Page 104 of Madness of Her Mages

She nodded.

A bolt shot through me. Marius was alive!

Aurora gasped. “Our other pappo is in a dungeon?”

“Girls, listen very carefully,” I whispered while sitting up and scanning the room for any servants, relieved when I saw none. There was no telling when and if they’d come into our bedchamber. “Do not tell anyone else what Ember told me. Nobody else can know we know Pappo Marius is alive. Do you understand?”

They both nodded. “Yes, Auntie.”

Aurora’s bottom lip hung in a pout. “Will you get him out of the dungeon?”

I stroked her face while lying back down. All this time Marius was alive and in a dungeon. There was no telling how much he’d suffered all these years. Why would Malvolia do that to him, and did my mother and Derrick know?

Flames of rage boiled my blood and roiled my gut. “I will release him,” I answered, then thought to myself,or die trying.

Part Three

Witches, Weapons, and the Cost of War

Chapter Twenty

MORNING LIGHT SPILLEDinto the room, filtered by the canopy above us into pale pink stardust as our bed slowly rocked like a cradle. After a fitful night of sleep, I laid in Drae’s arms. The steady thrum of his heartbeat and the warmth radiating off his skin should have been enough to lull me into a deep slumber, but thoughts of my father had plagued my dreams as I feared all the ways Malvolia probably tortured him for over two decades. I couldn’t imagine one of my mates being torn from us, forced to live apart while we carried on with our lives, raising our family without him. Shadows eclipsed my heart and dulled everything around me—from colors to sounds and touch, they were tainted by my haze of depression, and I could scarcely think past the need to free my father.

The sound of the girls’ laughter filtered in from outside, and I looked around the bed, noting that Nikkos was already gone. Myshoulders sagged in relief when I heard his deep voice calling to the girls. He was so good with them and such a kind mate to take care of them while letting me sleep.

How was your sleep?Drae’s thought echoed in my mind.

I looked into his dark eyes, thick with fatigue, the lines on his brow drawn down, and I wondered if the news about my father had affected his sleep as well. I’d told my mates everything last night after putting the girls to sleep.How do you think after finding out my father has been stuck in a cell for almost a quarter of a century?

My eyes involuntarily shuttered when he ran calloused knuckles down the side of my face.

At least he’s not dead, Shiri.

My eyes flew open, and I sat up, hugging my knees to my chest, irritated by his comment. I was thankful we had the ability to mind-speak, and not just for the privacy. My throat was so clogged with emotion, I wouldn’t have been able to push out the words.There’s no telling the abuse he’s suffered. He might have been better off dead.

Maybe he still lives because Malvolia didn’t have the heart to kill him.

My aunt has no heart.I rested my forehead against my knees with a groan. I resented Drae for serving such an evil queen and then felt bad for blaming my mate for her behavior. I swiped back angry tears that spilled over my eyes.She refused to listen when I told her Thorin tricked her, that my mother didn’t want to steal her throne.

Drae rubbed my back and shoulders.Then why didn’t she kill Marius?

I shrugged, unable to answer as I heard Blaze stir beside us. When I first agreed to serve Malvolia, all I wanted was to find a way to heal the rift between my family. I didn’t know if I could now, not after all Malvolia had done.

She saved him to use as leverage against Shiri’s sister,Blaze’s deep, thick voice resonated in my head.

I looked over my shoulder at him, a plea in my eyes.I need to see him. How do we get into the tower?

I don’t know,Drae answered.It’s too heavily guarded.

I turned on him with a snarl.So we leave my father in there to rot?

I didn’t say that.He held up his hands in a defensive gesture.Let me think.

I dragged my hands down my face, heaving a sigh.I’m sorry,I said, feeling badly for taking out my frustrations on him.

He rubbed my back again and kissed my shoulder.No need to be sorry. I know you’re stressed.

I turned into him and pressed a kiss to his lips while searching the depths of his eyes.I love you. I truly do.

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