“An abomination,” I whispered, unable to lie to her. Not after everything she’d just witnessed.
She shook her hea
d. “That’s not…” She cleared her throat, her delicate hand going up to touch her unmarred throat. “You saved me.”
I winced, not because I regretted it but because I couldn’t explain how I’d done it. “I…” I didn’t know what to say.
A hint of wonder entered her gaze. “I sense Kols in you.” She lifted her hand as if to touch me, only to drop it a second later and spin toward the dark forest around us and the moving trees. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her wand already in her palm.
I tried to find mine again, this time successfully, and mimicked her defensive stance.
Nothing immediately approached, but I felt the building energy and the hum of familiar magic in the air.
Something was coming.
No, the presence was already here.
Multiple essences.
All woven with magic my soul recognized on some deep, dark level.
“Well, well, the queen finally arrives,” a feminine voice drawled from the shadows of a nearby burning thwomp. “And she brought us an Elite Blood to play with as a gift. How incredibly thoughtful.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Aflora
Energy crackled from the deadly trees, causing my defensive instincts to flare to life. Zeph was a strong presence in my head, his magic pouring through my senses to surround Emelyn and me in a protective shield of invisible power, one meant to deflect any untoward spells.
Like the one that came from the darkness, aimed right at Emelyn. It bounced back with an emerald spark, causing electricity to sizzle around us.
“Impressive,” the female mused. “Why are you protecting the Elite Blood?”
“Who are you?” I countered, unable to see her cloaked in the darkness.
She stepped forward with several Midnight Fae at her back, all of them raising their wands to illuminate the tips in cerulean magic.
My lips parted. Quandary Bloods.
Except for the woman at the front. Her wand glowed with red magic, marking her as an Elite Blood.
“Dakota,” Emelyn breathed, her eyes widening. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, you mean after your betrothed banished me for playing with his source?” she asked, her lips curling into a smile. “What do you think I’m doing here?” She sent another spiral of magic toward Emelyn, but my net caught it and volleyed it back to her.
I had no idea how I was holding that up in front of us, but I felt the strands of it tied to my fingertips, not my wand. A fresh burst of power flared from my hand to restructure the shield, ensuring Dakota hadn’t damaged the exterior.
The woven threads of magic hummed back at me, confirming their integrity.
It all came naturally to me, like I’d flipped on a switch in my mind that allowed me to suddenly envision every strand of vitality around us. The elements were there just waiting for me to pluck and use them as I required. Which I did now as I reinforced our blockade, the invisible net pulsing with ominous intent, ready to engage at will.
“That’s a bit of an irritation,” Dakota said after dealing with her backfired spell. She polished her nails against her shirt, then lowered her wand. “I don’t understand. Why are you protecting the very being who wants you dead, Aflora?”
“I don’t want her dead,” Emelyn said quickly, her widening dark eyes looking at me. “I know I’ve been a bitch, but—”
“Not you, but Midnight Fae like you,” Dakota interjected, sounding bored. “Emelyn and her betrothed are the future queen and king of a Council that has hunted and killed Quandary Bloods for over a thousand years. How could you guard someone destined for such evil?”
“I can’t hold Emelyn responsible for a history she had no jurisdiction over,” I replied, not bothering to point out the sexist nuances that would forbid she even be part of it as the Midnight Fae Queen.