Chapter Thirty-Two

 

Lights, colors, sensations tickled at the edge of her consciousness. Thoughts and emotions that didn’t seem her own crept into her mind, calling her back.

Voices called to her from some other world. One voice in particular rose above the rest. Deep and true, one that filled her mind with the fragrance of grapes and aphrodisiacs and memories of stargazing and reading novels. This was the one that brought her back to the world, the one that convinced her to finally open her eyes and rejoin the life she’d left behind.

 

* * *

 

Grace squinted against the bright light coming from the window to her right. She lifted her hand, which felt like dead weight, and covered her eyes. Her eyelids wanted to slip shut again, but she could smell fresh bread, and her stomach grumbled.

She moaned, trying to say Dar’s name. There was a shuffle of blankets and a flurry of motion to her left, then Dar’s face floated above hers.

“Grace,” he whispered.

She smiled. “Dar.”

His weight pressed into the bed next to her, and he took her hand. “Oh, Grace, I’m so glad you’re awake.”

“How… long…” She swallowed, trying to wet down her dry throat.

“It’s okay, I’ll get you something to drink,” Dar said, touching her forehead. “It’s been three days, and… you were hardly breathing.”

“I…” She trailed off as she remembered the men in the clearing. She’d let that power loose on them… she’d killed them all. Their bodies had turned to dust.

Her stomach twisted, and she closed her eyes again. “How…”

“Shhhh, it’s okay,” Dar whispered. “I’ll get you some water.”

He left and a moment later returned with a glass. He propped her up and helped her drink. She almost choked on it, but then she guzzled it all down.

“Slow down,” he said. “You don’t want to get yourself sick.” He took the goblet from her and set it aside.

“Where are we?” she asked breathlessly. She felt as though she’d been running.

“We’re in Rahuda, at my father’s manor,” Dar said.

“Is it safe here?” She thought of William’s threat to revoke the royal edict.

Dar nodded. “For now. Don’t worry, you’ll learn about what’s happening. You just need to rest.”

“But… Sashe’s okay?”

“Yes, she’s fine. Her baby’s healthy.”

“What about Kaiden and Marisa? Are they still at the castle?”

“I don’t know about Marisa, but yes, Kaiden is. She’s spying for us.”

Grace’s head lulled to the side. “I’m tired.”

“I know.” Dar leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Grace.”

She found his hand and folded her fingers through his. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m staying right here.”

She fell asleep again with that assurance.

 

* * *

 

It’d been years since Sierra had been at Alastor’s manor. It startled her how much remained the same: the art, the tapestries, the furniture. Grace was in one of the guest bedrooms on the second floor. Just down the hallway from where Sierra’s bedroom had once been. It was too strange. She’d gone into her old room and seen her old bed, her blankets, the toys she had as a child.

She knocked lightly on the door, and Dar’s voice called for her to come in.

Inside the room, which was richly furnished with ivy green furniture and tapestries of landscapes, Grace sat up in bed, and Dar was at her side, his hand in hers.

A huge smile broke out onto Sierra’s face. “Grace!”

Grace’s face was a bit pale, her lips nearly blending in with the rest of her skin, but she smiled back at Sierra.

“Oh, my goodness, when did you wake up?” Sierra asked, rushing to the side of the bed.

“A couple hours ago, but I slept again for a little while.”

Sierra pushed Dar’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought she deserved some rest before everyone started flooding in,” he replied.

Sierra nodded. Nearly a dozen people wanted to talk to Grace—her family, the elders, Sashe. She pulled a chair over and sat down next to Dar. It was selfish of her, but she was glad Grace had taken some of the attention off of her. Everyone was talking about the guards Grace had taken out. She was a hero.

“So, tell me everything,” Grace said. “What’s happened in the last couple days?”

Sierra and Dar glanced at each other. She motioned to him. “You’re the one who’s good with words.”

Dar exhaled. “Well, after you took out the guards and Tisha—” Grace shuddered. “—We ran. We met Adrian and Sashe and the others in town. They’d tried contacting Matilda and Angela, but everyone was still back in Belisha. Our group came to Renaul to see what Kilar was up to, but Jeshro didn’t want to jeopardize what we had with the king by killing him. We thought Belisha was too far, so we fled here, and Lin told Jeshro and the others at Belisha where we were going. Jeshro and Sierra met us here.” He paused, taking a breath. His fingers stroked her hand and his eyes locked with hers.

Sierra felt like she was watching some intimate moment between the two. She cleared her throat. “We got here as fast as we could.”

“Is everyone here?” Grace asked.

“Everyone who was at Belisha, yes,” Sierra said. “There are still a lot of Avialies in Jolen, though. Vin and Amina are there.”

“And the prince? How has he responded?” Grace fidgeted with her dress.

Sierra glanced at Dar, but he was staring at the blanket now, his face drawn. “He revoked the edict and issued a warrant for your arrest,” she said.

Grace’s shoulders sagged, and she leaned back. “Wonderful.”

“Your father has tried to get him to drop it, but he won’t. But he’s here now, your father. Your whole family is.”

Her face brightened. “They are?”

Sierra nodded. “Your father thought you and your mother would be safer here with us. He’s not to the point of fighting for the Avialies or anything, but he won’t give the prince his support while he’s trying to arrest you. He said you tried to work with him, but he didn’t give you a chance.”

“No, he didn’t. I even offered to be a liaison between the Protectors and the Avialies. I thought we’d be able to find some kind of compromise, but he wouldn’t even consider it.”

“Really?” Sierra bit her lip. Hadn’t Sashe mentioned that? So much had happened the last few days, Sierra was losing track of everything. “We need to tell others about that. At this point, it almost looks like you just attacked him for no reason, but we’ve been telling people he was holding you against your will. If we spread the word that you wanted to be a liaison or find a compromise, it would help the cause.”

“The cause?”

“There’s a war coming,” Dar said quietly. “We have the Cosas, the Borens, and large groups of Thierans, Mahris, and Zinnas.”

Alastor’s land was starting to look like a camp for an army. Tents were spread over the grass and men and women came to and from the river for fresh water and bathing. It was mostly Cosas and Avialies, but small groups of the other magical families were there, mostly leaders who were waiting for direction.

“If people knew we tried… they have to know that the Protectors weren’t willing to work with us,” Sierra said. “They have to realize what we’re fighting.”

“Of course,” Grace replied. “Tell them I was willing to marry him and be queen as well as the liaison between the Protectors and the Avialies. I would have worked in the interests of both sides, protecting the Avialies’ rights and the people of Haltar. But he refused. He said he was going to revoke the edict long before I attacked him.”

“You should tell them.”

Grace glanced away. “I’m so tired, though.”

“I know. I’ll tell Jeshro and the other leaders, but you need to make some kind of speech, Grace.”

She grimaced. “A speech?”

“They need to see you,” Dar said, his voice soft. “You’re one protector that’s working for them, not against them.”

“All right. Maybe tomorrow, if I feel better.”

“Of course. You have to rest. What happened at the castle… it seemed like it was too much for you.”

“How did you do that?” Sierra asked. Evan told her about the force of energy that left Grace’s body, how, though invisible, he felt it. He told her how the bodies turned to dust.

“I don’t know,” Grace said. There was a moment of silence, then she asked, “Is Kilar back at the castle?”

“Kaiden says he returned yesterday,” Sierra said, her lip curling in disgust. She’d spent as much time with Sashe as she could since she returned, and she’d kill Kilar herself if he hurt her sister again.

“He’s still looking for the ancient texts, I assume.”

Sierra nodded.

“But why?”

Dar straightened up, his hand still in Grace’s. “There’s a legend about a man named Yann, a nonmagic, who searched the ancient texts and came to have all the powers of the six families. Kilar is searching for a way to gain magic since he wasn’t born with it.”

“I read the story,” Sierra said. “It wasn’t just Yann—after that, he stole the texts and gave the powers to his men, too. But it’s an old story and extremely vague. I’m surprised Kilar is going to such lengths for it.”

Dar shook his head. “I’m not. He’s always been power-hungry. He just has this air about him, this attitude that he’ll do anything to be on top.”

It was silent again. Sierra wondered what Kilar’s next move would be. The ancient texts were being kept here in the manor now that Jeshro and Lisbeth were here. She didn’t know exactly where, but there was no doubt Kilar would have a hard time getting into the manor, let alone obtaining the texts.

“Has Kaiden said anything else?” Grace asked.

“She’s just keeping us updated on the prince. She healed his knee.” Sierra grinned at Grace. “That was pretty great, by the way.”

Grace gave her a weak smile. “I had to get away from him. He…” She shook her head, her smile fading.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Dar said. “You’re here with us.” He kissed her knuckles.

Sierra stood up. “I’m going to go talk to Jeshro about what you said. Should I tell your parents you’re awake?”

“Yes, please.”

Sierra squeezed Grace’s shoulder. It was so good seeing her, knowing she was safe with them. “Welcome back, Grace.”

 

* * *

 

After Sierra left, only a few minutes passed before the door opened and Grace’s mother burst in. “Grace, darling!” she cried, rushing to the bed. She threw her arms around Grace and started sobbing.

Grace smiled and breathed in her mother’s familiar perfume. She hugged her back, her bony shoulders, and said, “Mother, please don’t cry.”

Mother pulled back, sniffling. “Oh, Grace, my beautiful Grace.” She cupped Grace’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead.

Father and Kyler stood behind Mother. Kyler looked amused, his arms crossed, but Father was frowning at Dar, who slowly stood up and straightened his tunic.

Grace shook her head. She couldn’t worry about that right now. One thing at a time.

“What happened?” Mother sat on the edge of the bed and took Grace’s hand. “Everyone is saying that you attacked the prince! I know it can’t be true, but there’s a warrant out for your arrest and—oh, Grace, tell me it isn’t true!”

Grace fixed her gaze on a point on her mother’s shoulder. “It is.”

Mother gasped. “But Grace! The prince! Why would you do such a thing?”

Grace swallowed, remembering that horrible night in William’s room, how his hands moved over her like he owned her. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter—”

“It doesn’t matter?” Mother repeated, her voice shrill. “Grace, you attacked the future king! Your father can’t convince them to lift the charges.”

“He was trying to rape me,” Grace said flatly.

Mother’s shoulders sagged, and she stared at Grace, her mouth hanging open. Kyler and Father gaped at her with the same shock. On Grace’s side, Dar shifted his weight, muttering something under his breath.

Grace licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. She avoided looking at any of them as she went on. “I tried to become a liaison for the Avialies, but he refused me the position. He tried to make me queen—”

Mother let out a small moan. “You could have been queen?”

“No, Mother, I couldn’t have been queen!” Grace said, raising her voice. “I tried to work him, but he’s set on working against me and against the Avialies. But this is where I belong—”

“No, Grace,” Father spoke.

Kyler uncrossed his arms, frowning. “Father, I told you—”

Father barreled on as if he hadn’t spoken. “This isn’t your place—”

“Then where is?” Grace’s voice hardened. “At the manor? In prison?”

“Your place is at home with us!” Father exclaimed. “I can sway the prince. I’m sure of it.” His voice sounded uncertain, though.

Grace rubbed her forehead. “I’ve been trying to get back to the Avialies for weeks now. I’m not leaving.”

Father exhaled through his nostrils. “Grace, I know you think you need to help these people, but you don’t. You don’t owe them anything.”

“Maybe not, but I am going to help them. And if you’re going to stay here, you have to understand that. You can’t keep asking me to leave.” She finally looked at her father, met his eyes. “Please.”

Father turned away, huffing. He walked to the window, his shoulders tense with his back to them.

“I’ll support you,” Kyler said. “You’re my sister and I’ll always look out for you.”

Sudden tears hit her eyes, and she smiled at him. “Thank you, Kyler.”

Mother put her hand on Grace’s and whispered, “You could have been queen…”

“Mother, do you really want her to marry the man who tried to rape her?” Kyler asked, his voice on edge.

“No, of course not!” Mother said, squeezing Grace’s hand. “I never…” She shook her head and glanced over at her Father. She heaved out a sigh before turning back to Grace. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Grace looked up at Dar, who gave her an small, encouraging smile. He hadn’t left her side since she’d woken up, and if she had a say in it, he wouldn’t ever again. She squared her shoulders and held eye contact with Dar. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

 

* * *