Chapter 22

22

“You’re awake,” Sven said.

I was. “How did you know?”

“You stopped emitting black smoke and your black demon scales are gone.”

That’d do it. “How long was I out?” I couldn’t remember a thing after the glowing orb shot into my chest.

“Three days.”

That was a long time. And I’d left things in a dire position. “How did the coven hold up?”

“We told the advisors that you fought off a demon attack single-handedly. They passed that to the coven, who were understandably appreciative. Enough to keep a handle on things while you recovered. How do you feel?”

I took stock.

I was different. Warmer, for one. My blood was hot in my veins. For a while now, my demon had been identifiable as a smokey, red block in my divination affinity. She wasn’t there any longer. She was everywhere. We really were one.

New strength rippled in my body. My senses were different. I couldn’t pick up any alteration to my magic—or the presence of new magic in me, other than my blood, which felt like a protection or guard, like it would hurt anyone who spilled or touched it. “I feel great.”

“Cool. I feel like ass because I’ve sat here for three hours listening to you snore.”

“Where’s Wild?”

“Playing the part. We had to capitalize on the coven’s change of mood while you were out. He apologized to Frond and has joined the centering circles three times daily.”

I looked at Sven then. “He apologized to Frond?” Even I didn’t feel capable of that.

“Yeah, well, you found your demon again. Wild’s one happy bloke.”

I’d found my demon. Relief coursed through me, a protection as strong as that my demon blood now provided. Wild would be okay. We’d both be okay. “I can’t believe she was lying right there inside the demon gate.”

“How long do you think she was there for?”

“I plan to find out when she wakes.”

“You can speak to her then? Or do you just have access to all her memories and thoughts? I wondered if your minds would merge like your bodies have.”

I frowned. “I can feel her inside. She’s sleeping, and not in any one place. Just like there’s something sentient and healing inside me. I can’t access her thoughts or anything.”

Sven nodded. “Maybe you’ll merge over time like Wild and his demon echo.”

“Maybe. For now, I’m happy to have her back. It’s weird, you know?—"

“Nice. I’m pretty hungry, and breakfast is underway, so…”

I rolled my eyes. “This could be the only conversation you have with a legit half-demon magus. You should be filled with awe.”

“Another time. I’ll see you there?”

Breakfast with the coven. “You think that’s wise?”

“As long as you’re sure black smoke and scales won’t appear at the drop of a hat, then yes, you need to make an appearance.”

I had a feeling the demon parts of me were linked to emotion or threat or near death, but I’d play around with that before leaving my quarters. Black scales were all we needed the coven to see.

Sven stood, groaning as he stretched tall. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“No.”

“Wear something revealing.”

My brows rose.

He snorted. “Something that shows your runes.”

“That feels like the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

Sven was already halfway to the stairs. He called back, “Show a little skin. Trust me.”

I pulled a face and shoved the blankets off.

I used the walk to the bathroom to study the new way my body moved. The improvements to my senses and strength were there, for sure, as was a new speed. I’d have to counter the speed and strength, so no one picked up on anything odd.

Standing in front of the mirror, I dredged up my worst and best memories to try to bring the scales forth, but only managed a wisp of black smoke. I either wasn’t getting enough emotion through the door, or the demon attributes showed in response to a threat. In the past, I’d emitted smoke when in the throes of a fight or when the demons attacked. Or when I’d healed Wild that one time.

Nerves bunched in my stomach. I’d need to figure this out as a priority. The coven knew what scales meant. I was on very shaky ground with the other magus, and even if I talked my way through the runes, they couldn’t know the full truth of my demon yet.

We needed more time.

I dressed in a crop top that exposed the two runes of my stomach, and the two on my arm. I paired the crop top with a silky sleeve skirt. I felt kind of great in the outfit. I’d covered my runes since receiving them, and—not that I walked around in nipple tassels and underwear all the time—but I wasn’t shy about showing skin. Or hadn’t been.

This felt more like me. If the coven decided to condemn me as a mistress of darkness, then I’d be condemned in style.

Tossing my white hair back, I gave myself a dazzling smile and left my quarters.

The tunnels were empty, unusually so, and I wondered if Wild’s presence in the eating chamber could be thanked for everyone staying glued to their seats—or was it that Sven had told them I’d be along?

My nerves mounted as I drew closer to the coven.

Ugh, where should Wild and I start with this mess? After making the mistake of putting off an explanation, I knew we had to fill them in immediately. I may not want to be leader, but I refused to let the original coven place their leader of choice on the authority, especially when that person was Frond. If the coven decided I wasn’t good enough, then they should get to decide who replaced me.

There was no way the coven would elect Frond as their leader. Surely. They’d be more likely to start up Caves again. I’d been awake less than thirty minutes, and despite the rightness flowing through me, I also felt the returning clamor of my responsibilities. What had happened in the last three days? There was so much to catch up on.

Focus, Tempest.

I had to narrow things down. One step at a time. Breakfast first. Then maybe Wild could deliver that speech about our mating ritual. And then?

I’d think about the rest of the long, long list later.

Outside the eating chamber, I paused to take a much-needed breath. I exhaled, hearing the shake as I did so. Wild sent me a reassuring pulse that brought tears to my eyes. Despite all of this, I was so fucking grateful his agony was gone, his feelings of uselessness and worthlessness gone with it. Guilt remained in him over how he’d acted and the effect of those actions on my position, but I couldn’t harbor any grudges over that. He really hadn’t been himself.

Something was going right for us. That was worth so much.

I straightened, tilted my chin, and channeled the energies of my grandmother, mother, and twin as I walked into the chamber.

The volume briefly surged as magus elbowed and nudged each other to pass news of my arrival. And then the volume died down.

Down.

Down.

Silence.

I cast my eyes over the magus, reading relief, a lot of suspicion, and some outright distrust. There was much to be fixed. The demons were only to blame for some of what I could see. Though looking back, the feeling in the coven took a massive dive after the demon gates opened. We had to get Rooke’s antidote launched at the gates, if she hadn’t already.

Most of the advisors sat at their usual table, and I turned to join them when I spotted Varden. I’d forgotten about him with everything else.

“Are you well, sir?” I asked. “I was told you collapsed three nights ago.”

He rested a hand over mine. Did he seem older? There was a sadness in his gaze that could be giving the illusion of it. “I am well, High Esteemed. I was sorry to cause such a fuss.”

“Serene has checked you over?”

His gaze shifted to the apothecary mentor. “Yes, she has. She has done what she can for me.”

“I’m glad. If your duties are too much for your recovery, please let me know. The rest of us can help until you are well again.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know. And how are you faring after fighting off four demons?” he asked.

Four, huh? I would’ve gone with seven, but whatever. “I’m alive and recovered.”

Varden glanced at my upper arm, no doubt at the two runes there that I’d gained over three steps in the mating ritual. “Good. You have been missed.”

By Frond the most, I’d wager a guess. “Thank you, sir.” To the entire table, I said, “There will be a meeting this morning to bring me up to speed.”

Now I’d walked into the eating chamber, I could feel that this was the moment to speak some hard words. I had to address the coven after breakfast.

I didn’t want to. I feared having the truth out there. Hard questions could come from it—how a mating ritual existed between me and Wild being one of them. My fear of this coven, however, was less than my fear of what may happen to the coven if we continued down this divisive path.

Here goes.

I sent battle magic to my throat. “Good morning, everyone. I’m happy to see you again. As you might expect, I’m rather hungry after three days in bed, but there will be a coven gathering afterward.”

Their focus prickled. They didn’t know what to make of my display. If I had something to hide, then wouldn’t I? To show them had been to make them pause and wonder if they’d been too quick to assume dark magic.

Sven, you’re a genius.

For the moment, I just wanted to be in Wild’s arms for a minute or two before facing the next battle.

I looked up at our usual table, my attention roaming over the quad, Spyne, and my cousin too.

Then it landed on a magus with brown hair and dark eyes. One with musician’s fingers, a black tunic, and black jeans to match. I could almost hear the rattle of his pendants in my ears, and I longed to see that tunic off, so I could trace the runes that told everyone he was mine and mine alone.

With the messages I was sending him, it was no wonder when Wild glanced up.

My feet locked on the spot as our gazes connected.

A roaring filled my ears, and Wild rose in a burst.

A heat built from the space under my ribs. My runes were on fire. Light was building in his chest, too, seeping out and about to explode. I could barely look at him through the light, and the magus closest to him were crying out and shielding their eyes too.

I didn’t care about them.

I didn’t care about anything except one fact.

That I was about to devour every fucking bit of Wild’s power and lick my fingers after.