A Crown of Cursed Hearts (Kingdom of Blighted Thorns #3)

6. Tempest

6

TEMPEST

“ I ’m so glad you have a plan.” Reyla rushed forward and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me like she’d done since we were little. “It’s going to be alright. We might not know exactly how we’re going to fix this, but we’ll stride down that path together.”

“Thank you.” Her support, even if it had wavered, meant the world to me.

Vexxion, please come back to me.

I could do this on my own. No, I would do it alone. But my heart needed him. Needed her. Needed Brodine. Fighting meant something when you did it for your family.

I drew power from my well and shot it at Vexxion and Brodine. I’d done this over and over as we traveled, only stopping when I couldn’t reach down far enough to gather more to send their way.

Nothing happened, but giving up was not an option.

“Let’s go inside and get things settled,” I said. “Vexxion will stay in my room with me.”

“I’m not sleeping with Brodine.” Humor—amazing, welcome humor—shone in her voice and added a sparkle to her eyes. “But we can find a safe place for him.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth. “You’ll keep an eye on Vexxion, but what about Brodine? I can’t bear the thought of what might happen to him if he wanders outside.”

A shriek rang out in the woods, making us both jump.

Our training kicked in. Seamlessly, we pulled blades and leaped to guard Brodine and Vexxion.

Nothing rushed toward us from the woods, but there was no mistaking the meaning of that cry. Something big and deadly hunted, and it wasn’t far away.

“Will Airia be alright?” Reyla asked as we grabbed our bags off the ground.

“I’m sure she will. She’s savvy.”

“I could swear that knife hit her.”

“Me too.”

“But she’s alright, so . . .” Her concerned gaze sought mine.

“I assume the hilt hit her, not the blade. She bit her tongue, which is why we saw blood.”

“Must be.” But she still looked as confused about this as me.

I took Vexxion’s hand. Would he come with me willingly or would this be my next battle?

“Come on, Bro,” Reyla said. “Follow me. Stay close. Don’t wander.” She strode toward the front door with him placidly pacing beside her. Maybe that was all it would take.

Those drained had been magicked to follow directions .

“Come with me, Vexxion.” He’d gone from a strong-willed, vibrant man to someone who needed to be taken care of. I loved him no matter how he behaved. Everything that made up the man I adored must be somewhere inside him. I only needed to bring him to the surface.

He walked with me easily along the walkway leading to the big wooden front door, and when we were inside, we secured it behind us. I cast a quick spell that would unlock the door when Airia came near, only to lock it after she entered the foyer. The magic that had eluded me for too long appeared to come easy—simple magic, that is.

If I could do anything, I would’ve already freed Brodine and Vexxion.

After leaving them in a front parlor with a warning to remain seated, I showed Reyla around the first floor and took her upstairs where she selected a bedroom. We located clean bedding and quickly arranged rooms for each of us.

“I’ll find us something to eat,” she said when we’d finished and returned to the parlor where Vexxion and Brodine sat in chairs, staring at the floor. “Should we eat in the kitchen or storm the dining room?”

“The kitchen’s fine.” I was grateful she could find a hint of humor in the situation because my cheery mood was sorely lacking. I was determined not to let sadness engulf me, but damn, it was hard. Vexxion had only been gone for a short time, and I was already struggling not to mourn.

We took them into the kitchen with us while we prepared the meal.

Airia returned as we were putting plates on the counter .

“All set. The dregs didn’t cause any lasting damage.” Her gaze met mine. “The woods are scary around here.” A shiver tracked through her, but she held up the blade I’d sent her when the dregs and Kerune attacked. “Thankfully, I didn’t have to use this. Whatever was stalking me took off when I got close to the manor. As for the dragons, I removed the meshes leading to the valley and left the gates open. It was . . . something,” the word came out in a whoosh of breath, “to work with Madrood without worrying he was going to turn me into a pile of ashes.” She shook her head. “I’m still not sure why he didn’t.”

“He and I . . .” I couldn’t see a reason to hide it. “I bonded with him.”

Her dark eyebrows lifted. “Bonded? What does that mean?”

“It’s an old spell. No one knows much about it. It was basically an accident.” I also had no reason to hide from her that I’d sung spells, but she was an unknown, and I wasn’t giving my trust to anyone easily.

“It’s wild.” She gave me a sly smile. “That must be why you were able to steal him from the king. That had to burn Ivenrail’s ass.”

I was sure it had.

We ate, even the guys, though they did it mechanically, and cleaned up after. Leaving the kitchen, we sat in one of the parlors. I should go to bed, but I was still too tense to sleep.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” I asked Airia.

She rubbed her chest. “It’s funny, but my memory of the dreg battle is hazy. I thought he got me. I could swear I felt the blade sinking into my chest, but you were there when I woke up on that branch. He didn’t hurt me. ”

Odd, but it didn’t matter as long as she hadn’t been harmed. “Why did you come with us?”

I didn’t need to possess magic to read the flint in her eyes. “I hated it at Bledmire. I’m sure you think me coming with you was a spontaneous move on my part, but I gave it good thought. I saw Reyla and Brodine saddling Glim, and I watched them. Alright, I did more than watch. I crept close to the stall, and I listened. I’m sure Reyla thought she needed to explain what was going on to Brodine—”

“I did,” Reyla said.

“I saw leaving with you as my chance to escape that trap.”

“How long did you live at the castle?” I asked. She’d listened in on our conversation while we ate, contributing like the rest of us, but I’d noted she’d shared very little about herself.

“Over a year.”

“You told me that your lord didn’t live there himself,” I said.

Reyla listened with a speculative gleam in her eyes. We couldn’t trust anyone outside our original team. Had Airia been sent with us to spy?

“He doesn’t.” Airia tugged on one of her many tiny braids. “He collared me at the Claiming two years ago, took a few sips of my energy, then ignored me. It was so boring at his estate. When he said he was traveling to Bledmire for a visit, I snuck into his entourage. I doubt he saw me with them. When they left, I stayed behind.”

“And he hasn’t looked for you?” Reyla asked.

“I imagine he forgot all about me.”

“Did he come to the wedding?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I doubt he’d care for something like that. ”

My guards remained high, and when I met Reyla’s eyes, I got the impression she’d had the same thought. Airia was taking great care not to completely answer our questions.

“I don’t think he’s noticed I’m gone.” When Airia’s gaze fell on Brodine, it softened. “Do you really think you’ll be able to bring him back, Tempest?”

“I’m going to do all I can to make it happen,” I said.

“I wish I’d had the chance to meet him before this happened.” She reached out and ran her fingertip down his bare forearm.

Brodine’s mouth twitched.

Holding my breath, I watched him. Had the twitch meant anything?

“He’s a good guy,” I said. “One of the best.”

“ The best,” he muttered, his eyes still fixed on the far wall.

Reyla had spoken before I brought her back and with intention, so him speaking may mean nothing.

I grabbed a bunch of power and shot it at him, coating him and sending as much of it into him as I could.

He shuddered.

“By the fates,” Airia breathed, looking from Brodine to me. “Is he . . .”

I rushed over and jumped onto the sofa beside my friend, cupping his face, turning his head to make his gaze meet mine. Gathering up more power, I blasted it into him again.

He sucked in a deep breath, and his eyes cleared.

“What the fuck are you doing, Tempest?” he asked, ripping his face from my hands.

Reyla and I burst into tears.