡ªif only the beast didn¡¯t eat Seraiah first.

    They waited a few minutes longer to make sure the dragon didn¡¯t return, and then it was time.

    Seraiah double-checked she still had her dagger and then headed for the cave without waiting to see if Lonan followed. She wouldn¡¯t blame him if he didn¡¯t.

    A moment later, she heard him scrambling after her.

    As they drew closer to the entrance, Seraiah didn¡¯t bother trying to be stealthy. They¡¯d already seen the dragon leave and if it returned, it would catch their scent long before it heard them. No amount of careful sneaking would keep them hidden.

    Seraiah marched right up to the cave, with Lonan trailing behind her.

    It was dark, and when she peered inside, she couldn¡¯t see anything in the pitch black. It was, however, ripe with musk and something else she could only assume was the scent of dragon.

    She took a step into the cave and felt a tug on the back of her tunic. When she turned, Lonan held out the lantern they¡¯d used underground.

    She motioned for him to light it.

    He did so quickly before holding it up to reveal the inside of the cave¡ªand the dragon that was waiting for them.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Five

    Seraiah froze, and Lonan did the same next to her. In the back of her mind, she knew it would be no use to run. The dragon would catch them in seconds.

    The lantern light glinted off its scales, revealing not a golden dragon¡ªbut a red one, a deep garnet, the color of summer wines.

    It was gorgeous and terrifying all at once.

    ¡°Well, what do we have here?¡± it rumbled.

    Light danced on the walls of the cave as Lonan¡¯s hand shook in fear.

    Seraiah¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You can talk?¡±

    No one had told her dragons could speak. Even the stories she¡¯d read to Sterling hadn¡¯t mentioned it.

    The dragon either didn¡¯t hear her, or it chose to ignore her. ¡°It¡¯s not often my dinner comes to me,¡± it said.

    Then it grinned. That was the only way Seraiah could explain it. The dragon¡¯s lips pulled back from its teeth, showing off their sharp points. A single tooth was as big around as her arm.

    The dragon took a slow, lumbering step toward them, and its snout swung closer. Hot breath wafted over her, and Seraiah found herself staring straight into one of its large eyes, gleaming golden in the lantern light.

    It sniffed at her.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± it murmured, the sound reverberating through her bones. ¡°A human¡ªhaven¡¯t had one of these in quite some time.¡± Then it moved over to Lonan and sniffed again.

    ¡°Gnome¡ªtoo small to even be worth eating.¡±

    Typical. Why do the monsters always want to eat me?

    The lantern slipped from Lonan¡¯s shaking hand and rolled to the cave wall before coming to a stop. By some miracle, it didn¡¯t go out.

    The dragon turned its attention back to her. Its eye came close enough she could¡¯ve touched its glossy surface. The dragon blinked slowly and a filmy inner lid moved across the surface.

    The heat coming off the dragon¡¯s body chased away the chill of the mountain.

    ¡°The seer is seeking something.¡± It turned its head to look at her with its other eye. Another wave of heat washed over her with the movement, along with the scent of dragon. She finally figured out what the scent reminded her of¡ªrotten eggs.

    The dragon pulled back from her and retreated a step, throwing its features into shadow. It appeared even more fearsome than when it was sticking its snout in her face. ¡°Well, human?¡±

    Seraiah swore if a dragon had eyebrows, it would have raised one.

    ¡°Did you forget how to speak?¡±

    With a jolt, she realized it had wanted an answer.

    She remembered what Lonan said about not being able to ask a dragon for anything. ¡°How do you know I am looking for something?¡± she hedged.

    Seraiah shot a look at Lonan, but he appeared as if he were about to faint and not going to be any help.

    ¡°When you live as long as I do, you learn to read the signs,¡± it said mildly, reminding Seraiah of what Kestrel had said about the Summer King. ¡°Now, are you going to tell me what you are looking for, or shall I guess?¡±

    Clearing her throat, Seraiah said in her politest voice possible, ¡°I am seeking a golden dragon scale.¡±

    She raised her chin and stared directly into the dragon¡¯s eyes, waiting for a response.

    It wasn¡¯t quite the one she expected to receive.

    A great rumbling noise came from the beast, vibrating through her body. Seraiah wasn¡¯t sure what was happening. One glance at Lonan told her he was just as confused as she was. A few moments later, it finally dawned on her¡ªthe dragon was laughing.

    She was being laughed at by a dragon.

    Any fear that remained melted away, and she crossed her arms over her chest, indignant. She waited until the dragon was done laughing before speaking again. ¡°Why is that so funny to you?¡± she demanded.

    Lonan was frantically motioning for her to calm down. In the back of her mind, she knew it wasn¡¯t a good idea to pick a fight with a beast who could bite her in half, but she was past rational thought. She wanted that scale, and she wanted it now.

    ¡°A golden dragon does not exist.¡±

    Seraiah could still hear the amusement in its voice. It had to be teasing her. ¡°Well, the Summer King seems to think it does and sent me on a quest for it,¡± she retorted.

    ¡°Ahh, our dear friend the Summer King. Now, it makes more sense,¡± the dragon purred. ¡°The faeries don¡¯t play a fair game. I should have suspected it was he who had sent you the moment I laid eyes on you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re friends with the Summer King?¡±

    The dragon blinked again, and she swore its lips lifted in a smile. ¡°More like acquaintances, really. He¡¯s been around almost as long as we have.¡±

    A thump came from behind them at the entrance to the cave, and then the sound of claws on stone. The other dragon they¡¯d watched earlier must have returned.

    Seraiah felt it draw closer, its warmth heating her back.

    The newcomer skirted around them and dropped its prize in front of the first dragon. This dragon wasn¡¯t golden either, but an iridescent blue even more beautiful than the red.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± the blue dragon asked. ¡°Did you invite visitors for dinner, Isaour? I would have brought more food had I known.¡± It studied them as Isaour had.

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    That name sounded familiar to her, but why? Her eyes flicked back and forth between the two dragons.

    Red.

    Blue.

    Then it clicked.

    These were the dragons from the stories, Isaour and Skrivdyr.

    Oh gods. How old were they?

    ¡°A human visitor no less!¡± the second dragon exclaimed after it had finished examining her. ¡°Where did you get one?¡±

    ¡°Would you believe me if I said they wandered in here?¡± Isaour asked.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I would be surprised. They must want something. Did those faeries send them again?¡± the blue dragon guessed.

    ¡°You always ruin my fun, Riv,¡± Isaour said, giving a name to the newest arrival and confirming Seraiah¡¯s suspicions.

    These were the dragons from the bedtime stories she would read to Sterling.

    ¡°Tell him what you told me, girl,¡± Isaour said, focusing back on Seraiah again.

    She repeated her request and got much the same response as the first time she had said it. When they finished having a good laugh at her expense, Lonan spoke up for the first time.

    ¡°Are you going to eat us now?¡± he asked, trembling like a leaf.

    This question sent them into another fit of laughter.

    Seraiah and Lonan looked at each other helplessly. If they ever needed to distract a dragon and escape, now they knew all they needed to do was make them laugh.

    It was Riv who finally explained that no, they would not eat them, but Seraiah and Lonan were welcome to join the dragons for dinner.

    Seraiah respectfully declined with the excuse that they¡¯d already eaten back at their camp. When the dragons heard their camp was nearby, they insisted Seraiah and Lonan bring their things and stay in the cave with them.

    ¡°Otherwise, you might freeze to death in the mountain climate,¡± Riv informed them. ¡°It gets quite chilly up here at night, or so I¡¯m told. I can¡¯t tell myself.¡±

    As much as the thought of sleeping in a cave with dragons terrified her, Seraiah also dreaded the thought of sleeping on the frozen ground. Since entering the cave, it had begun to snow, and a thin blanket of it already covered the ground.

    After conferring with Lonan, Seraiah agreed they would stay the night in the cave and went to retrieve their things.

    As soon as they were out of earshot of the dragons, Lonan said, ¡°They aren¡¯t what I imagined dragons to be like.¡±

    Seraiah agreed. Then again, if someone had told her a few months ago that dragons existed at all, she would have thought them insane.

    ¡°I was always told they eat gnomes and anyone else who wanders into their territory, and they aren¡¯t the least bit helpful.¡±

    That sounded more like a description of the faeries, Seraiah thought, but didn¡¯t say aloud.

    ¡°They haven¡¯t been helpful yet,¡± she said. ¡°All they¡¯ve done is laugh at me and tell me that a golden dragon doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

    ¡°But they offered us a place in their cave and promised not to eat us. They even offered us dinner.¡±

    ¡°But what am I supposed to do now? I need that scale.¡±

    Lonan shrugged, seeming unbothered by her predicament. He was happy enough to not have been eaten.

    Seraiah, it seemed, was on her own to come up with a new plan.

    <hr>

    Morning dawned on the day Kestrel and Seraiah were supposed to return from the Seelie Court, and Kai made his way to the stable yard. He was anxious to see what information they¡¯d obtained, but also worried about what it might have cost them.

    Faeries were notoriously hard to deal with, especially if they knew you were desperate.

    Kai headed to meet with Eryx, pretending he was checking in on how training was proceeding. He still hadn¡¯t spoken with Gavaran, but Kai knew he had eyes and ears everywhere. It would be for the best if Gavaran didn¡¯t know every detail¡ªat least until Kai was able to figure out what exactly Gavaran¡¯s intentions were.

    Kai greeted Eryx, and the two of them observed the training rings while talking in low voices.

    ¡°As soon as you see the first sign of them returning, let me know immediately,¡± Kai instructed him.

    ¡°Of course, Your Highness. My scouts haven¡¯t spotted them yet, but you will be the first to know.¡±

    ¡°Good, and if they arrive before I can get here, have them sent to my study. We don¡¯t want anyone else intercepting them first.¡±

    Eryx looked grim, but he nodded.

    Kai lowered his voice, even more, his words barely audible. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s fine. She can take care of herself.¡±

    ¡°She always does,¡± Eryx said, but the worry didn¡¯t leave his eyes.

    Kai patted his shoulder and said in a louder voice, ¡°Good work, Commander. Keep up this level of training and they¡¯ll be in shape in no time.¡±

    Then he retreated to the castle to wait.

    <hr>

    Kai went about his normal duties for ruling the kingdom, trying to appear like nothing was amiss as he waited for news from Eryx.

    Morning passed into afternoon, and afternoon faded into night with no word.

    It was a struggle not to let his apprehension show, so Kai cloistered himself in his study, attempting to focus on the documents in front of him that needed his approval. Nothing like mundane paperwork to distract the mind.

    He jumped when a soft knock came at his door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± he called, hoping it was Eryx.

    Sure enough, the door opened to admit the Commander.

    ¡°Any news?¡± Kai asked him.

    In the dim light, Eryx¡¯s expression appeared strained. He shook his head. ¡°No, Your Highness. There has been no sighting of them.¡±

    Kai sighed. What was keeping them? He¡¯d been adamant they return at the set time, with or without the information.

    ¡°Perhaps they were delayed on the journey back,¡± he suggested. Even as he said the words, Kai doubted this was the case. Something must have gone wrong. Kestrel was never late.

    Eryx agreed readily. ¡°Should I send someone out to track them?¡±

    Kai thought for a moment. ¡°No,¡± he finally decided. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until morning. If they still haven¡¯t appeared by then, we will discuss sending someone out to look for them.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡± Eryx bowed before exiting the room as quietly as he had come.

    Kai hoped he wouldn¡¯t have to make that decision. He¡¯d meant what he¡¯d said to Eryx this morning. Kestrel could take care of herself, and if anything were to have gone wrong, he was sure she would be able to get them out of it.

    Kai returned to his work, and it wasn¡¯t long before another knock sounded on his door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± he called again without looking up. It was probably Eryx returning. No one else was likely to bother him while he was in his study.

    Someone entered the room while Kai finished the page he was reading.

    ¡°Do you have more news?¡± he asked without looking up.

    ¡°You could say that,¡± answered a feminine voice.

    Kai¡¯s head jerked up in surprise. ¡°Virelai.¡±

    She smiled that feline smile of hers that said she wanted something.

    He sighed internally. He was not in the mood to deal with her tonight. She could only be here to cause trouble. Maybe Gavaran had sent her to gather information since he hadn¡¯t bothered to come see Kai himself.

    ¡°How can I help you, Virelai?¡± he asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice as he set his paper down to focus on her.

    She must have taken this as an invitation to make herself comfortable because she settled herself in one of the two chairs in front of his desk.

    ¡°I think what you meant to say, Kaimana, is how can you, Virelai, help me?¡±

    He leveled a look at her. Most would have been uncomfortable under his stare, but Virelai merely returned it. Gavaran had trained her well.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your games right now. Tell me why you¡¯re here or leave.¡±

    She pouted. ¡°I never play games.¡±

    Kai didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he picked up his papers again, pretending to read while keeping an eye on her. It was a clear dismissal.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Virelai picked at her nails as though the conversation was boring her. ¡°I am here because I thought you might like to know what my father is up to.¡±

    Now, that caught his attention, but he couldn¡¯t let her know, or she would pounce.

    ¡°And why would I want to know what your father is up to?¡± he asked, keeping any hint of interest out of his voice.

    She leaned forward in her seat and pushed down the papers he was pretending to read.

    ¡°Because you value your life,¡± she purred, her face mere inches from his.

    He dropped the papers on his desk, eyeing Virelai as she settled back into her chair now that she knew she had his attention.

    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± he asked her, raising one eyebrow.

    She laughed. ¡°Does that worry you?¡±

    ¡°Hardly. If you have nothing else to say, I have work to do.¡± Whatever information she may have, it wasn¡¯t worth playing her game for.

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Virelai said, standing and moving to the door.

    Kai watched through narrowed eyes as she paused at the door and looked back over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me when you lose your crown¡ªand then your head.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Six

    The sound of voices drew Seraiah¡¯s attention to the back of the dragons¡¯ cave, where she spotted Lonan talking animatedly. The dragons appeared to be listening raptly to whatever story he was telling. If Seraiah had to guess, she would say it was probably a story about mushrooms.

    Lonan was finishing up his tale when she approached. To her surprise, he wasn¡¯t talking about mushrooms, but rather he was telling the dragons how they¡¯d escaped from the beetle. They seemed impressed, but maybe they were only being polite.

    Seraiah snorted at the idea of a well-mannered dragon.

    ¡°Do you have any interesting stories to tell, human?¡± Riv asked her when Lonan was finished.

    She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, and I think we should be going.¡± She looked meaningfully at Lonan. There was no use in staying here if they weren¡¯t going to get a golden scale.

    ¡°There is no rush. Why don¡¯t you tell us about how you came to be involved in a faery game? Last night you told us what you¡¯re looking for, but not how you got tangled up with the fae in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that sounds like it will be a good one,¡± Isaour agreed.

    All three of them watched her expectantly.

    Did it matter if she took a few minutes to tell them the story? She supposed not since she was already going to be late returning to Nyrene, and it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d come up with another plan for how to give the Summer King a golden dragon scale.

    Seraiah settled herself into a cross-legged seat and began her story.

    Lonan had already heard it, but he listened intently all the same as she told them about Sterling and everything that had happened so far on her journey to find her sister. They were sympathetic and angry at the right moments and didn¡¯t interrupt to ask questions.

    ¡°It¡¯s too bad there is no such thing as a golden dragon,¡± Riv said when she finished.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I am going to do now,¡± Seraiah mumbled miserably, climbing to her feet. ¡°There has to be something I can do to fulfill the Summer King¡¯s request.¡±

    She just needed to think. It sounded impossible to outsmart an immortal being who¡¯d already lived who knows how many years, but there must be some kind of loophole. He couldn¡¯t have given her a quest that couldn¡¯t be fulfilled.

    A glint of something caught Seraiah¡¯s eye as she stared past the dragons into the back of the cave.

    ¡°What do you have back there?¡± she asked Isaour.

    ¡°Our hoard, of course,¡± the dragon answered. ¡°A few bits and bobs. You know. Nothing special.¡±

    Seraiah slipped past them and found what the dragon had described as a few bits and bobs were actually piles and piles of jewels¡ªand gold. As she stared at the mountains of treasure a plan began to take shape in her head.

    She whirled around and rejoined the group. ¡°I think I have an idea,¡± she announced. ¡°I think I know how I can beat the Summer King at his own game, but I will need your assistance.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been awhile since we have had some fun with the Summer King,¡± Isaour said. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±

    Seraiah quickly explained her idea. ¡°So, what do you think? Will you help me?¡±

    The dragons gave her toothy grins. ¡°We would be delighted to.¡±

    A renewed sense of hope filled Seraiah at the prospect of having a plan for getting Kestrel back and beating the faeries at their own game. She only hoped it wouldn¡¯t anger the Summer King, and he refused to honor their deal.

    The dragons agreed they would fly her as close as they could to the Seelie Court, and then the rest would be up to her.

    ¡°Are you going to go back to Metrius?¡± she asked Lonan. He had been quiet during the discussion.

    ¡°If it¡¯s all the same to you, I would like to continue on your journey with you. This is the most excitement I¡¯ve had in years, and I would like to help you in any way I can. Our world has been peaceful, thanks in part to the elves. I want to do my part to keep it that way.¡±

    ¡°I would be delighted to have you, but are you sure you want to go to the Summer Court? The faeries aren¡¯t going to be happy with me after what I¡¯m about to do.¡±

    Lonan scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of faeries. I survived dragons.¡±

    The dragons in question chuckled at this.

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t say she agreed with him. Lonan had never met the Summer King.

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    <hr>

    They each set out to work on their part of the plan, and then reconvened later in the afternoon.

    Seraiah had the golden dragon scale tucked away in her bag, ready to hand over to the Summer King. It was technically a golden dragon scale¡ªit just wasn¡¯t from a golden dragon.

    ¡°We can take you back to the Seelie Court whenever you are ready,¡± Isaour told her.

    She wasn¡¯t ready to ever go back to that place, but Seraiah didn¡¯t have a choice if she wanted to see her friends or her sister again.

    ¡°We should go now,¡± Seraiah said, ¡°before it gets dark. If that¡¯s all right with you.¡± She still wasn¡¯t entirely sure how many days it had been since she¡¯d left the Seelie Court.

    ¡°Gather your things,¡± Riv said, ¡°and we¡¯ll be off.¡±

    It turned out flying on a dragon was much scarier than riding a horse. It was a considerably longer fall to the ground.

    Perched on Riv¡¯s back, Seraiah held on to the spiked scales of his neck for dear life as the trees passed by far below. It would have been quite a sight to see if she wasn¡¯t scared of heights.

    Isaour carried Lonan, and he didn¡¯t seem nearly as frightened as she was. In fact, he looked to be enjoying himself immensely.

    The dragon¡¯s scales were warm beneath her legs¡ªalmost hot, and it was enough to keep the chill away as Riv¡¯s large, muscular wings beat at the air to either side of her.

    Just when Seraiah thought she might be getting used to the sensation of flying through the clouds, they dropped out of the sky.

    She screamed as the dragon tucked his wings in, and they plummeted toward the ground. The wind whipped her cloak out behind her, and she almost lost her hold on her bag. Right before they slammed into the ground, Riv straightened out and skimmed the top of the grass before landing softly.

    The dragon pulled his wings in again and crouched as close to the ground as possible to help her get off. When Seraiah slid from his back, her legs barely held her weight¡ªthey felt like jelly. She had to lean against Riv¡¯s side for a few moments while her heart returned to its normal speed, and she could breathe again. When she stepped away from him, she was still a little shaky.

    Isaour and Lonan landed next to them, and Lonan slid off Isaour¡¯s back, coming to join her.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that great?¡± he asked Seraiah, a grin spreading across his face. She wasn¡¯t sure she had ever seen him smile that wide even when talking about mushrooms.

    ¡°Sure,¡± she said weakly. She was certain Riv had pulled the diving stunt on purpose, judging by his expression. If dragons had facial expressions, his would be described as mischievous.

    ¡°We will leave you here,¡± Isaour said. ¡°It¡¯s a short distance that way to the faery court.¡± She nodded her head in the direction they were to go.

    ¡°Thank you for all of your help. I appreciate it,¡± Seraiah said, looking at each dragon in turn.

    ¡°Be sure to visit us again and bring that elf queen sister of yours,¡± Riv said.

    ¡°I will,¡± Seraiah promised. ¡°She would love that.¡±

    She thanked them each again, and then they were back in the sky. She and Lonan watched them go and waited until the dragons were distant specks before turning toward the Seelie Court.

    They were silent on the walk. The forest was as sinister as Seraiah remembered it, but the tree sprites were nowhere to be found.

    Maescia waited for them at the edge of the houses. How she had known they were coming, Seraiah didn¡¯t know. Perhaps she¡¯d been waiting there since Seraiah had left.

    Maescia didn¡¯t comment on Seraiah¡¯s new companion, and there was no humming this time. She merely turned and led them into the Court.

    Lonan took in as much of the scenery as he could while Seraiah kept her head down. She had seen more than enough of this place the first time. She wanted to get the elves, and then they were going back to Nyrene.

    Maescia took them back to where Seraiah had met the Summer King the first time, and like that night, there was another party. They picked their way through the revelers until they reached the foot of the dais.

    That was when the Summer King spotted them, but it was not to him that Seraiah¡¯s eyes went first. He was not alone on the dais.

    Kestrel was there with him.

    Seraiah looked around for the others, but she didn¡¯t see them. Her gaze returned to Kestrel. The elf appeared pale and tired, a ghost of her usual buoyant self. There were rings beneath her eyes, as if she had not slept since the day Seraiah had left.

    Kestrel glanced up when the Summer King stood, and Seraiah saw the life come back into her face. She sat, still as a statue for a moment, staring at Seraiah as though she didn¡¯t believe Seraiah was truly there. Then Kestrel launched herself at her, almost knocking Seraiah over as she flew into her.

    They held each other tight and didn¡¯t let go.

    Seraiah was so glad to see her. When she¡¯d agreed to the fairies¡¯ quest, she had been almost certain she would never return.

    The Summer King cleared his throat, and Kestrel released her.

    ¡°Have you brought something for me, seer?¡± his voice rang out over the crowd as his molten eyes fixed on her.

    The music had stopped playing, and everyone was watching the scene unfold on the dais.

    ¡°I have the scale you asked for,¡± she told him.

    Seraiah set her bag on the ground and pulled out the scale in question, holding it up high enough so that their audience could see it, too.

    Riv had given her one of his own scales. Originally, it had been a beautiful iridescent blue. Now, as Seraiah held it up, it glinted gold.

    She could see the surprise on the Summer King¡¯s face before it returned to a neutral expression. He should be surprised, considering he¡¯d known a golden dragon didn¡¯t exist when he sent her out on the quest.

    The Summer King snatched the scale from her hand and inspected it.

    Seraiah knew what he would find.

    It was a real dragon scale¡ªthat had been dipped in gold.

    He had said he wanted a golden dragon scale, and that was exactly what she¡¯d given him. He had never specified that the golden dragon scale had to come from a golden dragon.

    Seraiah could see from his face that he knew she had beaten him at his own game, and there was nothing he could do about it.

    ¡°Seems the human has held up her end of the bargain,¡± he said, addressing the watching fae, ¡°and now I will uphold mine.¡±

    He extracted a vial, similar to the one he¡¯d made Seraiah drink at the start of the game, and held it out to her. ¡°Here is the information you seek.¡±

    Seraiah accepted the vial.

    ¡°Drink it, and you will have a vision of your precious Queen.¡±

    She tucked the vial into her bag. She wasn¡¯t about to drink anything else while in this Court. It would have to wait until they were safely back in Nyrene.

    ¡°And the other part of our bargain?¡± she reminded him.

    ¡°Yes, yes, your friends are free to go.¡± He waved his hand at them, shooing them away. ¡°Maescia, have their horses brought, so they will get out of my sight.¡±

    The girl scurried off to do as she was told, and the King turned away, dismissing them.

    The music started up again, and the revelers danced as if there hadn¡¯t been an interruption.

    Kestrel pulled Seraiah into another hug and whispered in her ear, ¡°I knew you could do it. Now, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Seven

    Kestrel released Seraiah and took her hand, pulling her off the dais into the dancing faeries. Lonan followed silently behind them, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. Seraiah couldn¡¯t remember if she¡¯d warned him about talking to the faeries or accepting anything from them. Hopefully, he knew the rules and wouldn¡¯t do anything to get himself in trouble when they were so close to getting out of there.

    ¡°Where are the others?¡± Seraiah had to shout to be heard over the music.

    Kestrel waved her hand in response and kept pushing onward to the edge of the crowd. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the buildings that Kestrel finally stopped.

    ¡°They were in the crowd of dancers,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯ll have seen the exchange and know to find us here.¡±

    A few minutes passed with no sign of them, and Seraiah was beginning to worry when they appeared out of the shadows, holding their belongings. They, like Kestrel, looked a little worse for the wear, but at least they were still alive.

    ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go,¡± Kestrel said, accepting her saddlebag from one of the elves. ¡°Our horses will be waiting for us, and we have a long journey ahead.¡±

    They made their way out of the main city and into the area with the strange houses.

    Maescia and her group of faeries stood in the middle of the path, waiting for them. As when Maescia had found Seraiah returning to the Court with the golden scale, she didn¡¯t say anything. She gestured to the other fairies, and they handed over the horses. Once the exchange was complete, the faeries melted back into the shadows of the houses.

    ¡°Who¡¯s your new friend, Seraiah?¡± Kestrel asked, when they were alone again. She eyed the gnome, who was eyeing her right back.

    ¡°This is Lonan. Without his help, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to complete the quest,¡± Seraiah explained as she secured her satchel to her horse.

    Lonan puffed up at her praise.

    ¡°You have my thanks, Lonan of¡ª¡± Kestrel waited for him to fill in the blank.

    ¡°Metrius,¡± he supplied. ¡°I am from Metrius.¡±

    ¡°A gnome, then?¡± Kestrel raised an eyebrow. ¡°I thought you and your kin didn¡¯t leave the underground.¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°Some of us still have a sense of adventure.¡±

    Kestrel smiled. ¡°And do you intend to take that sense of adventure to Nyrene? We must return there as soon as possible.¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip. If Lonan didn¡¯t want to go with them, he would be on his own to find his way back to Metrius.

    ¡°I would be honored to join the group if you¡¯ll have me,¡± he said, bowing his head.

    ¡°Then on behalf of Prince Kaimana, I¡¯ll extend an invitation for as long as you¡¯d like, and when you wish to return home, we can have it arranged,¡± Kestrel said.

    Lonan thanked her, and Kestrel went back to readying her horse. The other elves had already mounted and were waiting to leave.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to share a horse with someone,¡± Seraiah said to Lonan. ¡°You can ride with me if you want.¡±

    He agreed and, with some help, was able to get the horse.

    Once everyone was situated, they set out for Nyrene.

    ¡°This is my first time on a horse, you know,¡± Lonan said as they followed behind Kestrel.

    ¡°And how are you liking it?¡± Seraiah asked. ¡°You seem to be taking it much better than I did.¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°I think I like it just fine. Not as exciting as riding a dragon, mind you, but it¡¯s much better than walking everywhere with these short legs.¡± He patted his left leg good-naturedly.

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    ¡°We¡¯ll ride through the night and as much as the horses can handle,¡± Kestrel told them over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯d like to reach Nyrene before Kai has a complete meltdown, if he hasn¡¯t already.¡±

    ¡°How long has it been?¡± Seraiah asked. She was afraid of the answer, but she had to know.

    ¡°We should have returned this morning.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± It was better than she¡¯d expected.

    ¡°If we ride fast and through the night, we can cut our time in half and only be two days late,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Kai won¡¯t do anything drastic in that time, right?¡±

    ¡°Depends on your definition of drastic.¡± Kestrel gave Seraiah a look and then pressed her horse to go faster.

    By the time they rode into the stable yard of the castle two days later, the entire group was exhausted, including the horses.

    Kai was waiting for them with Eryx by his side, and neither one looked particularly happy.

    On the way to Nyrene, they¡¯d run into a group of scouts who¡¯d been sent to search for them with orders to report back if they weren¡¯t found outside the Seelie Court.

    Kestrel had grumbled under her breath about it only being two days and sent them off. Then she¡¯d pushed them even faster.

    Seraiah wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and sleep for days, but one look at Kai told her she was unlikely to get her wish.

    ¡°What happened?¡± he demanded as they dismounted. His voice may have been quiet, but it was cold enough to freeze dragon fire.

    This was not a side of Kai she had ever seen before.

    She knew he was only mad because of the scare they¡¯d put him through. He was already missing one sister, and losing Kestrel would be like losing another. Seraiah didn¡¯t flatter herself to think that he cared whether she returned or not. She was here purely as a means to an end, but she still couldn¡¯t shut off the part of her brain that wished he would be a little happy to see her.

    Kestrel ignored Kai¡¯s question as she pulled her bag off her horse and handed over the reins to a stable attendant. Seraiah couldn¡¯t help but notice the other two elves in their group had disappeared, leaving them to face Kai¡¯s wrath on their own.

    ¡°Did you not stick to the plan?¡± Kai asked. His eyes met hers for an instant and then darted away. That was when he spotted Lonan, who was trying to hide behind her.

    Kai¡¯s expression immediately became guarded.

    ¡°Perhaps we should have this conversation in private,¡± Kestrel said in a low voice, gesturing with her chin at the onlookers that had gathered.

    ¡°Fine. My study. Half an hour. All of you.¡± He swept his gaze over them before turning on his heel and striding inside.

    ¡°He had a meltdown, didn¡¯t he?¡± Kestrel mock-whispered to Eryx.

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Eryx replied with a small smile. ¡°He was worried about you, and it killed him to not send anyone after you¡ªit killed me.¡±

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°We met the scouts and sent them back.¡±

    Eryx¡¯s brow furrowed like he was confused, but Kestrel didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°Anyway, we were hardly late. Things happened, and it couldn¡¯t be helped, but I think it will be worth it.¡±

    ¡°I suppose we will find out,¡± Eryx said.

    Seraiah followed the two of them as they disappeared into the castle. She hoped Kestrel was right.

    <hr>

    When Eryx had brought him news that Kestrel and Seraiah had been sighted, Kai had been relieved. Then the anger had set in.

    What had they been thinking? They could have sent a message if they knew they weren¡¯t going to return on time. The timeline he¡¯d given Kestrel should have been more than enough to make a deal. He¡¯d made it very clear to her it wasn¡¯t worth agreeing to something that would put them in danger, so what exactly had kept them for so long?

    ¡°Everything all right?¡± Eryx asked when he¡¯d arrived in the stable yard.

    ¡°That remains to be seen, I think,¡± Kai said. He could feel Eryx looking at him, but if Eryx had an opinion, he kept it to himself.

    By the time the group arrived, his stress and fear over what had happened to them came to a boiling point, and he let his anger get the better of him.

    When Kestrel suggested they meet in private, he¡¯d come back to himself and realized the audience they were drawing. It was exactly what he didn¡¯t want.

    Now he paced the length of his study, waiting for them to appear and explain exactly what had happened, and why they¡¯d returned with a gnome in tow. To his knowledge, gnomes didn¡¯t leave their underground home, so how had they come across one while at the Seelie Court, and what did it mean that he was here now?

    Eryx was the first to arrive.

    ¡°Seraiah and the gnome went up to her rooms, and Kestrel went to hers for a change of clothes,¡± he said before Kai could ask.

    ¡°And did Kestrel tell you anything?¡±

    Eryx shook his head. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t say anything about what they¡¯d learned. Although,¡± he paused, ¡°there was one strange thing she mentioned.¡±

    Kai dropped into the chair behind his desk with a sigh. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Eryx remained close to the door. ¡°She said something about sending scouts back.¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t send any scouts. Did you?¡±

    ¡°No, you said we would wait.¡±

    They stared at each other in silence for a moment.

    Then a knock sounded on the door. With a nod from Kai, Eryx opened it.

    A messenger stood there.

    ¡°Pardon me, Your Highness,¡± the young boy said. ¡°I¡¯m to deliver this to you.¡± He held out a cream-colored envelope.

    Kai accepted it and dismissed him. He turned it over and stared at the wax seal on the back. He now had a fairly good idea who had sent those scouts Kestrel had run into.

    ¡°Who is it from?¡± Eryx asked after the boy had left.

    ¡°Gavaran.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Eight

    In exactly half an hour, everyone was assembled in Kai¡¯s study as he had ordered.

    Seraiah was still tired, but at least now she was clean. She¡¯d left her wet hair loose around her shoulders and wore a deep blue gray dress the color of storm clouds that Wisteria had selected for her. She¡¯d tucked the vial the Summer King had given her in exchange for the scale into her bodice. It hadn¡¯t left her person since she¡¯d received it, and she had no intention of giving it up now.

    ¡°What happened at the Seelie Court?¡± Kai asked as soon as they were settled. The circlet he usually wore was discarded on his desk, and his hair was mussed like he¡¯d run his fingers through the strands multiple times.

    The question, of course, was directed to Kestrel. He hadn¡¯t so much as looked in Seraiah¡¯s direction since she¡¯d arrived.

    Assets only existed when they were needed.

    Kestrel shifted in the chair to Seraiah¡¯s right. The two of them had taken the seats in front of Kai¡¯s desk while Eryx leaned against the wall behind them like a jailer. Lonan perched on a stool on Seraiah¡¯s other side.

    ¡°We arrived, we spoke to the Summer King, a deal was struck and carried out. Now we are here,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°If you want more details than that, you¡¯ll need to ask Seraiah, since she is the one who made the bargain and got what we asked for.¡±

    ¡°You were the one who was supposed to make the deal,¡± Kai said, ¡°that was¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, leave her alone,¡± Seraiah said, cutting off whatever lecture he¡¯d been about to give. ¡°The Summer King was only interested in me. It was my fault, and I should have stayed in Nyrene. Is that what you want to hear, Your Highness?¡±

    She may not have had his attention before, but she certainly did now.

    Seraiah plucked the vial from her bodice and held it up for him to see. ¡°This is the information we need to find Sterling. In exchange for retrieving a golden dragon scale for the Summer King, he gave me this.¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes went from her face to the vial. ¡°There is no gold dragon,¡± he said.

    ¡°So I have learned, but I completed the task anyway.¡±

    ¡°By yourself?¡±

    Seraiah bristled, slightly offended at the question and the implication that she hadn¡¯t done it on her own. ¡°Lonan guided me through the mountain to the dragon cave. Without his assistance, I would not have found it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for aiding our cause,¡± Kai said, inclining his head to Lonan. ¡°You are welcome to stay in Nyrene as long as you like, though I will warn you it might be safer to return to Metrius. Eryx, would you show Lonan to some accommodations?¡±

    It was obviously a ploy to give them privacy, but Seraiah didn¡¯t protest. There was no reason to make Lonan sit through this, and he was likely just as tired as she was.

    With a murmured thanks, Lonan and Eryx left the study.

    As soon as they were gone, Kestrel leaned forward. ¡°Did something happen while we were gone?¡±

    An emotion Seraiah couldn¡¯t name flitted across Kai¡¯s face before disappearing. ¡°No,¡± he responded.

    He was lying¡ªeven she could see that, but she wasn¡¯t sure why.

    ¡°Explain to me how that is information about Sterling,¡± he said, pointing to the vial still clasped in her hand.

    ¡°The Summer King promised he would give me a vision of Sterling in exchange for the scale. This is what he gave me when I returned,¡± she said.

    ¡°What were his specific words when he gave it to you?¡±

    Seraiah pressed her lips together as she thought back on her return to the Seelie Court. She¡¯d been so nervous about the scale, she couldn¡¯t recall if he¡¯d said anything or not.

    ¡°He told her to drink it,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°and she will have a vision of the queen.¡±

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    ¡°Mm. I don¡¯t like this. We have no idea what it will do to you.¡±

    ¡°Faeries can¡¯t lie,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°If he said it will give me a vision, then it will.¡±

    ¡°They may not be able to lie outright, but they can certainly lie by omission,¡± Kai said.

    His words planted a seed of doubt in her mind.

    The Summer King had been none too happy she¡¯d bested him at his own game, though his reaction had been mild compared to what she¡¯d expected. Perhaps he had a different plan in mind for her. He could have handed over a vial of poison for all she knew.

    ¡°It¡¯s a chance I¡¯m willing to take,¡± she said.

    ¡°Well I¡¯m not,¡± Kai said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be you.¡±

    Her face heated under his gaze. It would be so easy to believe he cared what happened to her.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I think it does,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°The Summer King specifically said it was a vision for a seer and unless you picked up another seer while we were away, Seraiah is the only one we have.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Kai said. ¡°She is the only one we have. If this were to kill her, where would we be then?¡±

    And there was her reminder of what he truly cared about.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to do this,¡± she said. ¡°After everything I went through to get this information, I¡¯m not going to throw it away.¡±

    Kai frowned. ¡°You would throw away your life instead?¡±

    ¡°What does it matter to you? It¡¯s not like you care what happens to me.¡±

    ¡°Of course I care about you!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she corrected him, ¡°you care about what my talents can do for you. ¡°

    Understanding dawned on his face. Understanding of what, Seraiah didn¡¯t know, nor did she care to ask.

    Before anyone could say anything else, she uncorked the vial and poured the liquid into her mouth. The taste was vile, but she forced herself to swallow.

    Then she waited.

    Seraiah had expected it to be similar to the last time. She¡¯d barely swallowed that potion when it had taken effect.

    Kai was staring at her in horror.

    ¡°What have you done?¡± he whispered. He rose from his chair and came around the side of his desk.

    ¡°What I needed to do, but it seems whatever the Summer King gave me does nothing after all. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I think I would like to take a nap now.¡± She pushed her chair back and stood.

    The world swung around her, and the vial slipped from her fingers to shatter on the floor.

    The last thing Seraiah remembered was Kai shouting and lunging to grab her before she hit the ground.

    <hr>

    ¡°She seems perfectly healthy as far as I can tell, Your Highness,¡± Neorah said after she¡¯d finished examining Seraiah.

    He thanked the healer and dismissed her.

    ¡°You heard her,¡± Kestrel said, coming up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Seraiah is fine.¡±

    Kai shook his head. ¡°How can she be fine? Look at her.¡± He gestured to where Seraiah lay tucked in his bed. Her hair fanned out over his pillow.

    When she¡¯d collapsed, he brought her to the closest room, which happened to be his own since it adjoined his study.

    ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡±

    ¡°If she were asleep, we¡¯d be able to wake her,¡± he argued.

    ¡°That¡¯s not how magic works,¡± Kestrel said.

    Kai shrugged her hand away. ¡°I never should have let her go.¡±

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°You and I both know how it would have gone if you¡¯d tried to stop her. She would have hated you for it and found a way to go anyway.¡±

    ¡°She already hates me. What difference would it make?¡± He turned away from the bed.

    ¡°What? What gave you that idea?¡±

    ¡°You were there. You heard what she said. She thinks I only care about her talents,¡± he spat the word the way Seraiah had.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean she hates you. Besides, is she wrong? I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever heard you say otherwise,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Not to her, at least.¡±

    Kai grimaced. It may have been true at first. The only reason he¡¯d agreed to take her with them was because she was a seer and could help with his search.

    Then somewhere along the way things had changed¡ªsomewhere along the way, he¡¯d started to like her. He was the one who had dragged her away from her home, so it was his responsibility to protect her.

    And he was doing a terrible job of it.

    ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t me you were concerned about when we were late coming back,¡± Kestrel said quietly. ¡°You should tell her the truth.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he said.

    ¡°Won¡¯t,¡± Kestrel countered.

    He ignored her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again. What happened while we were away?¡±

    Kai stalked over to a plush chair, pushed into the corner next to the fireplace, and dropped onto it. He stared into the empty hearth.

    ¡°Kai?¡± Kestrel prompted.

    He sighed. ¡°There are rumors about removing me from the throne.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. There have always been dissenters¡ª¡±

    ¡°Its different this time. I¡¯ve tried to speak with Gavaran about presenting a united front with the council, but most of the time, he isn¡¯t even here.¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Where else would he be?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it. I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve tried to have him followed, but no one has been successful. Then there¡¯s the warning Virelai gave me.¡±

    ¡°She can¡¯t be trusted,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°She¡¯s always had her own agenda.¡±

    ¡°Maybe. However, despite Gavaran ignoring my summons, he has sent one to me.¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°It arrived in the time between when I left the stable yard and when all of you came to my office.¡±

    ¡°And what did he want?¡±

    ¡°He wanted to hold a council meeting to discuss your findings. You told Eryx you ran into scouts on your way back. I wasn¡¯t the one who sent them.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°Explain to me why he is sending scouts out to find you and the moment you and Seraiah appear with possible information about Sterling¡¯s whereabouts, suddenly he¡¯s interested in speaking.¡±

    ¡°It could be nothing. For all we know, he¡¯s been off visiting a mistress, and now he wants to know if he is about to be pushed out of his comfy position by a new queen.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more than that. It has to be.¡±

    ¡°Kai,¡± Kestrel said gently. ¡°You¡¯re under a lot of pressure, what with the search for Sterling and reclaiming the running of the kingdom and all that entails¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not making it up, Kes. There is a connection here, and I will find it.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Forty-Nine

    The next thing Seraiah knew, she was in a cave.

    For a moment, she thought she was back at the underground lake near Metrius, but a quick glance around told her that wasn¡¯t the case. This cave was much larger.

    Seraiah turned to the wall at her back. It appeared to have some sort of design on it, but it was hard to make out in the gloom. She brushed her fingers over the surface. It was rough and pock-marked, like the rock had been molten at some point. As she studied it closer, she realized what the shapes reminded her of¡ªfaces.

    The wall had faces.

    Skulls with empty eye sockets stared back at her.

    Seraiah dropped her hand and scrambled away from them. They certainly looked like real skulls, the mouths open and screaming as though they had been trapped in the stone.

    A noise on the other side of the cavern distracted her from the macabre discovery.

    She tilted her head, listening. It sounded like footsteps¡ªtwo sets of them¡ªand they were headed in her direction.

    Seraiah had a brief moment of panic before she remembered this was a vision. In all likelihood, whoever it was wouldn¡¯t be able to see her, even if she was right in front of their face.

    Nonetheless, she stepped back into the shadows along the wall, just in case.

    She forced herself to crouch down with the skulls at her back, despite the fact it felt like they were watching her. Then she waited for the source of the footsteps to make itself known.

    The sound stopped, and Seraiah held her breath. For several tense seconds, there was nothing.

    Then a voice came floating out of the dark.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Sterling asked as she stepped into the dim light, where Seraiah could see her.

    Her face was turned back toward the way she had come, but her silvery hair glowed in the darkness. There was no mistaking who she was. Her companion stepped forward a moment later and said something in a low voice that Seraiah couldn¡¯t make out.

    Sterling turned toward Seraiah, giving her a glimpse of her face. It was enough to see that Sterling was healthy. The bruise that had bloomed across her cheek the last time Seraiah had seen her was gone, and her face had filled out as though Sterling had been eating full meals. Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders in a silver waterfall.

    She looked good.

    She looked happy.

    This was not at all what Seraiah had expected to find, especially given how she¡¯d last seen Sterling in the prison.

    She eyed the other figure with her sister. They hid their face beneath the hood of a dark robe, twin to the one Sterling was wearing. Whoever this person was, they were taller and broader than Sterling, making Seraiah think it was likely a man. From her position, there was not much else she could discern about them.

    Seraiah sat back on her heels.

    The movement knocked a rock loose from the wall. It skittered across the floor, stopping near Sterling¡¯s foot.

    She froze as Sterling and her companion traced the path the rock had taken.

    The other figure stepped forward and lowered his hood, revealing a dark-haired young man around her own age. He stared intently at the spot where Seraiah was crouched, but didn¡¯t come any closer. It was almost as if he could sense her, but wasn¡¯t able to see her.

    Sterling wandered over, her head tilted back as she studied the cave just as Seraiah had done not a moment ago. If she could sense Seraiah like her companion had, she gave no sign of it.

    Sterling traced a finger around an open mouth that looked like it was screaming in agony. Unlike Seraiah, she didn¡¯t seem disturbed by the likeness. She turned to her companion, who had stopped staring at Seraiah¡¯s hiding spot and come up behind her.

    ¡°It feels like they are watching me,¡± Sterling said to him.

    ¡°That¡¯s because they are, but don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s all they can do now,¡± he reassured her, placing a gloved hand on her shoulder.

    His words sent a shiver down Seraiah¡¯s spine. She didn¡¯t like the way he rested his hand, so familiarly, on her little sister¡¯s shoulder and the way Sterling smiled at him freely.

    In some ways, it was worse to see Sterling happy and healthy like this¡ªlike she had completely forgotten about her family.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°Sterling,¡± Seraiah called softly, hoping her sister could hear her like she had in the prison.

    Sterling turned toward the sound of her voice, looking confused.

    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± she asked.

    Her companion shook his head. ¡°No, it was probably a breeze. There¡¯s an opening to the surface over there.¡± He pointed up into the dark.

    ¡°But I thought I heard someone call my name.¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± She tried to brush the edge of Sterling¡¯s robe, but her fingers slipped right through it.

    ¡°People think they hear a lot of things in this cave. Some say the faces talk to them.¡± He shrugged. ¡°None of it is real. Anyway, we should head back.¡±

    He tried to lead Sterling away, but for a moment she resisted, still staring at Seraiah before giving a little shake of her head and letting him pull her out of the cave.

    It was clear Seraiah would not make contact with Sterling, not with this man here, at least. She¡¯d have to follow them and hope to gain more information about where Sterling was that way. If she was lucky, she might catch her sister alone and have another chance to speak to her.

    She moved to follow them, but the floor dissolved beneath her feet, and she felt herself fall into the darkness.

    <hr>

    Seraiah woke with a start. There was an unfamiliar ceiling over her head.

    She pushed herself up on her elbows. She remembered coming back to Nyrene and meeting with Kai before drinking the vial the Summer King had given her, but this was not her bed, nor was this her room.

    Her eyes landed on a chair next to an empty fireplace. Kai was stretched out there, his eyes closed. She took a moment to study his unguarded face. He looked younger and much more vulnerable than she¡¯d ever seen him.

    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Kestrel said.

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes snapped to the end of the bed, where she found the other elf perched. Kestrel must have seen her staring at Kai, but she didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°How long?¡± Seraiah asked, her voice rough with disuse.

    ¡°Three days.¡±

    It had felt like mere minutes had passed in her vision.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to call for Neorah,¡± Kestrel said.

    Seraiah searched her memory for the name. She recalled a kind face from the council meeting. Neorah was their healer.

    Seraiah wanted to tell Kestrel she was fine and didn¡¯t need a healer, but her aching body and the headache blooming behind her eyes said otherwise.

    On her way out of the room, Kestrel touched Kai¡¯s shoulder.

    He snapped awake, his eyes going straight to her. A look of relief washed over him before he quickly hid it behind a blank mask.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Kestrel said.

    It didn¡¯t appear as though Kai heard her as he pulled himself from the chair. His clothes were rumpled like he¡¯d been there a while. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a sliver of pale skin, and he¡¯d pushed the sleeves up to his elbows. His circlet was nowhere to be found. Even on their journey here, he¡¯d never looked so disheveled.

    Kai crossed the space in two strides. He leaned over her, arranging the pillows behind her and gently helping her sit up.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured. She could have done it herself, but she didn¡¯t tell him that.

    His fingers brushed her cheek so lightly, she almost thought she imagined it.

    When she looked up, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that again.¡± Unlike his touch, the words were anything but gentle.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever needs to be done,¡± she retorted. ¡°Where am I?¡±

    ¡°My rooms.¡±

    Suddenly, she knew why he¡¯d been sleeping in a chair.

    Because she had taken his bed.

    His mouth twitched into the ghost of a smile at whatever he saw on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Only a few know you are here. Besides, I couldn¡¯t very well carry your unconscious form through the castle for everyone to see.¡±

    Before Seraiah could respond, Neorah and Kestrel came bustling into the room. Kestrel held a tray with what smelled like food.

    Kai stepped away from the bed to give them some room, and Neorah took his place. ¡°May I?¡± she asked.

    Seraiah nodded, though her eyes were still on Kai, where he watched behind the healer.

    Neorah placed a hand on either side of her face and closed her eyes, humming softly to herself. After a moment, she opened her eyes again and removed her hands.

    ¡°It¡¯s just as I said earlier,¡± Neorah addressed Kai. ¡°She is perfectly healthy. There is no trace of poison in her system. Any lingering effects are from not eating or drinking anything over the last three days. Start with simple foods, and she¡¯ll be back to her usual self in no time.¡±

    Kai thanked her.

    ¡°Of course, Your Highness.¡± Neorah dipped a curtsy and left the room.

    ¡°You thought I was poisoned?¡± Seraiah asked, as Kestrel placed the tray on her lap. It held a bowl of soup and a glass of water.

    ¡°What was I supposed to think? You fell unconscious, and I couldn¡¯t wake you. You were barely breathing, and if I hadn¡¯t felt your pulse, I would have thought you were dead.¡± A bit of fear had crept into Kai¡¯s voice as he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Seraiah mumbled, looking down at her soup. She did feel bad for putting them through that.

    Kestrel cleared her throat. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. Now we need to hear what you saw.¡±

    She heard the other question Kestrel didn¡¯t voice. Was it worth it?

    Seraiah dipped the spoon into the soup, attempting to delay the inevitable. They would hear soon enough that she hadn¡¯t learned much of anything.

    ¡°The Summer King didn¡¯t trick us,¡± she said between mouthfuls. ¡°I had a vision of Sterling.¡±

    Kestrel settled onto the bed next to her and motioned for Kai to stop hovering over them. He returned to the chair by the hearth, but Seraiah could still feel him watching every spoonful of soup she lifted to her mouth.

    ¡°I was in a cave, or at least somewhere underground.¡± Seraiah described the way the walls had resembled skulls. ¡°Have you ever heard of anything like it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called the Cave of Faces¡ªfor obvious reasons,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Those were people once upon a time, or so the story goes.¡±

    ¡°Do you know where it is?¡± Her gaze darted between Kestrel and Kai. ¡°Is it close?¡±

    Maybe her vision hadn¡¯t been as worthless as she¡¯d thought.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Kai answered. ¡°But at least it confirms one thing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Mages control that area. No one else would lay claim to that haunted place. What else did you see?¡±

    They listened intently as Seraiah described Sterling and her companion. ¡°They only spoke about the cave. I tried calling Sterling¡¯s name to see if she could hear me like in the prison, but the man told her it was nothing but the wind. I was going to follow them, but when I tried, I woke up. I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s not more than that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s plenty,¡± Kestrel reassured her. ¡°We know where they are now, and exactly who is holding her.¡±

    ¡°So, when do we leave?¡± Seraiah asked.

    Kestrel looked back at Kai.

    ¡°You need to recover first,¡± he said, ¡°and I will need to make plans. It won¡¯t be easy to get her out of there. I need a few days, at least.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but just so you know, I will be going, so you can factor that into your plans,¡± Seraiah said.

    Kai snorted. ¡°I pity the mages. They don¡¯t know what¡¯s coming for them.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty

    Kai hadn¡¯t lied when he¡¯d told Seraiah he needed at least a few days to plan. He¡¯d merely left out that he might need an additional few days after that. To keep her distracted and out of harm¡¯s way, he¡¯d enlisted Kestrel¡¯s assistance. Now the only thing left to do was inform Seraiah.

    He might not be able to help her master her visions, but he could at least give her the skills to protect herself.

    ¡°You summoned me, Your Highness?¡± she asked as she seated herself on the opposite side of his desk. It was only yesterday that she¡¯d woken from her vision, but she already appeared back to normal, if the guarded look she was giving him was any indication.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me that, you know.¡±

    Seraiah folded her arms over her chest and stared at him.

    Kai suppressed a sigh. This was already going well. Perhaps he should have had Kestrel deliver the news instead.

    ¡°I have arranged for you to receive training from Kestrel in all manner of fighting styles,¡± he said.

    Seraiah tilted her head, a flair of interest lighting her eyes. ¡°Why? You think we will have to fight our way in?¡±

    ¡°It is a possibility, and I thought it best you were prepared.¡±

    A brow rose. ¡°And you think I can learn to fight in a handful of days?¡±

    She had him there. She wouldn¡¯t be able to learn in a few days, but he didn¡¯t intend to leave in a few days either. There were other pressing matters he needed to attend to. Kai glanced at the cream-colored envelope sitting on the corner of his desk.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, of course,¡± Seraiah said, ¡°but I don¡¯t want you to get your hopes up. You recall Kestrel has already tried to teach me once, and you decided I would be better suited to act as bait.¡±

    ¡°All the more reason for you to practice.¡±

    ¡°I thought you would want me to spend my time practicing my visions instead.¡±

    ¡°Seraiah¡ª¡± He meant to apologize, but she cut him off.

    ¡°Although, I suppose I¡¯ve already served that purpose.¡± She stood. ¡°Was there anything else you needed from me?¡±

    There were a dozen things he needed from her, but none that he could say. Virelai¡¯s words still stuck with him.

    Don¡¯t blame me when you lose your crown¡ªand then your head.

    It was better this way, he decided. No need to allow the target on his back to extend to her.

    ¡°No, that was all.¡±

    She dipped a curtsy. ¡°Your Highness,¡± she murmured. And then she was gone.

    It was for the best, he told himself again. If he said it enough times, he might start to believe it.

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    Kai picked up the envelope and tapped it against his desk. Gavaran¡¯s summons had asked¡ªno, more like demanded¡ªa council meeting be held immediately to discuss the findings on the search for their Queen. With Seraiah indisposed, Kai had put Gavaran off for a few days, but the new meeting was to be held this afternoon.

    Kestrel would be in attendance, but he had been able to get Seraiah out of it since none of the council members knew about the vision. They assumed, like he had, that Kestrel had done the negotiations. She would be able to keep her mouth shut and not let anything slip about what they¡¯d learned, but Kai didn¡¯t trust Seraiah to be able to do the same. She wasn¡¯t prepared to deal with Gavaran, and might let something slip if he got under her skin. Kai had no intention of telling Gavaran or any of the others what they had truly learned thanks to the vision the Summer King had provided.

    He rose from his chair and crossed the room to the hearth, where a fire had been lit to keep off the morning chill. Kai dropped the summons into the flames and watched as the paper curled and disintegrated into ash.

    No matter what happened, he needed to keep Gavaran as far away from Seraiah as possible and prevent any whiff of their plans to retrieve Sterling from reaching him.

    <hr>

    ¡°I see,¡± Gavaran said as soon as Kestrel finished telling the lie they¡¯d decided to spin. ¡°So, the faeries offered no support, as we suspected.¡±

    The council sat around the table in their usual seats, ready to place judgment on every word Kestrel uttered. Thankfully, Kestrel was a good liar, and it seemed most of them believed her. Kai suspected if anyone would be a problem¡ªit would be Gavaran.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kestrel confirmed.

    Kai remained silent. Kestrel didn¡¯t need any help from him.

    Gavaran nodded, seeming satisfied with the answers Kestrel had given.

    Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed. Almost too satisfied.

    Gavaran hadn¡¯t questioned the length of time Kestrel and Seraiah had been gone, although he knew as well as anyone the journey to and from the Seelie Court would not have taken the little over two weeks they¡¯d been gone.

    He also hadn¡¯t questioned the new companion they¡¯d picked up along the way. Like with Seraiah, Kai had made sure the gnome kept a low profile and spent as much time in the city and out of the castle as possible.

    At the very least, Kai had expected him to ask after Seraiah. He¡¯d circulated the story that the fae court had overwhelmed and exhausted her to explain her three-day disappearance, but he assumed there would be questions about any progress in her visions given the way Gavaran had ordered him to use her or get rid of her in the last meeting.

    ¡°Does anyone have anything to add?¡± Gavaran asked.

    No one said a word.

    ¡°Good, then I think that completes this meeting.¡± Gavaran turned to Kai, clearly waiting for his official dismissal.

    It was strange that after being told the Seelie Court was a dead end, no one had anything else to say about the search for Sterling. Not even Nilos, who had previously given his support, asked what their next steps might be.

    For a moment, Kai considered bringing up the dissenters, and the ignored messages he¡¯d sent Gavaran. He could ask about where Gavaran had been and why he¡¯d sent out scouts to alert him when Kestrel returned from the Seelie Court.

    Would it make Gavaran nervous, or would he have a reasonable explanation like Kestrel had suggested?

    No, Kai decided, as tempting as the idea of watching Gavaran squirm was, he would be better served if the other elf thought Kai knew nothing.

    ¡°Yes, since there is nothing left to discuss, I think it does,¡± Kai said. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±

    The members filed out of the room, eager to return to whatever activities they had planned for the remainder of their day. Gavaran slipped out with the rest of them until it was only Kai and Kestrel left at the table.

    ¡°That went better than I thought it would,¡± Kestrel said, rising from her seat.

    Kai raised a brow.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t make that face at me.¡±

    ¡°What face?¡±

    ¡°The ¡®I told you something is going on¡¯ face,¡± she said.

    ¡°So you believe me now?¡±

    Kestrel nodded. ¡°This meeting was too strange. My storytelling is good, but it¡¯s not that good. There should have been questions, if not from the others, then at least from Gavaran,¡± she said, echoing Kai¡¯s own suspicions. ¡°If he¡¯s the one who sent the scouts and then immediately called for a meeting, why would he not say anything? He¡¯s plotting something, and we need to find out what it is.¡±

    Kai agreed, and Kestrel may not like it, but he knew exactly who to ask for information.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-One

    Seraiah grunted as she hit the dirt again for what felt like the millionth time that day.

    ¡°Get up,¡± Kestrel commanded.

    Seraiah slowly climbed to her feet, not bothering to brush off the dirt. Every time she had to pick herself back up, it was a little harder than the last. Her body was screaming at her, but Kestrel wouldn¡¯t let up.

    Before she could get her practice blade up, Kestrel flashed forward, and Seraiah was back in the dirt again.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today,¡± Kestrel said, throwing her wooden blade to the side.

    Seraiah loosed a breath. Those words were like music to her ears. She had known she would have a hard time learning how to fight, but she hadn¡¯t imagined it would be this difficult. Her body ached in places she hadn¡¯t known existed.

    She picked herself out of the dirt and exited the training ring, handing off her practice sword to a waiting elf.

    ¡°You can take an hour rest,¡± Kestrel said over her shoulder. ¡°Then I want you back here, practicing your throwing.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Seraiah said tiredly.

    Out of all the things Kestrel was attempting to teach, the only one Seraiah seemed to be remotely decent at was dagger throwing. She even semi-enjoyed it. If she ever had to protect herself, she had better hope the attacker held still long enough for her to throw a dagger at it because she was hopeless at anything else.

    Finding a bench in the shade of the stables, Seraiah sat down to rest a moment. She¡¯d been training with Kestrel for almost two weeks now and still showed little improvement. Both of them were getting frustrated with her lack of progress, but Seraiah was even more frustrated that they were still here. It was well over the few days Kai had asked for to plan. She feared if they waited much longer, Sterling might not be in the Cave of Faces anymore. Then what were they meant to do?

    Along with her physical training with Kestrel, Seraiah had been practicing calling her visions. She¡¯d been just as unsuccessful. Things might be different if she had someone to learn from, but for this, she was on her own.

    Seraiah stretched an arm over her chest, wincing at the soreness. Today, she decided, she would seek out Kai and ask what was taking so long.

    She hadn¡¯t seen much of him since he¡¯d ordered her into training with Kestrel. She¡¯d still been annoyed with him, so the conversation hadn¡¯t lasted very long, and now she regretted not asking about his plans.

    This is about Sterling, Seraiah reminded herself as she switched to stretching her other arm. Whatever complicated feelings she may have about Kai, she needed to put them aside and do what was best for the search. Finding Sterling was the only thing that mattered. She couldn¡¯t let anything else sway her focus.

    She knew Kai often spent time in his study, so she would start there. After dinner tonight, she would find him and get some answers.

    <hr>

    Kai had put it off long enough. He¡¯d tried to gather information on his own, but it was time to face that it was taking too long. He needed to seek her out and be done with it.

    Lately, Kai had been avoiding the court dinners, choosing to take his meals alone in his study, but tonight, he joined the others.

    Virelai watched him the entire time, but she wasn¡¯t the only one. Others observed him too. Some looked away when he glanced in their direction, but some, like Virelai, made no attempt to hide it. Kai made mental notes of who was watching and sorted them by likely threat. More than one council member made the list, though surprisingly, Gavaran was not among them. In fact, Gavaran hadn¡¯t bothered to make an appearance at dinner at all.

    Kai had learned through his spies that if Gavaran was in the castle, he usually attended the dinners and made himself the center of attention. He knew from those same spies Gavaran was in the castle now, so it was interesting he¡¯d decided to avoid dinner tonight.

    Perhaps it was something else to ask Virelai about. His eyes strayed to her, and she met his gaze with a small smile. She hadn¡¯t tried to talk to him again since the night he¡¯d refused to play her game, and she had warned him he would lose his head. It seemed she had no intention of doing so now either. It would be up to him to make the first move.

    Near the end of dinner, when many had already left, Kai decided it was time.

    Kestrel and Seraiah were headed out the door together, deep in conversation, and paying him no mind.

    Good, he wanted to involve them as little as possible. It would be safer that way.

    Kai rose and down the table, Virelai did the same, taking her time saying her goodbyes to her dinner companions. She watched him approach from the corner of her eye.

    When Kai drew even with her, she turned as if just noticing him.

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    ¡°Oh, Your Highness. I was about to retire for the night. Walk me out?¡±

    It was bold, but it would give him the chance he needed. He held out his arm and, with a final wave and wink to her friends, Virelai tucked her hand into his elbow.

    Kai waited until they were through the doors and in the hall before untangling himself. ¡°I need to speak with you. Come to my study in an hour.¡±

    Virelai smiled coyly. It hadn¡¯t been a question, but she still responded anyway. ¡°Of course, my Prince.¡±

    <hr>

    As though Seraiah¡¯s thoughts earlier in the day had summoned him, Kai attended dinner that night for the first time in at least a week. She wanted to ask him then and there when they would leave, but he was surrounded by others, and even approaching him to ask to speak with him later would draw attention.

    Instead, she kept an eye on him from beneath her lashes, while keeping up a conversation with Kestrel and Eryx. She only half listened as they discussed training plans for their recruits. For some reason, Kai¡¯s gaze kept straying over to Virelai, who had been unabashedly staring at him the entire time.

    What was going on there?

    ¡°Seraiah?¡± Kestrel called her name, drawing her attention away from the pair. ¡°Did you hear me?¡±

    ¡°Sorry. What did you say?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I wanted to know if you thought you would be up to joining the other recruits.¡±

    ¡°Oh, um, if you think that¡¯s best.¡± Her gaze strayed across the room again.

    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Kestrel asked. ¡°You seem distracted.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just tired. Still getting used to the training.¡±

    Kestrel seemed to accept her answer and went back to her discussion with Eryx, leaving Seraiah to pick at the food on her plate.

    She hadn¡¯t mentioned her intention to seek out Kai and his plans to Kestrel. She had a feeling Kestrel would tell her to wait and trust that Kai knew what he was doing.

    Dinner finally wound down, and Seraiah left with Kestrel.

    ¡°Tomorrow at dawn,¡± Kestrel told her.

    ¡°As always,¡± she replied, and they bid each other good night, heading to their respective rooms.

    Kai had still been at his table, so Seraiah decided to wait in her rooms until the castle quieted down for the night before seeking him out. With any luck, she¡¯d catch him alone in his study, where he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid her questions.

    When Seraiah arrived at her rooms, she perused the bookshelves for something to keep her awake. She hadn¡¯t lied when she¡¯d told Kestrel she was tired from training. It was going to be a struggle to keep her eyes open.

    An hour and a half later, on the verge of falling asleep, Seraiah decided it had been long enough. Dinner should be well finished by now, and Kai returned to his rooms.

    When she arrived at his door, she knocked softly and waited, rehearsing what she would say in her head.

    To her surprise, when the door opened, it wasn¡¯t Kai standing there, but Virelai.

    ¡°Hello, seer,¡± the other girl grinned at her, using her body to block Seraiah¡¯s view of the study. ¡°The Prince and I were just finishing up.¡± The way Virelai said it and her slightly disheveled appearance suggested exactly what they were finishing up.

    So, there was something going on between them then, Seraiah thought with a pang of jealousy. She shoved the jealousy down, replacing it with anger. Was this why he had delayed leaving for the Cave of Faces?

    Suddenly, she no longer wished to speak with Kai about his plans. If this was how it was, then she was on her own to rescue her sister.

    ¡°Sorry for the interruption,¡± Seraiah all but sneered at Virelai. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    It was time to make her own plans.

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Virelai responded. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to tell him you stopped by.¡± Her eyes said she would do no such thing, and before Seraiah could respond, Virelai shut the door.

    <hr>

    Virelai arrived in Kai¡¯s study an hour later, exactly as he had asked.

    ¡°To what do I owe this pleasure?¡± she asked him, settling herself in one of the chairs.

    ¡°I think you know exactly why I asked you to meet me.¡± He leaned his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers.

    ¡°Oh, that.¡± She studied her nails, feigning disinterest, but Kai knew better.

    ¡°Yes, that. I need to know what your father is planning,¡± he said, laying his cards on the table. It wasn¡¯t as if she didn¡¯t already know.

    ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± she asked, looking at him through lowered lashes.

    ¡°You seemed so eager to meddle in your father¡¯s affairs before.¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°That was before. So, I ask again. What¡¯s in it for me?¡±

    He¡¯d known she would want something for the information, and now she knew he was desperate for it, giving her the upper hand.

    ¡°Name your price.¡±

    Virelai smiled. It was a cunning smile, like the one a fox would give its prey before it pounced. ¡°A favor of my choosing that I will collect at a later date.¡±

    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re assuming I will live. If I recall correctly, I believe you said I would lose my head.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a risk I am willing to take,¡± she said. ¡°Now, do you accept?¡±

    He didn¡¯t want to be in debt to Virelai, but he didn¡¯t have any other options at this point. ¡°I accept. Tell me what you know.¡±

    Virelai confirmed some things that Kai already knew and others he didn¡¯t. He was mulling over what she¡¯d said when there was a knock on the door. Before he could tell her not to, Virelai sprang up and answered it.

    ¡°Hello, seer. The prince and I were just finishing up.¡±

    Virelai had angled her body to block his view, but there was only one seer in this castle.

    Why was she here?

    Seraiah said something in response that he couldn¡¯t hear.

    ¡°Virelai¡ª¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± she said, speaking over him. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to let him know you stopped by.¡± She shut the door and turned back around to face him.

    ¡°What the hells was that?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°What?¡± Virelai asked, widening her eyes with fake innocence. ¡°Did you want me to invite her in to join us?¡±

    He didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± she said, stalking forward. ¡°You¡¯re keeping secrets from her. As you should. That human needs to know her place around here.¡±

    ¡°Get out,¡± Kai ordered her.

    ¡°What? Was it something I said?¡±

    ¡°I said, get out!¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Virelai huffed. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I find out more about when my father plans to make his move. It will cost you, of course. Oh, and one more thing.¡±

    Kai averted his eyes as she reached into the bodice of her dress.

    ¡°Here.¡± She slapped a small leather book down in front of him. ¡°Thought you might want this. Consider it free of charge.¡±

    She threw one last smile at him before leaving him alone to figure out how he was going to get out of this mess.

    His eyes wandered to the little book. It was worn looking like it had been handled a lot. It was probably something useless. Why else would Virelai give it to him without asking for something in return?

    Kai picked it up and flipped the cover open. On the inside, a name he hadn¡¯t seen in years was inscribed in spidery letters.

    Atherly Zandion.

    This was the previous court seer¡¯s journal.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Two

    Over the next few days, Seraiah worked on her own plan. In her spare time, when she wasn¡¯t training or recovering from said training, she was searching the castle library for information on the Cave of Faces. Most maps she came across didn¡¯t have it marked, but she¡¯d found one that did¡ªand one was all she needed.

    In the early hours of morning, before the sun had even risen, and she was expected in the practice ring, Seraiah painstakingly recopied the map onto a sheet of paper. She noted the places she¡¯d already been to get an estimate of how long it would take to get there. If she was lucky and figured out a way to get a horse, it would be at least two weeks. The cave also happened to be in the middle of a desert. Another thing she knew nothing about, but would have to add to her list to research.

    Seraiah sighed. There was still so much she didn¡¯t know. It was easier when she had others to rely on, but now she had no one but herself.

    It won¡¯t be any different from when you went on the Summer King¡¯s quest, she told herself as she stared at the map, double-checking she had copied all of the details correctly.

    Except even then she wasn¡¯t completely alone. She¡¯d had Lonan.

    Lonan.

    She hadn¡¯t seen much of him these last few weeks since returning from the Seelie Court, but according to Kestrel, he¡¯d been exploring the city and enjoying himself. Perhaps it might be beneficial to invite him to go with her. He may not have traveled much outside of the underground, but he still knew plenty about this world that she didn¡¯t.

    A clock chimed the hour, alerting Seraiah that her research time was up for now. She tucked her newly made map away and hurried to get ready for training.

    Ever since the evening she¡¯d found Virelai in Kai¡¯s study, she¡¯d thrown herself harder into learning everything Kestrel was teaching her. It served two purposes now. She¡¯d need to know it when she went off on her own, but also it was a way to work out her anger at Kai over the time that had been wasted.

    ¡°Alright, what¡¯s going on?¡± Kestrel finally asked, lowering her practice sword. She rested the tip in the dirt and leaned on it as she studied Seraiah.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Seraiah asked between breaths.

    ¡°I mean, where is all this pent-up rage coming from? You¡¯ve been like this for days now. It¡¯s not a bad thing since it seems to be helping you, but why the change?¡±

    Seraiah shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Can we continue?¡± She hadn¡¯t breathed a word of what she had seen that night to Kestrel, and she didn¡¯t intend to. She might think of Kestrel as her friend, but she knew Kestrel¡¯s loyalty belonged to Kai.

    Kestrel studied her a moment longer, but didn¡¯t say anything else.

    When another elf arrived at the practice ring and waved to Kestrel, she called for a break. ¡°I have to go take care of something. Do you mind practicing alone in the meantime?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Seraiah said. She knew she was taking Kestrel away from her true work and causing Eryx to assume most of her duties again. ¡°I¡¯ll practice with the daggers.¡±

    After Kestrel left, Seraiah set up targets. She could have worked on her stances, but she felt more like throwing right now. It was much more satisfying.

    She set up the targets and worked her way through the practice daggers. Each one was successively closer to where she wanted them. Then she came to her last dagger. It wasn¡¯t technically a practice dagger, but the one Kai had given her for her birthday. She always kept it on her, but didn¡¯t always use it in her training. She always felt a little bad about using something so pretty.

    Seraiah pulled the dagger from the sheath on her thigh and prepared to throw when someone touched her shoulder.

    Instinct kicked in, and she whirled, aiming her blade for their throat.

    Kai eyed the dagger, but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°I see the day I feared has come,¡± he said.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The day you learned how to use that,¡± he elaborated. His eyes moving from the blade to her face.

    She scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t sneak up on me.¡±

    If she moved even the slightest bit forward, she would break skin. The temptation was strong, but she didn¡¯t want to find out what would happen if she maimed a prince. She started to drop her arm when his hand shot out.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Faster than she could process, Seraiah found her back pressed against Kai¡¯s chest as he held her own dagger to her throat.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Kestrel teach you not to let your guard down?¡± Kai said, his mouth right next to her ear.

    Seraiah attempted to stomp on his foot, but he avoided her.

    ¡°Nice try,¡± he said, the words sending shivers up and down her spine. ¡°Where is Kestrel, anyway?¡±

    ¡°She was called away for something,¡± Seraiah said, trying to ignore the way her traitorous body reacted to being pressed against him. ¡°Where¡¯s Virelai?¡±

    She smirked in satisfaction when she felt him stiffen.

    ¡°I know you came to my study the other night, but it wasn¡¯t what it looked like,¡± Kai said, his breath tickling her ear. ¡°Virelai had information I needed. That was all.¡±

    ¡°I never said it looked like anything,¡± she said coolly.

    ¡°Good. By the way, prepare to leave tomorrow.¡±

    Now it was her turn to stiffen, thinking of her own plans.

    ¡°But first I need you to do something for me.¡± He took the dagger away from her throat, but his other arm, wrapped around her waist, still held her in place.

    Seraiah could have freed herself if she wanted to, but she didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°I need you to make sure Kestrel is with you tonight. Don¡¯t let her leave your side. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she breathed.

    ¡°Good.¡± He shoved the dagger back into its sheath on her thigh and released her.

    By the time she turned around, he was gone.

    <hr>

    Later that evening, after Seraiah had washed off the dirt and blood from the training ring, and Wisteria had wrapped her knuckles with a clean bandage, she joined Kestrel in the front sitting room. Seraiah had told Kestrel about Kai¡¯s visit to the training ring, leaving out the part about Virelai, and Kestrel had shown up at Seraiah¡¯s door with a bag and sword.

    When Seraiah had reminded her Kai had said they were leaving tomorrow and not tonight, Kestrel had brushed her off.

    ¡°Call it a gut feeling,¡± Kestrel had said. ¡°You should do the same. It never hurts to be prepared.¡±

    Wisteria had kindly packed a bag for her without question, and it now rested next to Kestrel¡¯s by the door.

    Seraiah had to fight to keep her eyelids from drooping as they waited for Kai to appear. The chair she¡¯d chosen was comfortable, and she wanted nothing more than to sleep after her early morning activities and today¡¯s long training session. The crackling of the flames in the fireplace wasn¡¯t helping, either.

    Kai hadn¡¯t told her he would meet them, but Kestrel seemed convinced that was what he¡¯d meant. Seraiah had a feeling she was wrong, though. The castle had already quieted for the night, and if Kai had intended to meet them, he would be here by now.

    Seraiah glanced over at Kestrel, who was restlessly tapping her foot on the floor. She was becoming increasingly twitchy with each passing minute. Seraiah half expected her to jump up and start pacing the room.

    She was about to comment on the tapping when a crash came from the hallway.

    Seraiah bolted upright in her chair, and Kestrel was on her feet in a moment, her hand going to the sword at her side.

    Wisteria appeared in the doorway and visibly paled when she realized they hadn¡¯t been the source of the ruckus. ¡°What¡ª¡± Wisteria started to ask before Kestrel shushed her.

    Seraiah sat frozen in her seat, her fingers digging into the plush fabric of the arms, as she listened hard.

    Silence. No other sounds came.

    After a moment, Kestrel dropped her hand from where it had rested on her sword hilt, but she didn¡¯t relax.

    ¡°Wisteria, would you check the hallway, please?¡± Kestrel kept her voice calm and steady, never betraying the tension Seraiah could see written in every line of her body.

    Wisteria pressed her lips together but said nothing as she hurried to do as Kestrel asked. Her face told Seraiah that going into the hallway was the last thing she wanted to do.

    Kestrel resumed her seat on the couch, and they listened as the outer door opened and shut again. Several tense minutes passed before Wisteria returned. One look at her face was enough to tell them that something was very wrong.

    ¡°Grab your bag, Seraiah,¡± Kestrel said in that same steady voice. ¡°And don¡¯t forget your dagger. It¡¯s time to test the lessons I taught you.¡±

    Seraiah didn¡¯t like the sound of that but left the room as quickly as possible to retrieve the dagger from her bedside table, where she¡¯d left it after training. There was no arguing with Kestrel when she used that voice¡ªher Commander¡¯s voice.

    As she was securing the dagger in place, Sterling¡¯s book caught her eye. She scooped it up from the table and hurried back to the front room.

    Wisteria sat on the couch in Kestrel¡¯s place, wringing her hands in her lap. She looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. Kestrel was standing near the door with her own bag strapped over her back, and she¡¯d pulled her sword from its sheath. The firelight danced along the blade, making it appear as though it was on fire itself.

    Another crash sounded from the hallway, causing all three of them to jump and turn toward the sound.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Seraiah asked as she stuffed Sterling¡¯s book into her bag before swinging it over her shoulder.

    ¡°We need to leave. Now,¡± Kestrel said, not answering the question.

    ¡°What about Kai? I thought we were waiting for him.¡±

    Kestrel shook her head and turned to Wisteria. ¡°Do not leave this room, no matter what you hear. It isn¡¯t you they want. Keep your head down, and you will be fine.¡±

    A single tear slipped down Wisteria¡¯s face as the girl nodded she understood.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Kestrel said to Seraiah, and instead of leading her to the outer door as Seraiah had expected, Kestrel headed toward the balcony.

    ¡°I thought we were leaving,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°We are.¡± Kestrel sheathed her sword and pulled open the glass door, stepping out onto the balcony. ¡°We¡¯re taking a shortcut.¡± She stalked over to the railing and looked down.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Seraiah whispered when she realized what Kestrel meant for them to do.

    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Kestrel smiled. ¡°It¡¯s either this or fight our way through the hallways. And while I¡¯m an excellent trainer, I don¡¯t think you are quite ready for that. This will be the fastest way out of the castle, with the least amount of bloodshed. We need to get out of this city as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Why? What¡¯s happening?¡±

    Kestrel¡¯s answer chilled her to the bone. ¡°Because someone wants us dead.¡±

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Three

    The castle was quiet as Kai buckled his sword belt in place and left his room. Guards fell in around him, and he couldn¡¯t help but notice the tension in them tonight. If Virelai¡¯s information was correct, it would start soon.

    Kai had done all he could. It wasn¡¯t much, but hopefully it would be enough.

    He had to trust that Seraiah had followed his instructions, and Kestrel would know to get them out. Then it would be up to the two of them to find Sterling and restore her to her rightful place.

    A second set of guards entered the hall and headed directly for him. He could have turned away or gone back, but he knew it would do no good. The only way was forward.

    When the guards reached him, they fanned out, blocking any passage.

    ¡°Come with us,¡± the one at the center ordered.

    Kai¡¯s other guards moved to block the way back.

    He took a breath and closed his eyes for a brief moment. He wished he could have told Seraiah the truth, but it would have done neither of them any good¡ªnot when he knew how this would end. Telling her would have been purely selfish, and he was anything but that.

    Kai released his breath and pulled his sword free.

    <hr>

    Seraiah stepped up to the balcony railing and looked down¡ªa long way down. It would put them on the other side of the castle from the stables if they could make it to the bottom in one piece.

    Kestrel lifted the seat of what Seraiah had thought was a simple bench and pulled out a coil of rope.

    ¡°How did you know that was there? Did you know this was going to happen?¡± Seraiah asked, watching Kestrel shake out the coil.

    ¡°These were the Queen¡¯s rooms, remember? They were prepared in case of any sort of attack,¡± Kestrel answered. ¡°And no, I didn¡¯t know this was going to happen, but I¡¯m betting Kai did and didn¡¯t see fit to tell either of us.¡±

    Seraiah detected a hint of annoyance in Kestrel¡¯s voice as she knotted the rope around the balcony railing.

    ¡°He¡¯s been unusually secretive lately,¡± Kestrel said, straightening up.

    Seraiah thought back to Kai telling her Virelai had information he needed. This must be what she¡¯d told him about. He¡¯d known what was going to happen, and this was why he¡¯d warned Seraiah to keep Kestrel with her tonight.

    Kestrel yanked on the rope to confirm it was secure before she tossed the rest of it over the edge.

    ¡°Ready?¡± she asked.

    Seraiah shook her head. She would never be ready to rappel down the side of a castle.

    ¡°It¡¯s easy, really,¡± Kestrel told her. ¡°Just whatever you do, don¡¯t look down.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Seraiah said, taking a deep breath. ¡°Don¡¯t look down. Got it.¡±

    She¡¯d acted as bait for a human-eating monster, jumped from a moving horse to escape mages, battled giant beetles underground, made friends with dragons, and won a faery game¡ªshe could do this, too.

    She didn¡¯t have a choice.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Kestrel climbed over the rail and braced her feet on either side of the rope. She smiled. ¡°See you on the ground.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Then she disappeared from sight.

    Seraiah looked over the edge and watched Kestrel make her way to the ground. As with everything else, she made it look easy.

    Once Kestrel touched the ground, she lifted her hand and motioned for Seraiah to start.

    Seraiah¡¯s stomach flipped. Kestrel looked so small down there.

    ¡°You can do this,¡± she murmured to herself.

    Squaring her shoulders, Seraiah grabbed hold of the rope and climbed over the railing as she had watched Kestrel do. She braced herself and took a deep breath before pushing off the wall and letting herself slide down.

    The rope was rough and burned her palms as she descended. Seraiah felt her knuckles split open again under the bandages Wisteria had wrapped over them, but she still didn¡¯t let go. She was incredibly thankful she¡¯d spent the last few weeks training with Kestrel. All the sword work and fighting had strengthened her. She would¡¯ve never been able to do this before.

    The burning in her hands became unbearable, and her shoulders ached from the strain of holding her weight.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look down,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Whatever you do, don¡¯t look down.¡±

    Just when she thought her hands weren¡¯t going to be able to grip the rope anymore, her feet touched the ground.

    She released the rope and took a step back on shaking legs. Kestrel patted her burning shoulder as Seraiah tipped her head back to look up at the balcony she¡¯d been standing on minutes ago. It should have been empty, but now there were several people leaning over the railing, looking at them, aiming arrows.

    ¡°Time to go.¡± Kestrel touched the rope, and it began to smoke. Then she yanked Seraiah against the castle wall and out of range of the archers.

    She could hear their curses as they lost sight of them.

    The two of them stuck to the wall, making their way around the side of the stable. Seraiah was sure that at any moment the soldiers they¡¯d seen on the balcony would appear behind them even though Kestrel had burned their rope, but they made it around the side of the castle without seeing anyone else.

    When they neared the stable yard, Kestrel held a finger to her lips. Then she crouched and peered around the corner. Seraiah stayed flattened against the castle wall, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

    ¡°There are a lot of elves in the yard right now,¡± Kestrel whispered to her.

    ¡°Is that a good thing?¡±

    ¡°It could be¡ªif those elves aren¡¯t the ones hunting us.¡±

    ¡°And if they are?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope they aren¡¯t,¡± Kestrel answered. ¡°On the count of three, we are going to run to the wagon and use it as cover. Keep low. Got it?¡±

    Seraiah nodded and dropped into a crouch, mimicking Kestrel.

    Kestrel counted slowly, watching the crowd as she did. On three, she moved, and Seraiah scrambled to keep up.

    As soon as she rounded the corner she spotted the wagon Kestrel wanted them to hide behind. It was not more than 25 feet from them.

    She also saw the elves.

    At first glance, it was mostly soldiers with a few townspeople who had business at the castle. The hard part was telling who was hunting them, and who was on their side.

    They made it to the wagon with no one raising an alarm.

    Torches burned around the yard, lighting up the space. As Seraiah studied the soldiers, she noticed some of them were scanning the faces as if they were looking for someone. It was subtle enough that unless you knew to look, you wouldn¡¯t notice it. They were trying not to alarm everyone.

    Kestrel pointed at the nearest open stable door and indicated that this was where they were going next. It was twice as far as the wagon had been from the castle wall. They would also be out in the torchlight, so there was more risk of someone spotting them.

    Kestrel held up three fingers and then slowly lowered one¡ªa countdown again.

    Seraiah tensed, preparing to run as she watched Kestrel¡¯s fingers. She shot one last glance around the yard before Kestrel lowered the third finger, and then they were on the move.

    They made it in the stable door, but the noise in the yard had changed.

    They¡¯d been spotted.

    Seraiah followed Kestrel to the back of the stable, where there was another door. They were almost at the end of the aisle when a figure stepped out of the darkness of the last stall.

    They skidded to a halt, and it took Seraiah a moment to realize it was Eryx.

    ¡°Here,¡± he hissed, tossing the reins of the horse to Kestrel before moving to the stall next door and leading that horse out as well. He passed these reins to Seraiah.

    ¡°Hurry.¡±

    Kestrel had already mounted her horse and prepared to flee out the back door.

    As Seraiah mounted her own horse, Kestrel turned to Eryx. ¡°Kai?¡±

    Seraiah could hear the worry in her voice in that one word.

    Eryx shook his head and drew his sword. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off as long as I can. Bring back our queen.¡±

    Kestrel stared at him for a moment before kicking her horse toward him. She leaned down and grabbed a handful of Eryx¡¯s tunic before pressing her lips to his.

    Seraiah turned away, uncomfortable at seeing what should have been a private moment.

    ¡°Don¡¯t die on me,¡± she heard Kestrel say.

    Then Kestrel wheeled her horse around and disappeared into the night. Seraiah urged her own horse after them.

    A clash of steel against steel rang out behind them, but neither looked back.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Four

    They ran their horses ragged through the night and well into the next day until Kestrel deemed them far enough from the city to slow down. Only then did they allow their horses to walk.

    ¡°Do you think they followed us?¡± Seraiah asked, glancing over her shoulder at the road behind them and then to the forest on their left. She couldn¡¯t see or hear anything other than the crashing of the waves on the beach below them. They¡¯d hugged the coastline instead of heading into the woods.

    ¡°Not if Eryx was able to hold them off,¡± Kestrel said. Pain and worry laced through her words.

    ¡°What are we meant to do now?¡± Seraiah asked.

    ¡°We wait, and hope Kai meets us,¡± she hesitated a beat, then added, ¡°and if he doesn¡¯t, we go to the Cave of Faces on our own.¡±

    Seraiah pressed her lips together. She didn¡¯t want to argue with Kestrel, but she wasn¡¯t convinced Kai would be joining them.

    They followed a trail down the cliffs to the beach, where waves frothed on the sand.

    ¡°We¡¯ll wait here for Kai,¡± Kestrel announced, stopping in front of a cave. The opening was little more than a crack in the cliff face and appeared to be the only access point.

    Seraiah wouldn¡¯t have looked twice at it.

    ¡°How will he know to find us here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Because it¡¯s our safe place,¡± Kestrel answered, looking out over the water. ¡°When we were children, this was where we would come to get away from the city.¡±

    ¡°And he¡¯ll remember?¡±

    Kestrel swung down from her horse. ¡°He has to.¡±

    Seraiah joined her on the sand, and they walked their mounts single file through the narrow entrance. Kestrel used her magic to create a ball of light to illuminate their path.

    Once inside, the passage opened up to a small room. The air was damp and smelled vaguely like fish. A trickle of water ran down the back wall, feeding a small pool.

    Kestrel cursed as her light gradually dimmed and then went out altogether, leaving them in semi-darkness. The bit of sunlight filtering in from the entrance was just enough for Seraiah to make out the frustrated look on Kestrel¡¯s face.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    Kestrel scowled at her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t even summon a ball of light. I must have used what little magic I had left when I burned the rope back in Nyrene.¡±

    Seraiah remembered what Kestrel had said about the portals failing without their queen. It wasn¡¯t just the portals. ¡°You¡¯re losing your magic without Sterling.¡±

    Kestrel nodded.

    ¡°How long have you known?¡±

    ¡°A while,¡± she admitted. ¡°I¡¯d hoped we¡¯d have longer before it completely failed.¡±

    ¡°We should have left sooner,¡± Seraiah murmured, ¡°as soon as I woke from my vision.¡±

    Kestrel didn¡¯t answer as she unsaddled her horse.

    <hr>

    They didn¡¯t light a fire as to not draw unwanted attention to themselves, and the cold crept in around them when day turned to night. A storm was brewing over the water, and the setting sun lit the clouds ablaze in bursts of oranges, pinks, and purples. Seraiah would have thought it pretty had she not been so worried about the people they¡¯d left behind.

    After tending to their horses, they settled in to wait.

    They sat side by side near the mouth of the cave and watched a fork of lightning light up the night sky over the water. The waves that were once smooth and rolling had turned choppy and rough, reaching higher and higher up the beach as though the sea were seeking to pull them in.

    The adrenaline from their mad dash out of the castle had faded, and Seraiah¡¯s body felt heavy. She craved sleep¡ªher body was clamoring for it after two days without, but her brain refused to oblige.

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    As the scent of the ocean wafted over her, her thoughts turned to Kai. Regret filled her as she thought about their last conversation, and how she had let her jealousy and anger get the best of her. She should have asked more questions. She should have demanded to know what Virelai had told him.

    But she had done none of that. She¡¯d let him walk away.

    Seraiah hugged her knees to her chest as she stared out at the water. She hoped more than anything Kestrel was right, and he was coming to meet them.

    She glanced over at Kestrel, who sat next to her in almost the same position, with her arms wrapped around her knees, her chin resting on them as she stared out of the cave at the sky. She looked lost in her own thoughts and judging by the lines on her face, they weren¡¯t good ones. Seraiah tentatively touched her shoulder, and Kestrel jumped.

    ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡± she asked.

    Kestrel sighed and pressed her forehead into her knees, but didn¡¯t say anything. It was strange to see her this upset. Seraiah was used to her being the strong one, with a flippant remark for everything.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he will be fine,¡± Seraiah said. She gently rubbed Kestrel¡¯s back, like she used to do for Sterling when she was upset about something.

    Kestrel lifted her head and when she looked at Seraiah, there was a sheen of tears in her eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I believe that,¡± Kestrel said, blinking back the tears, ¡°but thank you.¡±

    ¡°We just have to get Sterling back, and we can return to Nyrene,¡± Seraiah said with more confidence than she felt. ¡°Then everything will be fine.¡±

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will be that easy. They will have turned the city against us if this assassination attempt is any indication.¡±

    ¡°But not everyone sides with them,¡± Seraiah argued.

    ¡°They will imprison anyone who sides with us, and that¡¯s if they are lucky.¡±

    ¡°And if they¡¯re not lucky?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll be murdered, which is what I am afraid is going to happen to Eryx. Standing up for us like that¡ªblocking them from following. If he wasn¡¯t killed in the sword fight, they would surely kill him after. It was a takeover, and they don¡¯t intend to leave anyone who resists alive.¡± A single tear slipped down her cheek.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t know what to say. There was nothing she could offer as reassurance.

    Kestrel dashed the tear away. ¡°Kai knew this was going to happen and yet he didn¡¯t say a word.¡±

    ¡°Nothing?¡±

    ¡°He had mentioned there were dissenters, but nothing like this.¡±

    ¡°Then how did you know to leave? You said someone wanted us dead. It seemed like you were prepared for it.¡±

    Kestrel waved her hand. ¡°It was all a guess based on what you told me about staying by your side. Something was going to happen. I just didn¡¯t know what.¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip and looked down at the sand. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t tell you everything.¡±

    Kestrel gave her a sharp look.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything I thought was important. I saw Kai meeting with Virelai a few days ago, and then he told me himself the last time I talked to him he¡¯d gotten information from her.¡±

    She still left out the part where she had been planning to set off on her own. It didn¡¯t matter now.

    ¡°I warned him not to make a deal with her, and he did it anyway,¡± Kestrel muttered.

    ¡°There¡¯s something else. When he spoke to me about leaving, he never said we would be going. He only told me to prepare. I don¡¯t think he ever had an intention of going with us.¡±

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°That self-sacrificing idiot. I should have known. Why else would he have wanted me to protect you? The only reason would be because he didn¡¯t intend to be here to do it himself.¡±

    Seraiah dug her fingers into the wet sand. ¡°Always have to make sure the asset is safe, I suppose.¡±

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°That¡¯s not why he¡¯s protective of you.¡±

    ¡°What other reason is there?¡±

    Kestrel gave her a sideways glance. ¡°He wants you protected because he¡¯s half in love with you.¡±

    A streak of lightning lit up the sky, followed by the boom of thunder.

    ¡°W-what?¡± Seraiah was sure she must have heard wrong. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it very much is.¡± Kestrel stood and brushed the sand off her pants. Then she held out a hand to Seraiah to help her to her feet. ¡°But like the idiot he is, he¡¯s too afraid to admit it to you.¡±

    Kestrel headed back inside the cave as the first raindrops fell, but Seraiah was still rooted in place.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± she called after her.

    Kestrel turned. ¡°I¡¯m not, and no matter if you try to deny it, I¡¯ve been around the two of you long enough to know you feel the same way. Now come on. We¡¯ll rest for the night, and then tomorrow we¡¯ll head for the Cave of Faces.¡±

    <hr>

    The sound of hoofbeats startled Seraiah awake. She rubbed her eyes and searched groggily for the source.

    Kestrel was already awake and tending to their horses at the back of the cave. It didn¡¯t appear she had heard anything since she was still bent over, examining her horse¡¯s hoof for rocks.

    ¡°Kes,¡± Seraiah hissed a warning.

    Her head snapped up, and she let go of the horse¡¯s leg.

    She straightened slowly, listening. Her hand fell to the hilt of her sword, and she motioned for Seraiah to move away from the cave¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to look,¡± Kestrel whispered, crossing the cave and ducking into the narrow entrance.

    She hadn¡¯t ordered her to stay, so Seraiah slipped her dagger from its sheath and followed.

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Seraiah heard Kestrel say from up ahead. There was no sound of weapons. Whoever it was, it was someone they knew.

    Heart in her throat, she hurried to catch up and see who it was, even though she had a feeling she already knew.

    ¡°Only thanks to Lonan here,¡± Kai said.

    Shame crashed over Seraiah as she realized she¡¯d completely forgotten about the gnome.

    She pushed past Kestrel and stepped from the cave, getting her first look at Kai.

    The dagger slipped from her fingers and landed with a thunk on the sand. ¡°Oh no,¡± she whispered.

    He was barely recognizable, his face so bruised and bloodied.

    ¡°That frightening, huh?¡± he asked. Then he collapsed at her feet.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Five

    ¡°I told him to rest.¡± Lonan shook his head, looking down at the prone prince.

    Seraiah crouched next to Kai, feeling for his pulse while Kestrel hovered over them.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know the meaning of rest,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Well, he lost a lot of blood. I wasn¡¯t sure he was going to make it here, even on a horse.¡± Lonan jerked his thumb to the horse standing behind him.

    Seraiah ignored both of them. Please, don¡¯t be dead. Please. Please.

    Kai¡¯s skin was cold, but beneath the surface Seraiah found the slow beat she was looking for. It was weak, but it was there.

    ¡°Unconscious,¡± she reported.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get him inside, and I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± Kestrel said.

    Between the two of them, they were able to pull Kai into the shelter of the cave while Lonan brought up the rear, leading their mount.

    Once they set him down, Kestrel knelt next to him and removed his bloodstained cloak, revealing an equally bloodstained tunic. Seraiah¡¯s head swam at the sight of it.

    How could someone lose that much blood and still be alive?

    ¡°Oh Kai, what did you do?¡± Kestrel whispered.

    Seraiah startled when he spoke.

    ¡°You should see the other elves,¡± Kai murmured, his eyes still closed.

    The joke made Seraiah feel slightly better. He couldn¡¯t be that bad off if he was still making quips.

    He gasped in pain as Kestrel ripped open the tunic over his right shoulder, peeling it off to reveal a stab wound.

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Seraiah asked her. She kept her eyes averted from the wound, stomach churning.

    ¡°Heat some water so I can clean this and bring me anything you think could be used as a bandage. You,¡± Kestrel turned her gaze on Lonan, ¡°help her build a fire, but try not to make it too big.¡±

    Lonan hurried to do as Kestrel asked, even though he wasn¡¯t looking too steady on his feet himself.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t move. ¡°Still no magic?¡±

    Kestrel glanced up from her inspection of Kai¡¯s wound. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have anything left. I thought it would come back by now, but it¡¯s gone.¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip. She hoped it was only because Sterling wasn¡¯t here and not that something had happened to her.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Lonan to get a small fire going on the beach outside their cave while Seraiah ripped a spare tunic into pieces to use for bandages.

    Once the water was boiling, Seraiah carefully carried it inside, and Kestrel got to work cleaning the wound. While she worked, Seraiah took a seat on Kai¡¯s other side. The scent of his blood, sharp and metallic, filled her nose and made her stomach roll. She shoved the nausea down and breathed through her mouth, determined to help.

    Kestrel passed her a piece of cloth dipped in the warm water, and Seraiah gently wiped the blood and dirt from Kai¡¯s face. There was a bruise blooming on his cheekbone and a split in his lip that looked like it had scabbed over and then reopened again. She was dabbing at the split when his silver eyes opened and focused on her face.

    ¡°Seraiah,¡± he murmured.

    ¡°Sorry if that was too much,¡± she said, putting the cloth down.

    He didn¡¯t say anything, only lifted a hand and cupped her cheek.

    She froze as he brushed his thumb along the edge of her bottom lip.

    ¡°Still think I¡¯m awful?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I never said you were awful.¡±

    ¡°No, but I thought you might have changed your mind.¡±

    Her stomach swooped as she realized what he was referencing. She pressed her hand against his, holding it in place. ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± she whispered, holding his gaze. She knew he had to be delirious from blood loss and likely wouldn¡¯t remember saying any of this.

    ¡°Good.¡± The corner of his mouth quirked up in a half smile.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s done,¡± Kestrel announced, reminding Seraiah they weren¡¯t alone. She quickly released Kai¡¯s hand, though she keenly missed his touch the moment he let it drop back to his side.

    Kestrel gathered up the dirty pieces of cloth and moved over to where Lonan was sitting, propped against the wall of the cave near the entrance.

    When Seraiah looked back down, Kai¡¯s eyes had drifted shut. After a few moments, his breathing evened out as he fell into sleep.

    She was loath to leave his side, but she also wanted to hear Lonan¡¯s account of what had happened. Standing carefully so as not to wake Kai, Seraiah made her way over to join Kestrel and Lonan.

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    While they¡¯d been busy, Lonan had cleaned himself up as best he could, and Seraiah was relieved to see he was uninjured.

    ¡°He¡¯ll live, and also, I told you so,¡± Kestrel said when she reached them.

    Seraiah frowned as she took a seat on Kestrel¡¯s other side. ¡°How can you be so sure? I saw the wound, and the¡ªand the blood. There was so much of it.¡± She chose to ignore the ¡®I told you so¡¯. She wasn¡¯t convinced about that either.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We should be able to move on tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°But he was stabbed,¡± Seraiah sputtered. ¡°People don¡¯t get up and walk around the day after a wound like that. I know I don¡¯t have any healer experience, but I¡¯m fairly certain he won¡¯t be fine tomorrow.¡±

    Kestrel patted Seraiah¡¯s leg. ¡°People may not, but don¡¯t forget, we aren¡¯t people. We¡¯re elves. We heal fast. If we didn¡¯t, Kai would have been dead before he left the city. The only reason he passed out was from blood loss. He wouldn¡¯t stay still and kept reopening the wounds.¡±

    Seraiah blinked at her. She recalled Kai saying he didn¡¯t need to take care of the scrapes on his knuckles because they¡¯d be gone soon. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take your word for it. I suppose we¡¯ll see tomorrow,¡± she said. Then she leaned around Kestrel to address Lonan. ¡°Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure. A little tired, but nothing sleep won¡¯t cure.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind my asking, how did you make it out?¡±

    Lonan stroked his beard. ¡°Ah, well, you see, I had been visiting the apothecary in the city because I was interested in their use of mushrooms. We lost track of time, so I was later getting back than usual. There I was walking down the hall in the castle, headed to my room when I was grabbed from behind.¡± Lonan paused and gestured to Kai. ¡°It was him. He told me Nyrene was no longer safe, and I should go to the stables to find the other Commander to get me out.¡±

    ¡°And did you find him? Did you find Eryx?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°Yes, but that was later. First, I had to convince this one that I wasn¡¯t going anywhere unless he was going, too. He was already in a bad way like you saw, and I knew if I left him there . . .¡± Lonan shook his head. ¡°Well, what kind of gnome would I be if I did that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t,¡± Seraiah said.

    Lonan nodded. ¡°Anyway, I talked him into it, though at that time I think he still had no intention of leaving the city with me, and we snuck out of the castle. By that time there was lots of fighting and everything was in chaos, so it helped a little, I think. We found the Commander like the prince wanted, and he helped us get a horse ready, but when the time came, the prince refused to get on. Of course, he¡¯d already lost a lot of blood, so he couldn¡¯t put up much of a fight when the Commander got him on the horse anyway.¡±

    ¡°But Eryx didn¡¯t go with you,¡± Kestrel said. It wasn¡¯t a question.

    ¡°I tried to tell him he should be the one to watch over the prince, but he wouldn¡¯t hear of it. He said Nyrene needed him, and he trusted me to take care of the prince in his place.¡±

    Kestrel fisted her hands against her knees. ¡°Why must they always play hero?¡± she muttered.

    Seraiah placed her hand over Kestrel¡¯s. She wanted to tell her Eryx would be fine, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the words when she knew it was likely a lie.

    ¡°Anyway, the Commander told me to keep going north along the coast, so that¡¯s what we did. The prince was in and out of consciousness, but once he realized he wasn¡¯t going back to Nyrene, he directed us here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I ever dragged you into this, Lonan,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not. I asked for an adventure, and I¡¯ve gotten it.¡±

    ¡°What I still don¡¯t understand is why Kai didn¡¯t tell me about this. I¡¯m his Commander. It¡¯s my job to ensure his safety and yet, he goes and does this. Why did he go to Virelai for information and not tell me?¡± Kestrel leaned back against the cave wall, rubbing the bridge of her nose. ¡°Stupid prince,¡± she murmured to herself. ¡°Stupid, selfless prince. I might just kill him myself.¡±

    Silence settled in around them, broken only by the waves crashing on the beach outside the cave.

    ¡°We retrieve Sterling, and then what?¡± Seraiah asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like we can go back to Nyrene. Sterling will be a queen with no kingdom. What happens then?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, really,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°We have only one choice. We take it back.¡±

    <hr>

    When Seraiah awoke the next morning, it was to the sound of voices. She spotted Kai and Kestrel near the horses, arguing about something. When she approached, they stopped speaking.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°We were merely discussing Kai¡¯s failure to inform us of what was going on in Nyrene.¡±

    Seraiah glanced at Kai and, for the first time, realized he wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt¡ªor bandages. A pale pink mark under his collarbone was all that remained of the stab wound. Her eyes trailed downward to an older silver scar marking the lower left side of his ribs.

    He cleared his throat, and Seraiah jerked her gaze up to his face, embarrassed to have been caught staring. He looked amused.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go wake Lonan and see if he will be joining us,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Joining us?¡± Seraiah asked, but Kestrel had already walked away.

    ¡°When we leave for the Cave of Faces,¡± Kai clarified. ¡°We should be off in the next hour.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving now? But¡ªbut you were stabbed. You almost died.¡±

    When Kestrel had told her they¡¯d be ready to leave by the next morning, Seraiah hadn¡¯t believed she was serious.

    ¡°Were you worried about me?¡± There was a teasing lilt to his voice.

    She scowled. How could he be teasing her about this when yesterday he had collapsed at her feet?

    ¡°I take it back. You are awful.¡± She tried to spin away, but he was faster, fingers locking around her wrist and pulling her back. She couldn¡¯t help but notice the wince as the new skin over his wound stretched with the movement.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to see me like that.¡±

    ¡°No, you meant to die without saying goodbye.¡± Unbidden, tears sprang to her eyes.

    Kai pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her back. His skin was warm beneath her hands, unlike yesterday when it had felt like ice.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said again against her hair. ¡°It was a mistake.¡±

    She let herself lean into him, soaking up his warmth.

    ¡°Had I known you all cared so much¡ª¡±

    Seraiah shoved him away. It seemed he couldn¡¯t be serious.

    ¡°Here,¡± Kestrel said, coming up behind them. ¡°Put this on. It¡¯s mostly dry now.¡± She shoved Kai¡¯s shirt in his direction.

    While he tugged it on, Seraiah questioned Kestrel. ¡°Are we really leaving now?¡±

    ¡°You know better than anyone the urgency of getting to the Cave of Faces.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a two-week journey from here,¡± Kai said. ¡°If it¡¯s my fighting ability you¡¯re concerned about, I will be completely healed by then.¡±

    ¡°And Lonan? We should make sure he gets back to Metrius.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Lonan squawked as he joined the group. ¡°I¡¯m not getting left behind. The Cave of Faces is haunted, you know. They say you can hear the voices of the dead. I¡¯m not going to miss it.¡±

    ¡°There you have it,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°Get ready to ride.¡±

    <hr>

    The journey through the desert to reach the Cave of Faces was harder than Seraiah had expected.

    The days were blisteringly hot until night fell, and the cold set in. Early on, Kestrel decided it would be best if they avoided the worst part of the day and traveled by starlight.

    Unlike the deserts Seraiah had encountered before which were hard and rocky with little vegetation, this desert was an ocean of sand¡ªan ocean that did its best to slow them down as it sucked at their horse¡¯s hooves, and forced them to continue on foot.

    Then there were the sandstorms. Their poor horses took the brunt of it while the four of them huddled together, using their extra clothes to protect themselves as best they could from the stinging grains and dust particles that threatened to choke them.

    By the end of the journey, they were sunburnt and exhausted.

    But they made it.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Six

    Sterling sat at the small desk she¡¯d had brought into her room, flipping through the pages of a very boring book, when someone knocked on her door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± she called over her shoulder.

    She could have gotten up to answer it herself since they no longer kept it locked, but she already knew who it was.

    ¡°Reading again?¡± Ren asked when he entered, leaving the door open behind him.

    Sterling shrugged and flipped another page. ¡°Mostly looking at the pictures.¡±

    ¡°Well, I have something more exciting for you.¡±

    Sterling shut the book with a thump and shoved it aside before turning to look at him. He wore his customary black robe, twin to her own, and the leather gloves she¡¯d never seen him take off.

    ¡°And what will it be today? Taking me to another haunted cave?¡± She still hadn¡¯t forgotten the room of faces that Ren had told her were real skulls of people who had been trapped in molten rock. She still swore she¡¯d heard someone trying to speak to her when they were there.

    ¡°Today, you¡¯re leaving,¡± he said.

    ¡°What?¡± Sterling jerked upright. ¡°Where am I going? Are you coming with me?¡±

    Ren took a step back, like he was afraid she might launch herself at him and try to claw the answers out.

    She had half a mind to if he didn¡¯t start speaking.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where you will be headed next. Your final destination, perhaps.¡±

    Sterling stared at him. He had to know how ominous those words sounded. Was he trying to warn her or prepare her?

    ¡°I, however, will not be going with you,¡± he said.

    Whatever this was sounded worse by the second.

    ¡°And if I don¡¯t want to go?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a choice.¡±

    <hr>

    Seraiah¡¯s heart beat hard in her chest as the four of them crouched around an opening, looking down into the cave. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple as the mid-morning sun beat down on them.

    All they were here to do right now was get an idea for the mages¡¯ movement patterns. Once they figured out how many might be in the caves and what their schedule looked like, they could find a way to infiltrate.

    Kestrel had done some earlier exploring on her own and found the main entrance to the underground cave system, but it was heavily guarded. The mages, however, had left this opening over one of the largest caves unguarded. Either they¡¯d forgotten about it or, more likely, they didn¡¯t think anyone would be dropping in from above.

    Their mistake.

    For much of the morning, the cave below them had been empty, but now if she squinted hard, Seraiah could make out two shadowy figures below. Their dark robes helped them blend in with the gloom. She recognized those robes as the ones she¡¯d seen the young man and Sterling wearing in her vision.

    One of the figures was speaking softly to another, but it was too quiet for the words to reach their ears. The other figure listened for a moment before throwing its hands up in anger or frustration and turned away, moving toward the patch of light that the opening was casting on the cave floor.

    Kestrel put her hand on Seraiah¡¯s back and pushed her lower, so her chin scraped the rock. She held a finger to her lips. Any sound they made would be amplified and echo in the cave below them. It would give away their position in an instant.

    Seraiah¡¯s attention returned to the scene below them as more figures stepped out of the shadows to join the other two. By her count, there were now six people in the cave below them, and who knows how many more waited out of their sight.

    The angry figure still paced below, finally coming to a stop almost directly beneath where they lay watching. The light was enough to give a glimpse of the figure¡¯s profile.

    Seraiah felt Kestrel stiffen next to her and knew she had spotted him, too.

    Gavaran.

    He turned his face away from their view and beckoned to the figures grouped together in the shadows. One of them stepped forward, small and slight, its steps hesitant. When the figure came within reach, Gavaran yanked their hood back.

    Seraiah gasped. It was Sterling. Her sister¡¯s silver hair was a beacon in the dark.

    Kestrel grabbed the back of Seraiah¡¯s tunic and pulled her back out of sight, but it was too late.

    The damage was done.

    ¡°Someone is here. Find them,¡± Gavaran ordered, ¡°or you all will pay for it.¡±

    In seconds, one of the robed figures had a bow pointed at the opening and loosed an arrow.

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    Seraiah would swear time slowed down as she watched it find a home in Lonan¡¯s chest. A scream ripped from her throat as a bright bloom of crimson spread across his tunic.

    He hadn¡¯t ducked down with the rest of them and paid the price¡ªthe price for her mistake.

    She could do nothing but watch as the light went out of his eyes, and he toppled over backward. Something broke in her then.

    Seraiah freed her dagger and, before anyone could stop her, she was moving.

    ¡°Seraiah, no!¡± she vaguely heard Kai roar at her, but it was too late. She was already scrambling down into the cave. The only thing she could think about was getting her sister back and taking out Lonan¡¯s murderer.

    The bowman was now taking aim at her, but no arrows came.

    She landed lithely on her feet in front of Gavaran, who had drawn a sword and was backing away from her.

    She lifted her dagger to throw, but hesitated a moment as she stared at him.

    The whole time the person responsible for taking her sister had been staring her in the face. Everything he¡¯d ever said to her suddenly made sense. No wonder he hadn¡¯t been surprised when he¡¯d heard Sterling was alive¡ªhe already knew where she was.

    And he¡¯d wanted to keep her all to himself. What Seraiah couldn¡¯t figure out was why.

    ¡°Take care of this,¡± Gavaran barked the order at the other mages, and they came streaming forward.

    The bowman, meanwhile, had shifted his aim from her to something behind her¡ªmost likely Kai or Kestrel had followed her down into the cave.

    Hearing Gavaran speak was enough to jar Seraiah out of her thoughts. She flicked her wrist, sending her dagger sailing at the only non-moving target. A second later, it stuck out of the archer¡¯s shoulder, and his arrow bounced harmlessly off the rock wall.

    Seemed all her practicing had paid off. Too bad her aim hadn¡¯t been lethal.

    But he would pay, she vowed. He would pay for killing her friend, but for now, finding her sister was more important.

    Seraiah searched frantically for Sterling as the other robed figures moved forward to circle around her. With her dagger gone, she had nothing left to defend herself but her fists. She lifted them in front of her face like Kestrel had taught her and prayed they wouldn¡¯t come after her. If any of them had magic, she was in trouble.

    One of the figures circling in front of her wielded a staff while the remaining two held swords of their own. Seraiah knew there were more of them at her back, but before she could reposition herself, her eyes landed on her sister behind the staff wielder. Sterling was struggling with another figure, who had taken hold of her elbow and was pulling her out of the fray.

    Seraiah lost sight of her for a moment as Kestrel ran up and locked swords with the mage on her right. ¡°Get Sterling and get out,¡± Kestrel ordered, over her shoulder to Seraiah. ¡°We will hold them off.¡±

    Kai came up on the other side, distracting the mage with the staff, to create a break in the mages¡¯ circle around her. Seraiah darted through the opening, narrowly avoiding the third mage.

    Her focus returned to Sterling and saw it was the young man from her vision who had pulled her sister away from the fighting. He¡¯d let go of Sterling and raised his hands.

    At first, Seraiah thought he was wearing black gloves, but no, those were his hands. They were black, as if he had dipped them in ink¡ªand it moved beneath his skin.

    He closed his eyes as his hands rose, completely oblivious to the fighting around him. Sterling cowered behind him as the ground shook and pieces of rock from the walls rained down on them.

    Seraiah could only watch in disbelief as the skulls she¡¯d been so frightened of in her vision peeled themselves out of the walls until an army of skeletons stood around them.

    For a moment, the fighting ground to a halt as both sides stopped to take in the new enemy before them.

    ¡°A necromancer,¡± Kai said from somewhere behind her.

    Seraiah wasn¡¯t familiar with the term, but she knew Kai had been referring to the young man, for he was now grinning at the army of bones. The sound of more rocks falling drew her attention up toward the place where she had entered the cave.

    Lonan was making his way down to join them.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Seraiah breathed as she stared up at him. He¡¯d been dead. She had watched him die¡ªwatched the life leave his eyes.

    The arrow still stuck straight out of his chest and as Seraiah watched him, she noticed the odd way he was walking¡ªa sort of shuffling gait she¡¯d never seen him use before.

    Then she saw his eyes.

    They were blank and unseeing. There was no spark behind them.

    This wasn¡¯t Lonan¡ªat least not the Lonan she¡¯d known. When the necromancer had raised the dead, he must have raised all of the dead and that included her friend.

    The fighting had resumed, but Seraiah was still rooted to the spot, watching the skeletons, their empty jaws opening and closing. Lonan shuffled up to join the advancing bone army.

    The archer she¡¯d thrown her dagger at, Lonan¡¯s murderer, was barreling towards her with the dagger still embedded in his shoulder. He¡¯d lost his bow and now carried the sword of one of his fallen comrades.

    Before he could reach her, Kai stepped into his path.

    The Elven prince used his sword to take off the man¡¯s head with one quick swipe and retrieved Seraiah¡¯s dagger from his shoulder, wiping it clean on the dead man¡¯s tunic.

    Seraiah¡¯s vision swam for a moment at the sight of all the blood. She¡¯d seen more before¡ªbeen bathed in it when Kai had beheaded that beast in the woods, but somehow this was different¡ªthis was human blood.

    Swallowing hard, she forced herself to move and dodged around the figure with the staff that Kai had stopped fighting to take on the archer. The mage tried to grab her, but Kai still had her back. He came up behind the staff wielder and brought the hilt of his sword down on the back of the man¡¯s head, sending him sprawling into unconsciousness. His staff rolled away harmlessly.

    Kai wordlessly pressed her dagger into her hand, and then turned to take on another enemy holding a sword, but not looking too sure of himself. More robed figures poured into the cave to join the fight.

    Then the skeletons joined the melee.

    At first, Seraiah thought they were going after Kestrel, but as she watched, they brutally ripped into the robed man Kestrel had been battling. Kestrel backed away, but they seemed to ignore her, moving on to focus on the remaining mages, some of which had taken one look at the bone army and turned tail back the way they had come.

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes were drawn again to Lonan, who was descending on one of the other archers. She turned away before she could see the outcome of that fight.

    She needed to get to Sterling.

    Upon seeing her face, Sterling broke away from the young man who had summoned the dead and ran toward her. Seraiah caught her with open arms, holding her sister tight as Sterling sobbed.

    ¡°I thought I would never see you again.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Seraiah said into Sterling¡¯s hair. ¡°I know, but I am here now, and we¡¯re going to get you out of here.¡±

    Over Sterling¡¯s shoulder, Seraiah saw the necromancer make a move toward them. She quickly pushed her sister behind her and palmed her dagger.

    ¡°Seraiah,¡± Kai called out to her in warning.

    She turned her head to look his way, distracted, and that was all it took.

    Fast as a snake striking, the young man clasped her neck. His fingers were like ice against her skin. When her eyes met his, she found she couldn¡¯t look away, couldn¡¯t move to bring her dagger up, even as Sterling pulled frantically on her other hand.

    ¡°Ren!¡± Sterling screamed, and some part of Seraiah¡¯s brain realized that was the necromancer¡¯s name.

    The noise faded around her as he leaned forward, his forehead almost touching hers. He stroked his thumb down the column of her throat.

    ¡°Run,¡± he whispered the single word, and then he let go.

 The Lost Queen Book 1: Chapter Fifty-Seven

    Kai wished he could have been surprised when Gavaran had been revealed in the cave, but a part of him had known. It wasn¡¯t just the takeover of Nyrene he¡¯d been involved in. The only piece Kai didn¡¯t have was what exactly Gavaran intended to do with Sterling. If he planned to install her as queen, what was the point of the takeover?

    There must be something else.

    A jolt ran up his arm as his sword connected with one of the mages. Somewhere in the chaos, Kestrel was fighting, too. He¡¯d already lost track of Gavaran, who¡¯d probably fled as soon as he could rather than involve himself in something as dirty as fighting.

    Kai quickly sent his opponent on his way and looked around the cave, searching for her familiar face. This was arguably the worst fight he¡¯d ever had the displeasure of being involved in, and that included the one where he¡¯d been stabbed and intended to die.

    This one was the worst because she was here.

    His gaze landed on Seraiah, not twenty paces away. She was weaponless and trying to make her way toward Sterling, who cowered behind one of the other mages.

    She had started all of this, but he couldn¡¯t say he blamed her. He¡¯d almost forgotten himself when Sterling had been revealed, too. It was the first time he¡¯d laid eyes on his sister since she was a baby, and if there was ever any doubt Seraiah¡¯s adopted sister was his blood sister, they evaporated as soon as he saw her. Sterling was the spitting image of their mother.

    Suddenly, a rumble ran through the floor beneath his feet, and rocks rained down from the walls. Through the dust, Kai saw the skulls that gave the Cave of Faces its name push free from the walls.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Kestrel called over the grinding of rocks as they shifted to let out their prisoners.

    ¡°A necromancer,¡± he called back, staring at the mage who Seraiah had been heading for. The way his hands were lifted in the air, he had to be the one who¡¯d called them from the walls.

    Around him, the other mages had stopped to stare at the new fighters. They seemed as stunned as he was. If this was planned, they hadn¡¯t been in on it.

    Kestrel cursed and when he looked, pointed up the hole where they¡¯d been watching from.

    The necromancer had also raised their fallen comrade.

    Yes, Kai decided as he watched the gnome make his way into the cave, this was definitely the worse fight he had ever been involved in.

    Another mage lunged for him, but Kai dodged, his attention once again going to Seraiah. He couldn¡¯t let her out of his sight. He could not lose her here.

    The archer Seraiah had caught with her dagger was headed straight for her.

    Kai avoided another assault and raced to get between them. His sword took the archer¡¯s head cleanly from his shoulders, and Kai struggled not to retch as he pulled Seraiah¡¯s dagger free. There would be nightmares of this day for many years to come, that was for certain.

    The staff wielding mage from earlier snuck up on them, but Kai quickly took care of him and returned the dagger to Seraiah. The weapon would do little good when those skeletons entered the fray, but it was better than nothing.

    Even if he didn¡¯t make it out of here, he would be happy if Seraiah and Sterling did.

    Kai threw himself back into fighting, but the tide of battle seemed to have shifted. The mages who¡¯d been coming for them were now trying to leave the cave. Across the way, Kestrel was no longer fighting, but stood there watching the skeletons take care of the mages for her.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Why was the necromancer using his army against his own?

    Kai whirled back to face Seraiah and found her clutching Sterling. She didn¡¯t seem to see the mage heading right for her.

    ¡°Seraiah!¡±

    He thought to warn her, but he should have known it would only be a distraction. When she turned to look at him, the necromancer struck.

    Kai¡¯s heart lurched in his chest.

    No. No. No.

    Suddenly, he knew if Seraiah was no longer in this world, he didn¡¯t want to be either. He may have started this search to find his sister, but he¡¯d found something entirely more precious.

    <hr>

    As soon as Ren released her, Seraiah found she could move again. Sterling pulled her away, running straight for Kai, who was staring at them like he¡¯d seen a ghost.

    After a moment, he snapped out of it.

    ¡°Go,¡± Kai ordered, pointing with his bloody sword to the opening. ¡°Get out of here. We¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±

    The fighting was mostly over now, and it looked like those who could, had already fled. All that remained were the bodies of those they¡¯d killed or knocked unconscious¡ªand the skeleton army.

    Still in a daze, Seraiah allowed herself to be pulled along, but she couldn¡¯t keep from looking back to where they¡¯d left Ren. He met her eyes for a moment before melting back into the shadows of the cave.

    The moment he was gone, the skeletons fell. The army of walking dead once again became nothing more than bits of old bone scattered around on the floor of the cave.

    And then Seraiah saw Lonan die for the second time.

    She stared in horror as whatever magical force that had reanimated him washed away, and he crumpled to the ground. It was almost worse to see it happen for a second time. In her mind, she knew he¡¯d never been alive after the arrow had struck his chest, but her heart refused to believe it.

    She blinked, waiting for the tears to come, but her eyes remained dry. There was nothing. All she felt was numb.

    She knew the numbness wouldn¡¯t last, and the pain of his loss would stab at her. But for now¡ªfor now, she couldn¡¯t grasp it.

    Her eyes stayed locked on Lonan¡¯s body, where it had fallen with the arrow still protruding from his chest until Kestrel stepped in front of her, blocking her view.

    ¡°Take Sterling and go to the horses. We¡¯ll meet you there.¡±

    Seraiah knew Kestrel meant to protect her. She and Kai would take care of Lonan, so she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer through it, but part of her wanted to be there to say goodbye. The other part was still screaming at her to take Sterling and run before anyone could steal her away again.

    Sterling wiggled her fingers, and Seraiah realized she was still holding tight to her sister¡¯s hand. She relaxed her grip but didn¡¯t let go. With a stiff nod to Kestrel, she turned to do as she said.

    ¡°That was too easy,¡± Seraiah heard Kestrel say to Kai as she and Sterling walked away. ¡°It almost seemed as though they wanted us to take her back.¡±

    The same thought had occurred to Seraiah, but she¡¯d shoved it into the back of her mind. It was something to consider later. All that mattered now was that she had her sister back safe and sound, and they could finally go home.

    Somehow, the two of them climbed out of the cave and into the open air of the desert. She hadn¡¯t realized how much the cave had smelled of spilled blood until she was free of it.

    Seraiah took the lead, and they made their way to the horses in silence, never letting go of each other.

    ¡°I missed your birthday,¡± Sterling suddenly blurted.

    Seraiah snorted at the absurdness of the statement. ¡°After everything you¡¯ve been through, that¡¯s what you think of? I can hardly blame you for missing my birthday when I nearly forgot it myself.¡±

    They fell back into silence. There was so much Seraiah wanted to say to her sister, but she didn¡¯t know where to start.

    Then Sterling mumbled something so quiet she almost didn¡¯t catch it.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would come for me.¡±

    She jerked them both to a halt. ¡°Why would you say that?¡± she demanded. ¡°Of course I would come for you. You¡¯re my sister.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not really your sister, am I?¡±

    So, someone had told her.

    Seraiah tucked a loose strand of hair behind Sterling¡¯s ear. ¡°You are my sister in all the ways that count. We may not be related by blood, but that doesn¡¯t mean we aren¡¯t family. Your family is whoever you want them to be. They are the people who love you no matter what, and who will do anything for you,¡± Seraiah said fiercely. ¡°You will always be my family. I will always be your sister. No matter what happens, I will come for you. Do you understand? No matter what.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Sterling whispered and pulled her into a hug.

    When she stepped back, Seraiah swore she saw something move behind her eyes.

    Something dark and familiar.

    Then Sterling blinked, and it was gone. Sterling¡¯s normal gray eyes looked back at her.

    ¡°I have your favorite book back at camp,¡± Seraiah told her, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°The one Jensira gave you.¡±

    ¡°That old thing?¡± Sterling wrinkled her nose. ¡°I¡¯ve read it so many times. I think I would like to hear a new tale. Tell me the story of how you found me.¡±

    It was just like old times when Sterling would demand stories.

    Seraiah smiled. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you I met dragons?¡±

    Sterling laughed in delight, and Seraiah couldn¡¯t help thinking it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

    <hr>

    End of Book 1.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter One

    Virelai stepped over one of the many fallen soldiers littering the ground, careful to lift her skirts lest she get blood on them. Her nose wrinkled as she took in the scene around her.

    "What a waste," she murmured.

    If she were the one orchestrating the takeover, she would have found a bloodless way to do it. Now, their beautiful city was a mess.

    Using the toe of her boot, she nudged the body in front of her. This one looked sort of familiar. She bent and squinted at the face-down elf in the flickering light of the magic orbs.

    Ah, yes.

    It was that young Commander. Virelai tried to recall his name¡ªEryx, or something. Such a pity he hadn''t made it, but it was for the best, considering the things her father would have done to him had Gavaran found Eryx alive.

    It was dangerous to be a friend of the former prince around here.

    Virelai straightened and moved a few steps away when the Commander moaned.

    She froze, unsure if she was mistaken. He¡¯d certainly looked dead, but corpses didn¡¯t generally make sounds.

    Slowly, she turned back to look at the body. He was covered in so much blood and filth; she doubted he could still be living.

    Eryx moaned again, almost a sigh.

    Virelai glanced around, checking to see if any of her father''s elves were in the area and watching her. When she saw no one, she returned to Eryx, crouching next to him. Curling her lip at what she was about to do, she grabbed hold of his shoulder and attempted to flip him over.

    He was a lot heavier than he looked.

    It took all of her strength, but she rolled him onto his back. When she let go, her hands came away covered in red.

    Disgusting.

    She eyed Eryx¡¯s uniform, looking for a clean spot to wipe her hands, but found none. Instead, she was forced to use the hem of her skirt. She would have to hope no one saw her and reported to her father before she could change her dress.

    Now that he was face up, Virelai saw Eryx¡¯s chest rise and fall. He was alive, and if she wanted to keep him that way, she needed to get him out of here and hidden.

    Virelai scanned the area again, checking for watching eyes. By some miracle, they hadn''t been spotted yet.

    Her gaze returned to the Commander, and she tilted her head to the side as she contemplated him. It might be worth the trouble to make sure he lived. He¡¯d owe her his life, and she was in need of someone to help with her plans. Given that he was a friend of Kai¡¯s, he was no ally of her father¡¯s.

    Yes, this might be a worthwhile endeavor.

    With a bit of cajoling, she roused Eryx enough to get him on his feet. Most of his weight leaned against her, further sullying her dress, but it was something to worry about later. Right now, she needed somewhere to hide him.

    The castle grounds were not an option as they were crawling with her father''s elves. They¡¯d need to go into the city, and it just so happened Virelai knew of a perfect place.

    Her mother''s family had left her their house, and following their wishes, she¡¯d kept it a perfectly guarded secret from Gavaran. They¡¯d never liked her father, and they¡¯d wanted her to have a safe space all her own should she have need of it. Until now, she¡¯d never taken anyone else there, but sacrifices would have to be made if she wanted to heal her newfound ally.

    The early morning gloom offered them cover as they shuffled through the quiet streets, stopping occasionally when the pain became too much for Eryx or she needed to catch her breath. With the chaos at the castle and the early morning hour, it was unlikely anyone would notice the two of them, but Virelai was still careful to stay off the main roads.

    By the time they arrived at the house, the world had lightened, and the city''s residents stirred. They needed to get inside quickly.

    Virelai leaned Eryx against the wall and pulled the key she always wore from the bodice of her dress.

    After she unlocked the door, she helped Eryx inside, depositing him on one of the small beds. His filth was going to ruin the linens, but there was nothing to be done now. She would have to burn them later, along with her dress.

    "Eryx?" Virelai called his name softly.

    He¡¯d stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. He didn''t respond.

    She poked him with one finger and still got no reaction.

    For a moment, she panicked, thinking she¡¯d dragged him all this way only to have him die on her. Then she saw his chest rise as he took a breath.

    He was unconscious; she realized.

    Virelai looked around the room, unsure what to do with him now that she had him here. Maybe she should get him water, she decided. Disappearing into the kitchen, Virelai returned with a glass and a pitcher, depositing both on the bedside table.

    Eryx still hadn''t moved.

    He needed a healer, that much was plain, and she didn''t have the first clue about healing someone. She would have to find someone who did, and quickly. Elves typically healed on their own, thanks to their bodies'' abilities. It was only in severe cases like this that one might require extra assistance. A body could only take so much before it shut down, and Eryx''s had appeared to do just that. If Virelai didn¡¯t find help, he would likely bleed out from the wounds his body refused to close on its own.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    She sighed. There was no choice but to reveal her secret home to yet another elf. This had better be worth it.

    <hr>

    When Virelai returned to the castle grounds, more elves roamed among the mess, doing their best to set the place to rights. The magic orbs had winked out, and sunlight revealed the cobblestones bathed in shades of red and black.

    Virelai tried not to look too close as she made her way across the courtyard, tugging at the sleeves of her dress to stretch them. She¡¯d found the dress hanging in the closet at the house and although it didn¡¯t quite fit right, at least it wasn¡¯t covered in blood. Her first task was to find a healer, then she could change into something that wasn¡¯t a good three inches too short.

    She headed for the first elf she saw. He appeared young, but he wore the uniform of a guard. The perfect target for her orders.

    "I need a healer," Virelai demanded, stopping short of the body he¡¯d been staring at.

    He glanced up with a disgruntled expression, but lucky for him, he realized who she was before he opened his mouth.

    Sometimes it worked in her favor to be Gavaran''s daughter.

    "There isn''t one," he informed her.

    He didn¡¯t add any kind of honorific to her name, but she was in a hurry, so she let it slide. "What do you mean there isn''t one? What about Neorah? Where is she?"

    Having never had a need for a healer herself, Neorah was the only one she knew by name since she had served the Queen.

    "Dead," he said, picking up the body at his feet and forcing Virelai to move away lest she be splattered with whatever was leaking from it.

    Typical, she thought, watching the guard deposit the body into a wagon. Her one option was dead. Now what was she supposed to do?

    Virelai racked her brain. Who might be sympathetic enough to help the Commander? It had to be someone she could trust¡ªor rather blackmail into keeping their mouth shut. Unfortunately, anyone who fit both categories was likely already dead.

    Then Virelai had an idea.

    What about that blonde servant girl?

    She remembered seeing her moon over the Commander before. Perhaps she could help. Although the chance she was still alive was slim, at best, since she¡¯d been acting as a servant to Kai''s precious human seer. Virelai had heard whispers the seer and the other Commander, Kestrel, had escaped, but she doubted they¡¯d take a servant with them.

    It was worth a try, Virelai decided, heading into the castle to track her down. If there was anyone she could blackmail, it would be someone close to the prince.

    Inside the castle, Virelai stopped one of the many servants running around with buckets.

    "Oh, you''re looking for Wisteria," the elf said, after Virelai had described her. "Haven¡¯t seen her. Did you try her room? Otherwise, you might find her in the tower. That¡¯s where she mainly works."

    Virelai highly doubted Wisteria would be anywhere near the tower if she had any sense of self-preservation. "Tell me where I can find her room."

    The servant rattled off directions to a part of the castle Virelai had never bothered to visit before, and Virelai left her to her floor scrubbing.

    Following the directions, she found herself in a narrow, dimly lit hallway with doors on either side. These rooms had previously housed humans, but since the Queen had banned keeping them, other elves had taken the humans¡¯ place. The numbers carved next to each of the doors made it easy to find the room she was looking for.

    Virelai didn''t bother knocking.

    The room was small, barely fitting a single bed. It was more like a storage closet than a bedroom. Not that she¡¯d ever seen the inside of a storage closet, but she imagined it must be similar.

    A girl lay curled up on the bed with her back to Virelai, but she knew by the pale blonde hair that she had the right room.

    "Wisteria," Virelai snapped.

    The blonde elf started and lifted her head. When she saw who it was, her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

    Virelai was impressed with her venom, though perhaps she¡¯d been mistaken about her sense of self-preservation. "I require your assistance."

    She refused to beg this servant girl for help, even though she desperately needed it.

    "And why would I help you?"

    Virelai covered her irritation with a smile that normally sent the servants quaking in fear. "You don''t have a choice. Your precious Prince Kaimana is no longer running this city, in case you haven''t heard, and I happen to know you were a supporter of his. Do you know what happens to elves who support a traitor?"

    Wisteria paled. "He wasn''t a traitor," she said firmly.

    Virelai stepped into the room and lowered her voice. "We both know that, but I''m not sure my father would see it that way. And we wouldn''t want him finding out about you, now would we?"

    Wisteria eyed her warily for a moment before she gave in. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"

    "I need you to find healer''s supplies, and then meet me on the northwest corner of Shopkeeper¡¯s Row." None of the streets in Nyrene had official names, but everyone referred to the main thoroughfare through the shopping district as Shopkeeper¡¯s Row.

    ¡°All right.¡±

    "Oh, and one more thing. Don¡¯t let anyone know what you are doing. If you¡¯re caught, I won¡¯t be able to save you," Virelai said over her shoulder as she turned to leave the room.

    Wisteria grumbled something under her breath, but Virelai didn''t stick around to hear what she said. She needed to change her dress and gather some supplies of her own.

    <hr>

    Virelai leaned against the side of a building, tapping her foot impatiently. How long did it take to get some bandages? At this rate, Eryx might be dead by the time they got back to him, and then all this trouble would have been for nothing.

    She sighed as she stared up the street, waiting for Wisteria to appear. That girl had better not change her mind about helping, or she was going to be sorry.

    Finally, Virelai spotted her. She was easy enough to see because she was the only one out on the street. Wisteria carried a bag with her and was constantly glancing back and forth. It would be obvious to anyone watching that she was up to something.

    Virelai pushed off the building and hurried over to Wisteria before she could draw any more attention to herself. "Come on," she murmured, taking hold of the girl''s elbow and turning her around. "Keep your head down and stop looking around like a frightened mouse. You''re going to give yourself away."

    Wisteria''s mouth tightened in annoyance at the reprimand, but she didn''t say anything as she ducked her head like Virelai had instructed.

    Virelai led them through the streets and back to the house where she had stashed Eryx. Wisteria eyed her curiously as she pulled the key out of its hiding place and unlocked the door.

    "You first," Virelai said, shoving Wisteria inside over the threshold. She shot one last look around the street, checking for prying eyes, before she stepped inside herself and locked the door behind her.

    "This way," Virelai barked, leading the girl to the room where she had left Eryx.

    Please let him still be alive.

    He was in the same position she had left him, but his chest was, thankfully, still rising and falling. He hadn''t expired while she was gone.

    Wisteria shoved past her, knocking Virelai into the doorframe as she rushed to the bed.

    "Watch it!"

    Wisteria ignored her. "Oh, Eryx. What''s happened to you?" Virelai heard her murmur to him as she gently touched his face. She didn''t seem to notice or care that she was getting blood all over herself.

    "Well then, I''ll leave you to it. Make sure he stays alive and you will too."

    "Wait, what? You want me to heal him?" Wisteria looked up at her with panic in her eyes.

    "What did you think I wanted you to do with him? Yes, of course I want you to heal him."

    "But," the girl sputtered, "I''ve never healed anyone in my life, and while I''m no expert, I think he is dying. He needs someone who knows what they¡¯re doing¡ªsomeone like Neorah."

    "Neorah is unavailable, so unless you know how to raise someone from the dead, you better learn how to heal quick, or both of you will be joining her. I have plans for him, and I need him alive."

    Wisteria glared at her. "What could you want with him? You have everything now, don''t you?"

    If only she knew.

    Virelai ignored the questions. "I''ll be back later to check on you. I have some business to attend to in the castle, but I will be back as soon as I can. Stay here, and don¡¯t do anything stupid in the meantime."

    With a sweep of her skirts, she exited the room, leaving Wisteria to her task.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Two

    Kai checked over the horses while half listening to Sterling and Seraiah argue about something related to food. The two of them huddled around their small campfire. Their first since leaving the sand of the desert.

    Even though the mages had fled, none of them wanted to remain around the Cave of Faces for long. They¡¯d resupplied with what they could carry and headed back the way they¡¯d come, pushing as hard as they¡¯d dared. The journey had exhausted all of them, and offered little chance for him to get to know Sterling or discuss what had happened. Seraiah surely knew since the two sisters stuck together most of the time, but¡ª

    ¡°Why are you standing there like a statue?¡± Kestrel asked.

    Kai pulled his eyes away from the sisters and resumed running his hands over the horse, checking for sores and brushing away any lingering sand. He hadn¡¯t heard Kestrel come up behind him.

    ¡°Care to share your thoughts?¡± Kestrel kept her voice low so she wouldn¡¯t be overheard, not that Seraiah or Sterling were paying any attention to them.

    ¡°Nothing important,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I was hoping now that we¡¯re out of the desert, we can slow down and not spend every waking hour on the back of a horse. They surely need a break as much as we do.¡±

    Kestrel nodded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem we¡¯re being followed. Strange though.¡±

    ¡°Any other ideas?¡± Kai asked.

    They¡¯d discussed the battle once as they were preparing to leave, but neither of them could make sense of it. If Gavaran had Sterling this entire time, why had he let her slip away so easily?

    ¡°My guess is still the same. I don¡¯t think he was willing to risk his life to keep her when he already has control of the kingdom.¡±

    ¡°But with Sterling being our well of power, sooner or later, she will be able to take it back from him. As long as she¡¯s alive, he doesn¡¯t stand a chance,¡± Kai said. ¡°If he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep her, why didn¡¯t he try to kill her and let the magic go to another?¡±

    ¡°Poor planning?¡± Kestrel offered. ¡°We should take it as the gift it is and move quickly.¡±

    Kai stepped back from the horse. ¡°I thought you agreed with me that we could slow down.¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but I meant we should move quickly to retake Nyrene. Even if¡ª¡±

    Kai cut her off. ¡°We aren¡¯t going back to Nyrene. Not yet.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Even in the dim light of early evening, Kai could make out her startled expression.

    ¡°We need time. We need an army,¡± Kai said gently.

    ¡°Giving Gavaran time to solidify his power is the last thing we should do. We need to rip him out like the nasty little weed he is before he gets a chance to settle deep roots.¡±

    Kai shook his head. ¡°She isn¡¯t ready. Perhaps that was Gavaran¡¯s reason for letting us have her so easily. He assumed we¡¯d take her right back to Nyrene for him. We¡¯d be walking into his trap.¡±

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    Kestrel bit her lip.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about Eryx, but we can¡¯t go back now. If anything, we should stay here and work on training her magic.¡±

    Someone cleared her throat. For the second time that night, someone had snuck up on Kai without his notice.

    ¡°We will be doing neither of those things,¡± Seraiah said.

    Over her shoulder, Kai saw Sterling was poking at the fire with a stick.

    She folded her arms over her chest. ¡°Not that either of you bothered to ask, but we will be going home.¡±

    ¡°Home?¡± he echoed.

    ¡°Yes, you may do whatever you like, but Sterling and I will be returning to Ratha.¡±

    <hr>

    Sterling watched the flames lick up the length of her stick as she stabbed at the burning branches they¡¯d collected.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s taken care of,¡± Seraiah said, coming back to the fire.

    ¡°What¡¯s taken care of?¡± Sterling asked, dropping her stick and wiping her hands on her pants. They were rolled at the cuffs so they wouldn¡¯t drag on the ground. Everything she wore was borrowed and made her almost miss the black robe the mages had given her. ¡°Are we getting better food?¡±

    ¡°No, I informed them of our plans,¡± her sister said, staring at the flames. Them meaning the two elves. One of which she was related to. Sterling still hadn¡¯t wrapped her head around it. It was one thing to be told she had another family, but it was another to meet them¡ªor, well, one of them. They¡¯d given her space since they¡¯d rescued her, and Sterling had taken it. She was sure she hadn¡¯t spoken more than five words to either of them.

    But she would. One day. First, she needed to figure out what to say and how to ask for what she wanted.

    ¡°We have plans?¡± she asked Seraiah. ¡°What plans?¡± No one had spoken of where they were headed, only that they were leaving the desert. Now that they¡¯d accomplished that, Sterling supposed they needed a new goal.

    ¡°We will be returning to Ratha.¡± Seraiah didn¡¯t look up from the fire as she said it.

    ¡°All of us? And since when? Who decided this?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to ask me? What if I don¡¯t want to go back there? It was miserable in Ratha, or did the snow disappear after I was kidnapped?¡±

    ¡°It might have,¡± Seraiah said, still not looking at her. ¡°It¡¯s been months since we were there. A lot could have changed in that time.¡±

    ¡°Or it could be exactly the same, but that¡¯s what you want, right?¡± Sterling accused. ¡°You want everything to go back to the way it was before. What if I can¡¯t go back to pretending to be human?¡±

    ¡°You were perfectly happy before.¡±

    ¡°That was before I knew anything. Now I do.¡± Sterling shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t pretend I belong there anymore when I know I don¡¯t. I¡¯m supposed to be the queen of a kingdom in this world. How do I go back to a normal human life, knowing that?¡±

    Seraiah sighed. ¡°This is why I didn¡¯t say anything. Look, returning to Ratha will be for the best. I¡¯ve told you what happened to Nyrene. It¡¯s safer to go back home.¡±

    ¡°Yes, because Ratha wasn¡¯t the place I was kidnapped from,¡± Sterling said dryly. She crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°And what happens if I catch the blood fever? Can you protect me from that?¡±

    Seraiah shot her an annoyed look, but kept quiet.

    Now it was Sterling¡¯s turn to sigh. ¡°Look, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not grateful for everything you went through to rescue me, but that doesn¡¯t mean you get to control my life now. You can¡¯t make decisions for me and you can¡¯t protect me from everything. Besides, it¡¯s not like that nightmare you had ever came true. The only thing it ever did was make you paranoid, and I don¡¯t want to live like that.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s annoyance seemed to melt away, and now her sister just looked tired. ¡°What do you want to do then?¡±

    Sterling thought for a moment. What did she want?

    ¡°I think¡ªI think I want to understand who I am and where I come from. I want to know what it means to be a queen. Not that I¡¯m sure I want the job,¡± she added.

    ¡°You can do that. It doesn¡¯t have to be one or the other. We can return to Ratha and visit Papa, and you can learn as much as you want. Kai and Kestrel are more than willing to teach you whenever you¡¯d like.¡±

    Sterling looked to where her brother and the other elf were standing by the horses. They were pretending they weren¡¯t listening, but Sterling was sure they¡¯d heard every word.

    ¡°All right fine,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to Ratha, but I reserve the right to change my mind.¡±

    Seraiah smiled. ¡°As you wish, Your Highness.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Three

    Seraiah absently traced the stone set in the hilt of her dagger. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what Sterling had said. It had been a week now, but the words still stuck with her.

    The only thing it ever did was make you paranoid.

    In a way, Sterling was right. There were several times she would have sworn she saw shadows in Sterling¡¯s eyes, but then she blinked, and they were gone like they¡¯d been a trick of the light. She couldn¡¯t help being protective of Sterling when she¡¯d once let down her guard and allowed her sister to be taken from her.

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t go through something like that again.

    Wouldn¡¯t.

    But Sterling was right. Seraiah couldn¡¯t force her sister to live like that. She needed to find a way to let go. After all, the nightmare had stopped. She hadn¡¯t dreamed of Sterling since before they¡¯d rescued her.

    No, ever since the rescue, she¡¯d been haunted by a different dream.

    This one she knew was an actual nightmare and not a vision. It forced her to watch over and over as Lonan fell.

    She¡¯d known the grief would come for her, and it had. The pain of losing her friend ate away at her heart. It had dug its claws in bit by bit before guilt had arrived to sink its fanged teeth in as well. Seraiah didn¡¯t think she¡¯d ever be able to forget or forgive herself for what she had done. It was all her fault her friend¡¯s life had been cut short.

    The dreams taunted her with it, showing her how fast Lonan had been ripped away only to be brought back as a poor facsimile of himself by that awful necromancer to fall a second time.

    Sterling jabbed her in the ribs, snapping her out of her thoughts.

    ¡°What was that for?¡± she asked, pushing Sterling¡¯s hands away. It was her turn to share her horse, and Sterling rode behind her.

    ¡°I tried calling your name, but you ignored me. In case you haven¡¯t noticed, we¡¯re here.¡±

    Seraiah blinked and looked around, realizing Kai and Kestrel had stopped their mounts a distance back. They¡¯d arrived at their destination for the day.

    Baromund appeared different than Seraiah remembered it. It felt like it had been years since she, Kai, and Kestrel had stopped in the city on their mad dash to find Sterling, and it looked as if it had been years too.

    It was the beginning of the summer season, but you wouldn''t have known that by looking at the city. Snow covered everything in a veil of white. The temperature had dropped the farther north they¡¯d pushed, and Seraiah''s heart had dropped along with it at the first sighting of snowfall.

    With all that had happened, she¡¯d forgotten about the vision she¡¯d had while in Metrius¡ªthe vision of snow spreading and killing everything in its path. She¡¯d hoped it hadn¡¯t been real, but seeing the snow had been the first confirmation that it was. Now she dreaded what might be waiting for her in Ratha.

    "Let''s see if we can get rooms at an inn and get out of this cold," Kai said, blowing on his fingers to warm them. "And maybe we can buy some clothing more suited to this weather."

    They¡¯d all layered their extra clothing over what they already wore, but it wasn¡¯t enough.

    Seraiah''s own fingers had lost feeling a while back. She hadn''t realized how much she didn''t miss the cold until she was thrust back into it.

    ¡°With what money?¡± Sterling asked. Since she¡¯d agreed to return to Ratha, she¡¯d been slowly getting to know Kai and Kestrel and training with them. Now she no longer relied on Seraiah to relay messages between them.

    ¡°We¡¯ll work something out,¡± Kai said. ¡°There must be something we can trade if necessary. Leave the talking to me.¡±

    Seraiah touched her dagger again. It would be worth enough to keep them in comfort and outfit all of them with winter clothes, but she didn¡¯t want to part with it. She¡¯d rather scrub chamberpots and sleep in a stable.

    Kai nudged his horse forward, and Kestrel and Seraiah fell in behind him, letting their mounts walk side-by-side as they passed into the city walls.

    The first thing Seraiah noticed was the silence. There was no sound of people, only the wind howling between the buildings. Looking around, she didn''t see a single person. It was a sharp contrast to her first visit. She studied the snow, looking for signs that anyone had walked through the street recently, but there were none. The snow was smooth and unbroken ahead of them.

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    No footprints. No hoof prints. No wagon tracks. Nothing.

    She had a bad feeling about this. One glance at Kestrel told her she had noticed too.

    The city was abandoned.

    Kai took them up the empty main street and stopped in front of the same inn they¡¯d stayed at on their last visit. The sign for the hat shop next door hung halfway off its post, the wind causing it to creak eerily as it swung back and forth.

    "Wait here," Kai told them as he dismounted from his horse.

    Seraiah caught Kestrel rolling her eyes at his command, but she stayed put as Kai drew his sword and headed for the door. There was no stable boy to greet him this time as he disappeared through the open doorway.

    A few moments later, he returned, having replaced his sword in its scabbard.

    "Anything?" Kestrel asked.

    He shook his head. "I¡¯m not sure what to make of it. Come see for yourself."

    Kestrel was the first one off her horse and through the door, while Seraiah and Sterling followed.

    "Oh, gods," Kestrel breathed as she took in the room.

    Oh gods was right, Seraiah thought as she stepped over the threshold. Snow crunched beneath her boots, having blown in through the open door, as she stepped further inside to let Sterling by.

    It looked like the people had disappeared in the middle of whatever they were doing. There were plates of frozen food still on the tables, half-eaten, and mugs scattered around. Some had tipped over and rolled off onto the floor. Not a single person anywhere.

    "Did you check the rooms upstairs?" Kestrel asked Kai as she surveyed the room.

    "I did, and it''s the same way. Personal belongings are still in the rooms that appeared to be occupied before whatever happened, but there¡¯s no one here."

    Sterling disappeared behind the counter where the innkeeper had greeted them once upon a time. Seraiah could recall the greedy glint in his eyes when he¡¯d seen Kai sliding a silver coin across the counter. She still suspected he was the one who had sold them out to the mages. She touched her throat where one of them had cut her with his dagger. The wound was long healed, but she hadn¡¯t forgotten the feeling.

    Sterling rummaged around and pulled out a beat-up metal box, placing it on the counter. "Look what I found," she said with a grin.

    Seraiah squinted at the box. "Is that¡ªis that the coin box?"

    Sterling popped the lid open and revealed that it was indeed the coin box, with all the money still inside. ¡°Looks like it wasn¡¯t the fever that got them. No looting, and someone would have taken this with them if they¡¯d fled.¡±

    "Fever?" Kestrel asked, eyeing the box.

    ¡°She means the blood fever,¡± Seraiah explained. ¡°Like we had in Ratha. It might have explained why we didn¡¯t see anyone.¡±

    "No,¡± Kai said. ¡°It wasn''t a disease that took these people. We would have seen bodies if that were the case. This looks like they vanished."

    "I agree,¡± Sterling said, ¡°and this coin box proves it. Even if something terrible had happened, they would have at least taken the money with them. People always remember to grab the money. These people didn¡¯t die or flee. Something took them.¡±

    "You never know,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°It could still be the fever. Would there be bodies if a necromancer reanimated them and moved them elsewhere?"

    Sterling rolled her eyes. "You can''t still be mad about that. Ren was trying to help us. He probably didn''t mean to reanimate your friend."

    ¡°It was only a theory,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°It seems more plausible than vanishing into thin air.¡±

    Now that she had Sterling back, Seraiah was reminded of how much they used to fight. She swore Sterling would take the opposing side, if only to annoy her.

    ¡°I think we should push on to Ratha,¡± she added. ¡°This place is unnerving. I don¡¯t want to stay the night here.¡±

    Kai sighed, abandoning his inspection of the frozen food. ¡°Ordinarily I would agree, but we need supplies and, more importantly, we need warmer clothing. We¡¯ll have to stay here long enough to at least find those things. Besides, don¡¯t you want a break from sleeping on the frozen ground?¡±

    Seraiah pursed her lips and didn¡¯t say anything, kicking at a bit of snow on the floor.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Kestrel asked.

    Seraiah glanced at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the other reason you¡¯re in a rush to reach Ratha?¡±

    She looked away. ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s hiding something,¡± Sterling said. ¡°I know that look. It¡¯s the same look she would get when she had a dream she didn¡¯t want to tell me about.¡±

    Seraiah kept her eyes on the floor, cursing Sterling in her head.

    "Is that true?" Kai asked. ¡°Have you had a vision?¡±

    ¡°Not recently. This was weeks and weeks ago when I was in Metrius.¡±

    She explained about seeing the snow creep across the field of daisies, burying everything in its path.

    ¡°And what else?¡± Sterling asked.

    ¡°I also saw Papa and Ariya. Since we¡¯ve come across the snow, I¡¯m afraid the rest of it might be true as well.¡±

    ¡°Was Papa . . .¡± Sterling trailed off, but Seraiah knew what she was asking.

    ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t. I only saw him briefly at his stall. He looked old.¡±

    ¡°He is old,¡± Sterling said.

    ¡°I mean older. Like the stress of everything had worn on him.¡±

    ¡°What about Ariya?¡± Kai asked. ¡°She was your friend we met at the castle, right?¡±

    Seraiah nodded. ¡°Ariya,¡± she swallowed, ¡°Ariya had the blood fever when I saw her. She didn¡¯t look like she had much longer.¡±

    Sterling picked up a coin from the box and rolled it through her fingers, appearing to be done with the conversation.

    "If you want to continue, we''ll continue," Kai said, ¡°but we¡¯ll still need to look for supplies.¡±

    Seraiah nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Sterling dropped the coin she was playing with back into the box with a clink. "Well, I found the money, so I¡¯ll wait here while the rest of you get the other things." She closed the lid on the box and slid it off the counter, tucking it under her arm.

    Seraiah gave her an incredulous look. "You''re stealing that?"

    "Do you see anyone here?" Sterling asked, gesturing around the empty room. "No one is going to miss it and who knows what we might find when we reach Ratha? A few extra coins might come in handy." Sterling started up the stairs. ¡°Wake me when you¡¯re ready to leave.¡±

    Seraiah rolled her eyes and shook her head at her sister. Had Sterling always been this way, she wondered. She couldn¡¯t remember.

    Between the three of them, they gathered the supplies they needed in under an hour, leaving them a few hours of daylight left to travel. In five days or less, they would be riding into Ratha.

    See you soon, Papa, Seraiah thought with one last look around the inn before stepping back into the snow.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Four

    Kai slowed his horse, allowing Kestrel to take the lead. Sterling rode with her while Seraiah¡¯s mount kept pace beside them. The hood of Seraiah¡¯s new cloak was pulled low over her face, so he couldn¡¯t make out her expression, but he could tell from the hunched line of her shoulders that she must be worried.

    He wasn¡¯t surprised she¡¯d forgotten about her vision of Ratha until now. Her main focus had been to rescue Sterling and anything unrelated was discarded. With all that had happened since then, he didn¡¯t blame her for not mentioning it, especially because Seraiah wasn¡¯t the only one keeping secrets by accident.

    Kai still had the journal of the elven court seer on him. He¡¯d been flipping through it the night everything had happened and without thinking, he must have slipped it into his pocket. It was so small and lightweight he hadn¡¯t noticed it until some time later. By then, they¡¯d been on a journey across the desert. Like Seraiah and her vision, he¡¯d forgotten all about the little book.

    When he¡¯d rediscovered it after Sterling¡¯s rescue, he¡¯d meant to give it to Seraiah. He hadn¡¯t read more than a few pages, but there might be something of use to her in it. Ever since he¡¯d been waiting for the right moment, but it still hadn¡¯t come. She was always with someone¡ªusually Sterling, and he hadn¡¯t wanted to intrude. Seraiah had been through so much to get her sister back, he could wait to give her the journal.

    Perhaps after they¡¯d reached Ratha and settled in, it would finally be time. They¡¯d likely end up staying there for weeks, if not months, while they worked on Sterling¡¯s training.

    Yes, Kai decided, watching Seraiah¡¯s back, they¡¯d have plenty of time to talk in Ratha about the journal¡ªand other things that had gone unsaid for too long.

    <hr>

    Sterling watched Seraiah from beneath her lashes as they weaved their way through the trees toward Ratha. It had been several days since they¡¯d left Baromund, and they were well into the woods guarding Ratha¡¯s western side. She hadn¡¯t been sure how far they were from the city, but when she¡¯d asked Kestrel, she¡¯d been told they would arrive some time that day. Any moment now, Sterling expected to emerge from the trees and find the city spread out before them.

    The idea did not fill her with excitement.

    At first, she¡¯d thought perhaps that meant something was wrong with her. However, now that she was watching Seraiah, she noticed her sister didn¡¯t appear particularly excited, either.

    Seraiah wore a lost look, eyebrows scrunched together and eyes glazed over in a way that told Sterling she wasn¡¯t paying any attention to the world around her. She¡¯d noticed Seraiah doing that more and more lately, withdrawing into herself. It was almost like the old days back when she¡¯d have nightmares. Sterling was certain Seraiah would have told her if those had returned. Then again, she¡¯d kept her vision about Papa to herself, so who knows?

    Sterling''s eyes wandered to the mark on Seraiah''s neck. The blackness of it made even Seraiah''s tanned skin seem pale in comparison.

    Sterling remembered the way Ren had stripped off his gloves and raised his hands in the air moments before the skeletons had stepped out of the stone walls. She¡¯d been so distracted by them she hadn''t noticed the strange color of his skin. That had come later when he¡¯d grabbed Seraiah, wrapping his fingers around her throat. His hands, that he¡¯d always kept hidden beneath gloves, had been black¡ªa sharp contrast to the rest of his pale skin. It was as though he had dipped them in ink and let it run halfway up his forearms.

    After he¡¯d let go of Seraiah, a bit of that ink had stayed behind on her skin. The smudges had grown, spreading across and down Seraiah''s neck, bleeding together. The mark now stretched all the way from her left ear down to her collarbone. If Sterling squinted and turned her head just so, it almost looked like a vine, or maybe a snake curling along the contours of Seraiah''s neck.

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    As Sterling stared at it, contemplating what other shapes it could be, she swore she saw the thing move. It looked like it was crawling beneath Seraiah''s skin.

    "What¡ªthat can¡¯t be right," Sterling murmured as she watched it stretch like a cat after a long nap.

    "Hmm? Did you say something?" Seraiah asked, coming out of her trance.

    "Nothing."

    If Kestrel, whose horse Sterling was now sharing, had been paying attention and noticed Sterling¡¯s lie, she kept quiet about it.

    ¡°Oh, I thought I heard . . . well, never mind,¡± Seraiah said, tugging on the edge of her cloak.

    Sterling quickly looked away. She didn''t want Seraiah to know she¡¯d been staring at the mark again. Seraiah had become self-conscious about it whenever anyone brought it up. It was another reason for her sister to hate Ren.

    No matter how many times Sterling had tried to defend him and explain how he¡¯d been a friend to her or pointed out how he¡¯d helped them defeat the other mages, Seraiah refused to hear it.

    If only she had some way to find him or contact him. Then they could sort out this mess about the mark, and Seraiah could see Ren wasn¡¯t the enemy she thought he was.

    Sterling pursed her lips. If he was her enemy, he would have told someone about the time she¡¯d tried to escape. He¡¯d known what she was doing, and yet he¡¯d pretended like he hadn¡¯t.

    He¡¯d also been the only one willing to speak to her about anything. She¡¯d found him irritating, of course¡ªespecially when he called her Silver¡ªbut at least he¡¯d been willing to explain why her kidnappers were calling her Princess.

    It had been Ren who¡¯d told her the truth about who she really was.

    "You¡¯re not human. You''re an elf," he¡¯d said bluntly as they wound their way through the tunnels of the cave system. Sterling wasn''t allowed to wander in the parts of the cave that were occupied by the mages, so Ren took her out to the empty parts, where she was free to explore to her heart''s content.

    She¡¯d eyed him suspiciously, trying to determine if this was one of his jokes.

    "Did you hear me?" he asked.

    "I heard you. I''m trying to decide whether I believe you."

    His lips quirked at her response. "It doesn''t matter if you believe me or not. Your belief doesn''t change the facts. You''ve got the pointy ears." He lifted one gloved hand and pointed to her exposed left ear.

    "Is that why you kidnapped me? Did your little group need someone with pointy ears to sacrifice for their rituals?"

    Ren rolled his eyes. "We don¡¯t do sacrifices or rituals, and for the record, I didn''t kidnap you or order your kidnapping."

    "Right. It was the powers-that-be who ordered my kidnapping for some unknown reason, and you were a happy little minion and obliged them without question.¡±

    Ren had pretended not to hear her.

    "We¡¯re home." Sterling heard Seraiah say, bringing her out of her memories.

    She peeked over Kestrel¡¯s shoulder, taking in the familiar buildings of her childhood. The sight filled her with inexplicable dread.

    <hr>

    Home. They were finally home.

    The others had stopped at the edge of the trees, but Seraiah pushed on. Papa¡¯s house¡ªher house¡ªwasn¡¯t far from here. She guided her horse between the structures and onto the street.

    She needed to see Papa and make sure he was all right.

    It wasn¡¯t until she¡¯d reined in her horse in front of the house that she realized what she was seeing¡ªor rather, what she wasn¡¯t.

    Seraiah slipped from the saddle.

    No. It couldn¡¯t be.

    She took one stumbling step before her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees in the snow.

    There was nothing. There was no one. The city was a ghost. An empty shell of a place. Ratha was as empty as Baromund had been. Its people gone without a trace.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t have to go into the house to know Papa wouldn¡¯t be there.

    Tears slid down her face as she stared at the front door, unseeing. The cold froze the salty drops to her cheeks before they could drip off her chin. Vaguely, she heard the footsteps of the others crunching over the snow behind her, but still, she didn''t move. The cold bit painfully at her skin even through her layers of clothes, but that didn''t matter to her anymore. The pain in her heart was worse and no physical discomfort could touch that. Guilt and its fanged teeth had finally devoured her heart, leaving nothing behind.

    Someone came up behind her and touched her shoulder, but she didn''t respond¡ªdidn''t bother to see who it was.

    There was a gaping hole where her heart had been. It was just as she¡¯d feared. Her family, her friends, everyone she had known since birth, was gone.

    If only she had tried harder to master her skills. Then maybe she could have saved them¡ªprevented this somehow.

    She should have done more.

    It was her fault Sterling had been kidnapped. It was her fault Lonan was dead. It was her fault Papa and everyone else were gone.

    Everything was her fault.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Five

    There was a palpable fear hanging over the room as Virelai slipped inside and took up a place in the back. If she was lucky, no one had noticed her late arrival.

    Her father was droning on about something or other, but she tuned it out. Instead, she took the chance to scan the faces in the room. Who had survived the night and who was missing? Soldiers mingled with the crowd of courtiers, but it appeared to Virelai that at least a third of the usual elves were not present.

    It was fewer than she would have expected, but then again, the courtiers maintained their position by bending to whoever held the most power. Their loyalty was near worthless when it shifted with the wind.

    "They will bow to us, or they will die. The elves will rule both worlds as it was meant to be," Gavaran roared, drawing Virelai¡¯s focus back to him.

    The crowd flinched when he slammed a fist against the throne he¡¯d had constructed for this occasion, the first address of his new court.

    Gavaran¡¯s eyes passed over the gathered courtiers and spotted her leaning against the wall.

    "Ah, Virelai. Come, daughter." He beckoned her forward.

    The crowd parted to let her through as she headed for the throne. Virelai held her head high as she brushed past the others. Her mask firmly in place. She was an expert at hiding her true feelings by now. After all, she had learned from the best.

    Arriving before her father, she curtsied, holding the pose until he bid her to rise. She hated having to bow before him, but she would do it. If it meant furthering her own plans, she would do just about anything.

    "What is that?" Gavaran asked, looking down at her. She glanced down at herself to see what he was staring at.

    There was the smallest spot of blood marring her dress. She hadn''t touched Eryx when she¡¯d brought Wisteria to the house, but somehow a bit of blood had still managed to work its way onto her skirts.

    Careless, she berated herself. She had to be vigilant, especially now with the new secrets she was hiding. If she slipped up, her father would start asking questions about her and that was something none of them could afford.

    "It''s nothing. I spilled jam at breakfast," Virelai lied. She hoped he would believe it. Thankfully, he didn''t comment on the dark smudges under her eyes after a long night of little sleep. She was supposed to have been tucked into bed, fast asleep, while the takeover happened.

    "I see," he said. "Do be more careful, daughter. You represent me now. We don''t want people thinking you are ... imprudent."

    She swallowed nervously. He suspected something.

    And why wouldn''t he? He was suspicious of everyone else. What was to stop him from suspecting his own daughter?

    "Of course, Father," Virelai said, bowing her head. "It won''t happen again."

    She wondered why he had called her before him. Was it only to berate and embarrass her in front of the others? Was he trying to prove that even she held no power in the new court? No matter, she would have to endure without complaint.

    "Good," Gavaran said.

    Virelai could feel his eyes boring into her, but she didn¡¯t lift her head.

    "The rest of you are dismissed."

    She peeked from beneath her lashes as he waved his hand at the group behind her, as though shooing away an annoying insect.

    The courtiers scurried from the room. None of them wanted to be singled out as Gavaran¡¯s next target. His reign so far had been short, but brutal. In the hours since he¡¯d taken control of the city, dozens had died and that had been after the fighting had stopped.

    Gavaran didn''t ask questions, only ordered executions. If he decreed you would die, your head was his. A fresh row of them decorated the outside of the city already. It was a message to anyone who dared disobey him. He would rule by fear and fear alone.

    Personally, Virelai thought it was tacky. If she was ruling, she wouldn''t use such cruel and gruesome methods to consolidate her power¡ªshe wouldn''t need to.

    Fear was all well and good, but you couldn''t hold a kingdom long term on that alone. Even she knew that. Gavaran wouldn''t be able to hold his newfound power for long. The thought made her want to smile, but she knew better than to show a hint of happiness in front of her father. He would pounce on it and rip it apart.

    "Now then," Gavaran said after the room had emptied of everyone except his personal guards. "I wanted to speak to you about your new role in the next era of my kingdom."

    Virelai mentally rolled her eyes. If things went according to her plans, it would be a very short era.

    "In case you thought you might be named as my heir, let me inform you that you will not, nor ever will be my heir. No female will again rule this kingdom. They have driven us into the ground, and I will no longer allow that to happen. Even you, my daughter, are not fit to handle the duties of a ruler."

    Her gaze snapped up from the floor to meet his eyes. He smiled cruelly at her small show of surprise.

    Virelai wanted to protest, but she knew better. Not a dissenting word would slip past her lips. Instead, she merely said, "Of course, Father. I will follow whatever path you have chosen for me."

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    For now, she added in her head.

    She would bide her time, and then she would strike. She had waited this long. What was a bit longer? Besides, what was her father going to do when the magic chose its new queen? He couldn''t mean to kill every female elf, and that is what he would have to do to stop the power from passing. Even he would be no match for someone who held that kind of strength.

    "Very good. I knew I could count on you to see reason, Virelai. The first order of business will be to find you a husband." He paused a moment, waiting for her reaction.

    She didn''t flinch or so much as bat an eyelash. She wouldn''t give him the satisfaction. Virelai met his eyes with a blank stare of her own. Gavaran had groomed her to be his perfect pawn, able to move her wherever he wanted on the game board. What he didn''t realize was that he¡¯d also created a fighter, and this pawn had every intention of making herself a queen, one move at a time. This announcement might set her back, but it wouldn''t put her out of the game.

    Not yet, at least.

    Gavaran continued speaking when he realized he wouldn''t get a reaction out of her. "I have given this a lot of thought and there are a few ideas I have in mind."

    She knew what that meant. He¡¯d already promised her to someone, but didn''t want to tell her who it was yet. He wanted to make her squirm and also use her as leverage to hold over whoever he had chosen. Another method of gathering power.

    Virelai smiled demurely, casting her eyes down, the picture of an obedient daughter. "Of course, Father. I will happily await your decision," she told him.

    She would, of course, do no such thing.

    He grunted and dismissed her with a wave of his hand, no longer interested in her if he couldn''t get a rise out of her. Virelai curtsied, keeping her eyes down, and backed out of the room.

    Once in the hallway, she let the mask fall away. She could feel the eyes of one of the guards on her, and she turned to stare back at him. He quickly looked away.

    She left the guard behind, stalking deeper into the castle. She would need to play the role of obedient daughter for a few days more until her father''s spies lost interest in her. Once they were sure she was harmless, he would have them move on to more important targets. Only then would she be free to return to the house in the city, and Eryx had better be on the mend. It seemed she would have need of him sooner than she had thought.

    <hr>

    The more Virelai thought about it over the next few days, the more it seemed her father''s plan to marry her off was a ploy. He meant to distract her¡ªbut the question was, from what? Virelai was certain if he truly wanted her married, he would have simply had it done and not bothered to inform her ahead of time. By telling her, he knew she would be contemplating ways to avoid it, and therefore, her focus would not be on him.

    Virelai let herself in the front door of the house and stopped short when an iron kettle appeared inches from her nose.

    She shoved it aside. "What do you think you¡¯re doing? Put that down."

    "Oh. It''s you." Wisteria''s shoulders slumped, and the kettle slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a hollow clang.

    "Of course, it''s me. Who else would it be?" Virelai snapped in annoyance.

    Wisteria''s lip wobbled, her fingers tightening around a bloody rag she held in her other hand. "I don''t know. I thought¡ªI thought maybe they were coming for us."

    Virelai snorted. "Please. The only person you have to worry about coming for you is me. Is Eryx still alive?"

    The other girl nodded before turning and drifting back into the bedroom, leaving the kettle laying on the floor where she¡¯d dropped it. Virelai followed, scowling as she stepped over the abandoned pot.

    She left her bag of supplies on the table before stepping into the bedroom, where she found Eryx looking slightly cleaner than the last time she¡¯d seen him. Wisteria had managed to get most of the blood off of him, and she¡¯d even changed the linens.

    Eryx''s eyes were shut, and he was breathing slowly.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, do you think you could help me move him?¡± Wisteria asked. ¡°The linens should be changed regularly, and it would be easier with two of us. It took me forever the first time.¡±

    Virelai¡¯s nose wrinkled in distaste. ¡°If it must be done. Are his wounds healing?¡± He was certainly covered in enough bandages.

    Wisteria shrugged. "I¡¯m not sure, but I sewed them up as best I could."

    "You sewed them?"

    "It was the only thing I could think to do to close the holes. His body wasn''t doing it for him, so I stitched it shut like I was fixing a hole in my dress." Wisteria looked a little green around the edges as she described what she had done.

    "And it worked?"

    "It stopped the bleeding, and I think the skin is knitting together. It would go faster if I could get him to eat more than a few spoonfuls of broth or better yet, if we had a healer," she said pointedly.

    Virelai waved her away. "I told you Neorah is dead."

    "But someone else, maybe."

    "There is no one else, and if there was, we wouldn''t be able to trust them. My father saw to it that anyone known to be loyal to the former prince is now decorating the walls of the city."

    "What do you mean decorating? He is making them work?"

    Virelai laughed. "Oh no, they aren''t working, at least not in this life. Their heads are on stakes, and right now, I''m the only one preventing the two of you from ending up the same way."

    Wisteria looked back at Eryx. "Why?" she whispered.

    "Why, what?"

    "Why save us?"

    "I need allies."

    "For what? Aren''t you a princess now? What could you possibly need allies for¡ªand ones who are supporters of Kaimana at that?"

    Virelai snorted. "You don''t know my father. I''m not any better off than you are, and I intend to change that. Your precious prince may have abandoned this kingdom, but I haven''t."

    Eryx''s eyelids fluttered, and he mumbled something incoherent.

    "What did he say?" Virelai asked, moving closer to the bed.

    "I think he said queen," Wisteria answered.

    "Well, I''m flattered, but I''m not a queen yet."

    "No." Wisteria tore her eyes away from Eryx. "That isn''t what he meant. Prince Kaimana didn''t abandon us. He is bringing back our queen."

    "What are you talking about? We don''t have a queen. The magic hasn''t chosen anyone yet."

    "And you haven''t wondered why? How long has it been since the former queen passed?"

    It had to be getting close to a year.

    "Don''t you think the magic would have chosen a successor by now?" Wisteria continued.

    "Unless it didn''t need to," Virelai said slowly.

    "Yes," Eryx rasped. His eyes were open but unfocused.

    Virelai leaned forward. "Yes, what?"

    He swallowed, seeming to gather his strength before he spoke. "She lives."

    "Kaimana''s sister? No, it''s not possible. The Queen announced her death herself."

    "It has to be," Wisteria argued. "Why do you think Kai spent all those months away and brought Seraiah back with him? I heard her say they were looking for her sister."

    Virelai shook her head. "Kai wouldn''t waste time looking for a human."

    "But what if she wasn''t human? What if Seraiah''s sister and Kai''s sister are one and the same?"

    "I suppose it''s possible," Virelai conceded.

    "Kai is going to find her and bring her back. I know it," Wisteria said, "and then she will restore our kingdom."

    "He¡¯s going to need more than his sister if he intends to take this city away from my father. He will need an army, and even then, it might be an impossible task."

    "He has us," Wisteria said. "You said you wanted to protect this kingdom, didn''t you? Here is your chance. Help him."

    Virelai was silent. This wasn''t exactly what she had in mind, but anything was better than her father¡ªeven an unknown queen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see what can be done,¡± Virelai finally said, ¡°but I make no promises.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Six

    Seraiah took a tentative step into the room. Without a fire in the hearth, cold leached through the stone of the castle walls, turning the air inside frigid. She still wore the cloak she¡¯d borrowed in Baromund, as she refused to set foot in her former home, but it did little against the bitter chill intent on settling into her bones.

    Once Seraiah had picked herself up out of the snow on the day they¡¯d arrived in Ratha, she¡¯d decided she didn¡¯t want to know what might be in her home. She wasn¡¯t yet ready to find out if Papa had disappeared along with everyone else or if something else had gotten to him first.

    Kestrel suggested taking rooms at the Grumbling Bear Inn, so that was what they had done. Like the inn in Baromund, the downstairs had appeared as though people had vanished in the middle of what they were doing. Upstairs, the rooms to be rented had been empty. Unlike Baromund, Ratha didn¡¯t see many¡ªif any¡ªvisitors. The four of them had dusted things off, found linens, and claimed the empty rooms for their own.

    In the days since, Seraiah had been on a search for clues. There had to be something here that could tell her what had happened or where everyone had gone.

    She needed to know this wasn¡¯t her fault.

    While Sterling worked at her training, Seraiah worked at hers. Every day, she attempted to summon a vision, but every night when she fell asleep, she dreamed of Lonan. She tried using various objects she¡¯d found around the inn, but the trouble was, she didn¡¯t know the people they belonged to. She had no connection to them. The easiest thing to do would have been to go to her old house and find something of Papa¡¯s, but instead, Seraiah had come here to the castle.

    The room was small and sparse, but it looked exactly like the one she¡¯d seen in her vision of Ariya. The rest of Ariya¡¯s family had lived elsewhere on the grounds, but since Ariya was a lady¡¯s maid, she was provided a room inside the castle itself. Seraiah had only been here once before since Ariya usually met her at the library.

    She crossed the space to a wardrobe. Inside, she found it stuffed with dresses she recognized. If there were any missing, she couldn¡¯t tell. Seraiah lifted one ink spotted sleeve, remembering the last time she¡¯d seen Ariya. Her friend had found her in the scribe room with a puddle of spilled ink and tears in her eyes. She¡¯d promised to find a way to help Seraiah rescue Sterling, and she had. If not for her, Seraiah might never have met Kai or Kestrel.

    Seraiah dropped the sleeve. She didn¡¯t want to imagine how everything might have turned out differently had she never left with them.

    Leaving the wardrobe, she passed to the small washstand with a looking glass hung above it. A pitcher next to the basin held water with a sheet of ice over the top. Two hair ribbons, one dark green and the other yellow, lay on the other side. Seraiah touched the green ribbon. The ends were frayed from use. It had the potential to work for her visions.

    She tucked it into her pocket, leaving the yellow one behind.

    Then she turned to the bed. It was made up and appeared unslept in. A single pillow leaned against the wooden bed frame. Either Ariya kept her room neat, and they had disappeared during the day or . . .

    Seraiah could not consider the alternative.

    She stepped closer and saw the hairbrush on the table next to the bed was free of any hair. The chipped paint on the wooden handle, however, indicated the brush was not new. A white handkerchief was tucked beneath it. She lifted the brush and set it aside before reaching for the piece of fabric.

    She paused before her fingers could make contact.

    Small spots marred the otherwise pristine handkerchief. They were faded as though someone had washed it but hadn¡¯t been able to remove the stains. Her mind flashed back to Ariya in her vision. She¡¯d been tucked in bed, holding a handkerchief just like this one to her mouth as she coughed, leaving flecks of blood behind.

    ¡°Find anything?¡±

    Seraiah jumped, pulling her hand away from the handkerchief. Kai stood just inside the doorway, but she hadn¡¯t heard him arrive.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she said. ¡°This is Ariya¡¯s room, at least. I took one of the hair ribbons to use for summoning a vision.¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not sure she went missing.¡± Her eyes went back to the speckled handkerchief. It should have been burned, not washed, and returned to this room. That was how they tried to stop the spread. They burned everything the infected had come in contact with.

    Kai stepped up behind her and looked over her shoulder at the table. ¡°What do you see?¡± he asked, sending a shiver up her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

    She explained her vision and her fear.

    ¡°You won¡¯t know until you try,¡± Kai said. ¡°There are people who have survived the fever, aren¡¯t there?¡±

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of, and I can¡¯t say I would trust my visions, given my lack of skills.¡± She left the handkerchief where it was. It might work better than the hair ribbon, but she didn¡¯t dare touch it even if it had been washed.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done the best you can with what you have. Speaking of, I have something that might help,¡± Kai said, backing up to give her space as she crossed the room again to close the open wardrobe. Even with no one here, it felt wrong not to leave things as she¡¯d found them.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Kai pulled something from a pocket beneath his cloak and held it out to her. ¡°I should have given it to you sooner,¡± he said, ¡°but it kept slipping my mind, what with rescuing Sterling and everything else we¡¯ve encountered since.¡±

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    ¡°What is it?¡± Seraiah took the small book from him. It was wrapped in worn brown leather, with no markings on the outside.

    ¡°It¡¯s the old elven court seer¡¯s journal.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes flicked up to meet his. ¡°Where did you get this?¡±

    ¡°Surprisingly enough, Virelai gave it to me, and she didn¡¯t even make me pay for it.¡± His lips quirked up at the corners. ¡°I was reading it that night.¡±

    He didn¡¯t need to specify which night he meant. She knew all too well.

    ¡°And I¡¯ve been carrying it around ever since,¡± he continued. ¡°I didn¡¯t get far in it, but maybe there¡¯s something there that you can use. Something I missed.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªthank you.¡± Her thoughts raced at the possibilities this book could contain. The things she could learn. The people she might protect.

    ¡°Seraiah¡ª¡±

    Whatever Kai had been about to say was cut off as Sterling pushed into the room behind him.

    ¡°Have you seen the greenhouses here?¡± Sterling asked. ¡°I mean, they are mostly all dead now since there was no one to water them, but have you seen how big they are?¡±

    Kestrel entered behind Sterling, and suddenly the little room felt crowded.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen it, yes,¡± Seraiah said, hugging the journal to her chest. There were many places in the castle she had seen thanks to her job in the library and her friendship with Ariya. It had been hard not to be jealous of everything when there was so little to go around in the city.

    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± she directed the question to Kestrel. The two of them had been searching on the castle grounds while she and Kai had been inside.

    Kestrel shook her head. ¡°Nothing new. You?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Seraiah echoed, ¡°but there are still many places to look. We can try again tomorrow.¡± She was losing hope that they would find any clues left behind. She had a feeling if they were going to learn anything, it would be from her visions¡ªif only she could summon one.

    <hr>

    Ren slipped through the crowded streets of Daralis, the capital of Himera, keeping his eyes downcast. He tugged on his gloves to make sure they were in place¡ªa nervous habit he couldn''t manage to break. It felt odd to not be wearing his black mage¡¯s robes after years of nothing else. If he was truthful, he sort of missed them. The memory of Sterling telling him he was part of a cult for wearing them made him smile, but the smile faded as quickly as it had come. He hated that he¡¯d been a part of the group holding her captive¡ªhe hated a lot of things he¡¯d done in his life¡ªbut he was planning to make up for it.

    Instinctively, Ren reached with his mind for the mark he¡¯d left on Sterling''s sister. Not only did his necromancer abilities grant him power over the dead, but it offered him a bit of sway over the living as well.

    He¡¯d discovered this by accident when he¡¯d placed a similar mark on his younger brother before his hands had been completely stained with the darkness of death.

    They¡¯d been fighting over a toy. Their family had been poor and could afford very little to keep the children entertained. As the oldest, Ren felt he owned the right to play with any toys first, and his siblings would have to wait until he was finished.

    One day, his younger brother, Balder, decided he didn''t like this and wanted to fight the status quo¡ªeven then he had a brave little soldier''s heart. Balder made a grab for the wooden block, but Ren was faster. His hand shot out and latched around his brother''s thin wrist.

    "Ow! You''re hurting me, En!" Balder whined as he wiggled and tried to pull away.

    Ren only squeezed tighter. "It''s mine, Bal. You have to wait until I say you can play with it."

    The younger boy stopped squirming and nodded his head, a glazed look having overtaken his eyes. The wooden block fell from his fingers, immediately forgotten. When Ren let go, there had been prints of his fingers left behind. His mother found the marks later that night and assumed they were bruises. She sent Ren to bed with no dinner as punishment for playing rough.

    A few days passed, and the bruises should have healed, but they didn''t change. The marks remained, as did his brother''s obedience. He never again tried to take a toy from Ren.

    It hadn''t been long after the incident when Ren had been sent away¡ªnot for leaving those marks on Bal, though, but for something much worse.

    The mark he¡¯d left on Seraiah pulsed¡ªa slow, steady beat. It had grown stronger the moment he¡¯d entered the human world, which meant she was probably here as well, but it was still faint enough that he knew she wasn''t nearby.

    He could go through the trouble of finding her, and therefore, finding Sterling, but there was some business he needed to take care of first. Besides, what was the fun of tracking her down when he could compel her to come to him?

    Ren gave a little tug on the mark binding them and waited for the answering pulse. Sterling had talked nonstop about Seraiah, so he knew the sisters were close, and it was unlikely Seraiah would let Sterling out of her sight. Hopefully, they would both come at his call, and then he could explain things¡ªfix what he had done. He just hoped Sterling would forgive him.

    His shoulder bumped another man passing in the opposite direction.

    "Hey, watch where you''re going." The man glared at Ren.

    "My apologies, sir."

    When Ren¡¯s eyes met his, the man ducked his head and mumbled something before hurrying off into the crowd. He must have seen something in Ren''s face that frightened him. Ren smiled as he watched the man get eaten up by the crush of people before he turned and continued on his way.

    It took him a while to find the right street, but he finally located it. It was less crowded, and the people didn''t look at him sideways with suspicious eyes. Those who wandered here were used to seeing rough characters in this poorer part of the capital.

    Ren watched the house from across the street, trying to remember if it looked the way it had when he was a child. No matter how he tried, he couldn''t seem to recall the little details of the place he had called home at the beginning of his life.

    As Ren observed it now, he realized he didn''t even know if his family still lived here. For all he knew, they could be dead or maybe moved far from this place to avoid something like this¡ªavoid the son with the strange ability to raise the dead from returning to haunt them again.

    He shoved his hands in his pockets as he stared at the little house that had seen better days. It leaned slightly to the left as though a strong wind had blown it that way, and it had stuck. The paint was peeling off the wooden door in long curls and a forgotten linen hung from the drying line. One of the stone steps leading up to the door had crumbled away at the corner, and the little patch of dirt next to the stairs where he and his siblings used to play was now sprouting weeds. Everything about the place seemed older and more run down than he remembered. It couldn''t possibly have been like this when he had lived here. He remembered a cheerful house full of noise and activity.

    As he stared, lost in memories, the front door opened, and a woman stepped out. Her dark hair, streaked through with gray, was pulled back away from her face, and she wore a simple but clean dress. There was a no-nonsense manner about her that seemed familiar to him as she stepped off the front step and headed down the street. Her gaze darted across the road to meet his and briefly in that moment¡ªhe knew.

    "Mother."

    Then the moment was broken, and the woman hurried on, off to run errands in the city.

    Ren glanced back at the house, which remained quiet. Why was she alone? If she was still here, were the others around as well? Was his father still in the army, or had he returned home? Did his siblings still live in the city? The questions crowded his mind.

    He shook himself. He needed to stop this.

    They had sent him away and made it abundantly clear they didn''t want him. His own mother hadn''t even recognized him. He had only wanted to see the place once more for himself, and he wouldn''t come back.

    Ren forced himself to walk in the opposite direction the woman had taken. The urge to look back at the house was strong, but he resisted, pushing himself deeper into the city and away from his childhood home.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Seven

    "Close your eyes and try to clear your mind," Kai told her. Easier said than done, Sterling thought, but did as he said, attempting to empty her head of every thought, bouncing around and demanding attention.

    The two of them were once again trying to call her magic. Ren had told her she¡¯d inherited the elven magic¡ªvery powerful magic¡ªbut she¡¯d never seen any sign of it. Kai insisted it had to be there, and he would help her access it.

    Every day they practiced, and every day she failed.

    She would much rather be training with Kestrel instead. That sort of physical training she understood. This she did not.

    Sterling sighed and opened her eyes. Kai¡¯s gray eyes, almost identical to her own, stared back at her.

    He appeared about to say something, but she spoke first.

    ¡°Tell me about our family. How did I end up here in the human world?¡±

    His brows shot up.

    Good, she¡¯d surprised him. Maybe if she could keep him talking, he would forget about practicing magic and what a failure she was.

    She¡¯d never asked him about their family before or anything about the elves, really. In truth, unless they were speaking about her magic, they didn¡¯t talk at all. It was the same with Kestrel. They were too busy practicing fighting moves to have time to discuss anything else.

    She also hadn¡¯t worked up the courage yet. Sterling feared the answer to why her family had sent her away, especially now that she was unable to summon her magic, was because she was broken.

    Not broken, the voices in her head whispered. You will show them all. Wait and sssee.

    Those voices had been whispering to her for weeks now. Ever since they had crossed into the human world, or maybe a little before then. The harder she tried to clear her mind, the louder they became. They whispered to her, telling her lies and horrible things. She was hesitant to mention the voices to Kai or anyone else. She didn''t want them to question her sanity and give them another reason to doubt her.

    ¡°Our mother was the Queen of Nyrene. Like you, she was very powerful, and the elves prospered during her reign. She changed many things for the better¡ªthough maybe not all would agree. You look just like her,¡± Kai added.

    ¡°And our father?¡±

    Kai stared at a point on the wall, somewhere over her shoulder. ¡°Unfortunately, there isn¡¯t much I know about him. My memories of him are few. I don¡¯t think he spent much time in the kingdom, and he disappeared not long after our mother became pregnant with you. No one seemed to know what had become of him, not even Mother.¡±

    ¡°Is that why I was sent away? Was it because I was a reminder of something bad that happened?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if this was any better than being sent away because she was broken.

    Kai¡¯s eyes cut to her again. ¡°No. I mean, I don¡¯t know why you were sent away, or if you were stolen away, but I don¡¯t think that would be the reason.¡±

    ¡°I might have been kidnapped?¡± She¡¯d never considered the possibility before.

    Kai frowned. ¡°Jensira was part of the Queen¡¯s Guard. Perhaps the closest elf to the Queen. There was no reason to expect she might do something like this, but we also have no evidence that she didn¡¯t kidnap you.¡±

    Sterling flipped through the memories of the only mother she¡¯d ever known. Jensira had been kind and loving, but maybe that didn¡¯t mean anything. Perhaps she¡¯d been jealous of the Queen¡¯s baby and thought to take her for her own. If she had, she never would have done anything to let Sterling know the truth.

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    Another thought niggled at the back of her mind. How did Seraiah¡¯s nightmare factor into all of this?

    If Kai knew, he didn¡¯t volunteer the information.

    ¡°When do you think we might go back there?¡± she asked. ¡°To Nyrene, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Not any time soon. You aren¡¯t ready. It isn¡¯t safe there, and we will need your magic and likely an army to take back the city.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t much she could do about her lack of magic, but maybe there was something they could do about the army. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go somewhere else, then? We can¡¯t gather an army in a city empty of people.¡±

    Kai frowned. ¡°We¡¯re still looking for clues as to what happened here.¡±

    ¡°But we haven¡¯t found anything. What if they all went south to the capital or if someone there might have heard something? We could work on our army and look for clues at the same time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good suggestion,¡± he said slowly, ¡°and I¡¯ve considered it, but I would have to get Kestrel and Seraiah to agree.¡±

    Sterling knew well enough from listening in on conversations that Kestrel wouldn¡¯t be a problem. She wanted to get back to Nyrene as badly as Sterling did¡ªmaybe more. No, the problem would be convincing Seraiah. She knew Kai wouldn¡¯t want to go against her sister. Sterling had seen the way the two of them looked at each other when they thought the other wasn¡¯t paying attention. They were drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Something must have happened between them, but whatever it was, her sister refused to talk to her about it.

    ¡°For now, let¡¯s get back to practicing your magic,¡± Kai said.

    Sterling sighed, but closed her eyes.

    <hr>

    Sterling¡¯s eyes moved beneath her lids as she sat across the table from him, palms resting face up on the surface. In the few weeks since she¡¯d asked him to teach her, they¡¯d yet to be successful in calling her magic. He had tried everything he¡¯d known to do, but none of it had worked.

    It hadn¡¯t been this hard for him when he was learning. The moment he¡¯d reached for his magic, he¡¯d felt its answering call. According to Sterling, she felt nothing, no matter how she tried.

    Kai pursed his lips as he stared at her. It still troubled him how easily Gavaran had let her go. He hadn¡¯t been able to make sense of it before, but now he wondered if this was the reason. Was there something wrong with Sterling¡¯s magic or was there something else she wasn¡¯t telling him? Perhaps she¡¯d felt how strong it was and was afraid of it.

    No, he decided. He¡¯d know if she could feel it. His own magic would respond.

    Kai tugged on his magic, feeling its sluggish response. It was better now that he was near her, but it wasn¡¯t what it should be. If she had access to hers, his should be at full strength.

    Sterling¡¯s eyes popped open.

    ¡°Anything?¡±

    She shook her head, looking down at the scarred tabletop.

    ¡°We can try again tomorrow if you want,¡± he offered. ¡°It¡¯s getting late anyway, and I know Kestrel likes you to get an early start.¡±

    Sterling didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She was up from the table and climbing the stairs so fast it was as though she couldn¡¯t wait to escape.

    He couldn¡¯t blame her.

    They¡¯d all told her how powerful she was, and yet she couldn¡¯t seem to harness any of it. He¡¯d tried his best not to push her too much, but every day she remained unable to summon the magic, the more he worried.

    With what power he had now, he would be unable to fix the portals by himself. Even with Kestrel¡¯s help, he doubted they could do it. The longer the portals remained unattended, meant more opportunity for the barriers to fail completely. He feared whatever was the source of the winter weather here in Ratha and now Baromund would continue to spread. It wouldn¡¯t be long before more creatures like the Varanem slipped through as well. They might even be here already.

    Even before Sterling had brought it up, he¡¯d been mulling over the idea of leaving Ratha. He didn¡¯t believe he could gather an army in this world, as Sterling had suggested. Given the elves¡¯ history with humans, he doubted any such conversations would go well, but it might be advantageous to be among others instead of isolated in an empty city. There was something to be said for safety in numbers, especially with the failing portals.

    Kai drummed his fingers restlessly on the table.

    Numbers may bring safety in some respects, but in others they also brought more danger. They wouldn¡¯t be able to freely practice magic as they did here.

    He¡¯d spent enough time in the human lands while searching for Sterling to learn of the human king who hated magic. Even in cities a great distance from the capital, humans were afraid to so much as whisper the word for fear of punishment. Being found practicing magic would only make their problems worse, not solve them.

    The fire crackled and hissed, shooting out a spray of sparks as a log broke apart.

    There were many factors to weigh in deciding whether to leave, and Kai wasn¡¯t sure it should be up to him.

    Look at how everything in Nyrene had turned out. He¡¯d lost control of the city and gotten them exiled. Many elves had died.

    No, he should not be the one responsible for making the decision. He¡¯d have to bring it to Seraiah and Kestrel as he¡¯d told Sterling, because his judgment should not be trusted anymore.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Eight

    Seraiah let herself into her room at the Grumbling Bear Inn and shed her cloak. A fire already burned in the small hearth, likely courtesy of Kestrel. Kai and Sterling were downstairs in the main room, working on Sterling¡¯s magic again. Based on the sighs she¡¯d heard, it wasn¡¯t going well.

    Though these days it was hard to tell with Sterling, as she seemed to sigh over everything.

    Seraiah arranged the stubby candles she¡¯d collected from around the inn on a small table she¡¯d dragged inside her room. As she was lighting them, she heard the telltale thump of Sterling¡¯s tread on the stairs.

    She paused a moment, listening for a knock on her door, but none came. Instead, the footsteps passed by her door and continued down the hall. It wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected since Sterling came to her less and less, but Seraiah still couldn¡¯t help hoping her sister might want to talk. She hesitated to push her, though. None of them truly knew what Sterling had been through in her time with the mages, but Seraiah believed she would open up when she was ready.

    Seraiah returned to lighting her candles and then settled in at the table. She briefly touched the green ribbon she¡¯d taken from Ariya¡¯s room. The past two nights had been spent trying to call a vision with it, but tonight, she wanted to do something different. She pulled the small leather-bound journal Kai had gifted her in front of her.

    As excited as she¡¯d been to receive it, a part of her was also afraid of what she might find inside. What if all her attempts at calling her visions were for nothing? She knew it was silly. It would be better to know than to keep wasting her time, but still she¡¯d hesitated. During the day, she¡¯d combed the rest of the castle for clues of the missing people and at night, she¡¯d clutched Ariya¡¯s ribbon and pictured her friend in her mind. It had been many weeks since she¡¯d seen her friend¡ªalmost an entire season¡ªand her image had grown fuzzy. Seraiah felt like she recalled less of her every day.

    She was running short on time, and she needed to seek answers any way she could.

    Seraiah opened the front cover. There on the inside in spidery handwriting was a name.

    "Atherly Zandion," she whispered it to herself, tracing a finger over the letters. The name was at once familiar and foreign to her, but she couldn''t quite figure out why. Kai had said this was the old elven court seer from when he was a child. She hadn¡¯t asked, but she assumed the man must have passed by now, since no one had spoken of him while she was in Nyrene.

    She turned her gaze to the first page. There was a date in cramped writing at the top of the right-hand corner. It appeared as though the writer had added it as an afterthought. Seraiah had to squint and bring the book close to her face to make out the numbers. If she was reading it correctly, it seemed this first entry was from over thirty years ago.

    I have been in this strange new world for more than a week now. The people who took me from my home look to be human except for their curiously pointed ears, and there have been whispers of these people being magic wielders, but I have seen no evidence of this as of yet. I have been kept away from the other humans, but I know they are here. I have seen them with my own eyes, but when I tried to call out to them, they ignored me. I wonder why? What would make them ignore another human? The next time I see them, I will have to try again. I need to know more about this world and what is expected of me. I need to know if I will ever get home to my wife or see my daughter''s face again. Thus far, my captors haven''t seen fit to answer any of my questions. I fear the worst.

    The next few entries continued on in the same manner.

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    Seraiah sighed and sat back. This wasn''t what she was looking for. There was no mention of any dreams or seer abilities. Perhaps this was why Virelai had given the journal to Kai without asking anything in return¡ªit was entirely useless.

    She continued turning pages, scanning instead of fully reading them.

    ¡°No. No. No,¡± she murmured with each one. More observations and talk about the elves¡ªnothing useful.

    Seraiah rubbed at her gritty eyes. The fire in the hearth had died down and cold was creeping into the room. Maybe it was time to go to sleep. She wanted to be at the castle again early tomorrow.

    One more entry, she decided. She would read one more entry, and then she would sleep.

    Turning another of the delicate pages, she found the next entry was dated ten years in the future.

    I am able to call the dreams at will now.

    Seraiah jerked upright, suddenly wide awake. This was it.

    I have practiced using objects belonging to specific people I wish to see, and that seems to bring them on more readily. The object has to be something precious to the person, however, and not simply any belonging. Unfortunately, it seems I must be holding the object as I fall asleep. I am not yet able to summon a vision while awake. This will take more study. The Queen still asks that I report all dreams to her, even the mundane. She is particularly interested in the dreams that relate to the kingdom and its welfare, but I have little to tell her of such matters.

    None of this information was new to Seraiah, but it was nice to know Kestrel had been right about using objects as a focus. Her eyes strayed to Ariya¡¯s ribbon. Perhaps the reason she hadn¡¯t been able to see her yet was because the ribbon hadn¡¯t meant anything to her friend other than something pretty to put in her hair. She¡¯d need to go back and search her friend¡¯s room for something else.

    Seraiah turned the page and continued reading as another of her candles went out. There was only one remaining now, and it wasn''t much more than a pool of wax. She could have gone to look for others, but she couldn¡¯t be bothered right now. She wasn¡¯t planning to stay up for much longer. Only a little more, and then she would go to bed. The rest could wait for morning.

    She skimmed the next few entries, which continued talking about objects and various dreams Atherly had about the occupants of the castle. None of the names were familiar to her. Then he experimented with sleeping potions. The Queen was now pregnant with her first child and was pushing for more visions of the future.

    Suddenly, the entries became rambling and were mostly nonsense, as far as Seraiah could tell. There were bits about talking animals, and one entry simply said beware of the sheep. The writing grew harder to read the further she read, and Seraiah questioned the man''s sanity.

    With the ramblings also came more visions, and Seraiah finally recognized their subjects. Atherly wrote about one dream of a little silver-haired boy who carried a weight on his shoulders and a deep sadness in his eyes. He could only be referring to Kai. The prince may have grown up, but he¡¯d shed neither the weight nor the sadness.

    The next entry took on a different tone. Atherly was excited. He could now call the visions at will. Seraiah bit her lip. This was what she needed to know. If she could call visions at will, none of them would ever have to worry. She could find the missing people and protect those she loved.

    I have finally found it. The herbs I needed were right under my nose all along. I should have asked to visit the

    To her disappointment, the entry cut off abruptly, ending in a smear of ink as though he had held his quill on the page for too long, allowing the ink to bleed out. Seraiah''s candle flickered, and she knew at any moment it was going to go out.

    Hurriedly, she scanned the next few entries and found they were more bits of nonsense. She¡¯d almost reached the end of the little book at this point. One more page, she promised herself, just one more.

    The next entry chilled her to the bone.

    I have made a grave mistake. I know now that I should never have tried to bring on the visions. The stronger they grow and the more I have, the weaker my mind becomes. My lucid days are now few and far between. More and more, my time is spent inside my head in a world of shadows and monsters. I can no longer tell what is real and what is a fabrication of my mind. I fear one day soon I will no longer come back. I will be forever stuck in this in-between world. It seems this is the fate of all seers who exercise their abilities. No one is meant to know the future, but it''s hard to fight the curiosity. It is so very hard.

    The candle took that moment to gutter out, leaving Seraiah to sit in the dark and ponder what this meant for her.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Nine

    Seraiah awoke with a pain in her neck. She blinked blearily at the table in front of her as she rubbed a hand against the tight muscles. Pools of wax and the open journal lay before her. She must have fallen asleep here last night.

    After the candle had gone out, she¡¯d sat there in the dark, her thoughts racing. She hadn¡¯t been able to force herself to get up and go to bed when there was so much to think about¡ªto consider.

    Seraiah stopped rubbing her neck and flipped the journal closed. Even now, it all felt like a dream. Discovering there was a way to call the visions at will, but also that they had a dangerous side effect.

    I¡¯m going to go mad, she thought. If I keep trying to help people, I¡¯m going to go mad.

    But what if Atherly was mistaken?

    Kai and Kestrel had known him when they were children. She could ask them about him. They might know if he was truly mad or if there were rumors about him.

    On second thought, she couldn¡¯t have them asking questions about why she wanted to know. They might figure out the potential for madness that came with using her visions and would want her to stop. They¡¯d want to protect her and would try to sway her decision. No, for now she must keep it to herself until she made up her mind about what she wanted to do. Only she could be allowed to decide if she was willing to sacrifice herself for others.

    An image of Sterling¡¯s shadowed eyes flashed through her head.

    What if it was already too late for her? Sterling had accused her of being paranoid, and it felt like she was seeing things that weren¡¯t truly there when the shadows in Sterling¡¯s eyes disappeared between one blink and the next. Could it be the madness was already taking hold of her?

    Footsteps in the hall startled her from her thoughts. The others were already moving about for the day, which meant she needed to get moving as well. She had more searching to do in the castle.

    Seraiah stood from the desk and stretched, her back and shoulders protesting after a night spent sleeping in a chair. Her gaze went to the journal again.

    Who knows, perhaps there was a cure for the madness. Atherly may not have mentioned one in the entries she had read, but that didn¡¯t mean one didn¡¯t exist. If the Summer King had given her a potion to summon a vision, then maybe. . . maybe . . .

    Seraiah crossed to the washstand and splashed water on her face. The iciness felt like needles against her skin and cleared the remaining haze of sleep. Now was not the time to be thinking about paying a visit to the Summer King. Her help was needed here in the human world.

    Seraiah rubbed at her neck again, this time tracing the dark mark that ran down the side. It had been itching lately and seemed to be growing bigger again. What had started as a small spot the size of a fingerprint now stretched down to caress her collarbone.

    She sighed and dropped her hand. There were only so many things she could worry about at once and right now her main concern was finding the missing people using her visions. Everything else would have to wait.

    <hr>

    Kai found Seraiah leaning against the low stone wall encircling the training area at the castle. He¡¯d tried to catch her before she left the inn, but she¡¯d somehow slipped past him. She must have skipped breakfast and come straight here.

    ¡°Morning,¡± he said, joining her at the fence. On the other side, Kestrel and Sterling sparred with wooden practice swords. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±

    To Seraiah¡¯s credit, she didn¡¯t jump, so she must have heard his approach.

    ¡°Fine. Same as always,¡± she said, not moving her gaze from the ring.

    The dark smudges marring the pale skin under her eyes told him she must have spent many hours awake. From what little she¡¯d shared, she hadn¡¯t made any progress with calling a vision, and that didn¡¯t appear to have changed.

    ¡°Yourself?¡± she added belatedly, sounding distracted.

    ¡°Same as you. Did you know you have candle wax in your hair?¡±

    That finally got her to look away from the fighting pair. ¡°What?¡± She touched the end of her braid, her cheeks turning a faint pink.

    ¡°Here.¡± Kai plucked the bit from a strand near her forehead. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t keep candles on your pillow. It¡¯s a fire hazard.¡± He tucked the loose strands behind her ear, letting his fingers linger. He should have been wearing gloves to protect against the cold, but he¡¯d left them back in his room.

    At a cry from the ring, Seraiah pulled away with a mumbled thank you, and he let his hand fall back to his side.

    ¡°Good job,¡± Kestrel said to Sterling as she shoved her wooden blade away. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see you do it again.¡±

    The thwack of wood against wood filled the air a moment later.

    ¡°Sterling seems to be doing well in her training with Kestrel,¡± Kai said.

    Seraiah snorted. ¡°She¡¯s certainly much better than I ever was. She¡¯ll pass my skills soon if she hasn¡¯t already.¡± There was a wistful note in her voice. ¡°I should go.¡± She turned toward the stone building behind them. ¡°I have more searching to do.¡±

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    ¡°Or you could stay,¡± he said, moving into her path before she take more than a step, ¡°and you could practice. If you¡¯re concerned about your skills getting rusty¡ª¡±

    She folded her arms and tilted her chin up to look at him. ¡°I am not. Besides, Kestrel is busy with Sterling now, and I wouldn¡¯t want to take that away from her, given how much Sterling seems to enjoy it. There¡¯s little enough to make her happy these days.¡±

    He heard her unspoken words. There was little enough to make any of them happy. He couldn¡¯t recall the last time he¡¯d seen her smile.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t suggesting practicing with Kestrel,¡± he told her. ¡°She isn¡¯t the only one here who knows how to handle a blade. Or have you forgotten?¡± He deliberately let his eyes drop to the dagger he¡¯d gifted her and later stolen from her when she¡¯d let her guard down. He¡¯d noticed she never went anywhere without it, despite the fact that they were alone in the city.

    Seraiah took a step back from him, hand falling to the hilt of the weapon as though she were afraid he would try to take it again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy with other things? I wouldn¡¯t think you had the time.¡±

    ¡°I always have time for you.¡±

    Color spread across Seraiah¡¯s face again.

    Kai had nothing but time these days. Beyond working with Sterling on her magic, he was essentially useless here. Sure, he looked for clues of what had happened to the missing people, but it wasn¡¯t as though he¡¯d ever found anything. He had a few vague theories at best.

    He was stuck, and frankly, he could use the distraction.

    ¡°What do you say? One bout. Winner doesn¡¯t have to cook dinner.¡±

    They all took turns with meals, and no one liked the chore.

    Seraiah raised one brow. ¡°I think it would be a mercy for us all if I let you win.¡±

    He pressed a hand to his chest. ¡°You wound me. I am an excellent cook.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t, but at least he¡¯d never started anything on fire. The same could not be said of Sterling, and she hadn¡¯t even used magic. He still didn¡¯t quite understand how she¡¯d managed to do it with only a pot of boiling water.

    Seraiah smirked. It wasn¡¯t quite the smile he was hoping for, but it was close enough.

    ¡°Even if I said yes, there isn¡¯t space. We¡¯d have to clear more snow, and I don¡¯t have the time nor the desire to spend . . . ¡±

    Kai flicked his fingers at the snow around them. In the blink of an eye, he¡¯d pushed it back to expose the frozen ground beneath in a perfect circle. It would have been easier to return it all to water, but then they¡¯d have a muddy mess to deal with.

    Seraiah stared at the ground and then at him. ¡°Could you get rid of all of it?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, no. I¡¯m not at my full strength, so this is my limit,¡± he admitted. ¡°I also didn¡¯t get rid of the snow. I only moved it. Perhaps someone with more power could do better.¡± He looked to where Sterling was fighting Kestrel.

    ¡°She¡¯s truly that strong?¡± Seraiah asked softly.

    ¡°Potentially. If we could find a way to unlock it.¡±

    Seraiah nodded as if to herself and then said, ¡°One bout, and then I need to go to the library.¡±

    Kai grinned and went to retrieve another set of practice swords.

    <hr>

    The wooden sword Kai had handed her felt large and unwieldy in her hands. Seraiah took a few practice swings and immediately felt it in her arm. It had been weeks since her training with Kestrel, and she felt every one of them.

    This is a waste of time, she thought as she watched Kai with his own practice sword. It wasn¡¯t like she could win against him. All she would do was embarrass herself and end up with aches and pains for days.

    She frowned down at the sword. It wasn¡¯t too late to back out and return to her plan of searching the library.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Kai called. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re already giving up.¡±

    On the other side of the wall, Kestrel and Sterling still moved around one another, not paying any attention to the two of them.

    Seraiah hefted the wooden sword, resting the flat of it on her shoulder. ¡°Never,¡± she said. ¡°You know I don¡¯t quit.¡±

    A grin broke out over Kai¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s what I love about you.¡±

    She nearly choked. He surely hadn¡¯t meant it like that. ¡°Yes, well, can¡¯t wait to see what you come up with for dinner tonight.¡±

    Kai blocked her first move easily, dancing back out of reach. He was taller and stronger than her. His reach was farther, but she was faster¡ªor she would be if she were using her dagger and not this stupid piece of wood.

    They circled each other, came together and pushed apart again. The second time she got close to landing a hit, she realized he was going easy on her. She shouldn¡¯t have been able to get near him, and she knew she had left herself open several times, but he never took the chance.

    Seraiah returned to the edge of the ring of snow, letting the point of her sword rest on the ground.

    ¡°Is that how it¡¯s going to be?¡± she called to him. Her arm was burning.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± He was watching her but made no move toward her.

    She pushed sweaty strands of hair off her forehead. She¡¯d tossed her cloak over the low wall before they¡¯d started, but she still felt much too hot.

    ¡°You know what I mean. I should have lost several times over already.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m warming up. You don¡¯t want it to be over, do you?¡±

    Seraiah scowled. He hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat. ¡°Do it right or not at all.¡±

    He gave an exaggerated sigh. ¡°All right. If you insist.¡±

    She lifted her sword, and they circled again. It only took a second for the weapon to go flying from her hand.

    Before Kai could tap her with his sword, she darted out of reach.

    ¡°Now what are you going to do?¡± he asked her. He stood between her and her sword. There was no way she could retrieve it. She was fast, but she wasn¡¯t that fast.

    Kai favored his left side. She remembered the silver scar she had seen there at the bottom of his ribs. A weak spot.

    She pretended to run for her weapon, but at the last second changed directions, ramming her shoulder into his side. It was almost like hitting a wall, but it worked. She caught him by surprise, and thanks to her momentum, they went down in a tangle of limbs.

    Seraiah¡¯s fingers went for her thigh. She may not have the practice sword anymore, but she did have her dagger. She pulled it free. He¡¯d never said she couldn¡¯t use it.

    She¡¯d intended to hold it to his throat, but she never made it that far.

    Apparently, Kai wasn¡¯t nearly as stunned as he¡¯d pretended to be, because in the blink of an eye, he flipped them, pinning her wrists on either side of her head. He made no move to take her dagger, but it didn¡¯t matter. It wasn¡¯t like she could move, anyway. He held her in place with his weight.

    ¡°Were you planning to stab me?¡± he asked.

    She didn¡¯t answer, only stared defiantly up at him. She¡¯d been so sure she had it.

    Kai grinned and leaned closer, the tips of his silver hair brushing her cheek. ¡°I think this means I win. I¡¯m sure dinner will be delicious.¡±

    The ground beneath her was cold, but every place where she pressed against him felt like it was on fire. It might have been her imagination, but she thought he was getting closer.

    Someone cleared their throat, and Kai jerked away.

    Seraiah had forgotten all about Sterling and Kestrel.

    ¡°And what¡¯s going on here?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°A bet,¡± Kai answered at the same time Seraiah said, ¡°Practicing my sword skills.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh, and where exactly is this sword?¡±

    Kai made a sound somewhere between a cough and a laugh as he helped her stand. Sterling watched them with one raised brow and a knowing look.

    Seraiah, for her part, wanted to melt into the ground. She slipped her dagger back into its sheath. ¡°It¡¯s late,¡± she said without looking at anyone. ¡°I should be getting to the library now.¡±

    Then she fled.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Ten

    The knife tapped a dull rhythm on the wooden cutting board as Seraiah chopped vegetables for dinner. Everything had come from the greenhouses at the castle or the castle¡¯s storage cellars. As she¡¯d told Sterling, she¡¯d known about the greenhouses, but she¡¯d been shocked the first time she¡¯d stepped inside the cellar and seen row after row of shelves filled with preserved food. It was enough to keep the four of them fed for at least two years¡ªor more.

    But we can¡¯t stay here that long, Seraiah thought, laying down her knife and rubbing at her neck.

    They needed to move on. She needed to move on. As much as she didn¡¯t like leaving the home she¡¯d grown up in again, Ratha no longer felt like home. The parts of it that had made it home were missing. They¡¯d been here almost a fortnight now, and yet she was no closer to finding the missing people. She had a sneaking suspicion if she wanted answers. She would have to seek them elsewhere.

    After her failed sparring match with Kai, Seraiah had searched the library for anything that might be helpful. Kai¡¯s comment about someone more powerful being able to move all the snow had struck her. If it was possible to move all that snow, was it also possible to move people? The way they had vanished as if in the middle of what they were doing suggested it could be magic, but who had enough power to do something like that?

    There were books on almost every topic she could think of in Lady Zahara¡¯s library, but not a one on magic. There was nothing that even came close to the book of stories Jensira had given Sterling.

    Of course there wouldn¡¯t be given King Berenger¡¯s feelings on magic, but Seraiah had still hoped.

    She scraped the vegetables, a mix of wrinkled peppers from the greenhouse and carrots from the cellar, into the pot she used for stew. She added a sprinkle of herbs and salt from the jars on the counter¡ªall of which had been luxuries before she¡¯d left Ratha, but now she had easy access to thanks to the castle.

    Her thoughts were still stuck on who might have enough magic to disappear an entire city of people as she gave the pot a stir before carrying it to the hook over the fire.

    Could it be the mages again? Certainly one of them alone wouldn¡¯t be able to accomplish it, but as a group? Sterling might know more about them than she did, but she was loath to remind her sister of her kidnapping and imprisonment.

    Seraiah had just settled the pot over the flames when Kestrel pushed through the swinging door that led to the dining room.

    ¡°Need any help?¡± Kestrel¡¯s black hair was damp, as though she¡¯d just taken a bath. She¡¯d left it loose around her shoulders and it made her appear younger. Sometimes Seraiah forgot they were of a similar age because Kestrel seemed to know so much more than she did and carried herself with an air of confidence Seraiah had never been able to master.

    ¡°No,¡± Seraiah said, turning back to the fire, ¡°but I could always use the company.¡±

    Kestrel sauntered over to the worktable and leaned against it, poking at the jars of dried herbs lined up there. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Kai¡¯s turn to cook dinner?¡± she asked. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining,¡± she quickly added, ¡°if you know what I mean.¡±

    Seraiah tossed a grin over her shoulder as she poked at the fire. ¡°He won the bet,¡± she said. ¡°So here I am.¡±

    ¡°The bet?¡± Kestrel picked up a jar of rosemary and inspected it.

    ¡°Winner of our sparring match didn¡¯t have to cook dinner,¡± she elaborated.

    Kestrel snorted. ¡°That was poorly done. You should have ignored him.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Seraiah shrugged, ¡°but I thought there might be a small chance I could win, and even though I didn¡¯t, it was worth a try.¡±

    Kestrel nodded and set the jar back on the counter. ¡°It was good practice for you, at least. Can¡¯t let all my work go to waste.¡±

    ¡°I think it already has,¡± Seraiah grumbled. ¡°Did you see any of the match?¡±

    Kestrel flashed her a grin. ¡°Only the end. Frankly, I¡¯m surprised Kai asked for you to take his place cooking dinner. If it were me and I made the bet with Eryx, I would have asked for a kiss.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you would need to make a bet for that,¡± Seraiah teased.

    ¡°I suppose neither would you,¡± Kestrel tossed back.

    Seraiah suddenly became very interested in watching for the pot to boil.

    Once the stew was merrily simmering away, she returned to the worktable. Kestrel had stolen her knife and was playing with it.

    ¡°And how are you doing?¡± Seraiah asked, eyeing the blade as Kestrel tossed it from hand to hand. ¡°We haven¡¯t spoken in a while.¡± They still talked to each other, of course, usually at meals, but it was never about anything substantial. Never about Nyrene.

    Kestrel set the knife down and went back to fiddling with the spice jars. ¡°Fine. I suppose. Better than others.¡± She¡¯d let her hair fall in a curtain around her face, blocking her expression from view. ¡°I might feel better if I had any idea what was going on over there. Any scrap of news at all.¡±

    ¡°Would it be possible to get a message inside or out?¡±

    Kestrel shook her head, shoulder¡¯s hunching. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say. We know nothing about the conditions there. We would have to go back through the portal and ask around. The faeries might know something or even the gnomes.¡±

    Pain twinged in Seraiah¡¯s chest at the mention of the gnomes. They likely had no idea what had happened to Lonan. He¡¯d gone along with her to show her the way out of the mountain and hadn¡¯t returned. At the very least, his friend Therill must be wondering what had happened to him.

    She bit her lip. Someone should tell him. Therill had a right to know and properly mourn.

    Seraiah felt the weight of Kestrel¡¯s stare, but when she glanced up, Kestrel wasn¡¯t looking at her face.

    Seraiah had flipped her braid over her shoulder to hang down her back when she¡¯d hung the pot over the fire, leaving the mark in full view. She quickly pulled her braid forward again, and Kestrel turned away, heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll let the others know dinner will be ready soon,¡± she mumbled.

    Even after Kestrel was gone, Seraiah still imagined she could feel her gaze lingering on the mark.

    <hr>

    Sterling pushed lumps of carrot around with her spoon. She¡¯d fished out the other vegetables in the stew and left the carrots for last. She¡¯d never particularly liked them, no matter how they were prepared, but she especially didn''t like them once they¡¯d become mushy.

    She glanced at the others seated around her. Everyone was quiet, which wasn¡¯t unusual for mealtimes, but this time the quiet felt heavy. Kestrel, she observed, seemed lost in her own thoughts and was picking at her food, much the same way Sterling was picking at hers. Meanwhile, Kai kept sneaking looks at Seraiah when he thought she wasn¡¯t paying attention.

    As for her sister, she kept touching the mark on her neck in a distracted sort of way before seeming to realize what she was doing and quickly dropping her hand and checking if anyone else had noticed. This had repeated several times already.

    Sterling heaved a sigh and let her spoon drop onto the table. The clatter drew everyone¡¯s attention to her.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Seraiah asked, concern knitting her brow.

    Sterling ignored the question. She pushed her bowl away and folded her hands on the table in front of her. ¡°I would like to propose something,¡± she announced. ¡°I spoke with Kai about this yesterday, so maybe he¡¯s already told you, but I think we should leave Ratha.¡±

    Kestrel tilted her head, a spark of interest lighting her eyes. ¡°And where do you propose we go?¡±

    Sterling smiled. ¡°I think we should go south. To the capital.¡±

    Sterling outlined her reasons much the same way she had with Kai. She left out the part about Ren telling her there was a group of mages based in Daralis. She was sure none of them would like that.

    By the time she was finished, Kestrel had lost interest. Sterling suspected Kestrel had been hoping she would say she wanted to go to Nyrene¡ªwhich she did¡ªbut Sterling knew she would never convince Seraiah. Not yet, at least.

    First she would try for the capital, and then she could try for Nyrene.

    She needed to speak with Ren about the voices, and why she couldn¡¯t seem to summon her magic. He might know if the mages had secretly done something to her.

    As though summoned, the voices slithered through her head. You mussst take back what belongsss to you, they whispered. Forget them. They do not matter.

    Sterling rubbed the bridge of her nose. She would not forget them as the voices demanded. This was her family. She needed them. Although sometimes . . .

    ¡°I agree,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°I think we should leave Ratha.¡± She was touching the mark on her neck again. ¡°Daralis might be a good place for us to learn about what happened here.¡±

    Sterling blinked. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    Her sister nodded.

    Sterling was at a loss for words. She¡¯d expected Seraiah to be the most resistant to leaving¡ªnot the first to agree. Most days she wandered around like a ghost, seeming content to haunt the city forever.

    ¡°I have no objections,¡± Kestrel said, pushing away from the table. ¡°Just let me know when.¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Seraiah asked Kai.

    He hadn¡¯t said a word the entire time.

    ¡°I think,¡± he said slowly. ¡°It is a decision best left up to the two of you. This is your world. If you think this is the best place for us, then I will not object.¡±

    Sterling watched him while he spoke. She may not have known him long, but she didn¡¯t get the impression he believed his own words.

    ¡°That settles it then,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°When would you like to leave?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Sterling floundered. She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. She¡¯d expected them to fight her and for the argument to go on for weeks before she could wear them down.

    Now, the voices whispered. Take back what is yoursss.

    ¡°What about tomorrow?¡±

    Seraiah nodded, looking thoughtful. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± she agreed. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have something I need to do before then.¡±

    Sterling watched Seraiah, expecting her to head upstairs to her room, but instead, she moved to the front entrance of the inn.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± she called. She suspected she already knew the answer.

    ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Eleven

    Seraiah knew she had to do it. She¡¯d put off not knowing for long enough, and she knew she would regret it if she left tomorrow without having ever gone.

    ¡°It¡¯s getting dark out there,¡± Kai said as she reached for the door. ¡°Do you want someone to go with you?¡±

    She paused and turned back. ¡°No, I¡¯ll be all right on my own.¡± She knew it wasn¡¯t really the dark that concerned him. They¡¯d all seen how she¡¯d reacted to finding Ratha empty.

    This would be different, though. She¡¯d had time to prepare.

    A chair scraped across the floor. ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± Sterling announced. ¡°I would like to say goodbye.¡± Her voice wobbled a little on the word goodbye.

    Seraiah tried to school her expression, but she was sure her surprise still slipped through. Sterling hadn¡¯t shown any desire to revisit their life here in Ratha. If anything, Seraiah had the impression Sterling had only agreed to come at all to appease her¡ªlike it was a debt she owed Seraiah for having rescued her.

    ¡°Grab your cloak then,¡± she said.

    Sterling ran for the stairs, leaving Seraiah and Kai alone.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure about this?¡± he asked.

    He could have been talking about her choice to visit her old home or leaving Ratha altogether.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°It needs to be done.¡± Both the visit and leaving Ratha were necessary, no matter if she liked it or not.

    Kai studied her for a moment before rising from the table. ¡°I¡¯ll see to preparations then,¡± he said before disappearing into the kitchen.

    Sterling returned moments later, properly outfitted for the winter weather.

    Seraiah lifted a lantern from the hook beside the door and then the two sisters set off.

    It wasn¡¯t a long walk to their old home, but by the time they arrived, the sun had disappeared from the sky. The lantern threw shadows over the undisturbed snow, and Seraiah¡¯s feet dragged to a stop.

    All the conviction she¡¯d felt inside the inn about this being a good idea had suddenly vanished, and her evening meal churned uncomfortably in her stomach as she stared at the familiar face of their home.

    Sterling seemed to have no such concerns because she marched right up to the front door. ¡°Coming?¡± she called over her shoulder.

    Seraiah took a deep breath and forced her feet to move, suddenly glad her sister had wanted to come. Without Sterling, she might have turned away and gone straight back to the inn without ever having looked.

    The smell as she stepped over the threshold, a blend of the woods Papa used for his work, was the same as it had always been¡ªif perhaps a bit musty from being closed up for however long. A sense of calm settled over her as she breathed it in.

    She held the lantern aloft, revealing the main room that functioned as both a kitchen and dining area. A pile of ashes lay on the hearth, but Seraiah found the pot hanging above to be empty.

    She ran a finger around the inside. Clean.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in our room,¡± Sterling said, disappearing through the doorway.

    Seraiah continued poking around the kitchen. The small pantry held its usual collection of food and herbs, which she thought was promising. Food was a sign of life.

    Once she finished inspecting everything in the kitchen, she crossed the room, dragging her fingers along the scarred table where they ate their meals. There were no dishes left about, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean anything.

    She passed through the doorway where Sterling had gone, but instead of taking a left into their room, she turned right toward Papa¡¯s. He usually kept the door shut, but now it was halfway open. Seraiah pushed it the rest of the way and stepped inside.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    The spill of lantern light illuminated a rumpled, unmade bed, and a shirt was tossed over the wooden footboard. On the other side, the wardrobe doors were thrown wide. It didn¡¯t look like a sick room to her eyes, but she supposed she couldn¡¯t be sure. She¡¯d hoped to find a plate with half eaten food or some clear sign that he¡¯d been interrupted in the middle of what he was doing.

    Then again, if he¡¯d been at the market, she would find no sign here. Papa didn¡¯t come home for the midday meal but ate at his stall. The market was another place she¡¯d avoided visiting and if any of the others had gone; they hadn¡¯t told her about it.

    Seraiah was backing out of the room when something glinted in the lantern light. When she looked closer, she discovered it was a knife Papa used for whittling¡ªone of his favorites.

    She lifted it from its resting place. It fit easily in her hand; the handle worn smooth from use.

    An object that was precious to the subject.

    Perhaps this would count.

    Seraiah slipped the knife into its leather case and dropped it in the pocket of her cloak before going to find Sterling.

    She found her sister perched on the edge of her bed in their shared room. From what she could remember, the room looked exactly the way she had left it, as though Papa had shut the door and forgotten all about them.

    Or maybe he couldn¡¯t bear to look at it because it brought too much pain. The same way she hadn¡¯t wanted to return to the house, she decided.

    Seraiah set the lantern on the small table between the two beds and took a seat across from Sterling. Her sister¡¯s hands were empty, as was her gaze as she stared at some point on the wall. She appeared lost in her memories.

    ¡°Everything all right?¡± Seraiah asked softly.

    Sterling dragged her storm gray eyes away from the wall and met her gaze.

    ¡°Did you know Mama and Papa never married?¡±

    Seraiah stared at her, not sure she¡¯d heard correctly.

    ¡°I suppose I should say Jensira and your father,¡± Sterling went on. ¡°It feels strange to call them anything else now, since I know they aren¡¯t related to me.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªwhat?¡± Seraiah asked, recovering her voice. ¡°How do you know that? Of course they were married, there was a celebration and¡ª¡±

    The more she thought about it, Seraiah realized she couldn¡¯t recall a wedding, but she¡¯d been very young, and Sterling was a baby, so how would she even know?

    ¡°I asked Jensira once.¡± Sterling¡¯s gaze went back to some point on the wall behind Seraiah. ¡°I wanted her to braid daisies into my hair and make me a flower crown. I think I said something about how I would wear the flowers on my wedding day. We had just attended one of our neighbor¡¯s daughter¡¯s weddings¡ªI can¡¯t even recall her name now¡ªbut I was enamored with the idea of planning what my own wedding day would look like.¡±

    Seraiah nodded. ¡°I remember that. It was Elwisia¡¯s wedding. It was the last spring we saw.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the one. Well, while Ma¡ªJensira,¡± she quickly corrected herself, ¡°was braiding my hair, I asked her about what she wore on her wedding day and if she had flowers in her hair. She told me she¡¯s never been married.¡±

    ¡°But she always made it seem like she was. She never denied it when anyone assumed.¡±

    ¡°I know, and the more I think about it, I don¡¯t think she ever meant to tell me either. She must have been distracted, and it slipped out. She immediately told me not to tell anyone because they wouldn¡¯t like it. They would say bad things about us. I¡¯d kind of forgotten about it,¡± Sterling added, ¡°but it means we aren¡¯t sisters by blood or by marriage. We aren¡¯t really sisters at all¡ªonly two girls who grew up in the same house.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Seraiah hissed.

    Sterling shrugged. ¡°But it¡¯s true. Sometimes, it almost feels like I don¡¯t have any family. I mean, I know Kai is technically my brother, but it doesn¡¯t feel like it. We may look similar, but that doesn¡¯t mean anything. We hardly know each other. Yet I know you better than anyone, but we have no true family connection.¡±

    Seraiah reached across the space between the beds and picked up Sterling¡¯s hand. Her fingers were like ice. ¡°Is that what¡¯s been bothering you lately?¡± she asked gently. ¡°Why you¡¯ve been avoiding me?¡±

    Sterling sighed, looking down at their clasped hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t mean to. I¡¯ve just had a lot of thinking to do. There¡¯s a lot to¡ªthere¡¯s a lot to sort out and process.¡±

    Seraiah waited to see if Sterling would say anything more. When she didn¡¯t, Seraiah said, ¡°You know you can always come to me about anything. I promise I¡¯ll listen no matter what the problem is because sometimes even just talking to someone can help.¡±

    Sterling gave her hand a squeeze. ¡°And you would tell me about your problems too, right?¡±

    Seraiah didn¡¯t miss the way Sterling¡¯s eyes flicked to her neck where the black mark was hidden beneath her hair and cloak. She didn¡¯t have much to say about the mark, but there was something else. Seraiah bit her lip, thinking about what the journal had said¡ªabout the madness that awaited her if she kept using her visions.

    She couldn¡¯t burden Sterling with that, not now.

    ¡°Of course,¡± she said after a moment, rising to her feet. Her voice sounded too bright even to her own ears. ¡°Did you find anything you wanted to take? It¡¯s growing late, and we should get back before Kai comes looking for us.¡±

    Sterling, thankfully, didn¡¯t push.

    The two of them gathered what little possessions they had left behind¡ªold clothes, mostly¡ªand said one final goodbye to their former home.

    I¡¯ll be back again, Seraiah thought as she closed the front door behind her, and I¡¯ll bring everyone with me. I promise.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twelve

    Seraiah studied her room in the early hour before dawn. She¡¯d collected all of her belongings and stuffed them into her saddle bag¡ªwell, nearly all of her belongings.

    The journal sat where she had left it; Ariya¡¯s green hair ribbon discarded next to it on the table she used for a desk. She¡¯d never finished reading the book that night. She¡¯d been too shocked by the idea she would go mad if she kept using her visions and couldn¡¯t help wondering again if perhaps she was mad already.

    She ran her fingers lightly over the worn leather of the cover. Seraiah doubted there was anything else the journal could offer her in the few pages that were left. It was clear the writer¡¯s mind had no longer been whole.

    Still, she didn¡¯t feel she should leave it behind. In case someone returns, Seraiah told herself. She didn¡¯t want anyone else to know the secrets inside the book.

    She tucked the green ribbon between its pages like a bookmark and added it to her saddle bag, burying it under her spare clothing. She didn¡¯t want anyone returning to the city to find it, but she didn¡¯t want her travel companions to read it either. It was only by sheer luck Kai hadn¡¯t gotten far enough to discover the warning of madness, and she didn¡¯t intend to give him another chance¡ªat least not until she was ready.

    She would tell them, she reassured herself, eventually.

    With one last look around the room and a strange sense of having done all this before, Seraiah slung the bag over her shoulder and headed for the stairs.

    Despite the early hour, Kai and Kestrel were already waiting for her in the front room. Kai still had a sleepy look about him, eyes half-lidded as he stared at the fire in the hearth, but Kestrel seemed wide awake as she leaned against the counter, playing with one of her many knives.

    ¡°Is there anything else that needs to be done?¡± Seraiah asked, surveying the room. More saddle bags were piled next to the door.

    ¡°Not that I can think of,¡± Kestrel said, flicking the knife in the air and catching it again. ¡°Horses are saddled and waiting, and Kai took care of our food supplies last night. As soon as Sterling comes down, we should be ready to go. I can go see if she¡¯s awake.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Seraiah waved Kestrel off, ¡°leave her be. I have one more thing I¡¯d like to do before leaving Ratha. I should be back within the hour, if that¡¯s all right.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for a response as she crossed the room and added her bag to theirs. Then she reached for the door.

    Someone else got to it first.

    It seemed Kai had been more awake than he¡¯d appeared.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± he said, holding the door open for her. Unlike last night, it wasn¡¯t a question.

    ¡°All right.¡± The bite of the icy air was quickly leeching the warmth from the room as she looked past Kai to meet Kestrel¡¯s gaze, hoping she might volunteer to come along as well.

    One corner of Kestrel¡¯s mouth turned up in a smirk, and she wiggled her fingers in a wave before turning away.

    Looked like it would be the two of them then. Right. That wasn¡¯t a problem. The company would be nice. Seraiah squared her shoulders and ducked into the cold.

    The ten-minute walk to the market was silent, except for their footsteps crunching over the snow. Kai kept pace at her side, but didn¡¯t ask where they were going or why. Occasionally, he stepped close enough that the back of his hand brushed hers. She wore gloves, but he didn¡¯t, and every little touch sent shivers up her arm. She wasn¡¯t sure if he was doing it on purpose, but it almost succeeded in distracting her from her mission¡ªalmost.

    She wanted to visit Papa¡¯s stall to see if anything had been left behind. All the animals in the city were gone, so it wasn¡¯t like she expected to find their mule, Daisy, still tied to the stall, but last night, she¡¯d noticed the wagon Papa used to move his wares wasn¡¯t at the house. It meant he¡¯d likely disappeared with everyone else some time during the day, but she wanted to check the market to be sure.

    The last time Seraiah had been to the market had been right after Sterling disappeared. She still vividly remembered the night Nissa had come knocking on their door and delivered the news. Freya had told her Sterling might have been taken by faeries. Seraiah snorted as she thought about it now. If only she could tell Freya it hadn¡¯t been faeries at all¡ªshe¡¯d met them herself¡ªbut humans working with an elf. The flabbergasted look on Freya¡¯s face would be priceless.

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    ¡°Something you want to share?¡± Kai asked, one brow raised. His breath fogged in the air when he spoke.

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°I was just thinking. Remembering what it was like before. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Good memories?¡±

    She bit her lip, unsure how to answer. The time after her sister had disappeared hadn¡¯t exactly been the happiest, but remembering Freya¡¯s suggestion of faeries being involved made her smile now.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to leave?¡± he asked.

    Seraiah gave him a sideways glance, but Kai wasn¡¯t looking at her anymore. ¡°It¡¯s necessary.¡±

    ¡°Even though you wanted to come here? To be home?¡±

    He must have caught the touch of wistfulness in her voice, but he was mistaken. It wasn¡¯t the place she¡¯d yearned for, but the people.

    She tried to explain. ¡°I¡¯m not sad about leaving. A home is nothing without its people, or rather my home is wherever the people I love are. If that makes sense.¡±

    A smile softened his features. ¡°It does.¡±

    Seraiah was about to ask him if he felt the same way about Nyrene when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flutter of a colorful tarp rustling in the light breeze.

    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± She pulled away from Kai, forgetting all about her question.

    Her heart in her throat, Seraiah stepped into the market.

    In a few places, the snow had broken through the tarps and planks of wood that formed a roof over the stalls, but even beneath the layer of white, she saw that many of the stalls still held their wares.

    She hurried down the aisle.

    From where she had entered, there were only a few stalls between her and Papa¡¯s.

    First came Freya¡¯s, which was empty like it had been in her vision. Something must have happened to the woman and her family some time before everyone vanished. Seraiah hoped it wasn¡¯t the fever, but there was little else that might have stopped Freya from coming to the market.

    Seraiah took a few more steps and then there it was. Larger furniture pieces took up the back of the stall while near the front . . .

    She brushed away a layer of snow, revealing the wooden children¡¯s toys. Everything from blocks and dolls to ring toss games. It was all here.

    Papa would never have left it like this even if he had come down with the fever. No, seeing this here meant he must have vanished with the others. It meant he was still out there somewhere.

    She checked the other tables, uncovering eating utensils, bowls, and plates. Another held vases and small decorative objects. It was all here.

    As she looked around at the products of her father¡¯s work, Seraiah considered taking a piece with her. Something small, like one of the children¡¯s toys, wouldn¡¯t take up much space in her saddle bag.

    She plucked a figure of a horse from the collection of farm animals. It was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. She closed her fingers around the smooth wood and slipped it into her pocket. This wasn¡¯t for calling visions¡ªshe already had Papa¡¯s carving knife for that¡ªthis was for her.

    Wood creaked behind her, loud in the silence.

    Seraiah jumped, hand dropping to her dagger as she turned toward the sound.

    Kai held up his hands sheepishly. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s only me.¡± He¡¯d leaned against the front of Freya¡¯s stall.

    She¡¯d nearly forgotten he¡¯d come with her. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± she said. ¡°We can go now.¡±

    His brows rose. ¡°You¡¯re sure? You¡¯re done already?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°I told you it wouldn¡¯t take long. I got what I came for.¡± Seraiah smiled. ¡°I¡¯m ready to leave now.¡±

    <hr>

    Kai didn¡¯t quite understand what had happened in the abandoned market, but he wasn¡¯t about to ruin the mood by asking. If Seraiah wanted him to know, she would have told him. All that mattered was that she had smiled.

    A real smile.

    He hadn¡¯t seen one of those since before they¡¯d arrived in Ratha, and he¡¯d missed it.

    When they returned to the inn, Kestrel and Sterling had the horses out front, and they were securing the last bag in place.

    ¡°Everything good?¡± Kestrel called.

    ¡°Great,¡± Seraiah chirped, going to help Sterling.

    Kestrel raised an eyebrow at him, a silent question in her eyes.

    He shook his head. No, he didn¡¯t know why Seraiah was happy, and he¡¯d had nothing to do with it.

    Kestrel narrowed her eyes in a way that said he¡¯d hear about it later. She was still after him to tell Seraiah how he felt. Kestrel insisted he shouldn¡¯t make the same mistake she had, but there hadn¡¯t been a right time. Before they reached the human capital, though, he would do it.

    ¡°So, who am I riding with today?¡± Sterling asked.

    If either sister had noticed the silent exchange, they didn¡¯t let on.

    Kai had been hoping to pick up another horse, so they no longer had to share, but unfortunately, people hadn¡¯t been the only thing missing from the cities they¡¯d passed through.

    ¡°Take your pick,¡± he said. He knew she would choose the one least likely to try to make conversation, which meant she would be riding with¡ª

    ¡°Kestrel,¡± Sterling said without hesitation.

    ¡°All right then. If everyone has everything, let¡¯s get moving.¡± He swung easily into his saddle while the others did the same. He still wasn¡¯t convinced going to the human capital was the best idea, but if Seraiah thought it was fine, then he wasn¡¯t going to argue. It wasn¡¯t as though his sense of judgment could be trusted, anyway. Seraiah wasn¡¯t the one who¡¯d lost an entire kingdom.

    Kai let his horse take the lead and, without a backward glance, left the city of Ratha for the second time.

    Maybe this time, it was for good.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Thirteen

    After saying one last goodbye to her childhood home, Sterling was more than ready to leave the empty city behind. She felt better when she was on the move. It made her feel like she was doing something, even if she was doing nothing.

    It would take them several weeks to reach Daralis from Ratha, or so she had been told. They¡¯d have to cut through the forest again and head back to Baromund. Once in Baromund, they would scavenge the city to replenish their supplies, and then they would pick up the main road for the remainder of the journey.

    Kai had been against traveling such a visible road, preferring to cut across the terrain, but Sterling had pointed out that it was highly unlikely for anyone to be using the road at all. If the people in the capital knew what had happened in the northern cities, they were likely to stay ensconced behind their walls.

    She and Seraiah were all too familiar with this. When Ratha had sent for help back when the fever first struck, the capital had turned them away. They didn''t want the fever spreading. They had offered to send supplies, but those had never shown up. It had been nothing but an empty promise.

    Sterling wasn''t surprised. King Berenger cared little for Himera''s people and only for lining his coffers. It was said his castle was made from solid gold. She knew it was only a rumor, but the idea that a man possessed so much wealth and yet refused to share it made her blood boil. She would never be that sort of queen. She would care for her subjects and treat them fairly.

    "A copper for your thoughts," Seraiah said, bringing her horse up beside Kestrel¡¯s. Sterling had specifically chosen to ride with Kestrel because she knew Kestrel wouldn¡¯t force her to talk about things she didn¡¯t want to discuss. Unfortunately, being on separate horses didn¡¯t discourage Seraiah.

    Sterling smirked at her sister. "I do believe I''m the one with the money bag."

    The pouch of coins she had taken from the inn on their first pass through Baromund was tucked safely away in her saddlebag. She¡¯d advised the others to collect any coins they could find. If they wanted anything in the capital, they would have to pay handsomely for it, or so she had heard. She¡¯d never actually been to the capital herself.

    Seraiah waited, undeterred.

    "I was just thinking about what kind of queen I would be," Sterling confessed.

    "A good one," Seraiah said, with no hesitation.

    Sterling frowned. "I would hope so, but I suppose it¡¯s useless to think about when I don''t have a kingdom."

    "But you will. We will take it back."

    "Us and what army?" Sterling asked, raising one eyebrow.

    "I''m sure the dragons would help, and maybe the gnomes."

    "Would they? I wasn¡¯t under the impression the elves had many friends."

    Kestrel snorted but didn¡¯t offer any other comment. Sterling took it to mean she was right.

    "They should," Seraiah said. "Even if they aren¡¯t friendly. What is happening in Nyrene should concern them. It may not directly impact them now, but it will."

    Sterling tilted her head. "How so?"

    Now it was Seraiah¡¯s turn to frown. "Well, I may not have known Gavaran for long, but I could see he was hungry for power. I don¡¯t imagine he will stop at ruling one kingdom. He will want everything."

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong about that,¡± Kestrel muttered.

    Sterling didn''t recall much about Gavaran, other than he had been the one who had tested her blood the day her human kidnappers had turned her over to the mages. Her skin crawled at the memory of it¡ªthe feel of his papery skin and his pointed nails digging into her.

    Gavaran had visited the cave system a few times while she had been there, but she¡¯d never had any contact with him. Each time he had come, Ren had been called away, and he would return tense and quieter than usual.

    From all the things Seraiah had said about Gavaran, Sterling was glad to not have had many encounters with him, but on the other hand, it meant all her knowledge of the enemy was second hand.

    Don''t worry, the voices crooned to her. We will help you. Not them. None of them. Listen to us, and you shall have your kingdom. Sterling shook her head, trying to block out the voices'' seductive whisper.

    "Sterling?"

    "Huh?"

    "Are you feeling all right?" Seraiah was studying her face.

    "Of course. I''m fine," Sterling reassured her. "Why?"

    "You were as pale as snow and your eyes . . ."

    "My eyes?" Sterling prompted, afraid she already knew the answer.

    "They looked strange. I don¡¯t know. They seemed darker."

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Sterling knew what she was hinting at, having heard about her sister¡¯s nightmare often enough¡ªSeraiah''s dream of something dark looking out of her eyes.

    Lie, the voices whispered. Don''t tell her about us. She would be jealous. She would take us away.

    "It''s nothing," Sterling heard herself say. "It was probably a shadow you saw¡ªa trick of the light."

    "Right, of course," Seraiah mumbled. "Just a shadow."

    Good, the voices praised her. Very good.

    Later that night, as they sat around their campfire, Sterling decided to tell the others her plan for when they arrived in Daralis. Her suggestion to leave Ratha had gone over well, so she had hope that they would support her in this too.

    "I''m going to find Ren when we get to the capital,¡± she said, with no preamble. ¡°I think he could be useful to us.¡±

    Silence reigned.

    Kai frowned and poked at the fire. Kestrel picked at her nails with a knife.

    Seraiah, who Sterling expected to be the most against the plan, kept her face perfectly blank. Although Sterling couldn''t help noticing that she lifted a hand to absentmindedly stroke the mark on her neck.

    Kestrel was the first one to break the silence. "I¡¯m not sure that''s a good idea," she said, tucking her knife away.

    "Why not?¡± Sterling asked. ¡°He helped us before, and he could do it again."

    To Sterling''s surprise, it was once again Seraiah who stepped in and agreed with her. "We couldn''t have gotten Sterling back without him," her sister said. "We didn''t have the numbers."

    "I don''t know,¡± Kai said. ¡°Why would one of them suddenly turn against his own? It didn''t make sense then, and it doesn''t make sense now."

    "But it does,¡± Sterling protested. ¡°He was my friend. That''s why he helped me."

    Kai regarded her across the fire, the flames making shadows dance over his features. "Don''t be too sure about that." He pointed at Seraiah. "Why would he put a mark on her neck?"

    Sterling shrugged. She didn''t have an answer, but she was sure Ren had done it for a good reason or maybe it had been an accident.

    "Exactly. You don''t know and neither do we, but he wouldn''t have done it unless it served some purpose."

    "Which is why we need to find him. He could explain why he did it or remove it."

    Kai didn¡¯t look convinced, and neither did Kestrel. Seraiah kept quiet as she rubbed at the mark.

    ¡°It was only an idea,¡± Sterling mumbled. ¡°I thought it might help.¡±

    Ssseee, the voices whispered, they don¡¯t understand. You don¡¯t need them. You can do this on your own. Weee will help you.

    Sterling stared at the dancing flames of their campfire. Perhaps, she thought, it was time to listen.

    <hr>

    Wisteria pulled at the sleeves of her borrowed dress as she paced back and forth across the small space near the front door.

    Back and forth.

    Back and forth.

    Forth and back.

    She stopped and shook her head. This wasn¡¯t working.

    Normally, when she grew anxious, like all the energy inside of her wanted to burst out of her skin in one great explosion, the rhythmic pacing helped to settle her and stave off the catastrophic detonation. Today, however, she was feeling no such relief. The energy still crackled under her skin¡ªnot the magic kind, that sort of energy had been practically nonexistent¡ªthreatening to do some serious damage.

    Being trapped in this house was going to do in her head and then the rest of her.

    Her mother used to tell her she¡¯d go gray from all her worrying, and Wisteria would delightedly tell her if she went gray early, then she would look like she was part of the royal family.

    The former royal family.

    Wisteria sighed. They were the reason she was anxious, for she had no idea if they were still alive or what was happening beyond the front door.

    It had been what felt like months since the last time Virelai had visited. Wisteria wasn¡¯t concerned about supplies¡ªthe house seemed to have plenty of those¡ªbut she was concerned about boredom. There wasn¡¯t much to do in this small house. She¡¯d already taken all of Virelai¡¯s old dresses and hemmed them to fit her much shorter self. Sewing had never been a strong skill of hers, but after her stay here, she thought it had improved greatly.

    Beyond having nothing to occupy her time, she longed to breathe some fresh air. To see the sky. What color was the sky? Did she even remember?

    Eryx would tell her she was being dramatic, but sometimes it truly felt like she might forget what it was like outside these walls.

    If only she could take a small peek. Just a quick look.

    The front window, covered by soft yellow curtains with sprigs of purple flowers¡ªhollyhock, she thought¡ªbeckoned to her.

    Wisteria leaned closer. The sun was shining on the other side of the curtain. If she nudged it to the side, she¡¯d be able to see. She might even catch a glimpse of the sky. Her fingers drifted closer.

    ¡°Come away from there,¡± Eryx¡¯s voice called from the other room.

    Wisteria snapped her hand back, tossing a look over her shoulder. He couldn¡¯t see her, so how did he know?

    ¡°Come here.¡± There was command in his voice, and Wisteria, having spent several years of her young life as a servant in the castle, obeyed without thought.

    A few steps later, she dragged herself to a stop. No. She was not a servant here. Eryx could not order her around. If anything, she should be ordering him around. After all, she was the one who had saved his life. He owed her.

    ¡°Wisteria?¡±

    She sighed. ¡°Coming.¡±

    She ducked down the short hallway and popped out in the dining room. Eryx sat at the table, a deck of cards at his elbow. If she hadn¡¯t seen him on the verge of death with her own two eyes, she never would have known.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± she asked, pulling out a chair beside him. ¡°Do you have other powers I don¡¯t know about?¡±

    ¡°No powers,¡± he said. ¡°You were suddenly quiet. Too quiet. You must have been up to something you shouldn¡¯t be.¡±

    Wisteria pulled a face. ¡°I only wanted to look out the window. Don¡¯t you miss seeing the sky?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do, but I also have self-preservation.¡±

    Wisteria snorted, but Eryx went on as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. ¡°If anyone were to see the curtain so much as twitch, they might become suspicious. We must wait for Virelai.¡±

    ¡°We must wait for Virelai,¡± she mimicked his voice, rolling her eyes. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just it¡¯s been so long since her last visit. What if she¡¯s never coming back? For all we know, she could be dead, and I¡¯ll never see the sky again. I¡¯ve forgotten what color it is already.¡±

    Eryx gave her a disapproving look. He was very good at those, she¡¯d learned. ¡°I do not think she is dead. We would know. Someone else would have come looking at this house if that were the case. We must wait. We won¡¯t be here forever.¡±

    She sighed and plunked her elbows on the table. ¡°Tell me again about that night. About how they got away.¡±

    He eyed her. ¡°You¡¯ve already heard me tell the story several times. There is nothing new to say.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I want to hear it, anyway. Please.¡± She widened her eyes and pouted her lips. The begging expression always worked on the castle cooks when she wanted an extra dessert.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Eryx said.

    As he talked, particularly about the part with Kestrel, Wisteria noticed his eyes looked sadder than usual.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Wisteria said, when he finished. ¡°I like to imagine they¡¯re out there somewhere and working on finding a way back here. I know they will return and fix things. I have hope.¡±

    Eryx nodded. ¡°They¡¯ll be back soon enough. We must be patient.¡±

    Wisteria scooped up the deck of cards and flicked through them. ¡°Want to play a game to make the time go faster? I¡¯m feeling lucky today. I think I might finally win.¡±

    This drew a small smile from Eryx. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. Deal me in.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Fourteen

    Baromund was as empty as it had been the first time they had passed through the city. It still made Seraiah¡¯s skin crawl to see. Unlike Ratha, where she was used to seeing everything blanketed in a layer of white, this felt different somehow¡ªsinister.

    They decided to split up and search the buildings for supplies before the sun set for the night. While they still had plenty of food from Ratha, they didn¡¯t know what might lie ahead of them on their journey to the capital.

    Kestrel and Sterling were to take the northern half of the city, while Seraiah and Kai took the southern half. They would meet back at the inn¡ªthe one they¡¯d stayed at all those months ago before the snow came to Baromund¡ªby nightfall.

    Seraiah touched the line on her throat where a mage¡¯s blade had sliced her on her one and only night at the inn. There was hardly any mark left now, but she still knew exactly where it was. The spark of pain and terror remained fresh in her mind, as though it had happened yesterday.

    She felt someone¡¯s gaze on her and found Kai watching her with a knowing glint in his eyes, like he too, had been thinking of that night. He¡¯d saved her from the mage, and it was the first time she¡¯d thought he might not hate her as much as she¡¯d thought.

    Seraiah let her hand drop back to her side and watched Kestrel and Sterling ride off down the empty road. Sterling had taken Seraiah¡¯s horse and, for someone who had never ridden by herself before, she appeared remarkably confident. Seraiah couldn¡¯t help envying how fast she learned new things.

    ¡°Shall we go?¡± Kai asked, interrupting her thoughts. He used his reins to gesture to the horse waiting patiently behind him.

    A single horse.

    That they would have to share.

    They hadn¡¯t shared a horse since the first time she¡¯d crossed through the portal between worlds.

    Seraiah blinked. ¡°I, uh, was thinking we could visit the nearby market. It¡¯s only a short walk from here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been before?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°With Kestrel. When we were here last time.¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes dropped to her neck again, and he lifted his hand like he wanted to touch her, but at the last second dragged his fingers through his hair instead. ¡°Then lead the way.¡±

    The two of them picked their way carefully through the snow to the market. When they arrived, they found it in a similar state as the one in Ratha. All the stalls still had their wares on display, as though the sellers had merely stepped away for a moment and were planning to return soon. If not for the snow that had blown in, Seraiah could almost believe it.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we split up?¡± she suggested. ¡°We¡¯ll be able to cover more before it gets dark.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Kai agreed reluctantly, ¡°but be careful. Shout if you need help. And here, take the horse, so you don¡¯t have to carry everything.¡±

    He passed her the reins, their fingers brushing, though this time they both wore gloves.

    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you back here,¡± she said before leading the horse down the aisle.

    It felt strange taking the animal with her, but there was plenty of room for them to walk without all the people.

    Seraiah stepped up to the first stall that caught her eye. She still didn¡¯t like taking things that did not belong to her. The horse figurine she¡¯d swiped from Papa¡¯s stall had been different. That hadn¡¯t felt like stealing. Not like this.

    But we need it more than these people, she reminded herself.

    Brushing a bit of snow off the display, she found the stall sold cookware. Not exactly something they could easily take with them.

    She left the horse in the aisle and ducked behind the stall to search for a coin box. It only held a few coins, but she emptied it into her hand before moving on to the next.

    When she met with Kai again, they¡¯d each collected an armful of items¡ªSeraiah¡¯s helpfully carried by Kai¡¯s horse¡ªand a few coin bags worth of coins. It seemed like a lot of money, but it would go fast in the capital if the stories were to be believed.

    They¡¯d both managed to find a good amount of dried meats that would travel well. There was also a bag of beans which they could use for trading if they didn¡¯t cook it themselves. It seemed even if Kestrel and Sterling returned empty-handed, they would still have plenty.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seraiah asked as Kai passed her a glass bottle filled with frozen summer wine.

    ¡°A gift,¡± he said, ¡°for Kestrel. I thought she might appreciate it. And maybe she¡¯ll leave me alone.¡± He muttered this last bit under his breath, like he didn¡¯t intend for Seraiah to hear it.

    She wondered what Kestrel could be bothering Kai about. Likely about going back to Nyrene, Seraiah thought. Kai was the one most against making a return, and Kestrel wanted nothing more than to go back.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Seraiah rubbed at the mark on her neck. Perhaps there was a way for Kestrel to get what she wanted and for Seraiah to seek out answers about the madness. They needed an army to take back Nyrene, and she¡¯d told Sterling the dragons and the gnomes would be likely to help, but they¡¯d need to seek them out.

    She snuck a glance at Kai. He would never say yes to a plan where the four of them split up, but perhaps she could convince him it was for the best¡ªwithout telling him about the madness, of course.

    The sign for the hat shop that had been barely hanging on the last time they had visited had lost its battle with the elements and lay half buried in the snow outside the inn. It didn¡¯t appear Kestrel and Sterling had returned yet, as they carried their finds inside the inn. Kai left her to sort things out while he went to stable his horse for the night.

    The inside of the building was just as cold as the outside, since the front door didn¡¯t quite shut anymore. Seraiah rubbed her hands over her arms as she looked around the main room that formerly served as a dining area. The tables scattered around in front of the large fireplace still held the left behind food, all of it frozen in place.

    She pursed her lips as she stared at the mess. There was no point in cleaning it when they weren¡¯t going to stay here for more than a night. All that mattered was that the guest rooms were serviceable and not freezing.

    Seraiah found a candle behind the bar and made her way to the second floor. She quickly realized after checking several of the rooms that none of them had fireplaces. Baromund had a mild climate and didn¡¯t often see snow, so there was no need to have a heat source in every room like they had in Ratha.

    Seraiah returned downstairs, looking again at the large fireplace. They¡¯d be warmer if they all stayed down here, even with the broken front door.

    When Kai returned, snowflakes dusting his hair, she was still studying the room, trying to figure out if they could drag the straw mattresses from upstairs in front of the fire.

    ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked.

    Every thought fled her head as she watched him use his teeth to pull one of his gloves off and brush away the snow clinging to him.

    She blinked. ¡°I-what?¡±

    He tucked the gloves away in to a pocket. ¡°Is everything all right? You were standing there looking rather concerned.¡±

    ¡°Oh, um,¡± she turned back to the fireplace, ¡°I was just trying to figure out if we could move the mattresses down here since none of the upstairs rooms have heating. Unless you don¡¯t mind the cold, in which case we could leave the mattresses where they are and then we could ignore all of this.¡± She was aware she was babbling, but she couldn¡¯t seem to make her mouth stop moving.

    ¡°I would prefer to be warm,¡± Kai said from much closer than he had been before.

    A gust of cold air rushed into the room as Kestrel and Sterling pushed inside. ¡°Oh, good, you¡¯re back already,¡± Sterling said, stamping her boots on the floor to dislodge the snow. ¡°Look what I found.¡±

    Seraiah squinted. They looked like slightly bigger versions of her dagger without the ornate details. ¡°Did Kestrel give them to you?¡±

    ¡°No, I told you, I found them.¡±

    ¡°I had nothing to do with it,¡± Kestrel said, setting a large bag of coins on the closest table, and heading for the fireplace. ¡°She found them hanging in someone¡¯s study.¡±

    ¡°Can you believe someone would use these for decoration?¡± Sterling asked.

    Kai was frowning at her, but didn¡¯t say anything.

    Seraiah crossed the room and took one of the blades from Sterling. They were rusted in spots, but when she ran her finger along the edge, she found it was still sharp.

    ¡°What do you plan to do with these?¡± she asked, passing the weapon back to Sterling.

    ¡°Use them. All of you have your own. I thought I deserved some too. These will do until I can get something better. What about you? Did you find anything good?¡±

    Seraiah pointed to their pile of items. ¡°Food and coin. No weapons, unfortunately. But Kai did find a gift for Kestrel.¡±

    Kestrel had been poking at the logs in the fireplace, using her magic to get a fire started, but she perked up at the mention of a gift. ¡°Oh, for me? What is it?¡±

    Seraiah lifted the bottle of summer wine.

    Kestrel eyed the bottle. ¡°Only one? I hope you don¡¯t expect me to share.¡±

    ¡°There were more,¡± Kai said, ¡°but we need you to be able to ride tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank you for thinking of me. I¡¯m certainly going to need something to help me sleep tonight. I didn¡¯t want to say anything earlier, but this place feels off somehow, and I don¡¯t mean because the people are missing.¡±

    Seraiah had noticed the same thing. Ratha didn¡¯t feel like this, but she¡¯d thought it was only because she was used to Ratha and Baromund was a new place. ¡°If it helps,¡± she said, ¡°I thought we could drag the mattresses down here in front of the fireplace since none of the upstairs rooms have a way to heat them, so you won¡¯t have to sleep alone.¡±

    ¡°Excellent idea,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°If Sterling and Kai want to figure out our evening meal, I¡¯ll help you with the mattresses.¡±

    There was a grumble from Kai as Kestrel linked her arm through Seraiah¡¯s and headed for the stairs. Sterling didn¡¯t seem to have heard Kestrel because she was too busy looking over her new blades.

    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Seraiah asked as they climbed the steps. Neither of them had brought the candle, so the lighting was dim. ¡°Leaving those two in charge of our meal?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. They¡¯ll never improve if they don¡¯t practice, but also I wanted to get you alone to ask you about something.¡±

    Seraiah braced herself, expecting a question about Sterling or Kai.

    Instead, Kestrel said, ¡°Did you know the thing on your neck has grown again?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Seraiah¡¯s free hand flew up to touch the side of her neck.

    ¡°Have you noticed?¡±

    ¡°I try not to look at it,¡± she admitted, ¡°but it¡¯s been itching lately, and I sometimes catch myself touching it without realizing.¡±

    ¡°Has it always itched?¡±

    Seraiah shook her head. ¡°Only when we were in Ratha. Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve felt it since we left or right before we left. It was bothering me that night when Sterling suggested we leave and then nothing since.¡±

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    They stopped outside the first room.

    ¡°Do you think it means something?¡± Seraiah asked, pushing open the door.

    ¡°Might only be coincidence,¡± Kestrel said, bending to pick up the corner of the mattress. ¡°Hard to say without knowing anything about the mark other than it was left by a necromancer. If I had to guess, I would say he is using it to get you to do something.¡±

    ¡°Do something?¡± she echoed, lifting the other side of the mattress. ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°Like come to him. You said the itching stopped as soon as we decided to leave Ratha and head for Daralis, and then Sterling mentioned the other night about searching for him there. Perhaps another coincidence.¡±

    Seraiah thought about it as they carried the mattress downstairs and then returned for another.

    ¡°What if it¡¯s not a coincidence,¡± she said quietly as they hefted the second mattress and moved for the stairs. ¡°What do you think he wants?¡±

    Kestrel smiled grimly. ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to find out.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Fifteen

    Seraiah let her reins hang loose, trusting her horse to follow Kai¡¯s without her guidance while she tugged off her cloak and tucked it away in her saddlebag. The snow had disappeared, and they¡¯d gradually returned to the warmth of late summer only two days outside of Baromund.

    Kestrel had gone off to scout for a campsite for the night, leaving them to travel at a leisurely pace until she returned. As much as Seraiah enjoyed not having to worry about falling off her horse as they flew over the ground, there was something to be said for the distraction it provided.

    She hadn¡¯t been able to stop thinking about what Kestrel had said about her mark. She hated the idea of Ren using the mark to somehow control her. He was a necromancer. His power was over the dead, not the living. It shouldn¡¯t be possible.

    Sterling might think his intentions were good, but Seraiah couldn¡¯t bring herself to feel the same way. When she¡¯d agreed with Sterling¡¯s plan to find him, she hadn¡¯t been thinking about the thing he¡¯d left on her skin. She¡¯d been thinking about their unanswered questions surrounding Sterling¡¯s rescue, and the idea that he might be able to fill in the gaps.

    Kestrel¡¯s words had changed things.

    Now Seraiah had no desire to get any closer to the necromancer and learn what else he could use the mark to do.

    You¡¯re paranoid, Sterling¡¯s voice whispered from her memories.

    No, no, she didn¡¯t think she was. Not about this. Anyone¡ªmadness or no¡ªwould be able to see going along with the necromancer¡¯s summons would not end well.

    She¡¯d contemplated the idea of splitting up the other day as a way to help Kestrel. It had seemed reasonable then, but now, with the threat Ren posed, the idea was even more appealing. She could avoid Ren and whatever plans he had for her and work toward their goal of finding allies. Kestrel would be more than happy to join her at the prospect of learning what was going on inside Nyrene.

    Most importantly, Seraiah could make inquiries about the madness.

    If there was anyone who might know if the madness was real and how to avoid it, Seraiah had no doubt it would be the Summer King. The trick would be paying whatever price he asked for the information.

    Seraiah stared at the back of Sterling, where she rode on Kai¡¯s horse. She was saying something to him, gesturing with one hand.

    Sterling might be upset if Seraiah suggested they go separate ways, but she thought her sister would forgive her quickly. It had been Sterling¡¯s idea to go to Daralis, after all, and she would still be able to do so.

    No, if there was anyone who might try to stop her, it would be Kai.

    Seraiah shifted her gaze to the landscape. Clouds bubbled on the horizon to her west, promising a summer rainstorm. By her estimate, if she rode toward those clouds, she would reach the portal to take her back to the other world in a few days¡ªmaybe less. If they were going to split up, it would be best to do it soon, in order to waste as little time as possible.

    She bit her lip and looked back at Kai and Sterling again. There was no way around it. If she wanted to avoid an encounter with the necromancer, she needed to talk to Kai. Tonight.

    <hr>

    A rain scented breeze wafted over Kai as he lifted the saddle from his horse. Kestrel had chosen a relatively flat spot atop one of the rolling hills for their camp. When the rain came¡ªfor he was sure it would¡ªit would be easy for him to shield the group from being drenched.

    Kai set the saddle aside and began brushing out the horse¡¯s coat. He was almost done when someone cleared their throat.

    ¡°Can I talk to you about something?¡± Seraiah asked when he looked over his shoulder. The fingers of her right hand played along the top of her dagger in a nervous way.

    ¡°Always.¡± He continued brushing the horse, expecting her to speak, but she didn¡¯t.

    By the time he had finished, she still stood there, playing with her dagger and not saying anything.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°Is it about Sterling?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I mean no, not exactly. Can we walk?¡±

    Kai let her lead the way, growing more curious by the second. Could it be she¡¯d come to him about the same thing he¡¯d been meaning to tell her?

    Seraiah stopped when they were out of hearing distance of their camp, but still close enough that they could see Kestrel and Sterling working on something near the fire.

    She stared at the oncoming clouds, looking ready to dump rain on their heads at any second, but still said nothing.

    He was about to rescue her from her misery when she finally blurted, ¡°I think we should split up.¡±

    There was a beat of silence. Those were not the words he had thought she would say.

    ¡°I think in order for us to split up,¡± he said slowly, ¡°we would first need to have been together.¡±

    She looked at him in confusion for a moment and then color flamed across her cheeks. ¡°That isn¡¯t¡ªI didn¡¯t mean¡ªI wasn¡¯t assuming¡ª¡±

    He grinned to cover his unease. She couldn¡¯t truly be suggesting what he thought she was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°That was a poor joke. Please. Continue what you were saying.¡±

    Please, tell me I¡¯m wrong, and you don¡¯t mean to go off alone or with only Sterling. He needed more time with his sister to unlock her magic. Splitting up now when she was still unable to call it would be a mistake.

    Seraiah leveled a glare at him, but forged on. ¡°I think we should split up,¡± she repeated. ¡°I think Kestrel and I should return to your world while you and Sterling stay here.¡±

    His relief that she didn¡¯t mean to take Sterling somewhere on her own was short-lived. This plan of hers meant he would still be separated from her, and he found he did not like that idea at all. He may have tried to send her off once for her own protection, but he wasn¡¯t sure he could do it again.

    ¡°Kestrel and I could work on gathering allies and find out what is happening in Nyrene,¡± she was saying, ¡°and we need to make sure it is safe for Sterling to cross the portals at all even if she doesn¡¯t go directly back to Nyrene. Having been away for weeks, we don¡¯t know what might be waiting for us on the other side. Kestrel and I could go first and then send word back to you.¡±

    She made a good point. They¡¯d been cut off from all news of what was happening in the other world while they were here in the human one. A trap could have been laid, and it would spring the second they returned. It might not be a problem if Sterling was ready, but she wasn¡¯t anywhere close.

    ¡°So while you and Kestrel are risking your safety, you would expect Sterling and I to wait here, doing nothing?¡±

    ¡°Not nothing,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°You would go to Daralis like we planned. We still need to know if it is like the other cities and the people are . . .¡±

    ¡°Missing,¡± Kai supplied. ¡°Vanished?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Yes, that.¡±

    Kai studied her face. He admired Seraiah¡¯s will¡ªher resolve to go on¡ªeven with the weight of everything that had occurred. Many would have stumbled or broken under the losses, but she had persevered.

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    Strength came in many forms, not just physical, and he did not envy any who came against her and her sheer stubbornness and refusal to give up. He¡¯d watched her search tirelessly for clues in Ratha and push herself to bring on a vision that might tell her what had happened to the missing people. He would have thought she¡¯d want to go to Daralis herself, unless she thought there might be another way. She¡¯d said she wanted to gather allies, but Kai suspected that wasn¡¯t the only thing she wanted to do.

    ¡°You want to go to the Summer King, don¡¯t you?¡±

    The way Seraiah¡¯s eyes flew wide told him that he¡¯d hit the mark.

    ¡°You¡¯re hoping he can help you have a vision of what happened in Ratha and Baromund.¡± He ran a hand through his hair and half turned away. ¡°After everything that happened the last time you went to the Seelie Court, you would think to do it again?¡±

    Sometimes, stubbornness and stupidity went hand in hand. He would know.

    ¡°I have to,¡± she said. The roll of thunder almost drowned the words out.

    Kai didn¡¯t need to ask why. He already knew the answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Seraiah lifted her hands to her face, scrubbed at her cheeks.

    Kai took her wrists and gently pulled her hands away. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± he repeated.

    ¡°What if it is?¡± she whispered. ¡°What if I could have warned them? What if I knew how to use my abilities better and could have prevented whatever it was that occurred? I can¡¯t even summon a vision of them now. I need help.¡±

    ¡°There must be another way.¡±

    She shook her head and tugged away from him. He let her go.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just about the vision. I need to go to Metrius too. I have to tell them about . . . about Lonan. And it¡¯s not like I would be alone. Kestrel would go with me.¡±

    He cocked his head. ¡°Was this her idea?¡± He couldn¡¯t see Kestrel being eager to return to the Seelie Court, but then again, she¡¯d become increasingly desperate for any news of Nyrene¡ªand more importantly, Eryx. He couldn¡¯t blame her. If he were the one separated from Seraiah, he would be the same. Or worse.

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t exactly told her yet,¡± Seraiah mumbled. ¡°You¡¯re the first one I¡¯m telling.¡±

    ¡°Because you knew I wouldn¡¯t like it.¡±

    She nodded.

    He huffed a laugh that held little humor. ¡°You were correct on that account. I¡¯d never want you to put yourself in danger by going back to the Seelie Court at all, much less with only Kestrel for company. She may be fierce, but she¡¯s not invincible.¡±

    Thunder rumbled again as they stared at each other. Kai could feel the moisture heavy in the air. The rain was imminent.

    Seraiah pressed her lips together. The fading light made it difficult to read her expression. ¡°That¡¯s not the only reason I want to go. There¡¯s something else. Kestrel has a theory about this.¡± She touched the mark on the side of her neck. The one the necromancer had left on her.

    His eyes narrowed. ¡°What about it?¡±

    ¡°She thinks he is using it to get me to go to Daralis.¡±

    Kai listened while she explained the itching, and how it had stopped once they left Ratha.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s right,¡± Seraiah said, ¡°and I don¡¯t want to find out what else he can do with it. I thought it best if I put as much distance between us as possible.¡±

    ¡°And you would let Sterling go even knowing she wants to find him?¡±

    ¡°He may have answers we need, and Sterling insists he was her friend. Besides, she wasn¡¯t the one he left this thing on. I don¡¯t believe he will harm her. I, on the other hand, do not wish to find out what he wants with me. He is, after all, still one of them.¡±

    By them, she meant mages. She hadn¡¯t forgotten about the way they¡¯d tried to take her, and neither had he. He also hadn¡¯t forgotten that they were instrumental in Sterling¡¯s kidnapping. Ren may have helped them once, but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t because it was for some larger plan.

    ¡°And if you¡¯re wrong?¡±

    Seraiah blinked at him. ¡°If I¡¯m wrong?¡±

    ¡°About Ren meaning Sterling harm.¡±

    ¡°Then she has you.¡±

    <hr>

    As soon as she said the words, Seraiah knew they were wrong. Something in Kai¡¯s expression shifted.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that means anything at all,¡± he said. ¡°You may not have been responsible for protecting the people of Ratha, but I was the one charged with the protection of Nyrene. I let an entire kingdom slip away. If I hadn¡¯t spent so much time away¡ª¡±

    She cut him off. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t, we might not have met. I wouldn¡¯t have found my sister.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you would have. You¡¯re determined.¡±

    ¡°Determination wouldn¡¯t get me that far. I knew so little of the world. I still don¡¯t. I would have fallen right in the mages¡¯ hands, and then where would we be?¡± She technically had fallen into the mages¡¯ hands, but Kai had been there to rescue her.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    She leaned forward and pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. ¡°No, if I¡¯m not allowed to blame myself for things out of my control, you aren¡¯t either.¡±

    She felt his lips move beneath her finger, curling into a smile.

    ¡°All right,¡± he said, the words tickling against her skin.

    When she moved to pull her hand away, he caught it, holding it tight. The callouses from his sword work were rough against her skin. She briefly wondered what they¡¯d feel like elsewhere.

    No. This was not the time for thinking about that. She needed him to agree to her plan.

    ¡°You trust me to keep Sterling safe?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Of course.¡± She looked down at their entangled fingers. His thumb stroked over her skin, distracting her again.

    She ripped her gaze away. ¡°There¡¯s no one else I¡¯d trust more. You care about her as much as I do. I know you won¡¯t do anything to put her in danger, even if she is intent on putting herself there.¡±

    He nodded and sighed. ¡°I understand the need to separate, and I know I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop you or change your mind, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to like it. Before you leave, though, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to talk to you about. The timing has never been right, and it¡¯s still not right, but I realize I might be waiting forever for the perfect moment.¡±

    Her heartbeat picked up speed, and suddenly she felt like she had a million butterflies in her stomach. The urge to turn and flee into the oncoming night was strong. She had a fairly good idea what he wanted to talk about, and it terrified her as much as excited.

    With his free hand, Kai brushed a piece of loose hair the wind had pulled from her braid behind her ear. His palm cradled her cheek, and she unconsciously leaned into it.

    ¡°I know you remember that night.¡±

    ¡°What night?¡± Her voice came out high and breathy and sounding not at all like her usual self. She already knew exactly what night he was referring to¡ªthe one where she¡¯d been bold and made a fool of herself. The one she¡¯d thought they¡¯d both forget.

    ¡°Eostre,¡± Kai said. ¡°You had fun on the beach, but then came back to me.¡±

    Was it her imagination or had he gotten closer?

    ¡°The one where we kissed.¡±

    Her pulse was so loud in her ears now. It threatened to drown out any other sound. He¡¯d said we as though he had something to do with it. As though she, emboldened by drink, hadn¡¯t told him he wasn¡¯t awful and then thrown herself at him.

    ¡°I was going to apologize,¡± she started to say. The first drops of rain hit her overheated skin, distracting her.

    With a gesture from Kai, they disappeared. A barrier seemed to have gone up around them. Rain continued to fall outside of it, but none touched them. ¡°I¡¯m not looking for an apology,¡± he said.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she squeaked. ¡°Then?¡± She felt like she was going to burst out of her skin.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to try it again.¡±

    Her heart skipped a beat.

    ¡°This time without the alcohol. That is, if you haven¡¯t decided I am awful, after all.¡±

    He had definitely moved closer, and his thumb was tracing her skin in the most distracting way. ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°I mean no. That is, I don¡¯t think your awful. In fact, you are very much the opposite of that most of the time.¡±

    Kai smirked and leaned in, gaze flicking from her lips to her eyes. ¡°May I?¡± he whispered, stopping just short of touching her.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered back. Her lashes drifted down as he closed the last distance between them.

    The kiss was soft and sweet.

    Kai let go of her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer until the length of her body was pressed up against his. The fingers in her hair tugged her head back, exposing her neck, and his lips moved from her mouth to her skin, tracing over the mark.

    If this was his way of convincing her not to leave, he was doing a very good job of it.

    Seraiah tugged him back to her mouth, her lips parting beneath his. What had started off as sweet now had an edge of hunger to it. As though her body knew this might be the last time she saw him for a long while, it wanted all of him it could get.

    She made a soft sound in her throat as his tongue ran along hers.

    Suddenly, she found herself drenched.

    She pulled back, blinking in the sudden onslaught of rain. Some time in the moments they¡¯d been kissing, the rain had gone from a light sprinkle to a downpour.

    A shriek went up from their camp and a voice that sounded very much like Kestrel shouted, ¡°What the hells, Kai?¡±

    With a flick of his hand, the barrier was back. Although both of them were still soaked.

    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked. He still held her pressed against him.

    ¡°I lost control of my magic.¡±

    She heard his unspoken words. He¡¯d lost control because of her.

    Seraiah grinned, and a bead of water dripped off the end of her nose. More water ran from her hair down her cheeks like tears.

    ¡°Now where were we?¡± His lips followed the trail of water, finding hers again.

    Try as she might, she couldn¡¯t suppress the shiver.

    Kai pulled back enough to look at her. ¡°You¡¯re cold.¡±

    Her insides felt molten, but she couldn¡¯t deny that the rain cooled air and wet clothing weren¡¯t raising goosebumps on her exposed skin.

    ¡°I¡¯d get you out of those wet clothes in a different way if we weren¡¯t in the middle of nowhere, but this will have to do.¡± Kai passed his hands over her and the water collected in the air before falling to the ground.

    She remembered the first time she¡¯d seen him do a similar thing after Kestrel had pushed him into the creek. It was just as impressive now as she watched him remove the water from his own clothing.

    ¡°Is it hard?¡± she asked.

    Kai glanced up sharply. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Holding the rain back,¡± she elaborated.

    ¡°Normally, no, but holding it back in two places takes more concentration, and if I¡¯m distracted . . .¡± he trailed off, his eyes flicking to her mouth again.

    ¡°We should get back to camp then.¡± She was reluctant to leave, but sooner or later the rain would stop, and someone would come looking for them.

    ¡°Seraiah, before we go, if I wasn¡¯t clear before, I care about you.¡±

    She¡¯d thought for a moment, he might say he loved her, but perhaps he didn¡¯t want to scare her away.

    She smiled and then pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips to his again in a lingering kiss.

    When she pulled away, she said, ¡°The feeling is mutual.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Sixteen

    ¡°What do you mean, you¡¯re leaving?¡± Sterling demanded, hands on her hips. ¡°I thought you wanted to go to Daralis too. What about finding Papa?¡±

    Seraiah shifted uncomfortably, twining a loose piece of her brown hair around her finger.

    ¡°Are you giving up on him?¡±

    Seraiah dropped her hand. ¡°No! Of course not. Don¡¯t you see? I¡¯m doing this to help the search and to help you.¡±

    ¡°How is it helping me?¡± She folded her arms over her chest. ¡°It¡¯s sounds more like abandoning me.¡±

    Seraiah paled.

    Sterling knew it was the worst thing she could have said, but she didn¡¯t appreciate that they¡¯d let her sleep and planned this all out without her. Again.

    She was supposed to be a queen and yet everyone kept making decisions about her life without including her.

    Ssseee. You don¡¯t need them. They mean to take what belongsss to you.

    Sterling frowned. No, they weren¡¯t taking anything from her. They meant well.

    Do they? Then why do they leave you out?

    ¡°I¡¯m not. I would never,¡± Seraiah protested. ¡°I¡¯m trying to get allies for you. I want to protect you.¡±

    We will protect you, the voices whispered. You don¡¯t need her.

    If the voices were right, then Sterling supposed it didn¡¯t matter if Seraiah left.

    But it still stung.

    She sighed. ¡°Fine. Get me allies. Meanwhile, I will find my friend and maybe Papa too.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°I hope¡ª¡±

    ¡°And then I¡¯ll tell him how you abandoned me¡ªabandoned us because you wanted to talk to dragons instead.¡±

    ¡°You ready?¡± Kestrel asked, coming up behind Seraiah. She was leading both of their horses, already saddled.

    Kestrel and Kai had left Seraiah to tell her about the change of plans on her own. Cowards, Sterling thought. They must have known she wouldn¡¯t be happy about it.

    ¡°Sterling?¡±

    ¡°What? Go on. If you want to go, then by all means go.¡±

    Seraiah hesitated another moment before turning away and taking the reins from Kestrel. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon enough,¡± she said as she swung into the saddle like she¡¯d been doing it her whole life. ¡°Then we can take back your city. I love you.¡±

    Sterling stared at her, not saying a word.

    The two of them turned their horses, riding off to the west and leaving her with her brother.

    ¡°I love you too,¡± Sterling murmured as she watched them get farther and farther away.

    ¡°We should get going,¡± Kai said. ¡°We¡¯ve still got about two and a half days if we make good time. Once we reach the city, we can get you your own horse.¡±

    ¡°Assuming it¡¯s not abandoned like the other cities,¡± Sterling mumbled. She bent to roll up her bedroll. It was the only thing left that hadn¡¯t already been packed. ¡°How long did you know my sister wasn¡¯t going with us to Daralis?¡± she asked. ¡°Or did you always know?¡±

    Kai took the bedroll from her and secured it to his horse. ¡°She told me last night. I don¡¯t like splitting up any better than you do, but we both know there is no stopping Seraiah when she puts her mind to something.¡±

    ¡°I suppose.¡±

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    Kai gave her a hand to get on the horse and then they were off. When Sterling looked to the west again, Kestrel and Seraiah were nothing but two specks on the horizon.

    <hr>

    Every day, Ren made sure to give a little tug on the bond between him and Seraiah, gently compelling her to come to Daralis. Eventually, it would build up, and she wouldn''t be able to resist¡ªbut she would think it was her idea. He was sure by now she must have figured out where the mark had come from, but she didn''t need to know that he was using it to guide her to him. Not yet anyway.

    After two weeks of sending her little compulsions, Ren finally felt the mark move. It was coming closer. Every day it grew stronger the nearer she came, until one day, it started moving away again.

    At first, he wasn''t sure if he was sensing it correctly. It was still strong, meaning she was close by, but it had faded by the smallest bit. When Ren sent a compulsion down the bond, he was met with resistance.

    That was new.

    He didn''t compel people often, preferring to stick to the dead, but never had he felt a resistance from anyone¡ªliving or dead. They simply followed his orders or suggestions. Somehow Seraiah was managing to ignore him.

    It seemed she wasn''t strong enough to block him completely, but she had definitely deviated from the path he had been pulling her down.

    Ren slammed his hand down on the rickety wooden desk in his rented room, frustrated. If she wasn''t coming to the capital, he would need to go after her. It wasn''t something he wanted to do, but she was leaving him with no choice. If he wanted to get to Sterling, he had to find Seraiah.

    <hr>

    Ren found himself once again standing in front of his childhood home. He had vowed to himself that he wouldn''t come back and yet here he was. He intended to leave the city later tonight, and he wanted one more look at it. One more look couldn''t hurt, he had told himself as he had walked the streets to reach it. He wouldn''t talk to anyone. He would just see it one more time, and then he would leave.

    When Ren arrived in front of the little house he¡¯d grown up in, he found his mother outside, hanging the day''s laundry on the line to dry. He tried to keep his head down as he strolled by, watching her as she clipped bed linens to the line. He was almost past when his mother turned and called out.

    "You there!"

    He glanced around, hoping she was talking to someone else, even though he knew there was no one else. Ren heard her footsteps fast approaching, and he knew he should leave¡ªwalk away without a word, but something was gluing him in place.

    "I''ve seen you here before," she said as she came up behind him. "What is your business here?"

    "I¡¯m simply passing through,¡± he answered. So much for not talking to anyone. "If you think you have seen me before, I''m quite sure you are mistaken." Ren lifted his gaze to meet hers.

    He half hoped when she saw his face that she would recognize him and welcome him home. Those hopes were quickly dashed though, as she scrutinized his face and not a flicker of recognition dawned in her eyes.

    "I''m sure I''ve seen you skulking around here before. Don''t let me catch you again. This is a safe neighborhood, and we don''t want any troublemakers here."

    If only she knew what kind of trouble he had been up to.

    "Don''t worry," Ren reassured her. "You will never see me around here again."

    "Good," was all she said, before turning on her heel and going back to her laundry.

    He waited for a beat longer to see if she would turn to look at him, but she didn''t. She only continued hanging her laundry as though nothing had happened. Ren frowned but continued on his way. He would be true to his word. She wouldn''t see him again.

    That evening, he packed his few belongings onto his newly purchased horse and set out. He paused outside the city walls, turning back to look at the place he¡¯d called home in his early years and commit it to memory in case he didn¡¯t return.

    The first time Ren had left Daralis, it hadn''t been by choice¡ªor at least it wasn''t his choice. They had come for him in the middle of the night. His mother had woken him, telling him it was time to go.

    "Go where?" he had asked. "Go where, Mama?" He had been old enough by that point that he rarely called her Mama anymore. He often teased his brothers about it, saying only babies called for Mama.

    But now, when he was afraid, he had reverted to it.

    "You are going to go with these men," his mother told him firmly.

    Two men, clothed in dark robes, appeared in the doorway of his room. Ren took one look at them and burst into tears.

    "But I don''t want to go, Mama. I want to stay here," he cried, clinging to her.

    One man stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.

    "Listen, kid. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It''s up to you."

    Ren had stopped crying instantly at the sound of his voice.

    "Good," the man said, removing his hand. "There will be no more of that. Follow us quietly, and we won''t have any problems."

    Ren nodded, knowing even then that it would be a bad idea to anger this man.

    His mother peeled his hands off of her and turned away from him. The men had Ren get out of bed and follow them outside, not even bothering to let him dress.

    As they led him over to their waiting horses, he turned back one last time to look at his house¡ªto look for his mother. She hadn''t come outside. She hadn''t even said goodbye.

    He remembered looking back at the city as he did now. Ren had told himself he would do anything to come back¡ªto go home.

    He had been young then and na?ve, thinking his family hadn''t wanted him to go, but the black-robed men had stolen him away. It hadn''t been until later that those men told him the truth. His parents had called for them. They¡¯d been the ones to send him away because they hadn''t wanted him anymore. Not after what they had seen him do¡ªafter he had killed his sister, and then raised her from the dead.

    Ren felt for the bond, pointing his horse in the direction he thought he felt it pulsing, and set off to find Seraiah.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Seventeen

    Seraiah gritted her teeth against the pain.

    Ever since she and Kestrel had changed direction, heading away from the capital and toward the portal, the mark on her neck had been burning. The itching had been annoying, but at least she¡¯d been able to ignore it¡ªthe burning she couldn''t. Her neck felt like it was on fire. Seraiah half expected the mark to be warm as she reached up to touch it, but it felt like her normal unmarked skin.

    "Is it bothering you again?" Kestrel asked, catching her in the act.

    "It''s fine. It just stings a little, that''s all."

    "It looks like it¡¯s gotten bigger." Kestrel tilted her head, studying Seraiah''s neck. "Or maybe it changed shape. I''m not sure."

    Seraiah brushed her hair forward, hiding the mark from view.

    "Maybe once we cross the portal, you¡¯ll stop feeling it," Kestrel suggested.

    "Maybe," Seraiah mumbled. She certainly hoped so because if this pain kept up, it might be enough to make her turn around and find that necromancer. She¡¯d make sure he joined his dead friends.

    Three days went by with more of the same. The burning never abated and gave her horrible headaches. Sometimes Seraiah had to stop and rest to make sure she didn''t fall off her horse. It was frustrating to lose the time, but Kestrel didn¡¯t give her much of a choice.

    ¡°Kai would be very upset with me if I let you break your neck taking a tumble,¡± Kestrel said, when Seraiah had complained they¡¯d already stopped twice that day.

    Then finally, on the morning of the fourth day, she woke with no pain.

    The sky was only beginning to lighten, but Seraiah scrambled from her bedroll and shook Kestrel awake.

    "What do you want? Are we being attacked?" Kestrel asked blearily. They hadn¡¯t been setting a watch, having no reason to believe someone would come after them in the night.

    "Can you see it?" Seraiah asked, sweeping her hair back.

    "See what?" Kestrel eyed her like she had gone insane. ¡°You know it¡¯s still dark out, right?¡±

    "The mark! Is it still there?"

    Kestrel summoned a ball of light to her palm and held it up while Seraiah waited with bated breath.

    "Still there, same as yesterday." She closed her fingers over the light, snuffing it out much the way she¡¯d just snuffed out Seraiah¡¯s hope that the mark was finally gone.

    Seraiah sat back on her heels and touched her neck again. As usual, she couldn''t feel anything on her skin.

    Why would the pain suddenly stop now if the mark was still there? They hadn''t crossed the portal yet. They were still a few days away from doing that, thanks to all the times they¡¯d had to stop and rest. Did it mean the necromancer was dead? Or had Sterling and Kai found him?

    She had no way of knowing, but she had a sinking feeling it wasn¡¯t either of those things.

    ¡°I suppose since you woke me, we might as well get moving,¡± Kestrel said.

    The two of them quietly packed up their things and continued on.

    Throughout the day, Seraiah would find herself tensing and waiting for the pain to return, but by nightfall, the mark hadn¡¯t so much as tingled. She was both relieved and afraid. It couldn¡¯t mean anything good.

    At least they were close to the portal now, she thought as they settled down for the night. Another good day of travel would get them there. Then maybe she would not have to worry.

    By morning, the itching had returned.

    "Again?" Kestrel asked when she caught Seraiah scratching.

    She sighed. "It only itches a little. Like an insect bite."

    Kestrel pursed her lips, eyes narrowing as she looked at the mark.

    ¡°What?¡±

    "I think our necromancer friend must have figured out our change of plans. The itching might mean he is trying to summon you again.¡±

    ¡°You think he¡¯s following us?¡± Seraiah asked. She hoped not. One of the reasons she hadn¡¯t wanted to go to Daralis was to avoid him.

    ¡°I think it is a strong possibility. We¡¯ll have to set a watch at night. Only one of us can sleep at a time.¡±

    ¡°Even after we cross the portal?¡±

    Kestrel nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll see what happens with the mark after we cross, but I think we¡¯ll need to set a watch there anyway, given our other enemies.¡±

    Seraiah stared back in the direction they¡¯d come. The horizon was clear, but she couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°I hope you¡¯re wrong about him.¡±

    ¡°Look at it this way,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°If he¡¯s following us, he won¡¯t be after Sterling. No matter if he means her harm or not, at least we will know she¡¯s safe.¡±

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Seraiah sighed. ¡°It could be a good thing.¡±

    And yet, she felt anything but reassured.

    <hr>

    Seraiah placed the flat of her palm against the mark. The itching was going to drive her mad. It was almost enough to make her wish for the burning again. If she scratched at her skin any more than she already had, she wouldn¡¯t have any left.

    They were only about an hour away from the portal now, and she couldn¡¯t wait to get there. The crossing had to make this infernal itching stop.

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    "Everything all right?¡±

    Seraiah forced a smile. ¡°Everything is fine.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s convincing. I can tell you¡¯re gritting your teeth, and I know you¡¯ve been scratching when you think I¡¯m not looking. It¡¯s gotten worse again, hasn¡¯t it?¡±

    After a moment, Seraiah dropped the smile and nodded, barely a bob of her head in confirmation.

    ¡°I thought so.¡± Kestrel turned to scan the horizon behind them.

    Seraiah already knew what she would find. She herself had been checking frequently for signs of anyone following them, but there was nothing.

    "He can¡¯t be far behind us now.¡±

    ¡°Then we need to hurry. We have to cross and¡ª¡±

    Kestrel held up a hand and Seraiah fell silent. A slow smile spread across Kestrel¡¯s face.

    Seraiah knew that look¡ªit was the look Kestrel got when she was up to something.

    "We will do no such thing," Kestrel said. ¡°We will wait and take care of this problem once and for all.¡±

    <hr>

    It took a few days before Ren was certain he was headed in the right direction. By then, he had also figured out what exactly Seraiah was aiming for¡ªthe portal. He would have to catch her before she went through, or it would be that much harder to track her.

    Ren spurred his horse forward as he reached for the mark again. Every day he made sure to pull on it, but today was the first time he didn''t feel the usual resistance. It gave him hope that he could catch up.

    Two more days passed with no sign of her, but the mark was the strongest it had ever been, and he knew he had to be getting close. She had to be somewhere nearby.

    Ren slowed his horse, scanning the ground for signs of prints in the dirt. So far, there was nothing, not even the ashes of a campfire. If they¡¯d come this way, they were being careful. The portal hummed nearby, but he knew they hadn''t passed through yet based on the strength of the connection between him and Seraiah.

    But if they hadn''t gone through, where were they?

    He got his answer a moment later.

    "Looking for me, necromancer?" a female voice asked.

    He turned in his saddle to find Seraiah had ridden up behind him. She appeared to be alone and, from what he could tell, she didn''t seem to be armed either, but he knew better than to assume. He remembered clearly the way she had flung a dagger at the archer in the Cave of Faces, barely missing his heart. She¡¯d likely had a chance to improve her aim since then, and Ren didn''t want to be her next target.

    His eyes flitted to the mark on her neck, which was on full display. The thing had grown and slithered down over her collarbone, disappearing into her tunic. This was the first time he¡¯d ever seen one of his marks expand. The one he had left on his brother had stayed small, only as big as his fingerprints, easily concealed, and explained away. Perhaps she had her own magical abilities, and the mark was somehow feeding off of them.

    "Admiring your handiwork?" she asked when she saw him looking.

    "I do great work," he responded, forcing his eyes to move from the mark to her face.

    Seraiah was scowling at him, apparently not sharing his opinion.

    Someone cleared their throat, and Ren glanced to the side. He found the raven-haired female elf had come up to join Seraiah, and she appeared none too friendly.

    Ren could tell with one glance that she was a warrior and not someone he particularly wanted to piss off. He pretended not to notice the way she was eyeing him as though she planned to eat him for her next meal, choosing to keep his focus on Seraiah.

    "Where''s Sterling?"

    "I''ll be the one asking the questions here," she shot back, raising her chin.

    The slight squint of her eyes as she had answered him told him everything he needed to know. Sterling wasn''t with them.

    "The name''s Ren." He gave her his most charming smile.

    "I''m aware," she said flatly. "Doesn''t mean I have to use it."

    Well, then. It seemed he was going to need to try harder. He could see now how alike Sterling and Seraiah were. He had won over one sister. The other one shouldn''t be too much of a challenge.

    "Why are you following me, necromancer?" she asked him, purposefully avoiding using his name.

    "Well, you see," he said, "I don''t really care about you."

    The lines around her mouth tightened.

    "I''m looking for Sterling."

    "What do you want with my sister?"

    Did he tell her the truth or lie through his teeth?

    "She is going to need my help." A partial truth.

    "And what could you possibly do for her? Raise her an undead army? You''re lucky I don''t stab you right now and be done with it."

    Ren caught movement out of the corner of his eye and saw the elf was now looking thoughtful. So, it was an army they were seeking. They must intend to take the elven city from Gavaran.

    "You wouldn''t. You''re not your sister." He shrugged off the threat, refusing to show he was slightly worried she¡¯d make good on it. "Besides, if Sterling wanted an undead army, I could certainly give her one, but I''m talking about something else." He saw Seraiah''s eyes flick to Kestrel and back to him.

    "You''ve noticed the change in her, haven''t you?" he guessed.

    She eyed him suspiciously before giving a sharp nod.

    "What is he talking about, Seraiah?" the elf asked.

    Hmm, curious. It seemed Seraiah was keeping secrets from her friends. Ren smiled to himself. Good. He could work with that.

    <hr>

    Seraiah cursed inwardly. Given what she¡¯d read about the madness, and Sterling calling her paranoid, she hadn¡¯t thought it worth mentioning.

    "Sterling has been different since we rescued her," she said slowly. Of course, her sister might have changed. She¡¯d been through a lot.

    "How so?" Kestrel asked, giving Seraiah her full attention.

    Seraiah kept her eyes on Ren, who was now smirking openly at her.

    "Mood swings, perhaps?" Ren suggested before she could answer.

    "Everyone has mood swings," Seraiah defended. "She¡¯s young. It''s almost expected."

    "But the shadows aren''t," he countered.

    Kestrel''s gaze jumped from her to Ren and then back again. Seraiah knew her friend could sense the power struggle going on here¡ªand she was about to lose.

    "Seraiah?"

    She could hear the question in the way Kestrel said her name, wanting confirmation of Ren''s words.

    Seraiah''s silence was answer enough.

    "How long?"

    This time, the necromancer stayed silent, looking at her for the answer.

    "Right after we got out was the first time I saw them," Seraiah answered grudgingly, not looking at either of them. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen them on at least two other occasions.¡±

    "Why didn''t you say something? Does Kai know?"

    Seraiah shook her head. "I didn¡¯t say anything because I couldn¡¯t be sure what I was seeing was real. I didn¡¯t know if I was imagining it simply because I had seen it in my vision. It could have been a trick of the light.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t be sure if the visions were already driving me into madness, she thought, but didn¡¯t say aloud.

    Ren''s brows shot up. "You foresaw this?"

    "Long before Sterling was taken by you."

    He frowned. "I had nothing to do with the kidnapping.¡±

    She ignored him. "I saw the shadows. The thing or whatever it was looking out from Sterling''s eyes. It wasn''t her anymore. She¡¯d become something else. And it''s your fault," she accused him.

    ¡°My fault? You saw me in your vision? I¡¯m to blame for some things, certainly, but not that.¡±

    "No," Seraiah admitted, "but I know it was you. You were there. You were with the others in that cave."

    ¡°I was complicit in holding Sterling in the cave, but I¡¯m not responsible for anything else. Also, if you will recall, I helped you get her away from them. I want to help you again, but we can¡¯t talk here.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    He ignored the question. ¡°I know of a safe place on the other side of the portal. We can go there, and I can explain everything I know. Whatever you want.¡±

    Seraiah eyed him, saying nothing. She didn''t trust him. He could be trying to lure her into a trap. He¡¯d seemed surprised to learn of her visions, but he could have been pretending. Kestrel had said mages could sense her, and he was one of them.

    "We''ll go," Kestrel answered for her. "Lead the way."

    Seraiah''s gaze snapped to Kestrel. This was not part of the plan.

    ¡°We have lots of questions for you,¡± Kestrel added.

    Ren dipped his head. ¡°I will do my best to answer them,¡± he said to Kestrel, although his eyes never left her.

    "I make no promises I won''t stab you if I don''t like what I hear," Seraiah said.

    Ren''s smile reappeared. It was the same one he had given her when he¡¯d introduced himself. Seraiah was sure it worked on other people, but she wasn''t going to fall for it.

    She didn''t smile back.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Eighteen

    Weeks slid one into the next. With each one come and gone, Virelai grew more anxious. Thanks to the guards her father had assigned to tail her, she hadn¡¯t been able to pay a visit to her house. Wisteria and Eryx could be dead by now for all she knew¡ªor long gone. Wisteria, she knew, would never make it out of the city on her own, but Eryx was another story. If he was whole and hale, she didn¡¯t doubt that he might slip past her father¡¯s watching eyes.

    Virelai gasped as the maid pulled her laces tight. Tonight she was to attend another dinner and dance thrown in her father¡¯s honor. It seemed there was one every night, and her presence was required at all of them.

    She was to be seen by all but heard by none.

    Virelai frowned at her reflection. The sapphire silk of her dress made her hair appear redder than it was. She used to love her hair, but now it only reminded her of her father. There was no pretending she wasn¡¯t related to him when she possessed all of his features. If only she¡¯d gotten her mother¡¯s dark hair or her sweet heart-shaped face. Anything to make her look less like the elf she¡¯d come to despise.

    ¡°Do you require anything else, my lady?¡± the maid inquired, drawing Virelai out of her thoughts.

    ¡°No, that will be all.¡± With a flick of her hand, she dismissed the other elf. Virelai didn¡¯t move from in front of the mirror until she heard the door open and close.

    Then she sighed, allowing her mask to slip for a moment and her true face to appear. The moment was all too brief before she carefully arranged her features into a bored expression that gave none of her thoughts away.

    ¡°Tonight,¡± she whispered to her reflection. ¡°Tonight, I will find something useful.¡±

    With one last look, she swept from the room.

    <hr>

    Virelai recognized few of the faces around her as she lifted her wineglass to her lips and took a sip. There was one in particular she was interested in, however.

    Councilman Harloth.

    He was known to be one of her father¡¯s biggest supporters. The most power hungry of the bunch, if she had to guess. He must be useful for something if her father had kept him around. Not all the councilmen had been so lucky.

    Virelai studied the round-faced elf as he talked to another on his right, a female elf she didn¡¯t recognize. The way he smiled and nodded, his dark eyes twinkling in the magic lamps, Virelai could almost be fooled into thinking of him as a kindly grandfather figure. Having talked to him before, she knew he was no such thing. He was shrewd and conniving, with a retinue of spies at his disposal. Harloth was no stranger to using blackmail to get what he wanted. If her father hadn¡¯t made a bid for the throne, Harloth would have been next in line to do it.

    As dinner wound down and the servants cleared plates and prepared for dancing, Harloth excused himself from his dinner companion.

    Virelai watched him cross the room before she did the same, following his path.

    No one stopped her as she stepped into the hall and spotted Harloth exiting onto a nearby balcony.

    The night was balmy as she joined him in the dimly lit space. A breeze wafted off the ocean, bringing the scent of salt with it. Harloth was already puffing away on a pipe as he leaned on the railing. As she drew closer, she could smell the sweet stench of the smoke.

    He didn¡¯t notice her until she placed her hands on the railing next to him. If her appearance startled him, he didn¡¯t let it show.

    ¡°Good evening, Virelai,¡± he greeted her after removing the pipe from his teeth. ¡°Enjoying the dinner?¡±

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    She lifted one shoulder and let it fall, keeping her eyes on the view. ¡°I think the one two nights ago was better,¡± she said in a bored tone. ¡°There were more guests at that one.¡±

    ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± Harloth puffed on his pipe, and Virelai held her breath to avoid breathing in the smoke.

    ¡°An occasion is rather dull without someone to gossip with, don¡¯t you think?¡± she said, keeping the same measured tone.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I partake in gossip, my lady.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, yes. I suppose councilman are above such things.¡±

    ¡°It seems your gossip has failed you, my lady. For I am no longer a councilman. Your father has no need of a council to advise him when he makes such wise decisions on his own.¡±

    ¡°Of course. My mistake.¡±

    Interesting, but not altogether surprising. She¡¯d thought he might keep the council together as a place to gather information. It wasn¡¯t like any of the members would have dared to disagree with his plans.

    What was Gavaran hiding?

    ¡°I am thankful to be invited to the dinners at all, given my lowly position,¡± Harloth went on, ¡°but perhaps it could change in the future.¡± He leaned closer to her in the dark, so that she got a whiff of the wine and fish he¡¯d had for dinner.

    Virelai did not at all care for the look he was giving her. She¡¯d nearly forgotten about her father¡¯s threat of marriage. Harloth was unmarried, but she couldn¡¯t imagine her father handing her over to him. He was nearly twice her age.

    Then again, her father would do anything to secure a good deal, including trading her away.

    Virelai pasted a demure smile on her face. ¡°I wish you the best with securing a new position. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I must return inside before my father comes looking for me.¡±

    Harloth understood the subtle warning and resumed his position on the rail. ¡°Yes, yes. Do save a dance for me, my lady.¡±

    Virelai would do no such thing.

    <hr>

    A few more weeks slipped by before Virelai got her chance to slip away. Despite what Harloth had implied, Gavaran had been silent on the topic of her impending marriage. His attention seemed to be focused elsewhere for now, and he¡¯d even stopped monitoring her so closely. Virelai used her newfound freedom to pay a visit to her house.

    To her surprise, the moment she stepped in the door, she heard voices. She froze on the threshold, listening.

    It was only Wisteria and Eryx. Despite her absence, they¡¯d stayed where she had left them. Good.

    Virelai followed the noise and found them in the dining room, cards scattered on the table between them. Wisteria giggled as she took her turn at their game.

    "I win," she crowed as she stared down at the cards.

    This drew a smile from Eryx. "You¡¯re getting better at . . ." He trailed off as he caught sight of Virelai standing in the doorway.

    Wisteria looked up from the cards to notice Eryx was no longer paying attention to her and turned to see what he was looking at. The corners of her mouth tugged down when she saw it was Virelai.

    "Happy to see you too," Virelai said, strolling into the room."Feeling better?" she asked Eryx.

    "Yes, thanks to Wisteria here. I think I will live."

    "You mean, thanks to me," she corrected him. "I''m the one who dragged you here and saved you from my father." Apparently, Eryx didn''t remember any of their previous conversations, including the one where he¡¯d told them about their missing queen.

    Eryx dipped his head at her, acknowledging her words. "And I thank you for that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Wisteria interrupted. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for ages. I thought you decided to abandon us.¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Virelai said, ¡°but I still can.¡±

    Wisteria scowled at her. ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s like to be locked up?¡±

    ¡°I have some idea, yes. Look, I¡¯ve been busy. Information gathering takes time, and I can¡¯t exactly slip away whenever I want.¡±

    ¡°Why not? You¡¯re a princess. Order people around or something. You have no problem doing it when you¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work like that,¡± Virelai said through gritted teeth. She didn¡¯t like admitting how little power or control she actually had.

    ¡°Has there been any word of Kaimana?¡± Eryx asked, cutting off whatever insult Wisteria was planning to hurl at her next.

    Just see if she visited them again.

    ¡°No, not that I¡¯ve been able to discover. Unfortunately, my father has disbanded the council and has been keeping his plans to himself. I¡¯ve been trying to persuade a few elves to share what they know with me, but when they think word will get back to my father, they are reluctant to tell me anything.¡±

    ¡°How long has it been?¡± This question from Wisteria. The fight seemed to have gone out of her.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to enter late summer,¡± Virelai said.

    ¡°Months,¡± Wisteria whispered, ¡°and no word of Kai. That¡¯s not good.¡±

    Virelai silently agreed.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything,¡± Eryx said. ¡°They could be biding their time. His sister will be untrained. It wouldn¡¯t make sense to launch an attack with pure power. She¡¯ll need at least some control unless they want to put everyone in the city at risk. Keep trying,¡± he said to her. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear something soon.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Virelai said, ¡°but you need to prepare yourselves in the event that we may be facing this battle alone.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Nineteen

    As they crested the hill, the capital spread out before them. To Sterling''s disappointment, none of it was made of gold, as the rumors had said. Instead, what lay before them was a city primarily constructed of sandstone. As Ratha appeared in shades of gray, Daralis was shades of brown, and she was none too impressed.

    They made their way down the hill to the capital gates with the other traffic. Sterling couldn''t help but notice there were only a few people entering the city and even less leaving. She covertly studied the faces of those around them, half hoping to see someone familiar to her, but these were all strangers.

    As they entered the gates, Sterling glanced up, noting the two guards posted above them, presumably to monitor those entering the city. Neither of the two men was even looking at the people below. Their security was lax here, as though they hadn''t had to worry about a threat in some time.

    Think of the destruction that could be wrought, the voices chattered gleefully. These humans wouldn''t know what was coming. We could teach them a lesson.

    Much to Sterling''s horror, she agreed. Someone should teach King Berenger a lesson. He had a duty to the people to protect them, and while his subjects were disappearing elsewhere, he couldn''t even be bothered to reinforce his own seat of power. If he wasn''t careful, someone might come in and take it from him.

    Sterling quickly shoved the thoughts down. She shouldn''t wish for something horrible to teach one man a lesson at the cost of so many lives.

    She could seek an audience with him and warn him, but she would do nothing more. This wasn''t her kingdom.

    "Where should we go first?" Kai asked her in a low voice.

    "I''m not sure," she answered after a moment of contemplation. "I''ve never been here before."

    "Let''s start with finding a place to stay and leave our horses there. Then we can walk around the city. Presumably there¡¯s a market here somewhere."

    ¡°Are all the human cities the same, then?¡± Sterling asked. Prior to her kidnapping, she¡¯d never left Ratha, but she¡¯d always imagined the rest of the world as a more vibrant place. Thus far, she¡¯d been sorely disappointed.

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Kai said without elaborating any further.

    Helpful.

    Sterling kept an eye on the people as they went along, still searching for a familiar face. Everyone hurried about their business, head down. If the missing people were in Daralis, they weren¡¯t in this part of the city.

    Kai stopped an older man, who looked to be a city resident, and asked for directions to the nearest inn. The man was happy enough to answer Kai''s questions, but Sterling couldn''t help but notice the way the man''s gaze jumped back and forth between the two of them. After Kai thanked him and the man went on his way, Sterling pointed it out.

    "I noticed the same," Kai said. "We might want to consider changing our hair color if we stay for any length of time."

    Sterling fingered the ends of her iron-colored hair as she looked around at the people walking the streets of the capital. Kai had a point. For the most part, people here were dark-haired, like Seraiah. There were a few golden heads mixed into the group, but none with the striking gray shade both of them possessed¡ªat least not anyone under the age of 50.

    "Right," Sterling said. "I''m sure there is something in the market we can purchase to darken our hair." She vaguely recalled Freya telling her one of her neighbors used crushed walnut shells to dye her hair darker in hopes of appearing younger. It would be worth a try.

    They found the inn the man had suggested and took two rooms there, leaving their belongings behind as they set out to explore the city.

    They heard the market before they saw it. As they approached, the noise level increased significantly with the voices of what had to be hundreds of people joined together. Sterling could hardly hear herself think. It brought back memories of Ratha before the winter had come. Although she didn¡¯t think their market had ever been quite this big.

    Kai forged a path against the flow of people moving around the stalls. It was slow going, but allowed them to listen to the conversations around them.

    Sterling glanced over her shoulder, reaching up to adjust the scarf she was using to hide her hair until she could darken it. A man bartering with a stall keeper over some fish caught her eye. There was something familiar about him.

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    Kai had wandered further up the aisle, but Sterling remained where she was, determined to figure out how she knew the man. She leaned over, pretending to examine the weave of a piece of cloth at the stall in front of her while keeping an eye on him.

    He must have come to some agreement with the seller, who began wrapping up a few of the small silver fish. While the man waited for his purchase, he glanced around. His eyes moved over her as though she wasn''t there. He obviously didn''t recognize her, but now Sterling knew exactly who he was.

    This was the man who had broken her nose, who had felt the need to torment her before handing her over to the mages¡ªone of the men who had taken her from Ratha.

    Fire burned through her veins as she watched him, no longer pretending she was interested in the cloth.

    "Care to make a purchase, miss?" the seller asked her. "If this doesn''t suit your tastes, I''m sure I can find something else you might like."

    "No, thank you," she answered, her eyes never leaving her kidnapper. The man was handing over coins and taking his package from the fish seller.

    Without thinking about what she was doing, she crossed the distance between them until she stood before him.

    He shot her an annoyed look as he moved to step around her.

    Sterling sidestepped with him, blocking his path.

    The man scowled. "Get out of my way." He tried to step around her again, but Sterling was too fast.

    He growled in frustration and moved to shove her. Sterling danced back before he could make contact. Her lessons with Kestrel were paying off.

    "Don''t you remember me?" Sterling asked him sweetly.

    "I''ve never met you in my life. Now get out of my way, urchin."

    Sterling raised one brow. "I wouldn''t be too sure about that. Have you ever made a trip to Ratha?"

    He squinted at her. "Aye. I''ve been there." He stopped trying to get around her and studied her face.

    "And now you¡¯re here.¡± Her voice hardened. ¡°Looking for more girls to kidnap, perhaps?"

    The man''s face flushed red. "I never¡ª" he blustered.

    In his anger, he didn''t notice the blade she¡¯d slipped into her hand. Since picking the knives up in Baromund, she¡¯d been able to restore them to their former glory.

    Sterling stepped forward, pressing the tip into his stomach. To the rest of the shoppers, it looked as if she were merely leaning in to be heard over the noise. The folds of her cloak hid the weapon from sight.

    "Remember me, yet?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

    When the man didn''t answer, she pressed the blade closer. The voices delighted in the fear widening his eyes, urging her on. "Allow me to jog your memory."

    With her free hand, she pulled the scarf from her hair, letting the silver strands fall free.

    His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

    "Didn''t think you would ever see me again, did you?" She pressed the knife further and felt it break the skin.

    "Sterling," Kai called behind her.

    A wave of relief washed over the man''s face. "Better run along, little girl. Your keeper is calling you," he taunted.

    "Sterling, come on," Kai called again. He was getting closer.

    "This isn''t over," Sterling told him as he backed away from her.

    Yes, yes, the voices in Sterling''s head shrieked. We will have our revenge!

    Yes, Sterling vowed, she would have her revenge.

    "You can run," she whispered as she watched her kidnapper disappear into the crowd, "but I will find you. I will find you and make you pay."

    <hr>

    Night had fallen over the city of Daralis as Sterling slipped from her rented room and down the stairs. Soon, the voices whispered excitedly to her. She held her breath until she reached the street where the warm summer air enveloped her in its embrace. There was no need for a cloak on a night like tonight.

    Sterling had dressed in her darkest clothes, all the better to blend in with the shadows. The twin knives she and Kestrel had found in Baromund were carefully hidden away from prying eyes but easily accessible if the need arose.

    She paused a moment to observe her surroundings. The foot traffic of the daytime had slowed as people retired to their homes and the less reputable crowd came out to play. A group of men leaned against the building a few feet away, blowing smoke clouds into the air. They eyed her with interest, but Sterling ignored them.

    Eassst, the voices hissed. Sterling stepped away from the shelter of the inn, following the voices'' command, and headed east. She didn''t question how they knew where she needed to go as they guided her along the street, deeper into the city.

    Here, they finally said when Sterling stood at the mouth of a dark alley. The air reeked of the sickly sweet stench of rotting garbage and other human refuse, but she didn''t hesitate. If the voices said he was here, then he must be here. They had yet to lead her wrong.

    Sure enough, Sterling found her quarry only a few steps away. He had pinned a barmaid against the grimy wall and didn''t hear her approach.

    "Hate to interrupt, but I believe we have some unfinished business," Sterling announced calmly.

    The man turned to look at her, and the barmaid was quick to pull her skirts down and dart away back to the street.

    "Why you little... who do you think you are?" He took a menacing step towards her, but she held her ground. She wasn''t afraid of this man and never would be again.

    Sterling grinned, slipping her knives from their hiding spots. A bit of moonlight glinted off of the blades, and the man stopped moving forward at the sight of them.

    "What''s wrong?" Sterling taunted. "Are you afraid of a little girl?" She stalked forward as he stepped back.

    "I don''t know what you want from me. Do you want the money? I can give you what¡¯s left of it." He raised his hands in front of him as though trying to ward her off.

    "The money?" she spat. "You think the money is going to fix what you did to me?"

    "I-I didn''t mean anything by it."

    "Oh, you didn''t mean to leave those bruises? You didn''t mean to break my nose?"

    The break may have healed, but it was still slightly crooked. Every time she looked at her reflection, she was reminded of what had been done to her.

    His back hit the wall at the end of the alley. "Please," he begged. "Please, I will give you anything you want. Just tell me what you want, and it''s yours."

    Do it, the voices whispered. Demand it. Take it. Now.

    "I want your life."

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty

    Something had woken Kai.

    He remained still, facing the lone window in the unfamiliar room. The night was silent¡ªor as silent as it could be in a large city.

    When nothing unusual stuck out to him, he threw back the covers and hurriedly dressed, shoving his feet into his boots and doing up the laces.

    He hoped he was wrong as he crossed the hall and knocked on Sterling¡¯s door.

    There was no response, nor did he hear the sound of stirring. When he tried the knob, he found it turned easily in his hand.

    The room was empty. The bed unslept in.

    Kai cursed.

    He¡¯d been responsible for keeping Sterling safe for a handful of days, and he¡¯d already lost her. Seraiah¡¯s trust in him was misplaced.

    A quick search of the room told him she hadn¡¯t been taken. There were no signs of a struggle, which meant Sterling had gone off on her own. She¡¯d been quiet after their trip to the market in the afternoon, and any time he¡¯d spoken to her, he¡¯d often have to repeat himself because she hadn¡¯t been paying attention.

    The only thing he could think of was that she¡¯d gone looking for her necromancer friend on her own.

    While Seraiah seemed to think it was fine for her to seek him out, Kai had never spoken to Sterling about it again. She must have thought the only way she was going to be able to find him was if she went off on her own.

    He sighed. Sterling and Seraiah may not have been related by blood, but they were more similar than they realized.

    Weapons in place, Kai headed out into the night to track Sterling down. Unlike when he was searching for her previously, he now knew the signature of her magic. She may not have been able to call it yet, but he could sense it waiting below the surface.

    As he walked, he felt for the signature. Directly outside the inn, he hadn¡¯t been able to detect anything, so he decided to return to the place where Sterling had gone quiet: the market. He was closing in on the area when he picked up a faint pulse.

    Not the market then, he decided, but somewhere nearby.

    Kai headed east, turning down a street that was louder than most. Taverns made up the majority of the buildings, although there were others sprinkled in between. A woman out front of one such building called out to him, but he waved her away, focused on the pulse of magic. It led him to the mouth of a dark alley.

    "Sterling?" Kai called. The narrow space between buildings was swathed in shadows and stunk of rotten food and other less pleasant things. If this was the sort of place where her friend could be found, he didn¡¯t think she should have anything to do with him.

    The alley was silent. The only sounds were the music and laughter coming from the nearby tavern, but Kai knew Sterling was here. He could feel her magic calling to his own.

    "Sterling?" he called again, louder this time.

    Still no response.

    Kai drew his sword and stepped forward cautiously, scanning the shadows around him for any movement. As he neared the end of the alley, he thought perhaps he had been mistaken, and she wasn''t here after all.

    Then he spotted a slight dark-haired figure standing motionless near the back wall. It took him a moment to realize it was Sterling. Her newly darkened hair made her appear almost a different person.

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    "Sterling?" he called softly.

    She turned, and that''s when he caught sight of the knives in her hands¡ªof the dark liquid staining the front of her clothes and dripping down off the blades.

    Blood.

    Sterling was covered in blood.

    "What have you done?" he whispered.

    "I¡ª" A tremor ran through Sterling''s body, and the knives slipped from her fingers. The clatter as they hit the ground sounded unnaturally loud in the silence. "I don''t know what happened. I-I don''t know what came over me."

    She turned to look behind her, and that''s when he caught sight of the body.

    "I killed him. I''ve killed someone. What have I done?" Sterling pressed a bloody hand to her mouth, stifling her sobs.

    "Shh," Kai said, sheathing his sword and coming up behind her. "It will be all right." The lie rolled smoothly off his tongue. He wasn''t sure it would be all right, but it was what Sterling needed to hear right now.

    Picking up her discarded blades, he used the man''s clothes to wipe them off as best he could. The man looked vaguely familiar, but Kai couldn¡¯t have said why, and he certainly wasn¡¯t about to ask Sterling, at least not now.

    Sterling remained frozen to her spot, her bloody hand still pressed to her face.

    "Come on, let''s get you out of here before someone comes." Kai took her by the shoulders and gently turned her in the direction of the street. There was nothing to be done for her clothes or the blood she¡¯d smeared across her chin. He would have to keep them to the shadows and hope that no one noticed.

    The inn was thankfully quiet when they returned, and Kai hurried Sterling up the stairs and into her rented room.

    She hadn''t said a word since they¡¯d left the alley.

    "Change your clothes and wash off as much of the blood as you can,¡± he ordered. ¡°I will be back to check on you. Do not leave this room."

    Kai waited until she nodded she understood, and then he returned to the night to clean up her mess.

    <hr>

    It took a few minutes after Kai left for Sterling to move. Following his instructions, she pulled off her soiled clothes and threw them into the fireplace. She watched as the flames made quick work of them, turning her misdeeds into nothing more than a pile of ash.

    Next, she did her best to scrub the blood from her skin and beneath her fingernails.

    Even after her hands were clean, she could still feel the blood there. The stain of it couldn''t be washed away with a bit of water and soap.

    By the time Kai returned, she was dressed in clean clothes, and every trace of her night''s adventure was gone.

    And so were the voices. They had gone blessedly silent after she had given in to their demand.

    "We need to talk," Kai said as he entered the room.

    Sterling glanced up at him before returning her gaze to the fireplace. She didn''t bother to ask where he had gone.

    "Sterling." She felt rather than heard him come up next to her. "Sterling, you have to tell me what happened."

    "You saw what happened. I murdered someone." She stayed focused on the flames dancing over the wood, trying not to recall the memory. The way the blade had slid in so easily.

    "Yes, I know that," Kai said softly, taking a seat next to her on the floor. "But why?"

    She shrugged. She didn''t have an answer. The anger had consumed her. The voices had encouraged her.

    "I know he was one of the men who kidnapped you. Did he do something to you? Did he . . . hurt you?"

    Sterling shrugged again. "He broke my nose, but that was about it." She didn''t want to tell Kai about the voices¡ªshe couldn''t tell him about the voices. He would give her that pitying look he sometimes gave Seraiah or Kestrel when he thought they weren¡¯t looking. She wouldn''t be able to stand it. She didn¡¯t want him feeling sorry for her¡ªshe didn¡¯t want anyone feeling sorry for her.

    She was a queen, and no one pitied queens.

    "But to murder him?" Kai asked. "That doesn''t seem like you."

    "You don''t know me," she shot back. Please, she thought, please stop asking questions I can''t answer.

    Kai flinched, a hurt look darting across his features before disappearing. ¡°Sterling, I¡¯m trying¡ª¡±

    Rubbing her eyes with her knuckles, she apologized. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean that. I just . . ." she trailed off, trying to gather the right words that wouldn¡¯t make her sound insane. "I don''t know what happened. It was like I was there, but I wasn''t. I didn''t have control over my own body, and I could do nothing but watch. And¡ªAnd I didn''t want to stop it either." Everything she said was true, but she didn''t tell him about hearing the voices.

    "I see. How did you find him? Did you know he would be there?"

    "I''m not sure," she mumbled. Also, the truth. She hadn''t known where he would be, but the voices had¡ªsomehow, they had known and led her straight there.

    Sterling could feel Kai studying her face, looking for clues.

    "Get some sleep," he finally said.

    She watched him as he stood and moved toward the door.

    "Kai?" she called.

    "Yes?"

    "Are we going to have to leave Daralis now?"

    "Do you want to?"

    Sterling thought about it for a moment. "No. No, I want to stay and find answers."

    "Good. We will start in the morning, then. Goodnight."

    "Goodnight," she echoed as he let himself out.

    She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and didn''t bother to move to the bed. The closer she could be to the light, the better. She didn''t want to see the shadows. Sterling knew what lurked there, and she was afraid.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-One

    The trip through the portal was much the same as the previous two times, leaving Seraiah on her knees, hurling up her insides. To her satisfaction, Ren also appeared a little green around the edges.

    "How far is this place from here?" Kestrel asked.

    "It''s close. Less than an hour''s ride."

    "And you¡¯re sure it''s safe? No one else knows about it?¡±

    Ren turned in his saddle to smirk at them. "You''ve never seen it, have you?"

    ¡°I suppose not,¡± Kestrel said, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

    Seraiah wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and mounted her horse. She didn¡¯t trust him, but she didn¡¯t feel anything from the mark, either. If he was attempting to use it to lure her into a trap, it didn¡¯t seem to be working.

    ¡°It¡¯s warded,¡± Ren said. ¡°No one could have found it unless they know something about these particular wards.¡±

    ¡°There must be someone out there who does,¡± Seraiah said.

    His focus moved to her. ¡°If there is, I haven¡¯t met them yet.¡± He offered her one of those charming smiles again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡±

    Seraiah scowled back. ¡°If this place is so hard to find, why wasn¡¯t Sterling taken there? We never would have found her. Seems like that¡¯s what you wanted.¡±

    "No," Ren said, the smile slowly slipping away as he held her gaze. "You wouldn''t have." He let the words hang between them. An instant later, the smile reappeared as though it had never left. "This way."

    If he had been trying to reassure her and earn her trust, he was doing a terrible job of it.

    True to his word, it was less than an hour ride before Ren called a halt to their journey. There was nothing different about the woods here that Seraiah could make out, and from the way Kestrel was peering around, she didn¡¯t see anything, either.

    "Wait here," Ren instructed them. "I will take the wards down so you can enter."

    "You mean so you can warn your friends we¡¯re here," Seraiah mumbled as soon as he was out of earshot. ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± she asked Kestrel.

    ¡°Not entirely, but we still need answers,¡± Kestrel said, eyes darting over the trees.

    ¡°Perhaps someone else less suspicious might have them. I don¡¯t see why we had to come here. We could have interrogated him perfectly well without following him to his lair.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re worried about the thing on your neck.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a question, but Seraiah answered anyway. ¡°Of course I am. You should be too. We have no idea what he could use it for. This could all be one long game to hand me over to the other mages. You and Kai said a seer is a valuable tool, and everyone wants to get their hands on one.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get the impression¡ª¡±

    Someone cleared their throat.

    The two of them whipped toward the sound.

    Ren was on foot now with no sign of his horse. "Sorry to interrupt, but your castle awaits." He gestured through the trees behind him.

    While they hadn¡¯t been looking, a building had appeared between the trunks. It was not, in fact, a castle, but a tiny cabin made of logs. Even without the wards, it blended well with the forest around it.

    Seraiah let Kestrel approach it first, watching for any sign they should turn and flee. Ren, for his part, pretended they weren''t ready to stab him and run.

    "Make yourselves at home. I will be in after I put the wards back in place. There isn''t a stable here for your horses, but there is a hitching post out front. I would advise against letting them roam because they will interfere with the wards. That would not be pretty."

    Seraiah peered down at him. She hadn¡¯t yet dismounted, even though Kestrel already had. "And what about us? The wards aren''t going to harm us?"

    "Shouldn''t unless you decide to wander."

    They would be trapped here at the mercy of Ren until whenever he decided to take the wards down again.

    Kestrel didn''t appear bothered by this information as she led her horse over to the hitching post and secured his reins.

    Reluctantly, Seraiah dismounted and secured her horse next to Kestrel¡¯s before following her inside the cabin.

    Her stomach wasn¡¯t the usual pit of snakes that heralded danger, but Seraiah couldn¡¯t help jumping at every creak of the floorboards beneath her boots.

    The cabin only had two rooms. The larger one held a round wooden table and a collection of mismatched wooden chairs. Cabinets lined the east-facing wall while a fireplace took up the west-facing wall. A pot rested on the floor next to the fireplace, alongside a pile of wood.

    Directly across from where they had entered was a second door leading to a bedroom. Seraiah peeked around the doorframe. There was a bed and a writing desk under the single small window. The surface of the desk was littered with papers. A chest of drawers was shoved in the space between the bed and the wall.

    Seraiah noted that other than the papers on the desk, the place was spotless. There weren¡¯t even ashes in the fireplace. Either Ren was a meticulous cleaner, or he rarely spent any length of time here.

    After Kestrel finished her inspection, she wandered back to the main room while Seraiah stepped closer to the desk. She knew it was snooping, but she was curious about the papers.

    Picking through them, she discovered that most of them were blank. She finally spotted one with writing and was reaching for it when Ren snuck up behind her.

    "Looking for something?"

    Seraiah jumped and whirled around, coming face to face with the necromancer. She caught a whiff of lemon verbena, an herb Mama had used frequently in her soaps. It took all of her self-control not to close her eyes and breathe in the scent of home. She hated that he reminded her of it.

    "Doesn''t matter," Ren said, stepping away from her. "There isn''t anything interesting there. You can go ahead and look. You may think I''m stupid, but I''m not that stupid to leave incriminating evidence lying around."

    "I never said any such thing." She couldn''t decide if he was teasing about the incriminating evidence, but the urge to look at the papers again was strong. A quick peek was all she would need to confirm if he was lying to her.

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    Seraiah turned and scanned the paper, ignoring Ren''s chuckle.

    It was nothing more than a list of supplies similar to the logs Papa would have her make to keep track of the materials he used for his work. The handful of other pages with writing revealed similar things. She eyed Ren suspiciously. He may have told the truth about this, but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t lying about other things.

    <hr>

    Ren tugged his soiled tunic off, tossing it to the side before riffling through the chest of drawers for a new one. He was acutely aware of Seraiah¡¯s eyes tracking his movements, studying him from where she leaned against his desk.

    ¡°If you want to know, just ask.¡± His eyes slid to her, giving her his trademark smirk.

    Her cheeks took on a faint pink hue, and he thought for sure she would look away. Instead, she boldly kept her eyes focused on him¡ªand not on his face.

    ¡°Where did you get that?¡± she asked.

    For a moment, he thought she was asking about the myriad of scars that crisscrossed his body¡ªmost of those had come at the hands of his supposed caregivers¡ªbut then he noticed her gaze was fixed squarely on the little circular tattoo below his collarbone.

    Ren yanked the new tunic over his head, covering it up. ¡°Mages,¡± he said shortly. He would have preferred if she had asked about the scars instead.

    ¡°Is it like this?¡± she asked, pointing to the dark mass on her neck.

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t placed by magic, just the usual needle and ink. A brand if you will, marking me as one of them.¡± Every mage had one, though the location differed.

    ¡°So, it was by choice, then?¡± Seraiah asked.

    A wry twist of his mouth. ¡°Not my choice.¡±

    She skimmed her fingers down the side of her neck over the mark¡ªhis mark. ¡°I know the feeling.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you do,¡± he said, brushing past her.

    ¡°Does that thing allow them to track you?¡± she called after him.

    He stopped in the doorway, but didn¡¯t turn. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing more than a design on my skin.¡±

    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right then,¡± Seraiah said, hurling her words like sharpened knives. ¡°I have the worse of the two.¡±

    He felt every stab of them. ¡°Yours could be removed,¡± he said softly. ¡°This,¡± he turned and gestured with a gloved finger at his chest where the tattoo lay covered, ¡°is permanently etched there, and there is nothing I can do about it.¡±

    She pushed off the desk and moved toward him. ¡°Then take it off.¡± An eagerness shone in her eyes.

    ¡°No.¡± Ren turned away again. If she wanted to sink that pretty blade she wore on her thigh in his back, then so be it.

    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m here with you now, and you said yourself you were using it to track Sterling. Obviously, she isn¡¯t with me, and I don¡¯t know where she is.¡±

    The way her voice changed at the end told him she was lying. She knew exactly where her sister was.

    ¡°It might be useful later,¡± he said, because he knew it would infuriate her. He couldn¡¯t help it. She was too easy to goad.

    He also wasn¡¯t entirely sure he could remove the mark, but she did not need to know.

    ¡°I doubt that,¡± Seraiah said. Her glare burned into his back.

    Ren shrugged. ¡°Come on, your elf friend is waiting for us.¡± He exited the room, knowing she¡¯d be right behind him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why we had to come all the way here for this conversation,¡± Seraiah said.

    ¡°It¡¯s the only place I can be sure there won¡¯t be listening ears,¡± Ren said.

    The female elf was sitting slumped in one of the wooden chairs at the table. The moment she saw them return, she straightened up, a mask falling into place. ¡°We came here like you requested. Now start talking. Tell us what you know about what is going on with Sterling and what Gavaran wanted with her, and maybe we will consider your offer of help.¡±

    Seraiah circled the other side of the table, likely to avoid touching him, and pulled out the chair next to her friend. Ren still remembered the way his former mentor used to sit there in the evening nursing a cup of tea. He tore his eyes away from her and selected a chair. It had been painted white once, but the paint had yellowed and peeled. One of its legs was also shorter than the others, so whoever sat there was always off balance.

    It did not bode well for this conversation.

    ¡°Where do I start? I met Sterling when she was transferred from the men who took the job to kidnap her. I had nothing to do with the kidnapping or the job posting. My orders were to befriend her, make her trust me, and slip her a potion day by day. Don¡¯t ask me what was in the potion. I didn¡¯t create it. I was only supplied with it.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s eyes had gone flinty, but he went on. ¡°I was told to look for signs of change with no explanation of what those changes would be. Then it would be time.¡±

    ¡°Time for what?¡± the elf asked. He¡¯d heard Seraiah call her Kestrel, like the bird. An appropriate moniker from what he knew of her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t know. I wasn¡¯t privy to such information. I was to carry out my orders, not ask questions. The first time I reported seeing Sterling¡¯s eyes fill with shadows was only two days before you rescued her.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen it too,¡± Seraiah whispered. He didn¡¯t think she meant for him to hear. Then her gaze sharpened, and she said in a normal voice, ¡°Speaking of the rescue. We have questions.¡±

    ¡°And I told you I would try my best to answer them.¡±

    ¡°Why did Gavaran allow us to take her back so easily?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°And why did you go against the other mages and help us?¡± Seraiah added.

    Ren considered the questions. He started with the first one¡ªthe one he didn¡¯t quite have an answer for. ¡°I¡¯m not sure it was easy. You needed my help, didn¡¯t you?¡± He didn¡¯t know why Gavaran made the choices he had. He could only guess.

    ¡°We would have been fine without your assistance,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°Perhaps. Perhaps not.¡± He shrugged. ¡°As far as I was aware, Gavaran was paying a visit to retrieve Sterling. She was meant to be transferred to somewhere else, and I wasn¡¯t to go with her. I don¡¯t think it was his plan to let her go, but plans are always evolving. Your guess is as good as mine as to his reasoning.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Kestrel muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for him to hear.

    He¡¯d known she wouldn¡¯t be happy with the answer, but short of lying, he couldn¡¯t give her anything else.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me, but the offer to help Sterling was sincere.¡± While he didn¡¯t need their help, things would be a lot easier if he didn¡¯t make them his enemies.

    Seraiah snorted and folded her arms across her chest. ¡°If you want me to believe you¡¯re sincere, stop avoiding my question. Why do you want to help us? Why did you help us then?¡±

    Ren was reluctant to do it, but he¡¯d have to tell them. He¡¯d have to tell them everything.

    ¡°Because I would rather see Sterling with you than whatever Gavaran had planned for her.¡± He took a breath. ¡°I wanted to help her because she reminds me of my sister.¡±

    The memory of his sister¡¯s face flashed through his mind. The way Iona¡¯s little hand had curled around his finger. He hadn¡¯t meant to hurt her.

    ¡°Your sister?¡± Seraiah echoed. It may have been his imagination, but he thought a bit of the ice in her voice was thawing.

    ¡°Sterling and I spent a lot of time together in the cave, and she¡¯s the same age my sister would have been. I suppose you could say my conscience kicked in, and I wanted¡ªwant¡ªto make up for what happened to Iona.¡±

    Seraiah cocked her head to the side in question. As he suspected, she wanted the whole story¡ªsomething he had never told anyone.

    ¡°I was young, and I didn¡¯t know what I was doing. All I wanted was to help her.¡± Iona¡¯s face filled his mind¡¯s eye again. He could still hear the rattling cough and see the worry in his mother¡¯s eyes every time she looked at Iona. ¡°She was sick, and she was only getting worse with each passing day.¡±

    Seraiah¡¯s expression softened. ¡°And she died?¡±

    Ren nodded. ¡°But not in the way that you probably think.¡±

    The questioning look was back again. He knew it would soon be replaced by horror.

    This was the worst part of the story.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know about my . . . abilities. I had an inkling there was something different about me, but I didn¡¯t really know, not then. When Iona held my hand, I wished she would get better.¡±

    Ren glanced at Seraiah to find she had pressed a hand against her mouth. She had likely already guessed where this was headed.

    ¡°With that one wish,¡± he continued, ¡°I felt the power¡ªI didn¡¯t know it was power then, only that it was something¡ªcourse through me and into her. For a moment, I swore she was getting better. Iona was healing, but then her heart gave out, and she stopped breathing. My mother realized it before I did and started crying. That¡¯s when I knew something was horribly wrong.¡±

    Ren shut his eyes for a moment, hating himself¡ªhating what he had done. ¡°I knew it was my fault, and I wanted to make it better, so I reached for her hand again, and I wished she would live.¡±

    ¡°You brought her back,¡± Seraiah whispered, ¡°like you brought Lonan back.¡± He could hear the revulsion in her voice.

    ¡°Yes. Iona was the first person I ever brought back from the dead. My mother¡¯s tears turned into screams. After that, my parents sent for the mages to take me away and that,¡± he pulled his tunic to the side exposing the tattoo again, ¡°is how I ended up with this. I suppose it could have been worse. They could have handed me over to the king to be executed.¡±

    ¡°So the mages trained you to use your powers,¡± Seraiah said.

    Kestrel¡¯s eyes darted between the two of them, but she didn¡¯t say a word, only waited.

    ¡°Funny thing about that,¡± Ren said, bitterness leaking into his voice, ¡°death magic is also linked to life magic¡ªto healing. The mages who trained me could have taught me to be a healer, but instead, they turned me into this.¡± He pulled one of his gloves off exposing his blackened skin¡ªexposing the shadows that ran up his arm, fed by the dark power he wielded.

    Seraiah and Kestrel exchanged a look, and it was Kestrel who spoke first. ¡°You want revenge.¡±

    Ren dipped his chin as he donned his glove again. ¡°Same as you, and together we might get it.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°So, what do you say? Shall we form an alliance?¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Two

    The next morning, Kai found Sterling curled up in front of the fireplace exactly where he had left her the previous night. The fire had burnt down and was nothing more than a few coals. A quick look at her bed told him she hadn¡¯t touched it.

    The floor creaked under his boots as he approached. Kai half expected her to spring up, knife in hand, but her eyes remained closed. Her face looked so young and innocent as he peered down at her, but after last night''s events, he wasn''t sure he could look at her the same way again. The image of her pressing a blood-stained hand against her mouth wasn''t one he could easily shake.

    He still couldn¡¯t figure out why she had done it, and Sterling wasn¡¯t telling. If she was to be believed, she didn¡¯t know what had come over her, and it wasn¡¯t until after that she had realized what she¡¯d done. He¡¯d never heard of such a thing before, and it worried him.

    As Kai studied her, Sterling mumbled something and rolled over in her sleep, flinging a hand out. There was still dried blood beneath her nails.

    He wished Seraiah or Kestrel were here¡ªsomeone he could talk to about this. He¡¯d thought the weight of ruling a kingdom was heavy, but it turned out it was nothing compared to the weight of keeping Sterling safe.

    Her eyes cracked open and met his. The surprise at finding him standing there registered a moment later, and she scrambled to sit up.

    "What time is it? Why didn''t you wake me?" Sterling¡¯s face transformed as the details of the night before came back to her, her expression flicking through a riot of emotions in rapid succession before smoothing out once more.

    She could give Virelai some competition when it came to masking true feelings.

    ¡°I only just came in,¡± he said, taking a step back. ¡°It¡¯s still early, but I thought we could practice your magic before we seek an audience with the king.¡±

    Sterling¡¯s mouth opened. Closed. She blinked and then croaked, ¡°What?¡±

    Perhaps she¡¯d expected him to ask about last night again.

    Before he could repeat himself, she said, ¡°Why would you want to see the king? I thought we were looking for the missing people.¡±

    ¡°We are. Yesterday¡¯s foray in the market turned up no leads. Unless we¡¯d like to continue wasting time wandering aimlessly, I think our best course of action is to seek an audience with the king. We¡¯ll either learn the people are here or warn the king of what has happened.¡±

    Sterling¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯m sure he already knows and doesn¡¯t care.¡±

    ¡°If that is the case, then perhaps we can learn where they are,¡± Kai said.

    Sterling still appeared reluctant, but she didn¡¯t argue any further.

    ¡°The public audiences don¡¯t open for another two hours, giving us time to practice your magic.¡± Kai headed for the door, calling back over his shoulder. ¡°Get dressed and meet me in my room.¡±

    He heard her soft sigh and then, ¡°All right.¡±

    Kai returned to his own room to wait for her. He understood Sterling¡¯s hesitation over seeking an audience with the king. The man was known for his stance against magic. If someone was so much as accused of magic in his presence, they were as good as dead. No proof necessary. Kai had never learned why the king hated magic, but he thought it must have to do with fear. Perhaps he¡¯d heard stories, or the mages had done something. Either way, it meant they would need to be careful. Given that Sterling had yet to call her magic, Kai wasn¡¯t too concerned about an accidental slip. He was more concerned about the looks the city people had given them yesterday. Every one had been side-eyed and suspicious.

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    He may have told Sterling they could remain in Daralis, but he feared the longer they stayed, the more likely the rumors would swirl.

    If he meant to keep Sterling safe, he needed to get her away from other humans.

    <hr>

    Every hair on Sterling''s body stood on end as magic swept through the room. She should have been excited. Finally, at long last, she had summoned her power.

    Instead, all she felt was fear.

    There was fear in Kai¡¯s voice too as he said, "Pull it back."

    Sterling tried. She really did.

    "I can''t!" She dug mental claws into the rest of the magic before it slipped out too. This show of power was nothing compared to what waited deeper¡ªwhat wanted to be released and threatened to flood out through the small crack she¡¯d managed to make.

    She felt Kai grab her arms.

    "Sterling," he called her name, distracting her. ¡°You have to try harder.¡±

    A moment later, he cursed and released her as though her skin burned him.

    "Focus,¡± Kai said. He tried to keep his voice calm, but she still heard the undercurrent of uncertainty. ¡°Imagine a box. Take the power and lock it in the box. Can you do that?¡±

    Sterling gritted her teeth as another wave worked its way through her body. It threatened to rip her apart, and she knew it would if she didn''t get it under control.

    A box, she thought. Yes, she could imagine a box.

    She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out Kai''s frantic face, and breathed deeply. The first box that popped into her head was the old dented coin box she¡¯d found in the inn in Baromund. It felt like ages ago now.

    Another wave rose, threatening to overtake her, and she focused back on the box. It didn''t look like it was strong enough to hold anything, but it would have to do. In her mind, she flipped the lid open and grabbed fistfuls of magic, shoving it inside.

    Sterling felt the moment it started working. The pressure that had been building beneath her collarbone eased ever so slightly.

    "Keep going," she vaguely heard Kai tell her.

    Sterling grabbed every bit of power she could feel coursing through her veins and shoved it into the dented old box before slamming the lid. She held her breath for a moment, half expecting the thing to burst open again and spew the magic everywhere.

    A second ticked by. And then another. There was no sign the box was going to break.

    Sterling released her breath in a whoosh and opened her eyes to see Kai studying his hands.

    "Are you all right?" she asked him.

    "I''ll be fine, but let''s never do that again. What happened?"

    Sterling shook her head. "I don''t know. One minute there was nothing like it usually is, and then it was like a dam bursting. It started with a small crack, and then it turned into a flood."

    We did that, the voices whispered to her. We gave you that power, and you locked it away, but we will free it again.

    "Sterling?"

    "What?" she asked, shoving the voices away.

    "You spaced out there for a moment. Are you sure you¡¯re fine?"

    "Yes." She dragged a hand down the side of her face. "I''m fine. Just tired. That was¡ªthat was draining." She realized as she said the words that it was true. There was an empty hollow now where the magic had been. "I think I need to rest for a bit."

    "Your first time can be exhausting. I remember sleeping for 16 hours straight after the first time I used magic, and I have nowhere near the power you do." Kai flicked his hand, and the water in the washbasin lifted into the air. The droplets hung like jewels, catching the light from the window.

    Sterling stared, mesmerized. "I didn''t know you could do that."

    "I can do a lot of things when there is a power source." He twitched a finger, and the droplets swirled, sending rainbows of light dancing around the room.

    "Me."

    "Yes," Kai confirmed. He closed his hand into a fist, and the water sprang together, splashing back into the basin. "Unlike you, I only have the ability to work with water. You have the raw power to control any element you desire."

    And she had felt that raw power today. It scared her, but deep down, she was excited. All that power was hers if she wanted it.

    "You must be careful, though," Kai warned. "You have to learn to control it, or it will control you. Now go take a nap. I¡¯ll wake you when it¡¯s time to leave for the audience with the king."

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Three

    Virelai leaned over the railing of her balcony, closing her eyes. Then she reached for the wind.

    A light breeze swirled around her, playing with the ends of her hair, but she couldn''t seem to call anything stronger. Her magic ability had never been anything more than average, but this was pathetic, even for her.

    She sighed and opened her eyes, resting her chin on the palm of her hand as she stared out over the water. It was frustrating to slowly lose her ability to call the wind. She couldn''t understand why her father wouldn''t want their queen to return. The longer the elves remained without her, the weaker their powers would become until they disappeared entirely. Without their abilities to manipulate the elements, they weren''t any better than humans.

    Sucking in one last breath of salty sea air, Virelai straightened, preparing to return inside. A slight movement on the beach below caught her attention, and she paused.

    No one should be on the beach.

    Gavaran was carefully regulating who could enter and leave the city, and to her knowledge, everyone was forbidden from stepping foot on the beach, including her.

    Virelai leaned over the railing, squinting to get a better look. She expected to see some sort of sea creature or another wild beast, but to her surprise, it was neither of those things.

    "No, it can''t be," she breathed as she watched the scene below.

    Those were people shuffling along the sand, and it wasn''t just a few people either. There had to be well over a hundred of them down there, a slow-moving mass pouring over the beach. It was hard to tell from where she stood, but they didn¡¯t appear to be wearing elven clothing.

    These couldn¡¯t be humans, could they? Where would they have come from? There would have been gossip if this many of them crossed the portals. She would have heard of it, surely.

    A light breeze lifted the ends of Virelai¡¯s hair again as she continued watching the flood of people.

    This had to be her father¡¯s doing. A group this large couldn¡¯t pass the city unnoticed, and she heard no cry going up from the walls. The sliver of city she could see from her balcony remained calm, and the wind brought no voices to her.

    When her gaze returned to the horde, she spotted a uniform that looked an awful lot like a palace guard. As she scanned the crowd again, she spotted more of them, recognizing the rich colors and gold or silver braiding along their shoulders. They seemed to be staying around the edges of the group and guiding it forward.

    Yes, this was certainly her father¡¯s doing, but the question was, why? He despised humans.

    Pushing away from the rail, Virelai headed back inside, intent on finding out what was going on. She strode across the room and ripped her door open, startling the guard that was standing there. Supposedly, he was at her door for her protection, but Virelai knew better. He was there to watch her, and if she wandered off, he would report it.

    "What can you tell me about the people on the beach?" she demanded. She¡¯d learned long ago that it was better to command than ask nicely. It brought more results, faster.

    "I don¡¯t know what you mean, my lady. There shouldn''t be people on the beach," the guard answered, his eyes flicking to her face and away again.

    He was young and nervous. Easier to manipulate, she decided.

    "I''m aware, which is why I want to know what they are doing there, and you," she jabbed a finger at his chest, "are going to tell me or find out. It could be a matter of my safety," she added.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Let him think she feared whatever was happening down there and was not merely curious.

    "But I . . ." he stammered.

    Virelai held up her hand, and he immediately fell silent. "Now."

    He quickly bowed and scuttled off down the hallway. There was a chance he was running to warn her father instead of finding her answers, but she was willing to risk it. Virelai turned on her heel and retreated into her room to wait.

    The guard returned half an hour later with a soft knock on her door.

    "Well?" she asked.

    "The people on the beach are humans who have been brought here to work. It is nothing for you to worry about. You will be perfectly safe as long as you remain inside the city walls." He stumbled over his words as he stared at his feet.

    "I assume this is by my father''s order?"

    "Yes, my lady," he said, still not making eye contact. ¡°That is what I was told.¡±

    ¡°By my father? Or someone else?¡±

    His answer would decide her next move.

    ¡°By my superior, my lady. I am not permitted to seek an audience with our king.¡±

    Virelai sniffed. She supposed it was better for her purposes that she had a low-ranking guard, but it still rankled that her father thought she wasn¡¯t worthy of better.

    She rose from her seat and bypassed the guard, heading straight for the door.

    She¡¯d already slipped out and was halfway down the hallway before she heard the staccato of his boots behind her on the stone floor, running to catch up.

    "Where are you going, my lady?" he asked breathlessly.

    "I''m going to speak with the king. Not all of us are of such a low rank we would be turned away.¡± She gave him a sideways look to see if the insult registered. When it didn¡¯t appear to have, she sighed and said, ¡°Follow along if you must."

    She half-expected him to drop back and let her go, but instead, he kept pace at her heels.

    This one was brave . . . or stupid. Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.

    Virelai located her father in the council room, conversing with former Councilman Harloth. She walked in without knocking, and they immediately stopped speaking and turned to see who had interrupted.

    Upon seeing it was her, Gavaran dismissed Harloth with a nod, and he scurried past her out of the room, giving her a smile that was more of a leer as he went.

    Virelai stepped forward on her own, her guard having waited outside the room. Perhaps he wasn''t as stupid as she first thought.

    "Virelai, my favorite daughter, to what do I owe this visit?" An undercurrent of irritation ran through his words. He was anything but pleased to see her.

    "I wanted to speak with you about a matter of safety. Not just for our city, but for myself.¡±

    He raised a brow. ¡°Go on. What could be a danger to you here in the castle? Do I need to assign more guards to you?¡±

    That was the last thing she wanted. She had to tread carefully or she¡¯d never get back to her house.

    ¡°Well, you see, I was on my balcony not an hour ago, enjoying the fresh air, when I saw the most curious thing on the beach." She strolled up to the table, the picture of sweetness. The mask she wore for her father was all innocence. As long as he thought there was nothing but air between her ears, she was safe¡ªor safer. She wasn¡¯t sure anyone was truly safe around him.

    "And what would that be?" His irritation now manifested itself in his fingers as he tapped them against the table. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day to indulge your worries. Get on with it or take it up with your guard.¡±

    If only he realized how useless her guard actually was. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the man tried to hide behind her if there was an attack.

    "There were humans,¡± she said, putting a tremor in her voice. ¡°A lot of humans."

    "Mmm," he responded, noncommittally.

    "I do wonder," she stared off at the ceiling, pretending to think, "how they got there? Don''t you think it''s strange?"

    "I think you needn''t be concerned with it. That curiosity of yours is going to get you in trouble one day. I would hate to see anything happen to you."

    Virelai knew a threat when she heard one.

    "I was merely worried for our safety. What if they try to attack us?¡±

    ¡°You are in no danger, Virelai. I have everything under control. You need not concern yourself with anything, but planning your wedding. Harloth and I were finalizing the details of your betrothal.¡±

    ¡°M-My betrothal?¡± she asked. This time, the tremor in her voice wasn¡¯t faked. She had not expected him to actually force her to marry. ¡°To who?¡±

    She had a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°Why, to Harloth, of course.¡±

    Virelai¡¯s stomach plummeted. No. Absolutely not.

    ¡°Once the details are finalized, we¡¯ll make the announcement and then I imagine the wedding with be shortly after. It could be as soon as a few weeks. You¡¯ll want to get started planning, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll start right now,¡± she said, dipping a curtsy and backing to the door.

    Her father didn¡¯t need to know her plans would not include a wedding.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Four

    Seraiah eyed Ren''s outstretched hand, his leather glove concealing the shadows she knew wreathed his fingers. "I have one condition first."

    Kestrel gave her an almost imperceptible nod, likely already knowing what she was going to ask for.

    Ren¡¯s smile tightened, but it didn''t drop. "Name it. I¡¯ll agree if it¡¯s within my power."

    She didn¡¯t entirely trust his motives even after his story about his sister, but if he could do this one thing, she¡¯d work with him.

    "Remove the mark."

    "Fine." He wiggled his fingers. "Deal?"

    Seraiah held his gaze, searching for any sign of deception. When she found none, she placed her hand in his. "Deal."

    Ren grinned and when she tried to take her hand back, he didn''t let go. Instead, he tugged, pulling her closer across the small table.

    He planted one elbow and leaned close to her ear. The edge of the table cut into her middle as he whispered, ¡°You should know I¡¯ve never removed a mark before. I¡¯m not sure it can be done.¡±

    She¡¯d reached for her blade the second he hadn¡¯t let her go, and now she brought it up to the exposed skin of his neck.

    ¡°Then you better figure it out, or the deal is off,¡± she whispered back before shoving him hard.

    Ren¡¯s smile morphed into a smirk as he settled back into his seat. ¡°I have to touch it to remove it.¡±

    Seraiah scowled at him, but swept her hair to the side, exposing her neck. She didn¡¯t set her blade down.

    ¡°If it¡¯s all right with you, I think I¡¯m going to go wait outside,¡± Kestrel announced. Seraiah had nearly forgotten she was there. ¡°Let me know when this is over.¡±

    "Sure," Ren said. "Remember not to wander too far, or you will trip the wards." His eyes never left Seraiah''s face.

    The door opened and shut behind Kestrel as she abandoned Seraiah to Ren. Without her there to mediate, Seraiah might just stab the necromancer. Perhaps that had been Kestrel¡¯s plan all along.

    "Now, where were we?" Ren murmured. He pushed his chair back and stood, gesturing for her to join him.

    Seraiah took her time coming around the table, dagger clasped firmly in her hand. She stopped an arms-length from him.

    Ren¡¯s mouth twitched as he stepped forward, putting himself in her space and well within striking distance. Once again, she caught the scent of lemon verbena.

    Slowly, one by one, Ren tugged at the fingers of his glove¡ªthe right one this time. Once free, he lifted his shadow hand to her neck.

    It took all of Seraiah¡¯s self-control not to flinch away from him.

    His fingers were cool as Ren traced them over her skin, but not icy like they had been the first time she¡¯d felt his touch.

    As he studied the mark, dragging his fingers down the column of her throat, Seraiah studied him. This close, she could see that his brown eyes were flecked with gold, and there was a sprinkle of freckles over the bridge of his nose. He had a faded scar on his chin, and she wondered how he had gotten it. Probably tripped and fell as a child, she mused.

    A sudden, sharp stab of pain had her jerking back.

    Ren¡¯s other hand snaked around the back of her head. "Hold still," he ordered, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. There was a tinge of sympathy in his gaze. "I think it''s working." His focus returned to her neck, eyes narrowing in concentration.

    "You think it''s working?¡± Seraiah huffed. ¡°It feels like you are peeling my skin off!"

    "I could leave it alone if you would prefer."

    "No," she ground out through gritted teeth. "I want it gone."

    "Then stop complaining."

    Seraiah glared at him, but held still.

    After a few more minutes, the pain finally stopped, and Ren stepped back, taking the scent of lemon verbena with him.

    She couldn''t help but notice the shadows on his arm had snaked their way higher before he quickly pulled his sleeve down, hiding it from her view.

    "There,¡± he said. ¡°It''s not completely gone, but it''s the best I can do for now." In quick motions, he pulled his glove back on.

    Seraiah crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him. "If it''s not gone, that means you can still track me, and what''s to stop it from growing again?"

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "I won''t. You have my word.¡±

    ¡°Which could be meaningless for all I know,¡± Seraiah said. She slipped her dagger back into its sheath and gently touched her neck. Everything felt normal, but then again, it always had. She wouldn¡¯t know if he was telling the truth until she saw her reflection or got Kestrel to confirm it for her.

    ¡°Guess you¡¯ll have to take that chance. The mark is weak enough now that unless either of us feeds it, it shouldn¡¯t change.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t entirely sure what he meant by feeding it, but she didn¡¯t want to ask. He¡¯d likely only give her some smart answer that didn¡¯t tell her anything.

    Turning on her heel, Seraiah went in search of Kestrel.

    <hr>

    "Everything good?" Kestrel asked, looking up at Seraiah as she approached. Kestrel was seated on a stump with one foot propped on the remains of a fallen log. In her hand was one of her many knives, but she tucked it away as Seraiah joined her.

    "He said it''s mostly gone, but I couldn¡¯t confirm for myself. Was he telling the truth?" She tilted her head to give Kestrel a better view.

    ¡°What, the man doesn¡¯t own a mirror?¡± Kestrel asked, rising to her feet.

    Seraiah didn¡¯t tell her she¡¯d been too proud to ask him for one.

    Kestrel leaned in and dragged a finger over Seraiah¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Well?¡± Seraiah asked, growing impatient in the long silence.

    Kestrel shrugged. ¡°It looks the same as the day he first touched you. I can barely see anything.¡±

    "But there is still something there."

    Kestrel nodded. "Faintly and only if you know what to look for. It''s much better than it was before. Now it¡¯s kind of like a smear of ash you forgot to wipe off.¡±

    Seraiah supposed looking dirty was better than walking around with a giant strange looking tattoo. A little dirt could be excused, but a tattoo drew questions.

    ¡°Does this mean we are free to continue on our way?¡± Kestrel asked.

    ¡°As soon as he takes the wards down,¡± she said, ¡°assuming he lets us go.¡±

    "I didn¡¯t have any intention of stopping you, but it would be nice to know what you have planned, seeing as to how we¡¯re working together now."

    Seraiah stiffened at the sound of Ren''s voice. She hadn''t realized he¡¯d followed her outside. "If I wanted you to know, I would have told you,¡± she said.

    "In case you are unfamiliar, that¡¯s not how alliances work. I share and you share. Together, we achieve our common goal. It won¡¯t work if the information sharing is only one-sided, or are you planning to renege on our deal?"

    ¡°We are not,¡± Kestrel said.

    Seraiah pursed her lips and said nothing.

    Kestrel cleared her throat and gave her a pointed look.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Seraiah relented. ¡°The two of us will be going to Metrius.¡± She didn¡¯t turn to look at him.

    "The gnome city? Odd destination. What for?"

    ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡±

    ¡°A friend of ours passed away. We¡¯re visiting his home to tell his loved ones,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°We¡¯re also hoping for news of Nyrene and trying to raise an army.¡± She tapped a finger against her chin. ¡°I think that¡¯s everything for now.¡±

    Seraiah frowned. He didn¡¯t need to know all that. They could have left it at visiting Metrius.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± Ren said. He must have moved closer because she caught the scent of lemon verbena again. ¡°And I¡¯ll wish you luck on getting the gnomes¡¯ support in taking back your city. You¡¯ll need it if you want them to leave the underground. In my opinion, you¡¯d be better off negotiating with the faeries, or so I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    Seraiah made a face, even though Kestrel was the only one who could see it. ¡°No one asked for your opinion,¡± she said. She had every intention of paying a visit to the fae as well, but he didn¡¯t need to know that, especially when she hadn¡¯t told Kestrel yet.

    ¡°And what do you intend to do?¡± Kestrel asked, as though Seraiah hadn¡¯t spoken.

    ¡°Depends on what your answers are to my questions,¡± Ren said.

    He stepped into Seraiah¡¯s peripheral vision, forcing her to make space for him or brush shoulders.

    She moved away, but she wasn¡¯t happy about it. ¡°We don¡¯t have to answer anything,¡± she said, folding her arms over her chest.

    Kestrel sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, a gesture Seraiah recognized from whenever she was frustrated with Kai.

    ¡°Allies, remember?¡± Ren said.

    ¡°What sorts of questions did you have?¡± Kestrel asked.

    She wished Kestrel would take her side. Seraiah didn¡¯t understand how Kestrel was so willing to trust him when he had been with the mages¡ªworking with Gavaran¡ªeven if he said there were extenuating circumstances.

    ¡°Where is Sterling now, and what is her condition?¡±

    Seraiah opened her mouth to protest, but Kestrel cut her off with a warning look.

    ¡°She is in Daralis with her brother. Safe as far as we know.¡±

    ¡°I meant what is her condition in relation to the shadows. Do they appear frequently? Does she use her magic?¡±

    The two of them looked at her.

    Grudgingly, Seraiah said, ¡°The shadows were infrequent. I can only recall two instances I remember seeing them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good sign, then. And her magic?¡±

    ¡°When we left, she still hadn¡¯t been able to summon anything, but they practice frequently.

    Ren frowned. ¡°It would be better if they didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Kestrel asked. ¡°We need her magic. If we want to take back Nyrene, we need her to master her power.¡±

    ¡°I hate to be the bearer of bad news,¡± Ren said, ¡°but the more she uses her magic, the more likely she is to feed the shadows.¡±

    ¡°Explain,¡± Seraiah demanded, unconsciously leaning toward him.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a theory, but I think the shadows you see in her eyes are similar to mine, and now yours.¡± He gestured to her. ¡°I don¡¯t fully understand them myself, but they appear to feed on our magic as best I can tell. If you¡¯re sure she is safe for now, I¡¯d like to do more research on them and check in on the other mages from my group. I don¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll be happy with me, but I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s as safe as she can be, I think,¡± Kestrel said, ¡°and given they plan to spend time in Daralis, I don¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll be working on her magic.¡±

    ¡°Good, good. Then I¡¯ll take down the wards, and we can go our separate ways.¡± He turned to leave.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°If you find something, how will we know? How do we find you again?¡± Not that she wanted to see him again, but if he found answers that could help Sterling, she¡¯d suffer his presence.

    ¡°Well, there is one way,¡± he said, eyes going to her neck.

    She glared at him. ¡°Without using the mark.¡±

    ¡°You could always return here. As a gesture of goodwill, I can have the wards recognize you, so you don¡¯t need me to find the cabin.¡±

    ¡°And if you¡¯re not here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll return.¡±

    She waited, but he didn¡¯t offer anything else.

    ¡°Good enough for me,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°If we miss each other, we can always leave a note.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ren said. ¡°Now let me go see to those wards unless you have any other questions.¡±

    ¡°No, that will be all,¡± Seraiah said.

    He sketched a mocking bow to her and retreated into the trees.

    Seraiah glared at the spot where he¡¯d disappeared. She didn¡¯t understand how Sterling had made friends with him because she really hated that necromancer.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Kestrel said, elbowing her in the ribs. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before you murder someone.¡±

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Five

    Sterling stifled a yawn as she followed Kai through Daralis. It was a long walk from the inn where they were staying to the palace, but Kai hadn¡¯t wanted to bring the horse. He thought it would bring more attention to them, but it seemed to her they were drawing plenty of attention, anyway.

    She felt eyes on her with every step, but whenever she looked around, there was no one there. The two of them had darkened their hair to a muddy brown the same day they¡¯d arrived, so there shouldn¡¯t have been anything about them to stand out. And yet, she couldn¡¯t help feeling there was a sign hovering over them, pointing them out as different.

    ¡°Are we almost there?¡± Sterling asked. Her feet ached in the too small slippers that pinched her toes. While she¡¯d been asleep, Kai had gone to the market and found them clothing suitable for an audience with the king. For her, that meant a dress in a soft peach color with little purple flowers embroidered along the hem. Nice enough to appear respectable, but not too nice as to stand out.

    ¡°Soon,¡± Kai responded, his hand going to rest on the coin bag she¡¯d advised him to bring. They might need to part with a bit of money if they wanted to be let into the palace.

    ¡°What will we do after this?¡±

    ¡°That depends on what we learn here.¡± His eyes flicked back and forth across the road ahead, taking in everything. ¡°Assuming we learn where the missing people are, we can visit them and locate Seraiah¡¯s father.¡±

    ¡°And if we don¡¯t?¡± Sterling noted the use of Seraiah¡¯s father and not your father. In her mind, Papa was still Papa to her, no matter how she might try to distance herself.

    ¡°Then we leave.¡±

    Sterling almost tripped over the hem of her dress. ¡°So soon?¡±

    ¡°There won¡¯t be a point in staying if there is nothing more to learn.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he announced. ¡°We can talk about this more after.¡±

    Sterling tilted her head back to take in the palace before her. They hadn¡¯t quite made it to the palace itself, but they¡¯d joined the crowd of their fellow petitioners shuffling toward the entrance.

    Kai motioned her to the back of the group. They wanted to ensure an audience with King Berenger, but they did not want to be the first ones to see him.

    The columns at the entrance to the palace were ornately carved with the faces of the gods or at least Sterling assumed they were the faces of the gods. For all she knew, they could be faces of past kings. Either way, she swore it felt like they were watching her, judging her every move just as the people in the street had been.

    Perhaps Seraiah¡¯s paranoia had rubbed off on her.

    Sterling ducked her chin and hurried after Kai.

    The sandstone floors gave way to polished marble run through with veins of sparkling gold as soon as they stepped through the doors. It was so shiny, Sterling could see her reflection in it. She didn''t doubt that it was some poor servant''s sole duty to ensure the floors stayed that way.

    Sterling clutched Kai¡¯s arm to keep herself upright on the slippery floor as they passed through the space. Maybe it was the king''s intention for the petitioners to fall and crack their heads, so he wouldn''t have to listen to their grievances, Sterling thought darkly. She wouldn''t put it past him.

    The king''s attendants ushered the stream of petitioners toward the large double doors of what Sterling assumed was the receiving hall. A scene of a man wearing a large golden crown while decapitating a beast was carved into the doors. It was likely meant to be imposing, but Sterling doubted it was real. From what she knew of her history, the kings of Himera never ventured outside their walls. They had other people to do that for them.

    One by one, the petitioners ahead of them were sent into the receiving hall. When one would exit, another would take their place.

    Sterling studied their faces carefully, trying to guess what they¡¯d asked for and if the king had granted it. Most who were leaving seemed disappointed. A few had clenched fists and thunderous expressions. She saw maybe two people at most who appeared pleased as they exited.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Little by little the group waiting to enter the hall dwindled until only a handful of others and themselves remained.

    "King Berenger has time to see one more today," the attendant near the doors informed the waiting group. "The rest of you will have to try again tomorrow."

    At his announcement, three people turned a left. The rest of them stayed, hoping they were the lucky ones to be chosen.

    Please, please, please, let it be us, Sterling thought. She couldn''t stand having to go through this ritual again the next day, even if it meant remaining in the city longer.

    Sterling tracked the attendant''s movement as he looked over the waiting people. Finally, his eyes landed on them.

    "You," he pointed to Kai. "Come."

    Sterling glanced around and immediately knew why they had been selected. They were the best dressed of those who were waiting, and Kai had left his bulging coin bag in open view.

    Sure enough, before the attendant let them into the receiving hall, he held out his hand expectantly. Sterling was tempted to spit in it, but Kai didn''t hesitate in passing over a few coins.

    "Good luck with your petition," the attendant said with a smile, pulling open the door.

    Sterling stepped through first. A plush red carpet ran from the double doors up to the base of the stairs leading to the raised throne at the other end of the room. The room itself was cavernous, and she was sure without the carpet in place, their steps would have echoed off the walls.

    Side by side, they made their way down the carpet to the throne, where King Berenger and a few of his guards waited for them.

    Sterling snuck peeks at the room as they walked. Every inch of the walls was decorated with gold leaf, and she realized this must be the reason for the rumors the palace was made of gold. The columns and the ceiling were also covered in it. Only the floor seemed to have been spared.

    It was the most revolting room she had ever seen.

    When they reached the end of the carpeted path, Kai knelt and lowered his head until his forehead touched the floor. It took Sterling a second longer to join him. It irritated her that, as a queen in her own right, she should have to grovel before this man.

    After the king bid them to rise, Kai began their story of the missing people while Sterling studied the king through her lashes. He was much younger than she¡¯d thought he would be. A golden crown studded with rubies the same shade of red as the carpet beneath her feet was perched on his brow. There was a faraway look on his face that said he wasn''t listening to a word Kai said.

    When Kai finished speaking, the king straightened on his throne. ¡°What you¡¯ve told me isn¡¯t anything new,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve had others coming in here for months now to tell me about these empty cities. It makes no difference to me where these people have run off. Others will take their place.¡±

    Anger burned in Sterling¡¯s chest at the callous way he spoke of his people.

    ¡°Has this happened before?¡± Kai asked. ¡°Have people vanished without a trace?¡±

    The king¡¯s eyes shifted. ¡°People disappear all the time. I can¡¯t be expected to keep track of all of them. They want to leave? Let them leave. They¡¯ll come crawling back once they realize how good they had it.¡±

    He doesn''t know anything, the voices murmured. He¡¯s an incompetent king. One brush of your power and this place would be yoursss.

    Sterling felt the power awakening within her and like a sleeping beast after a winter hibernation, it was hungry.

    No, she thought frantically, no, I can''t do this now. Why today of all days had her magic decided to appear? Why not before?

    Yesss, the voices hissed. This human king shall bow to you.

    Before Sterling could do anything to stop it, her magic erupted from the carefully contained box she¡¯d put it in. The force of it was so strong, it drove her to her knees.

    The king was on his feet in an instant. "What is wrong with that girl? Guards!" Berenger waved his men forward.

    "No! Please!" Sterling managed to get out. "You have to leave now. All of you. I¡ª" Another wave of magic ripped through her body, making her forget what she was trying to say.

    Kai had knelt down next to her, but unlike the last time this had happened, he didn''t attempt to touch her.

    "Control it, Sterling."

    "I''m . . . trying," she ground out. Frantically, she tried the box trick again, but the power kept coming faster than she could shove it inside.

    A shot of it burst from her like a bolt of lightning, ricocheting off the ceiling. A rain of plaster and liquid gold fell around them.

    Berenger and his guards were staring wide-eyed at the hole she¡¯d burned in the ceiling.

    "Leave!" Sterling shouted at them again.

    This time, they listened, disappearing through a concealed door behind the throne. Seconds later, another bolt of power brought a larger chunk of the ceiling crashing down right onto the king''s throne.

    "We have to get out of here before you bring the palace down around our ears. Can you walk?"

    Could she? She wasn''t sure. Sterling was afraid that any movement was going to unleash even more.

    Please, make it stop, she begged, squeezing her eyes shut.

    The ground beneath her shook, and more debris fell from the ceiling. Then, as fast as it had come, it was gone.

    Cautiously, Sterling peeked an eye open to take in the damage around her. The receiving hall was in ruins. The once resplendent red carpet beneath her feet was dotted with holes where the melted gold had burned through and then solidified.

    "Come on," Kai said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. "We have to get out of here before they come back."

    Sterling let herself be pulled along, her body weak in the absence of power.

    Thank you, she said silently.

    Next time you will do as we sssay, the voices whispered back, or we won''t ssstop.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Six

    Virelai waited until nightfall.

    As soon as the last of the sun had dipped below the horizon, she cracked open her bedroom door. The younger guard was there. Perfect.

    "Do you need something, my lady?" he asked when he noticed her.

    "Willow bark tea." She kept her voice low so that he had to lean forward to hear her.

    "Willow bark tea?" His brows knit. "Are you sick?"

    She pressed a hand to her abdomen and watched his eyes flick down and then back up¡ªwatched his face color as he figured out why she wanted the tea. "Would you mind getting some for me from the kitchens? I could call one of the servants or get it myself, but . . ." she trailed off, pretending to double over in pain.

    "No, no. I can get it for you." He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was right now.

    Before she could even thank him, he was hurrying down the hall, away from her.

    As soon as he turned the corner, Virelai straightened up with a smile. That had been simple. If only the rest of the guards were so susceptible to manipulation. Shutting the door behind her, she set off down the hall in the opposite direction the guard had taken.

    Thankfully, the halls were quiet, and if she was lucky, they would stay that way, even when the guard returned and discovered she was missing. She was counting on him being smart enough to not raise an alarm. If he did, it could mean both their heads. Virelai hoped he liked his head where it was, however empty as it may be.

    She made it safely out of the castle, undetected, and into the city, sticking to the shadows. Now that night had fallen, most of Nyrene''s inhabitants had retreated to their homes. Only a few of Gavaran''s soldiers remained patrolling the streets.

    There was one such soldier a few paces ahead of her who seemed to be taking the same route she was. Unlike her, he was in no hurry, strolling along as if he were on a pleasant jaunt around town and not searching for those who would rebel against the new king.

    After a long ten minutes of ducking and darting between shadows, she finally made it to the street where Wisteria and Eryx were hidden. The soldier still strolled along ahead of her, taking his sweet time.

    Virelai sighed as she watched. She needed him to turn onto the next street before she risked making a move for the front door.

    He passed one house and then another, not so much as turning his head. Then, directly in front of her house, he paused.

    Virelai sucked in a breath.

    No. Why? What could have made him stop there?

    Her heart skipped a beat as the seconds ticked by, and he kept staring at the front of her house. He couldn''t know what was hidden behind those walls. No one could know. She had been so careful.

    There was a scuffling sound, and then a bird took flight from where it had nested beneath the peak of the roof. The soldier tracked its flight path until it disappeared into the night sky. Then he kept walking.

    Virelai shook her head. Here she was thinking the worst, and it was only a stupid bird.

    She waited until the soldier rounded the corner and then counted to ten. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she darted out of the shadows and straight for her front door.

    By the time she reached it, the key was already in her hand, and she stuffed it into the lock.

    It wasn''t until she was safely inside with the door shut between her and the outside world that she remembered to breathe.

    "Can''t you knock or something?" Wisteria groused, lowering the pan she must have been planning to use as a weapon. "One of these times, I''m not going to hesitate, and you¡¯re going to find yourself with a terrible headache."

    "Excuse me for not standing out there where anyone could see me and waiting for you to answer the door," Virelai snapped. "There are soldiers out there patrolling the streets, and you know I can''t be seen here if any of us want to keep living."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Wisteria pursed her lips and looked Virelai up and down with a critical eye. "Something''s got you rattled. What happened?"

    Her thoughts flashed back to the meeting with her father when he told her she was going to marry Harloth. It would not happen. It couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Find out some bad news?¡±

    Virelai lifted her chin and set her shoulders, hating that Wisteria had been able to read her so easily. She wasn¡¯t about to tell her about the impending wedding. She would probably delight in it.

    "Nothing. I came because I found something interesting I think we might be able to use. Where¡¯s Eryx?"

    "Right here." He leaned against the doorway behind Wisteria. The clothes he was wearing reminded her vaguely of some old dresses of hers. Must have been a coincidence, she decided.

    ¡°Good. I can¡¯t stay long since I¡¯m sure my guard has noticed I¡¯m missing by now, but I thought it best to get word of this to you as soon as possible, in case you had any ideas of what it might mean.¡±

    In case they could come up with a plan to stop her wedding.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the dining room. I don¡¯t want any sounds to draw the soldiers¡¯ attention. You need to be careful to stay out of this front room, especially at night.¡±

    ¡°We already know that,¡± Wisteria grumbled.

    When they were all seated at the dining table and well away from the front of the house, Virelai told them about the people she had seen on the beach and her conversation with her father. The only part she left out was her betrothal.

    ¡°Do you think he has them working on something?¡± Eryx asked.

    ¡°A possibility. I¡¯m not sure what it could be for, though. They weren¡¯t brought into the city.¡±

    ¡°Has he been sending soldiers outside?¡±

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware. As far as I know, my father isn¡¯t allowing anyone, soldier or citizen, outside the walls anymore. Unless he¡¯s told someone his plans, I have no way of finding out what is going on out there unless I sneak out of the walls myself.¡±

    Something sparked in Eryx''s eyes. "Is that a possibility?"

    Virelai snorted. "Hardly. These days I''m under guard at all hours."

    "Then how are you here now? Did your guard tag along?" Wisteria asked, pretending to look around for a guard.

    Virelai shot her an annoyed look. "I have my ways, and as I said earlier, they will soon discover I¡¯m missing if they haven¡¯t already. Once they do, I will have only a short time to return without my father being notified. I wouldn¡¯t have the time to make it out of the walls and back again and even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t dare risk trying to leave with how closely they watch the gates.¡±

    "What if you didn''t have to leave by the gate?" Eryx asked.

    She lifted a brow. "What do you mean? There is no other way out besides the gate. It¡¯s always been so."

    "No,¡± he said quietly. ¡°There is another way. It¡¯s not an official way, but it could be an option."

    Virelai eyed him, waiting for him to continue.

    "There is a weakness in the wall¡ªa hole of sorts."

    She frowned. "I doubt it''s still there. My father would have had anything like that shored up."

    Eryx shook his head. "He didn''t know. No one knew except for Kestrel and myself, and we never reported it to anyone."

    "Doesn''t matter if he didn¡¯t know then.¡± She waved him off. ¡°I''m sure my father has had the wall checked for such problems, and fixed it already. With the way he has been keeping secrets, I don¡¯t imagine he would let something like that slip by."

    "Maybe. Maybe not. We don¡¯t know what his plans are. Perhaps he¡¯s distracted and something as small as checking the city walls for weakness could have slipped his mind."

    Virelai considered this. Her father was occupied with many things these days, including apparently arranging her betrothal. Her stomach twisted. She might have a month at most to find a way out of it.

    "Fine,¡± she said. ¡°Say this hole still exists. It doesn¡¯t help my guard problem. This visit alone might cost me what little freedom I was afforded."

    "I could go," Wisteria said.

    Virelai huffed a laugh.

    "What? I¡¯m serious. You can''t go because you are constantly being watched," Wisteria pointed to Virelai, "and you," now she pointed to Eryx, "can''t go because you¡¯re too well known. You would be recognized instantly. I, on the other hand, am a servant. No one notices us. We¡¯re practically invisible."

    Virelai studied her. She did have a point. Wisteria could blend in better than either of them could. However, Virelai couldn''t help recalling the last time Wisteria had been outside the house. She¡¯d been so nervous looking. If she were to do that again, she would be caught in a heartbeat.

    "You¡¯re sure? You would have to be very careful," Eryx told her.

    "I know. I can be careful, and we don''t have any other options unless you have some other elves hidden away somewhere." Wisteria directed this last bit at her.

    "Unfortunately for you, I do not. If you think you can handle this, then by all means, go ahead. I will leave this task to the two of you." Virelai stood. "I need to get back to the castle now.¡±

    "When will you return?" Eryx asked.

    "I''m not sure, but it would be best if you can get this done as soon as possible."

    "I''ll go tomorrow," Wisteria said.

    Eryx held out a hand to her. "We will discuss it first."

    Virelai pretended not to see the face Wisteria made when Eryx wasn¡¯t looking. "I''ll continue doing what I can from the castle." She headed for the door, steeling herself for the journey back.

    "No word about Kai or Kestrel?" Eryx must have followed her to the door.

    Virelai paused in mid-reach for the doorknob and glanced back over her shoulder. She¡¯d been waiting for him to ask that question since she¡¯d arrived. "None," she said, quashing the hope in his eyes. "Doesn''t mean they aren''t still out there," she quickly added. She wasn''t sure why she felt the need to reassure him.

    "No, it doesn''t, and it is probably for the better. Until next time, Virelai."

    She dipped her chin in acknowledgment. "Until next time, Commander," she replied, slipping outside and back into the shadows.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Seven

    ¡°Why did you tell him so much about our plans?¡± Seraiah asked once they¡¯d ridden a short distance beyond the necromancer¡¯s wards. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were serious about this alliance. I only agreed to it because I thought we were going to use him and then be done with him.¡±

    Kestrel shrugged. ¡°That was before I knew what was going on with Sterling.¡±

    Seraiah looked away. If only Kestrel knew the real reason, Seraiah had been conflicted about the shadows she¡¯d thought she¡¯d seen in Sterling¡¯s eyes. She should tell her. Confess everything about the journal Kai had given her, and the madness in her future.

    Seraiah couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Not yet. First, she wanted to visit the Summer King and find out what he knew. Then she would tell Kestrel everything.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s sincere in his wish for revenge,¡± Kestrel said. ¡°We can at least trust him that far.¡±

    ¡°I should have asked him more questions, but I was so focused on getting rid of the mark. I feel like he received more answers than we did. He couldn¡¯t even tell us about Gavaran¡¯s plans. We¡¯re the ones being used in this alliance.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Kestrel said, appearing unbothered, ¡°but I haven¡¯t told him anything he couldn¡¯t have figured out on his own. I say we not worry about it right now. If Ren turns up information that could help Sterling, great. If not, we can always cut ties. It would be silly to waste a potentially valuable alliance at this point simply because you¡¯re holding a grudge against him.¡±

    Seraiah frowned down at her hands. It wasn¡¯t a grudge.

    All right. Maybe it was a grudge, but it was deserved.

    Kestrel wasn¡¯t the one who had to live with something on her skin that could be used to track her and change her will. There was obviously no arguing with her now, though, when she¡¯d already made up her mind, and she was right that the necromancer had the potential to help Sterling. It was only for this reason Seraiah hadn¡¯t maimed him yet.

    She nudged her horse faster, cutting off any more conversation. She would tolerate him for her sister, but once he¡¯d served his purpose, all bets were off.

    <hr>

    "This is it," Seraiah said, squatting down next to the hole. It had taken them three days to reach the mountain range Metrius called home.

    While Kestrel had known the general location of the gnome city, she¡¯d admitted she¡¯d never been there herself and would rely on Seraiah to find it. After some confusion about which side of the mountain range she¡¯d been on, Seraiah had eventually remembered where she¡¯d fallen while on the hunt for a golden dragon.

    "Are you sure?" Kestrel eyed the hole in question, staying several feet back from the edge. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem safe.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s safer than where Lonan and I exited all the way up there.¡± Seraiah pointed to where the mountain disappeared into a layer of clouds. ¡°We¡¯d never be able to find the city if we tried that way. Besides, if they have another entrance, I don¡¯t know about it. I was under the impression they preferred to remain isolated.¡±

    ¡°So the stories say,¡± Kestrel mumbled, and then sighed. "Do you want to go first, or shall I?¡±

    Seraiah swallowed, recalling how lucky she¡¯d gotten the first time. There was a very small distance between the lake and the rocks. "I¡¯ll go first and remember, aim for the left."

    Kestrel shifted the pack on her shoulder and motioned for her to go ahead.

    They¡¯d already removed their things from the horses and left them to wander the woods. Without knowing how long they¡¯d be gone, Kestrel had been unwilling to tie them up. They¡¯d piled their saddles at the base of a nearby tree and taken the supplies they were able to carry.

    "Right then," Seraiah said, taking one last look at the sky, "here goes nothing."

    She stepped into the empty air over the hole, much as she had the first time. Even though this time she¡¯d done it on purpose, it didn¡¯t make it any less scary as she careened through the pitch black.

    She landed with a splash in the lake.

    ¡°Your turn,¡± she shouted up to Kestrel once she¡¯d climbed out. A puddle was already forming around her feet.

    A few moments later, Kestrel hit the water.

    Seraiah offered her a hand. ¡°See, that wasn¡¯t so bad.¡±

    ¡°I thought at least one of us would come out of this with injuries,¡± Kestrel grumbled as she wrung out her tunic.

    ¡°But we didn¡¯t, and if we want to keep it that way, we should get moving. Therill told me beetles can sometimes be found around here, and I can say from experience, we do not want to meet one.¡±

    ¡°Shall I dry our clothes before we go? I can¡¯t do it as efficiently as Kai, and I may not be able to maintain a light source until we reach the city if I do.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°No,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°I¡¯d rather wear wet clothes than be stuck in the dark. We¡¯ll be able to bathe and change in the city.¡±

    Kestrel snapped her fingers, and a ball of light appeared in her palm. ¡°All right, then. Ready when you are.¡±

    Their wet steps echoed in the tunnel. Seraiah hated the unpleasant feeling of water in her boots. It was almost enough to make her change her mind about having Kestrel dry them.

    "Someone''s coming," Kestrel whispered, drawing Seraiah¡¯s attention away from her soggy boots. Since Kestrel held the light, she¡¯d taken the lead, following Seraiah¡¯s directions. Now she stepped aside to reveal another light bouncing toward them in the dark.

    ¡°Therill, is that you?¡± Seraiah called.

    If it was, she would get a stern talking to about making too much noise.

    Silence answered, but the light kept bobbing as though in time to someone¡¯s steps.

    ¡°Come on,¡± she told Kestrel. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s one of the gnomes. They probably can¡¯t hear me from here, so let¡¯s go meet them.¡±

    They carried on until they¡¯d nearly reached the edge of the lantern light. Kestrel extinguished her ball of fire.

    "Therill?¡± Seraiah tried again.

    The light stopped moving just short of illuminating them. "Who wants to know?"

    It didn''t sound like Therill, but it was hard to tell with the way the echo distorted the sound.

    "It''s me. Seraiah. I''ve brought a friend as well."

    Lantern light spilled over them, and Seraiah lifted a hand to cover her eyes against the sudden brightness. To her disappointment, the gnome holding the lantern wasn¡¯t Therill. It wasn''t anyone she recognized¡ªnot that she was acquainted with many of the gnomes.

    This gnome was young. His black beard was short and patchy as though he¡¯d just reached the age he could start growing one. He looked Seraiah up and down.

    "Are you that human girl that came through here a while ago? The one who left with Lonan and never came back?"

    "Yes, that''s me, and my companion is Kestrel of Nyrene."

    The gnome barely glanced at Kestrel before his gaze returned to her. "Where¡¯s Lonan?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡ªuh,¡± her throat tightened, ¡°he¡¯s not with me.¡±

    ¡°Why are you calling for Therill?"

    "I need to speak with him."

    "What about?"

    This gnome sure was full of questions.

    Kestrel sighed, and Seraiah was sure she¡¯d rolled her eyes too. At least she hadn¡¯t drawn a knife to play with yet. That likely wouldn¡¯t have endeared them.

    "It''s between me and Therill,¡± Seraiah said, a bit of sharpness leaking into her voice. ¡°Can you take me to him?"

    He eyed her suspiciously for a moment before relenting. "I suppose I could." The gnome turned around abruptly and walked back the way he¡¯d come.

    It turned out they hadn''t been far from Metrius. After maybe a five-minute walk, the city came into view.

    "Oh, wow," Kestrel said when she saw it, and Seraiah smiled. She remembered having a similar reaction the first time she¡¯d seen the city. It was hard to imagine an entire city underground until you saw it for yourself.

    Their guide led them to the front of a house. "Here you are," he said and then walked off.

    "Friendly fellow, isn''t he?" Kestrel muttered, as they watched him go. ¡°Is this where Therill lives?¡±

    "I hope so. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t remember exactly because most of my time here was spent in their castle.¡± Seraiah stooped and knocked lightly on the front door. Her clothes were still damp, and she smelled faintly of the lake.

    "Oh, my," Pibble, Therill¡¯s wife, said when she opened the door and saw them waiting on her doorstep. "Something has happened, hasn''t it?"

    Seraiah nodded. "It¡¯s good to see you again. Is Therill home by chance?

    <hr>

    Therill came merrily strolling down the street, whistling to himself. He looked much the same as he had several months ago. Seraiah knew the moment he spotted them because he stopped in his tracks, the whistle fading off.

    "Seraiah!" he exclaimed, rushing forward after he¡¯d gotten over his initial shock. "What are you doing here?" She noticed him looking around, stopping briefly on Kestrel before moving on. She knew exactly who he was searching for.

    The question she dreaded came a moment later.

    "Where''s Lonan?"

    Seraiah pressed her lips together, unsure how to tell him. She¡¯d planned out what she was going to say, but seeing his eager expression as he¡¯d looked for his friend made the words fly from her head.

    Kestrel said nothing.

    "Oh," Therill said quietly. ¡°I see. He¡¯s gone, then?¡±

    Seraiah''s eyes filled with tears. "Yes, and it''s all my fault."

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you did what you could.¡± He passed a hand over his eyes, wiping away his own tears before they could fall.

    Pibble reemerged from the house, bowls of mushroom stew in her hands. She¡¯d invited them to stay and wait for Therill and promised to serve them food as soon as it finished cooking. Now she shoved one bowl at Kestrel and the other at Seraiah. Then planted her hands on her hips. ¡°Well, what is it? Is someone going to tell me what¡¯s happened?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Lonan,¡± Kestrel said, coming to Seraiah¡¯s rescue. Both she and Therill were still wiping away their tears. ¡°He¡¯s no longer with us.¡±

    "Oh, dears. Don''t cry.¡± Pibble patted Seraiah¡¯s hand before moving to comfort her husband. ¡°Lonan wouldn''t want to see your tears. He would want you to enjoy a good mushroom stew in his honor. Did he tell you about the one time he discovered a new type of mushroom?" she asked.

    This brought a laugh from Seraiah and Therill.

    ¡°I think I may have heard that story a few times,¡± Seraiah said, looking down at the bowl in her hands.

    ¡°And I have heard it many more,¡± Therill said.

    ¡°Good. Now eat,¡± Pibble urged gently. ¡°You¡¯ll feel better.¡±

    Seraiah did as she was told and around mouthfuls told the two gnomes what had happened since leaving Metrius.

    ¡°Such a shame,¡± Therill said, stroking his beard, ¡°but I am happy you were reunited with your sister. Why didn¡¯t you bring her with you?¡±

    Seraiah exchanged a look with Kestrel. ¡°She¡¯s in the human world,¡± she told him. ¡°We weren¡¯t sure it was safe here.¡±

    "Have you any news of Nyrene?" Kestrel asked.

    "Nothing. Seraiah was our most recent visitor. I do not think that even the clan leaders know of what¡¯s happened in Nyrene. As you know, we don''t involve ourselves in the affairs of others."

    "I think it''s time to change that," Kestrel told him.

    "What would you know, elf?" Therill asked gruffly. "Isn''t it the same policy the elves have taken in years past? Why are gnomes not allowed to do the same? We must look out for our own."

    "Things have changed, Therill," Seraiah said calmly before Kestrel could respond. "Lonan saw the importance of working together. That''s why he joined me in the search for my sister. He wanted to keep the world a peaceful place. For everyone."

    Therill grumbled a bit at that. "Lonan was special."

    "He was," Kestrel agreed. "I didn''t know him for long or as well as Seraiah did, but it was easy to see he cared about preserving this world. He wasn''t afraid to stand up for what he believed in."

    "You may be able to change my mind about supporting your cause with that, but I am but one gnome. You will need to convince the clan leaders to back you, and that will be no easy task," he told them.

    "Good thing we have you to help us," Seraiah said with a smile.

    "Aye,¡± Therill tugged hard on his beard, looking worried. ¡°Good thing."

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Eight

    The minute Virelai disappeared out the door, Wisteria pounced. "What do you mean we will discuss it?" she said, imitating his voice. "It sounded settled to me, even Pretty Princess agreed."

    Eryx gave her one of his stern looks. "I would be careful calling her that within her hearing. Don''t forget, Virelai is the reason you are safe."

    Wisteria scowled. "I will call her whatever I please. Don''t you," she stabbed a finger at his chest, "forget she threatened me. She wanted to turn me in to her father if I didn''t help her."

    If anyone had told Wisteria a few months ago that she would be locked in a house with Commander Eryx and be ready to claw at the walls to get out, she would have laughed in their face. She used to have such a big crush on the Commander, but now that she¡¯d gotten to know him, it had evaporated. He was so austere. She didn¡¯t understand what Kestrel could possibly see in him.

    "Are you saying you would rather be out there?" he asked.

    "Wouldn''t you?" she countered. ¡°Or do you like sitting here doing nothing?¡±

    This is how most of their conversations had gone as of late. They¡¯d start off friendly enough and then devolve into an argument that left both of them angry and ready to throttle the other.

    His face darkened. "Sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action. We must wait and prepare ourselves for the right moment. If we are caught, we will end up on the walls, and then we will truly be doing nothing."

    "Might be better than being stuck in this house with you," she snapped.

    "There''s the door," Eryx gestured. "You¡¯re welcome to leave any time you want. Go ahead and see how long you will last out there."

    Wisteria narrowed her eyes at him, folding her arms across her chest. "First, tell me where to find the hole in the wall."

    He returned her glare, staying silent.

    "You know," she said slowly when it didn¡¯t appear he was going to budge, "I could just go searching for it myself. When I¡¯m caught, I¡¯m sure they will torture me and then you and Virelai can join me on the wall. How delightful would that be?"

    "It seems you have learned something from Virelai, after all.¡±

    Wisteria sniffed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to manipulate me into helping you do something dangerous on the threat of harm to myself. It will not work."

    Time to change tactics. "You were perfectly fine with the idea of using the hole in the wall when you thought Virelai would be the one to go. What''s the difference if I go instead?"

    "She knows what she is doing. You do not." Eryx brushed past her to return to the back of the house.

    Wisteria dogged his steps, refusing to let him get away that easily. "Perhaps you didn''t hear me before when I said I was a servant. It was my job to go unseen¡ªto be unheard. I''m practically an expert at the art of hiding in plain sight. I. Can. Do this."

    He whirled around so fast she nearly collided with him. "All right. I''ll tell you if it will get you to stop arguing."

    Wisteria grinned in triumph. "Thank you."

    "But you understand what could happen if you are caught, or if you draw attention to this house?"

    "Yes. Our heads will end up decorating the wall. I know, and I promise I will be careful."

    Eryx gave her an unreadable look, and then asked, "Do we have any paper? I will draw you a map."

    <hr>

    After leaving Wisteria and Eryx, Virelai returned to the castle the same way she¡¯d come. She half expected the guards to step out of the shadows and seize her the moment she set foot in the outer courtyard. To her surprise, all was as she¡¯d left it.

    Quiet.

    Too quiet.

    She didn''t stop to question it now. First, she needed to get safely back to her rooms. Then she could worry about what this meant.

    Virelai slipped through the halls and up the stairs, retracing her steps without seeing so much as a servant. All that remained was avoiding any guards posted outside her rooms. She paused at the top of the last step and steeled herself before peeking around the corner.

    Nothing. No guard¡ªnot the young one who she¡¯d sent for tea, nor a replacement¡ªwaited for her return. Very strange indeed.

    Virelai darted down the hall to her door. She let her hand rest on the ornately carved knob for a moment before cracking it open, unsure of what she would find inside. Perhaps this was all a trap to lure her into a false sense of security, and they would grab her the moment she stepped over the threshold.

    Virelai scanned the room, checking corners and shadows. Everything was as she¡¯d left it.

    With one last look at the empty hall, she hurried inside and shut the door.

    Could it be? Had she truly gotten away with visiting Eryx and Wisteria with no one noticing?The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Doubt nagged at Virelai while she prepared for bed. It didn''t take that long to get tea. The guard should have come back, discovered her missing, and raised an alarm. Why hadn''t he, and where was he now? Could this be another ploy by her father to slowly drive her mad as she questioned everything?

    Time would tell, she decided. Morning would reveal all.

    <hr>

    Sterling gathered her scattered belongings and shoved them back into her bag. It was no longer a question if they could stay in Daralis. Her magic had ruined everything.

    Not that there had been much to ruin. The king had made it clear he knew about the missing people and did not care where they were. She doubted they would find anyone in Daralis who knew anything¡ªor if they did, they would keep their mouth shut.

    If only she¡¯d had enough time to look for Ren. He could have been helpful.

    Kai burst into the room, his bag slung over one shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not done yet?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to unlace that infernal thing by yourself.¡± Sterling pointed to the puddle of fabric on the floor that was the dress she¡¯d worn to see the king. Her feet still smarted from the blisters the slippers had given her.

    ¡°The longer we linger, the harder it will be to get out,¡± Kai warned, crossing the room to the window overlooking the street.

    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Sterling mumbled, jamming another tunic into her bag. It might have been easier to fit everything if she¡¯d taken the time to fold it, but she didn¡¯t have the patience. ¡°Do you have an idea of where we¡¯re going?¡± she asked Kai.

    ¡°Not yet. All I know is we need to get outside those walls.¡±

    ¡°You know, nowhere in Himera is going to be safe,¡± Sterling said, yanking on the ties of her bag. ¡°The king may not care about several hundred missing people, but he will hunt for us. He despises magic, and I used it right in front of him, destroying his palace. There¡¯s no way he will let that go.¡±

    Kai looked at her over his shoulder. ¡°If you are suggesting we return to Nyrene, that is out of the question until we hear from Seraiah and Kestrel.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m saying,¡± Sterling gave the tie another yank, ¡°we may not have a choice. We don¡¯t have to go back to Nyrene, but we should certainly cross the portal. No human would be willing to follow us there.¡±

    ¡°Except the mages,¡± Kai said.

    Sterling paused in her effort to get her bag to close. ¡°Good thing for us the king hates them too. If we could find Ren. Maybe he could help us.¡±

    Kai frowned. ¡°We are not going to work with a mage, and we are not going through the portal. I promised Seraiah I would take care of you¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.¡±

    Kai kept going as though she hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°We are going to find somewhere to wait this out. Either the king will lose interest in us, or we will hear from Seraiah and Kestrel.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to wait around for someone else to fix my problems. Queens do not wait.¡±

    ¡°What do you know of queens and ruling?¡± Kai asked sharply.

    "Enough," Sterling said, hands on her hips. "I know enough to know that I am not expected to sit around and do nothing while my people are hurting. I will not be like the human king."

    Kai didn¡¯t argue. He¡¯d turned back to the window, staring at something on the street below.

    ¡°At least I can use my magic now.¡± She expected him to say something to that, but he remained silent and tense. ¡°Kai?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±

    Downstairs, a door slammed open.

    ¡°With me,¡± he ordered.

    Sterling grabbed her bag without argument and followed him across the hall to his room. His window faced a back alley near the stables.

    Heavy steps ascended the stairs. The king¡¯s men would be on their floor any second.

    Kai shoved the window open. ¡°You go first. I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡±

    Sterling nodded, swallowing her fear. Kai helped her up onto the window ledge. The ground appeared far away.

    ¡°Go,¡± Kai urged. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Chain mail jingled in the hall. There was no more time.

    Sterling took a breath and jumped.

    She landed on her feet, her bag smacking into her back and pain shooting up her legs at the impact. There wasn¡¯t time to recover. She scrambled out of the way for Kai.

    The second he landed beside her, he took off at a sprint away from the stables. Sterling followed him around the side of the inn and onto the busy street.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t have taken the horse?¡± Sterling huffed as she ran.

    ¡°It would take too long. Besides, we can get lost in the crowd this way,¡± Kai told her.

    They darted in and out of the people, weaving their way toward the city gates. Sterling¡¯s breathing became labored, but they didn¡¯t slow. They couldn¡¯t. Not until they were on the other side of those walls.

    When the gates came into view, Sterling saw the guards were no longer sleeping on the job but studying the faces of everyone who passed out of the walls.

    Kai slowed to a walk, scanning the crowd of people waiting to exit the city.

    ¡°There,¡± he pointed out a cart filled with crates. ¡°We can hide in there.¡±

    ¡°What if they search it?¡± There were guards posted on the ground now too and while they weren¡¯t stopping every person, they seemed to be stopping most of the wagons.

    ¡°There¡¯s no other choice. They¡¯ll recognize our faces if we walk, and there isn¡¯t any other way out.¡±

    "There is if I make one," Sterling said, flexing her fingers and thinking of the way her magic had brought down chunks of the palace ceiling.

    ¡°Absolutely not. You have no control. You could kill someone. We¡¯ll take our chance this way. Come on.¡±

    Kai slipped through the crowd, making his way over to the cart, and Sterling reluctantly followed. Waiting until no one was paying them any mind, Kai helped her up into the cart before leaping up himself. There was just enough space between the stacks of crates for them to huddle. It would have been better if they could get inside the boxes, but the attempt would draw too much attention.

    The wagon lurched forward bit by bit, and Sterling grew more anxious by the second. Sweat beaded on her forehead. If the voices decided to make an appearance, they would be done for.

    Finally, the shadow of the wall fell over the cart, and Sterling held her breath. They were so close to being free of Daralis.

    "Halt," someone commanded.

    Please, don''t be talking to us, Sterling thought. She glanced at Kai, and he shook his head, holding a finger to his lips.

    A second later, their transportation stopped moving.

    "What are you carrying?" asked the same guard who¡¯d ordered their driver to halt.

    "Grains," came the response.

    "Is that all?"

    "Yes, sir. Feel free to check if you like."

    Sterling pressed her head into her knees. Please say no. Please say no.

    "Don''t mind if I do," the guard said.

    Sterling looked to Kai again, but all he did was point to his ear.

    He wanted her to listen, but she had no idea for what. Before Sterling could figure it out, a hand appeared in her line of vision. She scrambled back out of its reach.

    The hand immediately disappeared.

    "Your grain is making noises."

    "Rats, most likely," the driver responded. "Can''t keep ''em away."

    "Are you sure?" The guard sounded suspicious.

    "Yes, sir. Can''t be helped. Them rats are as hungry as ''erybody else, I ''spect."

    The guard grunted. "Fine. Be gone with you and your rats."

    "Thank you, sir."

    Sterling sighed as the wagon rolled forward again.

    They passed under the gates, but Kai made no move to disembark, only gestured for her to wait. He must want them to be out of eyesight before leaving their hiding spots.

    Sterling waited in silence, a cramp growing in her back from her hunched position. Finally, Kai motioned it was time, but before either of them could move, their transportation came to a halt for the second time.

    "You can come out now," their driver said. "I know you are there."

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Twenty-Nine

    Seraiah and Kestrel waited in the grand entryway of the gnomes¡¯ castle for Therill to return with news.

    ¡°This is a lot bigger than I thought it would be,¡± Kestrel said, studying their surroundings. ¡°For a city that doesn¡¯t engage with outsiders, I¡¯m surprised they even bothered to create a space to host them.¡±

    ¡°Was it always that way?¡±

    ¡°From what I can remember. Several generations, at least. There are stories of what the world was like before, but the elves have no one who lived in that time to confirm them.¡± Kestrel leaned in to inspect a sculpture inset in the wall. To Seraiah, it appeared to be something abstract.

    ¡°What about the Summer King? Would he know if the stories were true? Or the dragons?¡± If she remembered right, Riv and Isaour had told her they¡¯d been around just as long as the faeries.

    Before Kestrel could answer, Therill reappeared.

    "I''ve arranged rooms for you in the castle, but the clan leaders won''t meet until tomorrow. You have until then to decide what to say. As you asked, I have not told them about Lonan yet."

    "Thank you, Therill," Seraiah said. "We really appreciate you doing this."

    "Of course," he responded, his cheeks turning pink. "I''ll show you to your rooms."

    After Therill left them for the night, Seraiah joined Kestrel in her room, which was conveniently across the hallway from her own.

    ¡°Any suggestions on the best tactic to convince the clan leaders to help us?¡± Kestrel asked. She sat in the lone chair, sharpening one of her many knives. ¡°You¡¯ve spoken with them before, so I will trust your judgment.¡±

    Seraiah sighed and perched on the end of Kestrel¡¯s bed. Her wet hair hung in ropes down her back, bringing goosebumps to her skin, but at least she no longer smelled like a lake. ¡°I don¡¯t know. To be honest, the last time I spoke with them, they didn¡¯t exactly give me what I asked for. They offered Lonan, who they already knew had issues with remembering things, to guide me back to the surface, but they couldn¡¯t provide anything else.¡±

    ¡°There has to be something we can use to convince them. Everyone has something they want.¡±

    Seraiah tapped her foot on the floor while she thought. ¡°You heard what Therill said. The gnomes aren¡¯t interested in the affairs of the elves because the elves had never been interested in them. Is there something we could offer them? A trade agreement?¡±

    Kestrel put aside her sharpening stone and tucked her knife away, focusing her full attention on Seraiah. ¡°Lonan was very interested in the shops when he visited Nyrene. In particular, I remember him taking a liking to the apothecary. There might just be something the gnomes would be interested in trading with us. However, any trade agreement would only work if we were successful in taking back Nyrene and right now our odds are not looking good.¡±

    ¡°All the more reason for them to help us as much as they can,¡± Seraiah said.

    Kestrel nodded. ¡°We¡¯d also have to hope they would take our word for an agreement, even though neither of us is of the royal blood.¡±

    ¡°But they know Sterling is my sister and you are a Commander in Nyrene. That¡¯s a position of power.¡±

    ¡°I was a Commander in Nyrene. Now I am nothing.¡± Kestrel held her hands out, palms face up.

    ¡°You and I both know that isn¡¯t true,¡± Seraiah said.

    Kestrel shrugged and looked away. ¡°What if they ask about Sterling?¡±

    ¡°What about her?¡±

    ¡°How much are you willing to share?¡±

    ¡°I would tell them everything that happened after leaving here with Lonan and how we rescued her.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°And the shadows? Would you tell them about that?¡±

    Seraiah bit her lip. ¡°I think the less who know about the shadows, the better.¡±

    ¡°Even if they might offer help?¡±

    ¡°I thought you were convinced the necromancer was going to be our key to helping Sterling?¡± Seraiah countered.

    ¡°You can never have too many options.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It might give them another reason to avoid helping us. What if they decide the shadows mean they should side against us? It¡¯s one thing if they choose to remain neutral, but the last thing we need is more enemies.¡±

    Kestrel dipped her chin. ¡°Fair. In that case, we¡¯ll stick to the rescue story and offer an alliance in exchange for a trade agreement.¡±

    ¡°And if they turn us down, we move on to other prospects.¡±

    Kestrel grimaced. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that.¡±

    <hr>

    By the time morning came, a knot had taken up residence in Seraiah¡¯s stomach. They may have made a solid plan, but Seraiah couldn¡¯t keep from worrying the gnomes would still turn them down. Then they would be left with either the faeries or the dragons. If the gnomes were unreceptive to an alliance, she doubted she could convince the dragons, and the faeries would likely extract a much bigger price that none of them could pay.

    Therill brought them breakfast and sat with them while they picked at their meals. Seraiah was too anxious to swallow more than a few mouthfuls, and even Kestrel couldn''t finish all that she had been offered.

    If this alliance didn¡¯t work out, it would mean Kestrel had to wait even longer to be reunited with Eryx. Seraiah refused to think of the alternative that he hadn¡¯t survived the takeover.

    Therill was the one to introduce them to the clan leaders, as he had the last time Seraiah had appeared before them.

    She scanned the faces of those seated at the table and noticed a few new ones mixed in with those she recognized from last time. The female gnome who¡¯d spoken for the group previously seemed to still be in charge of asking the questions.

    "This almost feels like we¡¯re on trial," Kestrel said out of the corner of her mouth.

    "At least it¡¯s better than the Elven council," Seraiah whispered back.

    ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that.¡±

    "Why have you returned to us, Seraiah?" the leader asked.

    She was surprised the gnome remembered her name. "I have news to share with you, and it is not the pleasant kind," she answered. ¡°I also have a proposal for you.¡±

    ¡°The news first, please.¡±

    Seraiah took a deep breath and said, ¡°My dear friend, Lonan, has passed while bravely assisting me in rescuing my sister, the rightful queen of Nyrene.¡±

    There was a moment of deafening silence. Then, ¡°We will honor our fallen. Please share the story of his bravery.¡±

    Seraiah told them about finding the dragons, completing the fairy quest, and the takeover of Nyrene.

    ¡°My sister has been restored to me, but her throne has been stolen. Will you help me return it to her?¡±

    The clan leaders exchanged looks, none of them pleased. ¡°You would ask us to fight your war for you?¡± the female gnome asked.

    ¡°I would ask you for an alliance. My companion, Kestrel, is a Commander of Nyrene. We are prepared to offer a trade agreement in return. Lonan believed the world could be a better place if we worked together to keep it safe. I agree with him, and I hope you do as well.¡±

    ¡°We will discuss your proposal. Please, wait outside while we deliberate.¡±

    Therill walked them back to the hall to wait. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to advocate for you,¡± he told them before shutting them out.

    A little over half an hour later, they were called to return. Therill¡¯s face was perfectly blank as he ushered them inside, which sent Seraiah¡¯s heart sinking. It was going to be bad news.

    The female gnome came around the table to stand in front of them. "We, gnomes of Metrius, have decided not to involve ourselves in the business of the elves. While we appreciate the offer of a trade agreement, we have lived without for many generations and will continue to do so. Until there is a time when our well-being here under the mountain is threatened, we shall not muster an army to fight in a war that is not our own."

    "But¡ª"

    Therill placed a hand on Seraiah¡¯s arm and shook his head. Arguing would do no good.

    ¡°We would invite you to a feast to celebrate Lonan¡¯s life, and then we will assist you back to the surface,¡± the gnome finished.

    They were being kicked out. Coming here had been for nothing.

    No, not nothing, Seraiah reminded herself. Therill deserved to know what happened to his friend. It was still disappointing to be turned away.

    "Thank you," Kestrel said, speaking to the leaders for the first time. ¡°We appreciate your hospitality and will attend the celebration, leaving by morning.¡± She let none of the anger Seraiah could see in her shoulders leak into her voice.

    "I''m sorry," Therill apologized as soon as they left the meeting hall.

    "For what?" Seraiah asked. "This isn''t your fault. You warned us what they were likely to say. While I wish there had been a way to convince them, there is nothing to be done now but to continue our search for allies elsewhere."

    ¡°In your absence, I will work on changing their minds. I will try my best to win them over to your cause."

    "Thank you, Therill. That is very kind of you."

    The gnome bowed his head. "It is what Lonan would have wanted."

    Later that night, they attended the feast held in Lonan''s honor and listened to the stories of his life. Seraiah had her own stories to tell of him, but she kept silent. She was no longer willing to share the happy times now that she¡¯d realized how selfish the gnomes really were.

    Lonan had not been selfish like the clan leaders, and neither was Therill. But if she were a ruler, would she do anything different? Would she help another kingdom, even if it meant hurting her own? Seraiah was suddenly glad that Sterling was the queen and not her, because she didn''t have an answer to that.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Thirty

    Across from Kai, Sterling had frozen in place, her mouth open in an ¡®oh¡¯ of surprise. He¡¯d suspected the driver had known about his extra passengers, but apparently his sister had believed the story of rats the man had sold to the city guards.

    Kai stood, legs complaining from the awkward position he¡¯d needed to hide, and jumped from the back of the wagon. The city gates were a speck in the distance, and the road around them was thankfully empty.

    Sterling scrambled down after him, tripping over her bag and weapons in her rush.

    ¡°Ah, there you are,¡± a middle-aged man with deep brown skin lined from his time in the sun greeted them while Kai helped Sterling regain her feet.

    He appeared harmless enough, carrying no weapon that Kai could see.

    ¡°What are we doing?¡± Sterling hissed, tugging on his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    ¡°Hold on a moment,¡± Kai told her. To the man, he said, ¡°Thank you for not ratting us out to the guard.¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes widened, and then he chuckled. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a funny one. Name¡¯s Jeb.¡± He extended a hand.

    ¡°Kaimana.¡± He grasped Jeb¡¯s hand in a firm shake.

    ¡°Kaimana, huh? Never heard a name like that. You aren¡¯t from around here, are you?¡±

    ¡°You could say that.¡± From what Kai could tell, the man didn¡¯t have an ulterior motive. He was just friendly.

    ¡°And who might you be?¡± Jeb asked, extending a hand to Sterling.

    She took it reluctantly and gave her name.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a pretty one. I have a daughter around your age.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you helped us?¡± Sterling cut in before the man could ramble on.

    Kai frowned at her. She didn¡¯t sound grateful for the rescue, only annoyed.

    ¡°Ah, no. More like anything I can do to thwart that no good king. I guessed you must be the ones that¡¯s got the city all in a stir with the crown looking for you and whatnot.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Kai said, studying him with new eyes. Jeb might be more useful to them than he¡¯d first thought.

    ¡°I heard something about bringing the palace down around the king¡¯s ears. Any truth to that?¡±

    Kai was ready to give another non-answer, but Sterling spoke up first.

    ¡°I may have taken out a few bits of the ceiling in the receiving hall.¡± She stuck her chin out, head held high in challenge. It was a far cry from the way she¡¯d looked after the incident¡ªterrified, like she might lose control again.

    Jeb chuckled, showing no hint of the usual fear humans displayed when hearing about something that could have only been accomplished through magic. ¡°Tiny little thing like you? Well, no wonder they¡¯re offering a hundred thousand gold pieces for you.¡±

    Kai had only a vague idea of how much money that was in the human world, but the way Sterling¡¯s eyes popped open and the color drained from her face, he understood it was a large amount. A very large amount.

    ¡°And this does not interest you?¡± Kai asked Jeb. His hands hung loosely at his sides, where he could easily pull his blade free if he needed.

    Jeb waved him away. ¡°I¡¯m not after any of the king¡¯s rotten gold. Besides, that kind of money can only attract trouble. How long do you think a farmer like me could hold on to it? No, I don¡¯t want any part of that.¡±

    He appeared to be genuine.

    ¡°Thank you again for your kindness,¡± Kai said. ¡°I would offer you something in return, but we have a paltry sum compared to what the king is offering.¡± Kai dug into his bag to retrieve the coins they¡¯d collected on their journey.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that. I don¡¯t need anything from you. If you¡¯re headed that way,¡± Jeb jerked his thumb over his shoulder in the opposite direction of the city, ¡°I¡¯d be happy to give you a ride as far as my farm.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate it. We had to leave our horse behind, and I¡¯m not sure where we¡¯re off to next.¡±

    ¡°In that case, you¡¯re welcome to stay for a few days if you need to lie low. I could always use more hands with the farm work and it should take a while before the king¡¯s dogs make it all the way out.¡±

    Kai could feel Sterling staring hard at him, but whatever she had to say, she didn¡¯t want to do it in front of Jeb. She likely didn¡¯t want him to accept Jeb¡¯s offer. He knew she¡¯d rather set off on their own, preferably for the portal or wherever she thought she might locate her necromancer friend. Neither of which were good options. He¡¯d been charged with keeping her safe and he¡¯d already done a piss-poor job of it. He could not let anything else happen to her.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll take you up on that,¡± Kai finally said, ¡°as long as it doesn¡¯t bring you any trouble.¡± They might not be able to find much in the way of the missing people by hiding out on a farm, but Sterling¡¯s safety came first. He was sure Seraiah would make the same choice. They¡¯d stay only a few days until he came up with something better, or they heard from Seraiah and Kestrel. The two of them should have been well across the portal by now.

    ¡°No, no. No trouble at all,¡± Jeb said. ¡°Come ride up front with me on the bench, and we¡¯ll be on our way. I was only teasing about there being rats in my grain, but I¡¯m sure it isn¡¯t too comfortable to be bouncing around back there.¡±

    ¡°More comfortable than the city cells, I¡¯m sure,¡± Kai said. With Sterling¡¯s glare burning into his back, Kai followed the man to the front of the wagon.

    <hr>

    The whole ride to the farm, Jeb kept up a steady stream of chatter. Kai responded politely while Sterling slouched next to him on the bench. She couldn''t care less about all the produce Jeb grew and how the farm had been passed down for several generations and the cities where he sold the products of his farm. None of that mattered, and they could¡¯ve been well on their way to leaving the human lands by now.

    It¡¯s what they should have done with the price on their heads. It would take more than a few days for anyone to give up the hunt with that kind of money on the line. She¡¯d warned Kai it would be like this.

    She knew she was right, and that the only way they¡¯d be free of it would be if they crossed the portal. Like Kai had pointed out, mages might use the portals, but they wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to get themselves tangled up with the king when it could easily be their necks on the line. Besides, Sterling had a feeling Gavaran still wanted her alive. If the mages were working for him, they wouldn¡¯t be handing her over to a different king.

    If only she could make Kai understand this.

    By the time the farm came into view, Sterling was itching to jump from the wagon and run in the opposite direction. Then Jeb said the first interesting thing since she¡¯d met him.

    "I want to warn you. My daughter has some . . . special talents. She¡¯s no witch, mind you, that girl would never hurt a fly, but they¡¯re unnatural abilities."

    "What sort of special talents?" Sterling asked. Maybe she was one of the mages. Maybe she would know how to contact others, and Sterling could still find Ren. Then he could help her convince Kai to leave this world behind.

    "Well, you see, she can move things." Jeb gestured vaguely with his hands, as though she were supposed to understand what that meant.

    Sterling quirked a brow. "And how is that a special talent exactly? I''m sure most people can move things."

    Kai poked her in the side with his elbow, giving her a sidelong look. She ignored him. It wasn¡¯t as if she¡¯d asked a rude question. Jeb was the one who¡¯d brought it up and made a big deal about it.

    "What I mean to say is she can move things without touching them."

    "I see." She¡¯d never heard of anyone with such an ability. Then again, she hadn¡¯t realized it was possible to raise the dead, and she¡¯d seen Ren do that with her own eyes.

    "If the crown were to ever find out . . ." Jeb trailed off.

    "They would hunt her like they¡¯re hunting us?" Kai guessed. The corners of his mouth were pulled down in a frown again. It was an expression Sterling had become very familiar with.

    "Yes," Jeb said. "I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a group that takes children like her and hides them away, but I couldn¡¯t bear to part with her. She¡¯s the only piece of my wife I have left. Maybe it is wrong of me, and she would have a better life with them."

    "No," Sterling said with enough force that both Jeb and Kai stared at her. She couldn¡¯t help it. She had a feeling the group he was speaking of was the same group of mages Ren had belonged to. He¡¯d mentioned once they¡¯d taken him in as a child, and she hadn¡¯t gotten the impression that he¡¯d enjoyed it. While Jeb handing over his daughter to them might give Sterling a way to connect with Ren, she couldn¡¯t wish that sort of life on someone.

    "Whatever you do,¡± she said, ¡°no matter if the king comes after your daughter, you protect her. Do not give her over to those people. Do not give her to anyone, no matter what they promise you. If you care for your daughter, as you say, you have to protect her. Do you understand?"

    Jeb nodded. "I will try my best."

    "Good." If Jeb had questions about what Sterling knew or why she was so vehemently against the group, he didn¡¯t ask them. For the first time on their journey, he was silent as he guided the mules to a nearby barn.

    <hr>

    Later that night, as they settled into their borrowed room, Sterling ambushed her brother.

    "How long are we staying here?"

    "As long as we need," Kai said, avoiding her gaze.

    ¡°And then what? What¡¯s the plan? I¡¯m ready to leave tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working on it.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re only a few days from the portal, right? Maybe Jeb has a horse we can buy off him.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Sterling propped her hands on her hips. ¡°No what? No, he doesn¡¯t have a horse? How would you know? Have you seen the inside of the barns?¡±

    ¡°No, we are not going to the portal.¡±

    ¡°You may not be, but I will.¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes finally snapped to her. ¡°We¡¯ve been over this. It isn¡¯t safe for you.¡±

    ¡°Nowhere is truly safe for me. Crossing the portal is the only way to ensure I stay out of Berenger¡¯s grasp and aren¡¯t endangering other people like Jeb and his daughter.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous. If you want to stay here for the rest of your life,¡± she threw up her hands, ¡°by all means, stay here, but I am going. I have my magic now, and there is nothing you can do to stop me.¡± She knew she sounded like a child throwing a tantrum, but he was being so stubborn and unreasonable. Why couldn¡¯t he understand this was the safest way?

    ¡°Where exactly will you go?¡± Kai¡¯s voice was low and dangerous in a way she¡¯d never heard before. ¡°Will you storm Nyrene and take it back alone? You know nothing about that world and the enemies we are facing.¡±

    "Which is why you should come with me."

    They stared at each other, neither wanting to back down. Unfortunately for Kai, Sterling could be just as stubborn and had plenty of practice in winning fights with Seraiah. She would not let this go, and there was nothing he could do about it.

    Kai sighed and turned away from her. "Give me two days."

    Sterling grinned at his back. It wasn¡¯t exactly what she wanted, but it was close enough. "Fine," she said. "Two days and then I am leaving, with or without you."

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Thirty-One

    Kestrel offered Seraiah a hand to help her climb from the hole, which Seraiah gladly accepted. True to their word, the gnomes had shown them a way out of the mountain not far from where they had entered.

    ¡°Now where have those horses gotten off to?¡± Kestrel shaded her eyes against the sunlight coming through the trees.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see them anywhere,¡± Seraiah said, turning in a circle. ¡°They couldn¡¯t have gotten too far. We weren¡¯t even gone for a full day.¡±

    Kestrel dropped her hand. ¡°I think you underestimate them. I would not be surprised if they were halfway back to Nyrene by now.¡±

    ¡°I suppose we have no choice but to go on foot then.¡±

    Kestrel had them collect their saddles from beneath the tree where they¡¯d left them. ¡°In case we find the horses along the way,¡± she said.

    Then they set out for the Seelie Court. Seraiah had expected more of a protest from Kestrel at the proposed visit, but after the gnomes¡¯ lack of information about Nyrene, even she knew they had little choice unless they intended to sneak into the city themselves.

    They walked in silence for a good distance before Kestrel said, ¡°What¡¯s your real reason for wanting to pay a visit to the Summer King?¡±

    Seraiah stopped, mouth falling open. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± she said, staring at Kestrel¡¯s back. Her dark hair hung in a braid between her shoulder blades, swinging back and forth with her steps. ¡°I want to help Sterling, of course. What other reason is there?¡±

    Kestrel tossed a look over her shoulder. ¡°You tell me.¡±

    Seraiah swallowed and resumed walking, the saddle banging into her legs. Kestrel was offering her the perfect opportunity to tell her about the madness.

    ¡°I know you love your sister dearly, and you¡¯re the most selfless human I know,¡± Kestrel said.

    ¡°I¡¯m one of the only humans, you know.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s besides the point. As I was saying, you¡¯re the most selfless human I know, but I don¡¯t believe even you would be so willing to walk back into the fae court. And don¡¯t tell me, you¡¯re doing it for me either. What else are you not saying?¡±

    If she didn¡¯t tell Kestrel now, her friend may never forgive her. Seraiah took a deep breath and said, ¡°I read something in a book.¡±

    She explained everything she knew to Kestrel while she quietly listened.

    When she was done, Kestrel said, ¡°I don¡¯t see why this requires a visit to the Summer King. He¡¯s not the only one who knows things.¡±

    ¡°Then where else should I go?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there are books on the subject in Nyrene, or perhaps another journal.¡±

    Seraiah stared at her, not sure if she was serious. ¡°But we can¡¯t go to Nyrene,¡± she said slowly.

    ¡°Not now, maybe, but one day. Soon.¡±

    ¡°And if I can¡¯t wait? If I need my visions to help Sterling? To find the missing people? I haven¡¯t forgotten my father is still out there somewhere,¡± Seraiah said. ¡°Am I supposed to risk the madness growing worse?¡±

    ¡°No, of course not. We can help Sterling and find the missing humans without it. You don¡¯t need the visions. Give them up and live like everyone else does."

    "You mean be like all the other humans? I would never be like you." Seraiah couldn''t keep the bitterness from leaking into her words. If she was truthful, she envied her sister, Kai, and Kestrel. She wanted to be like them. She¡¯d had a taste of the power magic could bring¡ªof having something no one else did¡ªand she wanted to keep it.

    Kestrel¡¯s forehead wrinkled. ¡°Is that really so terrible when the alternative is losing your sense of reality? Say the Summer King does have information about this. Is it worth paying whatever price he asks?¡±

    Seraiah stopped again, and Kestrel stopped too, turning to face her.

    ¡°If it were you, would you give up your fire?"

    Kestrel was silent for a beat too long.

    "That''s what I thought. So don''t ask me to do the same. I¡¯ll pay whatever price is necessary. It is my choice to make and no one else¡¯s.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    <hr>

    Alone in his cabin, Ren removed his gloves and studied his blackened hands. He flexed his fingers and watched the shadows ripple beneath his skin like a living thing. It had disconcerted him the first time he¡¯d noticed their movement, but now it was just another part of him.

    When his mentor was still alive, they¡¯d worked together to figure out the origin of the shadows. Neither of them had met anyone with such an affliction, but there were accounts of it in books. While Ren¡¯s shadows appeared on his hands and ran up his arms, the other accounts had described it blossoming across their chest or spreading over their shoulders.

    The two most prominent theories were linked to magic use. One proposed it was a stain on the soul made manifest, while another suggested it was an entity made of magic itself. Ren hated the idea of this second theory, but he had to admit it held merit, considering stains didn¡¯t generally move on their own.

    Both theories had agreed certain acts of magic fed the shadows, causing them to spread or, in the case of the entity, to grow stronger. The more you performed this magic, the more the urge to continue doing so grew. They never said what happened when the shadows overtook you, but death was strongly implied.

    Seraiah¡¯s description of Sterling¡¯s eyes had Ren thinking something like his shadows must be afflicting her, however some aspects didn¡¯t line up.

    Ren clenched his hands into fists, sending another ripple through the shadows. According to Seraiah, Sterling had never used magic before and had been unable to summon it. If the shadows resulted from a certain type of magic, she shouldn¡¯t have any, and yet. . .

    None of the books he¡¯d read mentioned passing the shadows on to others, but as Ren had figured out himself, it was possible¡ªat least with his fellow humans¡ªand it gave him a connection to them. He¡¯d only chosen to mark Seraiah because Sterling hadn¡¯t been an option, but had someone else been able to accomplish it?

    He needed to research more, and the books in the cabin wouldn¡¯t be enough. He¡¯d need access to the other texts in the mages¡¯ library, which would mean seeking the mages themselves.

    Ren stalked into his room and shifted through the papers strewn across his desk. The blank pages filled with writing the moment he touched them, but none of them were the map he was looking for. As he searched, he sorted the various pages into piles based on what the contents were. One for the mundane lists of supplies not written on spelled paper, another for the orders he had received from the head mage long before Sterling had entered his life, and a third for the various spells he had been studying before the elves had dragged them into this mess.

    Finally, his fingers landed on the map. The images of mountains, forests, and cities filling in before his eyes.

    He let go of the map, the images instantly disappearing, while he pulled out the desk chair. Moving the map back in front of him, he wiped a hand over its surface as though clearing the frost from a window, and the world reappeared again. He was careful to keep one hand on the corner of the page as he scanned the map for the Cave of Faces.

    The former mages'' headquarters was on the bottom left-hand side. He traced his finger along the curve of a line used to represent sand dunes. The few known oases were marked as small palm trees. Ren tapped his finger against the one closest to the Cave of Faces, thinking.

    Where would the rest of the mages flee after leaving the cave? The oases seemed too open¡ªtoo exposed¡ªand to his knowledge, there were no structures built at any of them.

    His eyes traced the path he had followed, straight to the nearest portal into Himera. Even though he¡¯d been alone for the journey, that didn''t mean others couldn''t have followed him. The thought was quickly discarded as he remembered how many of them had fled the country in the first place to avoid capture by the crown. Himera''s king was ruthless when it came to tracking down magic users.

    Ren suspected King Berenger feared the magic users wanted his throne. However, if he¡¯d known anything about mages, he would know most of them could only perform basic spells. Those possessing any sort of abilities such as himself were few and far between and largely wanted to be left alone.

    Ren marked the other portals into the human lands. These led to other countries that might be more tolerant of magic users, but they were farther from the Cave of Faces. If any of the mages had fled to these portals, he wasn''t going to have the time to track them down.

    Sterling couldn''t wait that long.

    The more time slipped by, the more likely it was that she would use her magic and¡ªassuming his theory was correct and her shadows were like his¡ªfeed whatever was growing inside her.

    Then there was the additional complication of whatever was in the potion he¡¯d been ordered to give her. Ren had no idea how it was connected to the shadows, but he had a feeling it must be. If only he¡¯d thought to keep a bit of the potion to study¡ªto work out for himself where it had originated from and what it was intended to be used for. He wasn''t well-versed in them, and it would have taken him ages to figure out, but at least it would have been another option.

    Hell, knowing where the potion came from would have been enough. Then he could seek its maker. Ren doubted it was something Gavaran had brewed up by himself.

    The image of a tree sprite denoting the Seelie Court caught his attention. He wondered how Seraiah¡¯s negotiations were going with the gnomes, or if she¡¯d taken his advice and sought the fae instead. He¡¯d never had the pleasure of meeting one of the fae, but he¡¯d heard the stories.

    Oh, those stories.

    Some of them might be false, but there was always a bit of truth in a good lie. The fae''s way with words was something Ren had always admired. The things the Summer King could talk people into doing for a taste of his magic.

    "A taste," Ren whispered to himself, his heart speeding up. The Summer King was known for giving rewards in the form of potions.

    Could he have made a deal with Gavaran?

    Ren had to find out. Forget going after the other mages. If the Summer King was indeed the one responsible for the potion and it was connected to Sterling¡¯s shadows, he needed to go straight to the source. Perhaps there was some way to make a deal¡ªto erase what had already been done. Ren lifted his hands from the map and watched the world disappear before his eyes, his mind racing ahead to how he would negotiate with the Summer King.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Thirty-Two

    "Good morning, my lady," the young guard greeted Virelai when she opened her door. He was back in his position from the night before, as if he¡¯d never left.

    She eyed him for a moment before responding with a terse, "Morning."

    "Heading to breakfast, my lady?"

    She should have said yes and left it at that, but instead Virelai said, "You never brought my tea last night."

    The guard shifted, eyes darting over her shoulder to the hall beyond.

    He knew something, and she was going to find out what it was.

    "Well?" she prodded. "Did you get lost on your way to the kitchens?"

    "I didn''t think you wanted the tea." His eyes met hers for a moment before darting away again. "It would have grown cold in your absence."

    Virelai''s heart stopped for a moment. "You knew? Why didn''t you raise an alarm?"

    Of course, she hadn¡¯t gotten away with her nighttime adventure. It was what she¡¯d suspected, but now she needed to know what this guard had done with the information. If he hadn¡¯t told her father, then he likely wanted to use it as leverage to get something else out of her.

    "I wanted to know where you¡¯d gone."

    ¡°I see. So you followed me in order to have more to report and possibly gain a higher position.¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°You must have been unsuccessful, considering you¡¯re still standing outside my door.¡±

    Inside, Virelai was panicking. This stupid elf and his status climbing was about to get all of them killed. Then who would be left to look out for this kingdom? She¡¯d need to move fast and get word to Eryx and Wisteria if it wasn¡¯t already too late.

    "No," the guard said, leaning into her personal space and lowering his voice. "I wanted to follow you to see if I could trust you."

    Well, this was unexpected. What was he playing at?

    "Oh, and why would you need to trust me? You work for my father, in case you forgot."

    His eyes darted around nervously again, before he moved even closer and whispered, "I may work for him, yes, but my loyalty doesn''t lie with him."

    Now it was Virelai''s turn to look around to make sure they were alone. The conversation was getting dangerous.

    "And I don''t think yours does either," he continued, his breath tickling her ear.

    If anyone came upon them, they¡¯d think something else was going on, but it didn¡¯t reassure her.

    "Careful," Virelai hissed. "What you say is treason."

    He pulled back enough to meet her eyes. "But it is the truth, is it not?"

    She stared at him. It may be the truth, but she wasn''t quite ready to give herself away. He hadn''t reported her absence, but that didn''t mean he was worthy of her trust.

    "Let me help you. I know I can."

    "You can help me by minding your own business," she whispered. "I¡¯m going to be late for breakfast," she said in a normal tone, brushing past him.

    "Of course, my lady," he said, straightening up and stepping back from her.

    Virelai heard the disappointment in his voice, but she didn''t turn back.

    <hr>

    Breakfast was, as usual, a lonely affair. Virelai could have had a tray brought up to her rooms, but this afforded her a chance to escape from her prison. It also gave her a chance to see other parts of the castle and listen in on conversations.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Not that Virelai had had much luck with either of those things lately, but she wouldn''t say no to an opportunity to leave her rooms where she didn''t have to sneak around. She wasn''t sure how much longer it would be before her father refused her even this much, and who knows what Harloth¡¯s plans were for her once they were married?

    No, she reminded herself, there would be no wedding. They would put a stop to it before it went that far.

    Her guard had followed her to the dining room and taken up a position outside the door.

    What was she going to do about him, Virelai wondered as she chewed slowly on a piece of sweet bread. The cinnamon and sugar confection practically melted in her mouth, but she barely tasted it. She could ignore him and pretend nothing had happened, but then he might take his information to Gavaran. The alternative was to accept his offer. However, bringing more people into her plans meant a greater risk of discovery. Besides, what could a lowly guard like him have to offer her?

    Although, as she thought about it, her current allies weren¡¯t exactly impressive either. She had a mostly healed secondary Commander, who couldn''t step foot outside the safe house or risk losing his head, and a servant girl who lacked any sort of spying ability¡ªnot exactly the team she¡¯d envisioned for dethroning her father.

    What she needed was information. She needed to know what her father was planning. If Wisteria was successful in her mission to find out what he was doing with the humans, there might be something she could use. But that was a big if.

    Virelai didn''t have high hopes.

    If this guard could help her by offering another set of eyes and ears around the castle, or perhaps recruit others to her side, it would be stupid of her not to take it.

    Virelai picked up her spoon and stirred the little sour berries she¡¯d loved since childhood into her porridge. Normally, it was her favorite meal, but now she couldn¡¯t bring herself to take a bite.

    She sighed and set her spoon down again, leaving the porridge untouched. The worry would gnaw at her until she faced it head on, so she might as well get this over with.

    Virelai scooted her chair back and stood, leaving her unfinished breakfast on the table. A servant would come by and clean it up later.

    The young guard stood at attention as soon as she opened the door, waiting like a well-trained dog.

    Virelai pinned him with her stare. "I''ve changed my mind. We need to talk."

    He dipped his chin, eyes lowered. "After you, my lady."

    <hr>

    The walk back to her rooms was silent. Virelai led the way, with her guard trailing a respectful distance behind her. To anyone watching or listening, everything would appear normal. No one would know a treasonous conversation was about to take place.

    When they reached her door, the guard went to take up his usual post outside, but Virelai grabbed his arm. He didn''t pull back or question her as she tugged him inside behind her before shutting the door.

    "Sit," she commanded, pointing to a chair in the front sitting area. "We won''t have long to speak. Someone could walk by and see you¡¯re not at your post, so let''s make this quick. What is your name?"

    "Cylan," he answered easily.

    "Cylan, what exactly is it you think I am doing?"

    "You are planning to overthrow the imposter king," he stated, without batting an eye.

    Virelai didn''t bother to confirm or deny it. "You served under Commander Eryx, yes?"

    "In the absence of the Prince¡¯s Commander, Kestrel, yes."

    "And would you say you are loyal to Commander Eryx?"

    "Of course.¡±

    ¡°How did you follow me without alerting me?¡± He didn¡¯t give the impression of being particularly stealthy and yet she¡¯d never suspected anything.

    "It was nothing, really." Cylan would no longer meet her eye.

    Virelai watched him. There was something here that he didn''t want her to know. He was fine discussing treason, but this he wanted to keep secret. Why?

    Then it dawned on her. "You can bend the light. You don¡¯t need to be stealthy when you can make it appear as though you are no longer there."

    He was the perfect spy. Could she really have gotten so lucky? The ability to bend light was such a rare talent. No wonder he didn''t want her to know.

    Her mind raced at the possibilities. He could get anyone in or out of the city right under everyone''s noses and listen to anyone''s conversations without them knowing he was there.

    "Who else knows you can do this?" Gavaran couldn''t have known, or Cylan never would have been assigned to such a low position.

    ¡°No one, really.¡±

    "Can you use it to hide multiple people?"

    "When I was a child, yes, but with our magic fading, I''m not sure I can anymore."

    It was something they could test later.

    "Is it true, then?"

    "Is what true?" she asked distractedly.

    "That Commander Eryx lives. I thought I saw . . ."

    "Yes, he¡¯s alive. For now." There was no reason not to tell him when he was perfectly capable of finding out for himself. With his talent, she needed him on her side, so it would not serve her to lie to him.

    "The others must know." Cylan looked ready to leap from his chair to spread the news.

    "No," Virelai snapped, eyes flashing. "You can''t breathe a word of this. To anyone."

    "But if they knew, we could recruit more people. You¡¯ll need an army, won¡¯t you? They might be wary of following you, but they will definitely follow Commander Eryx."

    "Not. A word. Do you understand? There is a time and a place for everything."

    Cylan nodded.

    "Good. I need to think about this, and you need to get back to your post. I will let you know when I require your services."

    "Yes, my lady." He stood and bowed to her before heading for the door.

    The moment it shut behind him, Virelai allowed herself to smile.

    It seemed the gods had been listening after all because things were finally looking up.

 May Shadows Reign Book 2: Chapter Thirty-Two

    "Good morning, my lady," the young guard greeted Virelai when she opened her door. He was back in his position from the night before, as if he¡¯d never left.

    She eyed him for a moment before responding with a terse, "Morning."

    "Heading to breakfast, my lady?"

    She should have said yes and left it at that, but instead Virelai said, "You never brought my tea last night."

    The guard shifted, eyes darting over her shoulder to the hall beyond.

    He knew something, and she was going to find out what it was.

    "Well?" she prodded. "Did you get lost on your way to the kitchens?"

    "I didn''t think you wanted the tea." His eyes met hers for a moment before darting away again. "It would have grown cold in your absence."

    Virelai''s heart stopped for a moment. "You knew? Why didn''t you raise an alarm?"

    Of course, she hadn¡¯t gotten away with her nighttime adventure. It was what she¡¯d suspected, but now she needed to know what this guard had done with the information. If he hadn¡¯t told her father, then he likely wanted to use it as leverage to get something else out of her.

    "I wanted to know where you¡¯d gone."

    ¡°I see. So you followed me in order to have more to report and possibly gain a higher position.¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°You must have been unsuccessful, considering you¡¯re still standing outside my door.¡±

    Inside, Virelai was panicking. This stupid elf and his status climbing was about to get all of them killed. Then who would be left to look out for this kingdom? She¡¯d need to move fast and get word to Eryx and Wisteria if it wasn¡¯t already too late.

    "No," the guard said, leaning into her personal space and lowering his voice. "I wanted to follow you to see if I could trust you."

    Well, this was unexpected. What was he playing at?

    "Oh, and why would you need to trust me? You work for my father, in case you forgot."

    His eyes darted around nervously again, before he moved even closer and whispered, "I may work for him, yes, but my loyalty doesn''t lie with him."

    Now it was Virelai''s turn to look around to make sure they were alone. The conversation was getting dangerous.

    "And I don''t think yours does either," he continued, his breath tickling her ear.

    If anyone came upon them, they¡¯d think something else was going on, but it didn¡¯t reassure her.

    "Careful," Virelai hissed. "What you say is treason."

    He pulled back enough to meet her eyes. "But it is the truth, is it not?"

    She stared at him. It may be the truth, but she wasn''t quite ready to give herself away. He hadn''t reported her absence, but that didn''t mean he was worthy of her trust.

    "Let me help you. I know I can."

    "You can help me by minding your own business," she whispered. "I¡¯m going to be late for breakfast," she said in a normal tone, brushing past him.

    "Of course, my lady," he said, straightening up and stepping back from her.

    Virelai heard the disappointment in his voice, but she didn''t turn back.

    <hr>

    Breakfast was, as usual, a lonely affair. Virelai could have had a tray brought up to her rooms, but this afforded her a chance to escape from her prison. It also gave her a chance to see other parts of the castle and listen in on conversations.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Not that Virelai had had much luck with either of those things lately, but she wouldn''t say no to an opportunity to leave her rooms where she didn''t have to sneak around. She wasn''t sure how much longer it would be before her father refused her even this much, and who knows what Harloth¡¯s plans were for her once they were married?

    No, she reminded herself, there would be no wedding. They would put a stop to it before it went that far.

    Her guard had followed her to the dining room and taken up a position outside the door.

    What was she going to do about him, Virelai wondered as she chewed slowly on a piece of sweet bread. The cinnamon and sugar confection practically melted in her mouth, but she barely tasted it. She could ignore him and pretend nothing had happened, but then he might take his information to Gavaran. The alternative was to accept his offer. However, bringing more people into her plans meant a greater risk of discovery. Besides, what could a lowly guard like him have to offer her?

    Although, as she thought about it, her current allies weren¡¯t exactly impressive either. She had a mostly healed secondary Commander, who couldn''t step foot outside the safe house or risk losing his head, and a servant girl who lacked any sort of spying ability¡ªnot exactly the team she¡¯d envisioned for dethroning her father.

    What she needed was information. She needed to know what her father was planning. If Wisteria was successful in her mission to find out what he was doing with the humans, there might be something she could use. But that was a big if.

    Virelai didn''t have high hopes.

    If this guard could help her by offering another set of eyes and ears around the castle, or perhaps recruit others to her side, it would be stupid of her not to take it.

    Virelai picked up her spoon and stirred the little sour berries she¡¯d loved since childhood into her porridge. Normally, it was her favorite meal, but now she couldn¡¯t bring herself to take a bite.

    She sighed and set her spoon down again, leaving the porridge untouched. The worry would gnaw at her until she faced it head on, so she might as well get this over with.

    Virelai scooted her chair back and stood, leaving her unfinished breakfast on the table. A servant would come by and clean it up later.

    The young guard stood at attention as soon as she opened the door, waiting like a well-trained dog.

    Virelai pinned him with her stare. "I''ve changed my mind. We need to talk."

    He dipped his chin, eyes lowered. "After you, my lady."

    <hr>

    The walk back to her rooms was silent. Virelai led the way, with her guard trailing a respectful distance behind her. To anyone watching or listening, everything would appear normal. No one would know a treasonous conversation was about to take place.

    When they reached her door, the guard went to take up his usual post outside, but Virelai grabbed his arm. He didn''t pull back or question her as she tugged him inside behind her before shutting the door.

    "Sit," she commanded, pointing to a chair in the front sitting area. "We won''t have long to speak. Someone could walk by and see you¡¯re not at your post, so let''s make this quick. What is your name?"

    "Cylan," he answered easily.

    "Cylan, what exactly is it you think I am doing?"

    "You are planning to overthrow the imposter king," he stated, without batting an eye.

    Virelai didn''t bother to confirm or deny it. "You served under Commander Eryx, yes?"

    "In the absence of the Prince¡¯s Commander, Kestrel, yes."

    "And would you say you are loyal to Commander Eryx?"

    "Of course.¡±

    ¡°How did you follow me without alerting me?¡± He didn¡¯t give the impression of being particularly stealthy and yet she¡¯d never suspected anything.

    "It was nothing, really." Cylan would no longer meet her eye.

    Virelai watched him. There was something here that he didn''t want her to know. He was fine discussing treason, but this he wanted to keep secret. Why?

    Then it dawned on her. "You can bend the light. You don¡¯t need to be stealthy when you can make it appear as though you are no longer there."

    He was the perfect spy. Could she really have gotten so lucky? The ability to bend light was such a rare talent. No wonder he didn''t want her to know.

    Her mind raced at the possibilities. He could get anyone in or out of the city right under everyone''s noses and listen to anyone''s conversations without them knowing he was there.

    "Who else knows you can do this?" Gavaran couldn''t have known, or Cylan never would have been assigned to such a low position.

    ¡°No one, really.¡±

    "Can you use it to hide multiple people?"

    "When I was a child, yes, but with our magic fading, I''m not sure I can anymore."

    It was something they could test later.

    "Is it true, then?"

    "Is what true?" she asked distractedly.

    "That Commander Eryx lives. I thought I saw . . ."

    "Yes, he¡¯s alive. For now." There was no reason not to tell him when he was perfectly capable of finding out for himself. With his talent, she needed him on her side, so it would not serve her to lie to him.

    "The others must know." Cylan looked ready to leap from his chair to spread the news.

    "No," Virelai snapped, eyes flashing. "You can''t breathe a word of this. To anyone."

    "But if they knew, we could recruit more people. You¡¯ll need an army, won¡¯t you? They might be wary of following you, but they will definitely follow Commander Eryx."

    "Not. A word. Do you understand? There is a time and a place for everything."

    Cylan nodded.

    "Good. I need to think about this, and you need to get back to your post. I will let you know when I require your services."

    "Yes, my lady." He stood and bowed to her before heading for the door.

    The moment it shut behind him, Virelai allowed herself to smile.

    It seemed the gods had been listening after all because things were finally looking up.