Page 95 of Madness of Her Mages

“And your fool heart has blinded you.” She looked me over with disgust, as if I was no more significant than a pile of troll dung. “Soon we go to war. Will you be with me or against me?”

“I am not against you, Aunt.” I fought against the desperation that slipped into my voice, knowing she would scorn my weakness. “I wish you could see that.”

We both turned at a rap on the door. A servant entered and bowed, followed by Miss Grethel.

Miss Grethel looked like a frightened mouse as she bowed low, her hands visibly shaking. “You sent for me, Your Majesty?”

Malvolia walked a slow circle around her like a cat toying with a mouse. “Who told you to split open my grandniece’s knuckles?”

Miss Grethel’s eyes darted to me before she turned her gaze to the floor. “She was disobedient, Your Majesty.”

“You’re dismissed from my service, and do not let me hear that you’ve applied for a nursemaid position anywhere else.” She jutted a finger toward the door. “Go now, before I have my guards throw you in the dungeon.”

Miss Grethel let out a squeak, her eyes filling with tears. She backed up to the door, her eyes still trained on the floor while her entire body visibly shook. The servant opened the door, and after they both slipped out, Miss Grethel’s audible sobs echoed through the halls.

Malvolia shook her head, clucking her tongue. When she turned to me, her expression softened. “I told her to be strict with the girls. I didn’t tell her to beat them. Fortunately, it seems your mate has healed the child.” She waved toward Nikkos with a dismissive flick of the wrist. “It’s as if it never happened.”

Had she no shred of a heart left? Did she not see how her grandnieces cowered behind my mates? “She may not carry the physical scars,” I seethed, clenching my fists until my nails broke skin, “but she will have mental ones.”

Malvolia had the nerve to laugh. “Try living through the Dark Tide and the Crimson Tide. Then we’ll talk about mental scars.”

I wanted to tell her the Crimson Tide was partly her fault.

I tensed when Malvolia’s scowl settled on the children hiding behind my mates’ legs. When Ember gasped, Aurora gave Malvolia a defiant glare and pushed her sister behind her.

Malvolia shook her head then turned from them, an impassive look in her eyes. “They remind me so much of Flora and me when we were children.”

I heaved a weary sigh, feeling like I’d gotten nowhere with my aunt. “Like I said when we first met, I will go to war with you. I will disable Fachnan’s army. I will disable my sister, but I willnotkill her. If my mother is with her, I will demand answers, and we will get to the bottom of this.”

She jutted her hands on her hips, giving me an assessing look. “And if my sister confesses that she’s been plotting to kill me?”

I met her unwavering glare with one of my own. “She won’t.”

She snarled like a dragon hoarding his gold. “Answer me, Shiri.”

“If my mother confesses that she’s been plotting to kill you,” I said, praying I didn’t live to regret my words, “then I will step aside and let you do what you must.”

Chapter Nineteen

Irefused to get dressed for court until the servants found me a much smaller, much more manageable hoop, which meant they also had to do a rush hem job to keep my gown from dragging the floor. Daminica quit trying to force me to wear the wig or face paints. She knew it was a losing battle. I checked my appearance in a full-length mirror in the center of the dressing room. Once again, I was in a gown of white. It had a pretty white satin floral pattern on the bodice and the sides of the gown with silver tulle lace going up the middle. The bodice was low-cut, as usual with all my court gowns. The billowing sleeves hung off my shoulders and ran the length of my arms, tapering at the wrists. Though each gown I wore was prettier than the last, I missed wearing colors. I thought of that lovely crimson gown Drae had given me back at Abyssus. The crimson brought out the color in my cheeks. Tomorrow I would ask the servants to ready it. I knew why I was always forced to wear white. It was Malvolia’s way of announcing to the court my powerful magic, but her court and her army had already witnessed my siren’s call. I didn’t need a dress to proclaim the strength of the magic running through my veins.

I walked out into our bedchamber while pulling on my smooth satin gloves. Nikkos and the girls were sitting at the small dining table by the hearth eating cheese, cold meat, fruit, and bread. Nikkos had volunteered to stay behind again. I realized he’d probably rather stay in our rooms than deal with Malvolia’s sycophants. Drae and Blaze were waiting for me, dressed smartly in black silk tunics, tight trousers, and slick boots.

Blaze held out his arm with a wink, his eyes dancing with mischief. “You ready, beautiful?”

Heat flushed my face when Drae grabbed my other arm, whispering in my ear, “I can’t wait to peel that gown off you.”

“Just a moment,” I said when Nikkos caught my eye. I hated leaving him here again, but I didn’t trust anyone else but my mates to watch the girls.

Nikkos whistled as I approached, his wide grin splitting his face in two. He jumped from his seat and wrapped his strong arms around my waist, kissing my cheek. “I still can’t believe the most beautiful witch in Delfi is my mate.”

My face grew hotter as I kissed him back. I wiggled in his arms, giggling when his feathers tickled my bare shoulders. “Thank you for watching them.”

“Anything for you,” he said with a wink.

“Later,” I whispered. “I’ll do that thing with my tongue you like.”

His face flushed all the way to the roots of his wavy, dark hair. “Yes, please,” he said eagerly while licking his lips.

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