Page 81 of Madness of Her Mages

“But the queen wants—”

“I don’t give a damn what my aunt wants!” I shouted. “I give the final say when it comes to my nieces, understood?”

She bowed her head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

I grimaced when I realized I’d probably woken the girls, but as I looked down, I was shocked to see they didn’t stir.

Shiri.Drae’s voice echoed in my head as I heard the fluttering of wings behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Drae and Nikkos shaking out their wings. I gave them a pleading look. “Will you get them?”

Drae nodded and moved to the other side of the bed, scooping Ember into his arms while Nikkos held Aurora.

Miss Grethel clutched her throat, her eyes bulging with shock. “You’re taking them?”

“Yes,” I answered coolly. “They sleep in my bedchamber.”

“But they would be more comfortable in their own bed,” she argued.

“This is not up for debate, Miss Grethel,” I said with a snarl before turning toward Aurora. I didn’t like how hard she slept, almost as if she’d been drugged. I placed a hand on her chest, noting how it barely moved while she breathed out shallow breaths. I looked over at Ember, who was equally still. I gave the nursemaid an accusatory look. “Why do they sleep so hard?”

“I gave them somnus.”

“Somnus?” I shot Nikkos a look.

“A sleeping draught,” he answered while gently wrapping his wings around Aurora as she slept in his arms.

I was so angry, I was seeing red. I advanced on the nursemaid until she fell back into her chair with a squeak. “You drugged them?”

“Somnus is a popular sleep aid many Ravini families use on their children.” She blinked at me while visibly shaking.

“I don’t care what other Ravini do,” I seethed. It took all my willpower not to grab her shoulders and shake her harder. “You are not to put my nieces to sleep again. Understood?”

She bowed her head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Knowing I had to get out of that damned nursery before I throttled the nursemaid, I stormed out the door, Nikkos and Drae at my side while Blaze led the way with his fire. As soon asDrae kicked the door shut behind him, I turned to the guards. “You’re dismissed for the night.”

They bowed and flew down the hall.

I checked on the girls again as they slept like the dead. My heart caught in my throat when I called their names and they didn’t even stir.

I don’t like somnus,I said to my mates through thought.

Nikkos grimaced as he looked down at Aurora.She must’ve used a lot.

I bit my lip while willing back tears that threatened at the backs of my eyes. I should’ve never agreed to leave the girls with a nursemaid.I don’t like Miss Grethel.

Nikkos shared a look with his brothers.Our nursemaids used somnus on us sometimes.

I snorted at that. “As if that makes it okay,” I said aloud, ire threatening to split open my skull like a steaming kettle. “They’re barely breathing!”

Drae took a step toward me, Ember as still as a corpse tucked in his arms. “Shiri?”

I turned on him with a snarl, feeling like a cornered animal. “They’re getting a new nursemaid.”

Shiri, listen to me,Drae projected through thought, his tone softer as if he was soothing a child.I know you’re upset, but we’re fighting enough battles right now. The girls are safe, and I’m sure she won’t drug them again.

I want to go back to Abyssus. I crossed my arms. I didn’t care if I was being unreasonable. This place wasn’t safe.

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