Chapter 20

Iwoke the next morning rested and alone in bed, only a hollowed-out divot beside me to show everything from last night wasn't a figment of my imagination.

I swung my legs over the bed, sure I smelled flowers—impossible since we were on the cusp of a hard winter, but yes…that was definitely…lavender? When I got to the bathing chamber, I found a steaming hot bath sprinkled with tiny purple blooms, clean clothes, and a female's silver hairbrush laid out for me.

I picked it up and pulled out a long blond hair.

Celia's, perhaps.

The longer I peered at that golden hair, the more I wondered. How long was she sick? How bad did she get, and most importantly, how much longer did Tavion have?

A pounding began inside my head, questions I needed to ask—should have asked a long time ago—haunting me as I set the brush down.

Tavion was sick. Lucius never found a cure.

Why, oh why, hadn't I asked Bexley to try healing him? Why had I let that opportunity slip through my fingers? Because you are a fool sometimes, Anaria.

A fear surged inside me, then I scrubbed my face, willing myself to get a grip. There was a cure for everything if you looked hard enough. If Lucius's healers couldn't help Tavion, we'd find someone who could.

Maybe the High Barrens Coven would have healers.

I stirred my hand through the tub, sending lavender blooms spinning. I didn't know how Tavion had managed all this without waking me, but I was lowering myself into that hot water in record time, the heat sinking into me like a balm. I soaked off layers of sweat and grime, scrubbed my hair twice, pulled on the loose, comfortable clothes, and headed downstairs.

I stopped dead in the kitchen doorway to see Tavion's and Lucius's heads were bent together, and they were having a quiet, civil conversation. When Lucius's eyes flipped up to mine, they were filled with a mixture of confusion and joy, and before I could talk myself out of it, I poured myself a cup of coffee and joined them.

"You two are looking chipper this morning."

Tavion's eyes twinkled before his father said, "The healers spent most of the night with Tristan. He's slept for a solid six hours." Lucius looked better, still caught mid-shift, but he'd filled out, no longer the starving, haunted male I'd met a few months ago.

"Were they able to find anything?" I asked, trying to phrase all my fears into the most neutral question ever before I took a long sip of coffee for good measure. I bit back my moan of bliss when the flavor hit my tongue.

"Repressed magical tendencies, past trauma, something to do with his parents," Lucius murmured, his eyes drifting over to Tavion before they swung back to mine. "Physically, he's fine, except for being exhausted and dehydrated and undernourished." As if that was his cue, Lucius pushed a plate of pastries over to me. "He's still sleeping."

"He can sleep until it's time to leave. Dane's getting everything ready now." Tavion looked…good. He was rested and he'd bathed as well, dressing in heavy, utilitarian clothing, the kind I'd never seen him in before. He looked…dangerous, I supposed, his hair pulled severely back with a leather tie. Still roguishly handsome, of course. Something he was well aware of, winking at me over his coffee.

He looked…good. Healthy.

I didn't want to admit how much the sight settled me.

"We're leaving today?"

"In a few hours." Soft, silent feet padded behind me, and Tavion's expression shifted into something lethal. "Adele."

Heavy bootfalls followed right behind my mother's mouse-quiet steps and Dane blew in like a force of fucking nature, bringing in a gale of wintery wind and a big fucking attitude.

"There's my girl." He squeezed me so tight I wondered if I'd pop, then planted a wet, smacking kiss on my cheek before I could pull away. "I hope you're ready for an adventure."

"No more adventures," I told him, shoving him away with a smile I couldn't stop. "I'd give anything to stay here for a few months and just…rest." My eyes caught Tavion's before he dipped his head to hide his own smile filled with something I couldn't quite identify.

"This is too important to put off," Adele counseled, pouring herself some coffee. She was dressed like the rest of us, warm clothing that was easy to move in, though hers hung loosely on her emaciated frame. She'd gathered her hair behind her head, her skull shining through in spots.

Pity swelled then faded as I replayed last night's conversation.

"Tell us the truth, Dane. How dangerous are the Barrens?" Tavion set down his cup, looking at his uncle with that no bullshite expression. "You used to tell me you were lucky to get out of there alive. I'm not taking my wife anywhere she'll be in peril."

Lucius beamed; Adele made a sound of disgust as she dragged a chair over.

Dane threw off his heavy coat, sending a shower of water onto the kitchen floor. "After everything you two have seen these past months, the High Barrens won't be the worst. But…" His gaze and Lucius's met, then their jaws clenched. "The witches are dangerous."

"How dangerous?"

"Let's put it this way. The coven has always had a High Priestess, and she was always ruthless. But Vireena is in a different class altogether. An absolute monster, and she's ruled for three centuries. As far as how they operate? I can't tell you a thing since they're so damn secretive."

I swore my mother hid a smirk behind her hand.

"How bad is the journey there?" Tavion's eyes drifted over to mine. "I've never been that far north."

"Well"—Dane rubbed his chin—"because of Anaria's trick with the magic, the temperature's warmer, which bought us some time, but there's a storm coming, still a few days away. If we stay ahead of the weather, we can reach Stormfall in maybe three days?"

"And these witches…what about them?" Tavion asked softly.

"Twenty years ago, when the Shadow King purged the witches, his soldiers drove the survivors deep into the highest range of the High Barrens. What few are left settled too far north for his armies to reach. Once we set foot on their lands, the trail was meant to string us out into a line, easier for their archers to pick off." Dane's jaw clenched.

"The witches who survived the king's purges are the ones too wicked to die or too strong to be killed. They are like nothing you've ever met before, Anaria. The danger lies not in the journey, but of what awaits you once you reach Stormfall."

"What if we delay until Zor and Raz get here?" Tavion mused, holding my gaze. "Make this decision once the five of us are together?"

Adele's knuckles whitened on the handle of her coffee cup. "We cannot afford to wait another hour. We have to leave this morning."

"I do have everything ready." Dane shrugged, his gaze landing on my mother. "And she's right. If we leave today, we'll beat the storm that's coming. Otherwise…" He shook his head. "In two days' time, the passes will be snowed shut and we might as well wait until spring."

Wild hope sprang to life inside me at those words.

Something changed for Tavion, too, who looked at me with such quiet joy I could only imagine the idea of being snowed in here all winter appealed to him as much as the idea appealed to me.

To rest, with no one chasing us or trying to kill us, would be a dream.

A library full of books.

Fires roaring in the fireplaces.

I repressed my shiver of excitement, but he saw it, his eyes shining as he took a long sip of coffee.

"We are already late," Adele insisted, louder this time. "There is a timeline that must be met in order for this to work."

I glanced at her, puzzled. "It only matters if we can beat the snows, and I agree with Tavion. Waiting for Zor and Raz makes more sense. When they get here, we decide as a group what comes next. Together."

I meant what I told her last night.

I would choose my men over anyone else in this world.

"Well then." Dane scratched his chin. "I suppose I'll unsaddle the horses." He heaved himself to his feet. "Can't say I'm sad about the decision. Wasn't looking forward to braving those passes this year. Or seeing Vireena again."

"We are going. I sent a message to the High Priestess last night." Adele blinked innocently. "She's expecting us within three days."

"I am the point of contact with the High Barrens Coven," Dane growled, showing a hint of fang. "Not you."

She merely shrugged as if she knew we could do nothing about it. "I found one of your messengers and he agreed to deliver my message. It is already done."

Arrogant, entitled, interfering…

I bit back all the foul things I wanted to say. "Why would you do that, Adele?"

Actually, I knew why, but I wanted to hear her say it. Wanted to hear her admit she only wanted to use me for her own ends. Maybe I was a sadist, but I wanted Adele to admit she was as conniving as the king, and Torin, and the Oracle.

Surprisingly, she rounded the table, and gods help me, but I wondered if she might harm me before she yanked up my sleeve, revealing the white tree branded into my arm. Magic glimmered on every fragile branch like stardust. Dane reared back, knocking a cup to the floor, shattering it to pieces.

"You…" His gaze turned wild, landing on each of us in turn. "How long has that been on her arm? How fucking long?"

"Weeks now. And I did." Adele stepped away. "Five days left. That's how long we have."

Lucius was up and moving, pouring a pitcher of water on the fire, steam hissing as he doused the logs.

"Fuck." Dane raked his hand through his hair and paced away. "Fuck. Why didn't you say something?" He bared his teeth at Tavion, snarling. "Why didn't you tell me she had the scion mark?"

"I don't even know what that is." Broken porcelain crunched beneath Tavion's boots as he crossed to me, pulling me into his arms, and it didn't escape me that he had positioned himself between me and my own mother.

"Explain yourself," I hissed at Adele. "Since it seems someone has problems understanding boundaries. I have had enough of your secrets."

"The scion mark is the mark of the rightful heir to the High Barrens throne. The witches have a strict system of succession. Only those with witch blood can inherit the crown, and only the strongest can sit on the throne."

"We know all that," I snapped. "What did you do, Mother? What happens in five days?"

Adele shrugged. "The scion mark fades."

I laughed, relief turning my knees weak. "Perfect. Then we wait this out and?—"

Dane exploded. "You cannot wait this out. That mark…oh gods. We have to get out of here. Now." Lucius was already moving toward the door, Dane shoving his arms through his coat sleeves. Both males were in a panic, their faces ashen white.

"Father. Uncle. What is happening?" Tavion didn't let me go.

"That mark is a challenge to the current High Priestess," Dane hissed, his fangs flashing. "A challenge for the throne, for the priestess's power. A magical challenge issued the moment that tree was etched in Anaria's skin."

Every one of us turned to look at Adele, who only tipped her chin up. "A challenge my daughter will not back down from."

"You threatened the High Barrens Priestess. Those witches will come here in five days if we don't get to them first. I'm surprised they aren't here already, slaughtering us like cattle. You endangered everyone in this castle, woman," Dane hissed, dark eyes flashing.

"Not if we leave right now." Adele rounded the table, sat down, calmly picked up her coffee, and took a sip as if everything was going to plan.

"My daughter killed the Fae King. She brought back the wild magic. In five days, she will be seated upon the High Barrens throne as the High Priestess of the oldest, most powerful coven in the world. Everything Anaria was destined for shall come to pass, and there is nothing any of you can do to stop it."

The kitchen burst into activity while my mother sat like a stone in the middle of a rushing river, utterly unperturbed by her treachery, how lethal Tavion's glare had turned, or how Dane's fingers flexed every time he looked at her, like he was debating whether to snap her neck.

Right now, I wasn't sure I'd stop him.

Adele's betrayal seethed through my veins like an out-of-control fire.

Every fragile hope I'd had for us crumbled as I stared at my mother, sitting there, coldly sipping her coffee, her pale blue eyes dancing with triumph when they lifted to mine.

I built an ice castle around my heart with layers of protections, a wall I would never again allow to melt for her. All I could do was protect myself from this caving in, this collapse of myself, of my hopes, of the future I'd imagined.

What a fucking fool I'd been, trading my love for…her ambition. I wasn't Adele's daughter or even her child. I was a pawn in her quest for power, and she'd spend me, just as easily as Carex or Torin or the Oracle.

I ground my teeth together. Swallowed down the accusations I wanted to hurl in Adele's face, but ignored her while I took a cup off the shelf instead.

"You get everything ready outside," I told Tavion as I filled the cup to the brim with coffee and wrapped some bread and meat in a towel. "I'll wake Tristan up and tell him he doesn't get to sleep in after all."

I bumpedthe door open with my hip, then instantly whirled around to give a very naked Tristan some privacy as he tugged on his trousers.

"Sorry, I should have knocked. I figured you'd still be sleeping."

"Been up ever since Dane opened his mouth and announced his arrival to the entire fucking world."

I had to smile at that. I backed awkwardly into the room, keeping my eyes averted, though I had to turn enough to sneak another peek. Fuck, he was built. And for the first time, I got a good look at the mark on his chest, a circle with a serpent through the center. I almost chuckled at such an obvious clue.

No wonder he'd hidden his mark from me.

"I brought you coffee and some food. I figured you were starving."

"You can turn around, Anaria. It's not like you haven't seen everything already."

I turned, our mutual embarrassment turning the moment into an awkward dance of shuffling feet and heated faces, both of us finally settling on tentative smiles to get us to the next minute, which couldn't come too fucking soon.

"So…I came to tell you there's been a change in plans."

"We're staying?" he asked hopefully, toned shoulders flexing as he buttoned up his trousers. He really was built, not an inch of fat on him, the line of dark red hair trailing down his flat, toned abdomen into his…I jerked my eyes up to his now-grinning face.

"I wish." I paused to listen to the thumping downstairs. Tavion, most likely.

"We could use the rest," Tristan pointed out quietly as he pulled on his shirt. A hint of disappointment went through me as he covered himself up. "We've been on the move for weeks without food or sleep and exhaustion is catching up to all of us. Surely a few days won't make a difference?"

"No such luck. Thanks to Adele"—I couldn't even bear to call her my mother right now—"we're leaving as soon as you're ready." I launched into an abbreviated version of events and watched him devour the sandwich then down the coffee in one swallow.

He set the cup down carefully, dragging his finger around the rim as if debating something.

"Dane's not lying. The Barrens witches are dangerous creatures. I had some…dealings with them when I was young, and they are infinitely more ruthless than any Fae I've met. All they covet is power, and they'd defend their throne ruthlessly."

His eyes flashed, and for the briefest second, I glimpsed that red flame. "May I see this mark, if you don't mind?" I rolled up my sleeve and he peered at the tree then dragged his finger slowly down the center. I felt that brush of his fingertip to the very depths of my soul.

"How much do you know about this challenge Adele supposedly issued on your behalf? What does it entail?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. Dane's spooked, though. He was surprised the witches weren't already here."

Tristan's mouth tightened. "Like I said, those witches care about only one thing, Anaria. Power." He nodded to the mark on my arm, and I yanked my sleeve back down. "You are a threat to their power. Not only that, you issued a direct challenge. He should be spooked."

"Then we'll make it clear this is a misunderstanding," I said quietly, not letting myself show how afraid I was. "Once we're there, we stick together. And Adele issued the challenge, not me. I have no desire to fight anyone, least of all my own blood. I'll find some way to negotiate with them, explain all we want is an alliance for our mutual benefit. I have no interest in their throne."

"There is no negotiating with these creatures, Anaria." Tristan's lips thinned, but he blew out a breath as if this was a point not worth making.

"Thank you," he said softly. "For helping pull me out of the shift. It's been so long since that happened…I got lost. Couldn't find my way back. Not until I heard your voice." He went quiet, as if there was so much more to say, he couldn't bear it.

"So," I said casually. "A wyvern, huh?"

His eyes sparked as he pulled on his boots. "A wyvern. But as you saw, shifting into my beast is a dangerous business, in case you're getting any ideas, Anaria."

"I'm not getting any ideas," I lied.

"At least your bow and arrows were with your horse so you still have your weapons." I grinned. "After watching you put that arrow through Solok's eye, I'm not sure your wyvern's the deadliest thing about you, Tristan DeVayne."

I picked up the heavy fur coat Tavion took from the Wynter Palace and ran my fingers through the soft fur. "I suppose I'll need this. Find the heaviest cloak you can, Tristan. From what I've heard, we'll be lucky if we don't all freeze to death before we reach the Barrens."

Dane shouted something unintelligible from downstairs, echoed by Tavion's creative cursing.

"Damn, this day gets better and better." Tristan crossed the room and opened the door for me. "Tell them I'll be ready in five minutes and we'll ride out. And Anaria…"

Tristan caught me by the arm, his fingers gripping me gently. "Whatever you're expecting to find in the Barrens…you won't. You might be half witch, but you are not one of them. You will never be one of them." He leaned closer, and I swore—though I was probably wrong—he ran his nose along my hair.

When he pulled back, something ageless shone from his eyes, lit by a flicker of red fire. "You are something wholly different, something this world has never seen." His teeth flashed in a wicked, feral smile.

"And you are going to change this whole godsdamned world."