Page 75 of Madness of Her Mages

Chapter Fifteen

Blaze

Imoved so quickly through the halls that to the average eye, I was nothing but a displaced shadow. I had to hurry, for it was almost time to go to supper. I had just returned from checking on the girls at Shiri’s request. Though they seemed more subdued than usual, I didn’t sense anything amiss. They were eating supper with their new nursemaid. The poor sprites had their lives upended twice in a fortnight. I was around their age when my world had imploded, too. Left with no parents, I was fortunate to have a household of devoted servants. It wasn’t the same as my mother’s love. At least Ember and Aurora had Shiri after they’d lost their mother. But now Malvolia monopolized so much of my mate’s time, I knew the separation was hard on the girls. I prayed this war would be over soon, if for no other reason than to bring some normalcy back into the children’s lives.

I was as fast and unseen as a wraith, hiding behind curtains whenever I sensed one of Malvolia’s sycophants nearby. I might not have had as many lovers as Drae, but for some odd reason the court ladies had recently taken an interest in me, batting their lashes and protruding their breasts whenever I was near. I wasn’t sure why they were interested in seducing a second-born son who was already mated. Perhaps it was the fact that I was no longer accessible, and they enjoyed the challenge of trying to tempt the white witch’s mate away from her. Not that it would ever happen. I’d rather have all my feathers plucked than stray from my mate.

I inwardly cursed at the sound of high-pitched, nauseating laughter and quickly slipped behind a set of heavy drapes. Unfortunately, the Fae chose to stand right beside the drapes. If I was bold enough, I could quickly disappear, but something about the urgency in their whispers tempted me to listen to their conversation. There were two voices, one deep, one high pitched, a male and female, the lilt of their voices telling me they were nobility, no doubt a lord and lady from some obscure estate hoping to earn Malvolia’s favor by sucking up to her at court.

“They were chased from Kyan’s temple,” the deeper voice whispered.

A feminine gasp. “Was it her?”

“Yes, it was confirmed.”

“The truce with Viggo?”

“Broken.”

“Since when?”

A long pause as footsteps echoed down the hall and the lord and lady politely greeted the intruders. Another long pause as the sounds of the footsteps receded.

“Since our queen found out Viggo is demon possessed.”

“Demon possessed?” Another gasp, this one more dramatic than the first. “And he’s aligned with Fachnan?”

“Yes. They say Fachnan’s court has been infiltrated by demons, too.”

“Has the white witch aligned with him?”

“We don’t know yet, but I assume she will.”

“How many mages did she defeat?”

“Malvolia sent a thousand.” His voice dipped and cracked.

A feminine moan. “And it wasn’t enough?”

“Apparently not.”

“This doesn’t bode well.”

“It doesn’t. I doubt her sister is as powerful as her.”

Fire raced through my veins. I balled my hands into fists to suppress my rage as they disrespected my mate.

“What should we do?”

“Retire to the country.”

“Our queen will be angry.”

Another long pause as the male’s voice dropped to a dark rumble. “She’ll be dead soon, anyway.”

Shiri

I BREATHED A SIGH OFrelief when Blaze slipped into my dressing room. He sat on a low stool behind us, his wings dragging the ground, watching the servants poke and pinch me while squeezing my poor breasts into a ridiculous bodice. I was forced to wear a gown with another wide hoop, making me wonder how I was supposed to fit through doorways, much less sit in a chair. This gown was a pearly white to match my cape, and I realized I would only wear white while at my aunt’s castle. The multitude of white gowns hanging from my wardrobe racks should have given it away. I longed for that beautiful burgundy gown Drae had given me at Abyssus. I’d thought it was so fancy then, but now I realized it was simple compared to the monstrosities worn at my aunt’s court.

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