Page 117 of Madness of Her Mages

I squeezed his hands back. “They were all safe last I saw them.” I had a hard time reconciling that this sickly Fae was Derrick’s twin. One father was our family protector, so healthy and strong. The other could easily be knocked down by a light wind.

“Has the sorceress queen been defeated?”

I looked up at Nikkos, noting his grim expression and the pity in his eyes before turning back to my father. “No.”

He let out a strangled sob. “Are you her prisoner?”

“No.” I tensed, waiting for his reaction.

He went eerily still, his features falling. “You serve her?” I hated how his voice broke as if I’d stabbed him in the heart.

“I serve my family. All of us.” I heaved a shaky breath. “I don’t know how much time we have, so I’m going to do my best to explain. Malvolia believed you and my mother were trying to steal her throne because the mind spinner altered her memories. He’s altered everyone’s memories. My mother believes he is her friend. She let him take my sister, Tari, but Tari escaped.” Knowing we were pressed for time, I spoke on a rush of air, the words tripping over my tongue. “She had him erase Tari’s memories and was going to let him erase my memories, because she thought this was the best way to keep me safe.”

He fell back on his bottom as his hands began to shake. “Wh-what?”

“Thorin has turned everyone against each other. He’s grown very powerful. His spells last years, not hours.” I pressed against Nikkos as he hovered protectively behind me, the small ball of light from his hand illuminating our cramped corner. “My mates found me and the girls and helped us escape before he could change our memories, too.”

“The girls?”

“Ember and Aurora,” I said, “Tari’s children.”

Tears slipped from beneath his blindfold, streaking his grimy skin. “I’m a grandfather?”

I couldn’t help the tears that slipped over my eyes, too. “You are, and they are the most precocious, loveable children.”

His lower lip trembled. “Are they safe?”

“They are.” I sniffled as more tears fell. “We won’t let anything happen to them. We are here under Malvolia’sprotection,” I added. “I’m working on convincing her that the mind spinner has turned her against her sister.”

Marius shook his head. “Why would he do that? He was Flora’s friend.”

I squeezed his hands, my voice dropping to a dark rumble. “He’s demon possessed, Father.”

He gasped. “Demon possessed?”

“Yes,” I said, “and there are more demons trying to infiltrate Malvolia’s court, and some are already in Fachnan’s court. They were created by an even more powerful demon they call their mistress.” I didn’t bother telling him Tari was with Fachnan. He had enough to worry about.

“So Maiadra didn’t kill them all?”

I shook my head, then felt like a fool knowing he couldn’t see me. “No,” I answered. “Perhaps all the demons in the Fae lands, but these demons are coming from the human lands.”

“I never understood why Malvolia turned on Flora,” he said as more tears streaked his face. “Your mother and her sister loved each other so very much.”

“I know,” I said on a sigh. “Can you see anything?”

I bit down on my knuckles, rage boiling my veins when he released my hands and removed his blindfold, revealing two milky white orbs instead of seeing eyes. “Malvolia took my sight years ago.”

“Oh, Father. I’m so sorry. My mate has healing powers.” I gave Nikkos a pleading look. “Will you let him try to heal you?”

“Your mate?” he asked, sniffing the air.

I slowly stood, grabbing Nikkos’s elbow. “Father, this is Nikkos Inferni. He’s one of my mates.”

“Inferni?” My father angled his head in our direction, his unseeing eyes revealing nothing. “Chara and Tobias’s son?”

“Yes, sir.” Nikkos cleared his throat. “I’m their youngest.”

Marius frowned. “Malvolia said Flora and Derrick killed your parents, but they would never—”

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