"What's gotten into her?" Ayla huffed as I closed her bedroom door behind us. "I was just asking a question…"
"She's understandably sensitive about Eoghan," I said. "And the aos sí…well, let's just say it wasn't her finest hour."
Ayla turned to me, one eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" I laughed a little, the memory funny and not at all terrifying in hindsight. "She curled into a ball and we had to save our own butts. Not that she had much to offer at the time, magic-wise. That's when we realized we might not have been following a dangerous creature…rather a kid who'd run away from home."
Ayla sat on the bed, pulling the covers over her legs. "She still gives me that feeling. Like she's constantly in over her head and just trying to keep from drowning."
"Yeah, that's kind of how it is with her," I replied, sitting next to her and leaning against the headboard. "But she won't admit to it—ever. Stubborn as…" I chuckled. "Well, you."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't like that. I don't like…being compared to her."
"Why not?"
"It's hard to explain." She yawned. "I guess it's late." She cast me a furtive look. "Maybe… Could you stay in here tonight?" she asked, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes. "I'm not sure I can sleep alone after watching that memory."
My heart swelled, and I pulled the blanket over me. She nestled up next to me and sighed happily. "Do you remember when we used to do this when we were kids?"
"The one time, you mean? Before Eoghan punished me for a month."
She opened her eyes, staring off into the distance. "He did everything in his power to make me dependent on him alone, didn't he? And now that I'm without him…"
"You're doing great," I said, rubbing her back gently. "Promise."
She looked at me, and my breath caught in my throat as I wet my lips expectantly. She moved toward me, and I thought I might burst…
…until her lips met my cheek.
"Night." She nestled under the covers.
My breath came in short puffs, my heart still racing as I watched the back of her head. After my body caught up with my ears, I cleared my throat.
"N-Night." I turned away from her, laying on my back as I covered my eyes to steady my breathing. A soft snore came from beside me, warming me again. As carefully as I could, I rolled back over to press a kiss to her cheek, wishing it was her pink lips. But instead, I scooted to my side of the bed, closed my eyes, and looked for her in my dreams.
⤖⤖⤖⤖
Unfortunately, my dreams had other plans. All night long, I was plagued by visions of Eoghan wielding all four pieces, raining terror across Pennlan and the lands beyond. When I awoke after a particularly vivid dream, Ayla was stroking my head, a smile on her face.
"You were crying out," she said. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah." I sat up. "What time is it?"
"Morning," she said. "I think. They brought me a tray of tea." She snorted. "I don't think they expected to see you here."
I wished that something scandalous had happened. "I'll just get some at breakfast."
She hopped out of bed, already dressed, and based on the wetness of her hair, she'd had a bath.
"How long have you been up?" I asked, sitting upright and stretching.
"I didn't sleep much last night," she said. "Kept waking up. Thinking about Eoghan. Replaying everything he ever said to me in the context of what I know now." She looked up. "Worrying about how I'm going to manage this alliance with Edric."
"One thing at a time," I said. "You're going to talk with him again today, aren't you?"
She nodded. "Alone. It's probably time to get down to business." She chewed her nail. "I don't even know what to say. I've never felt so lost." She put her hand down. "Damn Eoghan. Damn him for making me feel this way."
"You know what to do," I said. "You've always had a good instinct for ruling. Even when we were children. You just need to trust yourself to do the right thing."
She smiled weakly. "Have I mentioned how grateful I am that you're here?"
We walked arm in arm up the spiral staircase until we heard voices. The three soldiers had beaten us to breakfast, and Ward actually seemed to be in a congenial mood until he saw me. Then his eyes were like ice, glaring at me as if I'd taken his favorite thing.
Which… I might have.
"Good morning," Edric said, beaming at us. "I trust you slept well, Ayla."
"I did, absolutely." She released my arm, and I felt a little cold as she crossed the patio to greet Edric properly.
Ward took a stiff drink and clenched his jaw as Edric kissed her hand. "Did you have a good night?" he asked as I came up beside him.
"Slept like a baby," I said, hoping it would calm him down a little. "You?"
"Wondering where you went." His dark eyes bored into mine. "Where's Riona?"
I frowned, counting those assembled and not seeing her in our number. "No idea. Coming, I'm sure."
We started breakfast, and there remained an empty seat between Elodia and Rutley. Ward's gaze darted to it and the stairwell, and I had to admit, mine did as well. Riona had been upset the night before and was perhaps having a morning to herself to regain her sensibilities. I hoped.
"What would you like to see today, Ayla?" Edric asked.
"I was actually hoping we could sit down and start discussions on our alliance," Ayla said, catching my gaze. "Get some thoughts on paper, hammer out some details on how and when we'll use our stones, should the worst happen."
He smiled, but there was something behind it I couldn't read. "I'd love to have that discussion." He turned to the rest of us. "And as for the rest? I'm sure I can arrange another tour."
His gaze flicked to me, and I could already predict what he was going to say. "Don't worry," I said, holding my hands up. "I'll stay in the castle. Perhaps I can pick Avram's brain for more information about the memory stones."
"Avram is quite detained today," Edric said.
"Detained? How so?" Ward asked. "I thought he wanted to speak with Riona?"
"The scholars, they're always so busy," Edric said.
It didn't escape my notice that he hadn't answered the question directly.
⤖⤖⤖⤖
For the second day in a row, I watched my traveling party gather and leave without me. Ayla and Edric took a left at the bottom of the stairs, already starting their discussions. She seemed much more confident, but perhaps that was just a facade.
Ward, Elodia, and Rutley gave some vague description of what they were going to do, but I saw them head toward the front gate, and something about entries and exits in the town.
As for me, I headed straight to the three-door landing and rapped on Riona's door. "Riona? Are you up?"
When there wasn't an answer, I cracked open the door and walked in. The lights were still off, but the fire was roaring. There was a steaming cup on the mantel. And Riona was curled under the blankets still.
"Riona?" I tiptoed into the room and pulled back the blankets. She was in her nightgown, which made her already pale skin even more so. "Riona?"
She blinked, moving slowly as she moaned. "W… Cade?"
"You must've been up late," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I don't think so," she replied. "I have a splitting headache."
I frowned, pressing my hand to her forehead. It was clammy and cold. "You don't feel feverish. Maybe you just need a glass of water and some fresh air."
"Hard to come by the latter in this place," she said, sliding her legs out from under the blankets. It was then that I noticed a small mark on her arm. It looked like a bite or bruise.
"What's that?"
"What's…" Her attention followed my gaze and she inspected her arm."No idea. Maybe I knocked it on something. Did someone slip me some wine last night? I'm so…" She shook herself. "Out of it."
"You missed breakfast," I said, feeling a little bad I hadn't brought her anything. "But I'm sure if you called loud enough, someone would bring you something."
"No, I'm fine," she said, slowly coming to her feet. "Where is everyone?"
"Ayla is off to discuss politics," I said with a heavy sigh. "Ward and the others…who knows? I've been told to stay inside the castle."
"What about me?" Riona asked.
"Since you weren't at breakfast, you weren't given an option," I said. "Much like me. We're stuck in the castle together, I believe. Perhaps we could find the famed library Edric mentioned and peruse through the books. Or find a kitchen to feed you."
She cracked a smile as she grabbed a new dress from the pile on the floor and walked into the bathroom. "I just hope we don't run into that Avram again."
"Supposedly, he's 'very detained,'" I said, mimicking Edric's low voice. "Whatever that means."
"I wonder what it is about me that's so interesting to Avram?" Riona called through the closed door. "I thought he wasn't ever going to look away from me last night."
"It's probably just that you're fae," I said. "He's never seen someone like you before. I'm sure it's fascinating."
"What about you? I'm sure he hasn't seen many wizards." She reappeared wearing the dress and braiding her hair. "Except that horrible one…"
"Yeah, exactly." I rose. "Shall we?"
"Since we have nothing else to do, sure." She took a step and swayed a little. "Kitchen first. Then library."