Page 86 of Madness of Her Mages

Chapter Seventeen

Ifelt as worn out as Ember’s old straw doll when we dragged ourselves back to our bedroom suite. I wasn’t just tired from the exhausting day—I was heartsick, too. From news about demons infiltrating the Fae courts, to fear over my sister’s safety with Fachnan, to worrying about the threat of more knives plunged into our backs.

Nikkos rose from a tall, padded chair by the hearth when we walked into the sitting room. I checked on the girls sleeping on the sofas, relieved their breathing seemed less shallow.

We followed Nikkos to the other end of our sleeping chamber where there was a smaller adjoining sitting room surrounding another hearth. Blaze poured us all drinks, and I sat with Nikkos on a wide, comfortable chair by the fire.

“How’d it go?” he asked, his brow marred with concern as he brushed a strand of hair from my eyes.

“I forced them to drink,” I said with a grimace.

He arched a brow. “And?”

“And I don’t think they’ll try to trick us again.” Drae chuckled as he sat in a chair opposite us.

I dug my fingers into the padded chair, the fabric yielding beneath my nails. “Geoffrey has already promised retribution.”

“You heard his thoughts?” Blaze asked as he sat diagonal to us, leaning forward in his chair.

“Yes.” I sighed when Nikkos laced his fingers through mine. “This was before I told them I’d make them slit their own throats, so hopefully he’s changed his mind.”

“Are you okay, my love?” Nikkos brushed his lips across my knuckles, sending a trill racing through my body and setting my skin aflame.

“I’m tired of the backstabbing and betrayal.” I sighed wearily. “I don’t know how you survived this court.”

Drae and his brothers shared a look. “Things were different then.”

“How?” I asked, wishing to understand what about this place had made them miss it here.

“It was mostly partying before,” Drae said, then looked away, his face flushing.

“And feather collecting?” I asked. Though it was wrong to keep bringing up the past, I couldn’t help myself, and I also refused to pretend it had never happened. Especially as I got the feeling that though Drae said he was finished with Lady Veronica, she wasn’t through with him.

Drae heaved a groan before tossing back the rest of his drink. “You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”

“I’m not judging you for your past,” I admitted while playfully batting his knee. “Besides, I think Lady Veronica’s affection for you might work to our advantage. I get the feeling she wants to help us.”

“How?”

She knows more than she is letting on, especially about Thorin, I said to them through thought. Even though my mates and I were alone in our bedchamber, I feared the walls had ears. I recalled how everyone at supper that first night had gasped in shock when I mentioned Thorin’s strengthening powers, except for Lady Veronica. Why wasn’t she surprised? Had it to do with her seer magic?

Drae rubbed his chin while looking lost in thought.I wonder how much she knows.

And why hasn’t she told Malvolia? Nikkosasked.

The same reason we haven’t told her yet,I answered them.Malvolia might be too paranoid to believe her.

Blaze jumped from his seat, throwing up his hands.So now what?

“All this worrying is giving me a headache. I’m ready for bed.” I stood, holding out my hands with a seductive smile. “Who’s joining me?”

Blaze was the first to sweep me into his arms, his brothers crying foul since he had the advantage of speed. Good thing he didn’t exhibit that same speed during lovemaking. My mates took turns making love to me late into the night, putting aside our worries and fears long enough to find heaven in each other’s arms, while knowing that we’d wake up to a new fresh level of hell in Malvolia’s mad court.

FLORA? ARE YOU THERE? Derrick?

I woke with a gasp, sweat beading on my brow as echoes of that voice reverberated in my head. Was I going mad?

I stifled a yawn while struggling to wake. Nestled between my sleeping mates, dark, feathery wings warmed and relaxed my nude body. I stared up at the top of our bed’s canopy, ribbons of pale morning light streaming through the sheer fabric as the bed gently rocked beneath us.

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