I glanced at Ector. “They’re still in Lethe?”
“Sort of. Some adventurous Shades traveled to the edge of the Dying Woods and are too close to the city,” he said. “Theyand a few others are dealing with them.”
Irritation sparked. I could’ve helped deal with the Shades, but that would’ve meant Nyktos returning to the palace to get me. And, well, even I could admit that made no sense. “How often does that happen, the Shades causing trouble?”
“Used to be pretty infrequent, but it seems to be happening more often.” Ector’s brows pinched. “They’ve been gathering in pretty sizable groups, which means they’re a bit more than just a nuisance to deal with.”
Concern loomed, but I reminded myself that Nyktos was a Primal. He’d be okay, even though the Shades had injured him before. He’d make sure that all the others with him would be okay, too. Plus, they had a draken with them.
Something about the Shades nagged at me as I entered my chambers, but I couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was as I held the door open for Reaver. “Want to hang out?”
The draken flew in.
Ector remained in the hall, looking at me as if I were inviting him to an evening of debauchery in the Luxe. “No, thanks.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” I retorted. Reaver made a soft huffing sound behind me.
The god smirked. “Uh-huh.”
Rolling my eyes, I closed the door and turned. Reaver was slinking around the chamber, inspecting every corner of the space much like Nektas had done. I shook my head and made my way to the bathing chamber to ready myself for bed. It wasn’t until I picked up the nightgown I’d grabbed that I saw it was little more than silver gauze that barely reached my thighs. I sighed, thankful that I’d also picked up the robe.
I was fastening the line of buttons on the robe when my chest suddenly hummed. My breath caught as I opened the bedchamber door, and my gaze swung to the other doors. They remained closed.
The feeling reminded me of when Nyktos was near, but it was fainter as I stood in the doorway of the bathing chamber.
Reaver eyed me curiously from where he’d planted himself on the chaise.
“Do you feel anything?” I asked, rubbing the center of my chest.
He gave a little chirp that could’ve been a yes or a no, so I waited, unsure which I dreaded more—the doors remaining closed or opening. Seconds ticked by. Neither door opened, and the strange sensation faded.
Nibbling on my lip, I retrieved the brush from the bathing chamber, wondering if I simply had indigestion.
Perhaps that was yet another symptom of the Culling.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I worked at the tangles in my hair. While I was more than a little tired, I was grateful for Reaver’s presence because I thought he sensed that maybe I needed the company.
And I did.
“Is Jadis with Nektas in the mountains?”
Reaver nodded.
“So, are you staying at the palace to hide from Jadis?”
He huffed again, ducking his chin.
I laughed as I dragged the brush through several knots. Reaver winced. “It sounds worse than it feels, I promise. I should probably cut it,” I said, picking up several still-tangled curls. “At this point, I’m going to end up sitting on—”
The embers vibrated again. I dropped my hair as my head snapped to the doors. Reaver did the same, drawing back. His wings spread out.
A shout came from the hall, startling me. Dropping the paddle brush, I grabbed the dagger from the bed as I rose, the stone cool under my feet as I stalked forward.
“Stay there, okay?” I said as Reaver moved to jump down. He halted, blowing out a puff of air as I rounded the bed. “Ector—?”
The chamber doors suddenly blew open in a flash of intense, silvery light. I jerked back, momentarily stunned as Ectorflewthrough the chamber, arms and legs spread. I only knew it was him because he’d been in the hall, but I couldn’t see him under the crackling, spitting wave of eather sparking over his body. Ector crashed into the dining table, collapsing the legs as he hit the floor hard. The vase that had been on the table shattered, scattering stones.
He was alive.