Page 135 of Madness of Her Mages

My father’s flames extinguished, though he continued to glare at my mates like he wanted to roast them alive. I locked gazes with Tari, and a hundred different childhood memories replayed in my mind at once. Two long years I’ve missed her, though it felt like an eternity. I trusted in my heart, which said she was a good witch and wouldn’t hurt us. She’d already proven that by holding back the wall of magic.

“Shirina,” she breathed, her eyes filling with tears.

I felt a tear slip over my eye. “Tari.”

“Are you well?” she asked me.

“Tired,” I said as bone-aching fatigue washed through me. “I’ve used a lot of magic.”

“Me, too.” She looked down at her hands.

Fear and dread turned my blood to ice. “Have you come to kill us?”

Pain flashed in her eyes. “I’d rather cut off my own hands than harm my sister and my children. You?”

“Same.” My shoulders sagged, even as my heart soared. I knew she was still my loving sister. Iknewit! “You don’t know how much we’ve missed you.” I couldn’t help the tears that flowed like raging rivers.

My breath caught when Tari walked around our mother and father, her mates following close behind. We were just a few paces apart. The longing in her eyes reflected the pining in my heart. I wanted to hug her and never let her go.

“A mind spinner took my memories,” she said.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “I knew you wouldn’t willingly leave us.”

“No. I wouldn’t.” Tari smiled down at something behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see Ember and Aurora smiling back at their mother.

“We’ll help you get your memories back,” I said to my sister.

She nodded, her eyes misting with tears.

I warily eyed the two snarling Fae flanking my sister. “Who are you to my sister?”

The more menacing-looking one cleared his throat, placing a protective hand on Tari’s shoulder. “We’re her mates.”

“The girls’ fathers?” I asked, relieved the spies’ reports were true.

“Yes,” they both answered.

The children gasped.

I looked from the two beasts to my sister. “We thought your mates were dead.”

“It seems there have been a lot of misunderstandings,” the alpha said.

I gave my parents an accusatory look. “You told me she was killed by a bear.”

“We had no choice.” My mother’s voice cracked as she wrung her fingers together. “Adrean was going to get her killed.”

My father cleared his throat. “Malvolia and Fachnan will pit you both against each other.”

I looked up at the armies hovering above us. “Then let’s leave.”

“And go where?” my mother asked.

“To Fallax,” Tari said. “They won’t follow us there.”

My breath hitched. Just like Lady Chara had said.

“Can you control the wyverns?” I asked my sister.

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