Page 76 of Madness of Her Mages

Blaze gave me a sympathetic look.You okay?he projected through thought.

I shrugged.I’ll live. How were the girls?

They were eating supper.

My heart ached and twisted. I was so tired of this castle already, of the girls eating suppers without me.And?

He chewed his lip, concern marring his brow.They were surprisingly quiet.

That doesn’t sound like them. Did they seem upset?I worried their nursemaid wouldn’t be as kind or understanding as Mrs. Euphemia. I knew the girls could be a trial.

Not that I could tell.

I winced, sucking in a breath when a servant pulled too tightly on my stays. “Looser,” I said to her, my tone softening when her eyes widened. “Please.”

She turned her gaze to the floor. “Yes, your highness.” The poor girl looked more human than Fae, and she winced at everything, acting as frightened as a mouse underfoot. I would’ve thought her behavior was unusual, except most servants acted that way, frightened of my every word no matter how kindly I spoke. I wondered if they were afraid of my magic, or maybe my aunt had conditioned them to be that way. I couldn’t imagine such a life, constantly in fear of upsetting your employer. I’d rather go hungry.

Perhaps I should go to them,I said to Blaze, remembering our conversation.

He leaned back on his stool, heaving out a breath.After supper.

Something was wrong. I could tell in the tension lines framing his eyes and the undercurrent of worry in his voice.What is it?

Drae and Nikkos sauntered into the dressing room, their wings tucked behind them, smelling of sage and sulfur and something else making them tempting enough to devour.

“Are we ready?” Drae asked me out loud, his eyes bulging when he got a look at my breasts spilling out of my bodice. He jutted a finger at my chest. “Your nipples are showing.”

I gasped as I looked down, and sure enough, I could make out the dusky skin of my outer nipples above the top of my bodice. This wouldn’t do. But then I coughed and sputtered when oneof the servants powered my chest, turning my entire bosom and nipples a milky white to match my gown.

I heaved a groan and crossed my arms, swearing when the powder wiped off on my sleeves. “Don’t you have something else to cover me?” I asked her.

She ran off with a squeak and returned with a bit of lace, tucking it into my bodice. I frowned down at my chest. The lace barely covered my nipples, but it would have to do or we’d be late to supper. Much to the servants’ chagrin, I refused the face paints and white beehive wig.

I laced my arm through Drae’s and his brothers followed us into the hall. I walked like I had a stick wedged up my bottom, my slick slipper shoes making it impossible for me to move too fast, and my mates couldn’t carry me without risking dislocating my nipple lace or bending my hoops. What a nightmare. I couldn’t believe Fae chose to dress like this. I would lose my mind if I had to wear these ridiculous costumes much longer.

I threw a look over my shoulder at Blaze.You were saying?I projected to him, letting my thought carry so all my mates could hear.

He kept his head down while he walked, leering up at us from beneath his lashes.Something I overheard on the way back.

What?

It could be just gossip, but if it’s to be believed, your sister defeated a thousand mages.

I nearly stumbled over my own feet, gasping and dislocating my nipple coverage when Drae caught me.When? Where?I asked as I furiously shoved the lace back down.

The four of us had stopped, standing in the middle of the castle’s drafty hall while servants and courtiers moved past us in a blur. Tardiness be damned. This news was too important.

He cast a look around him, as if a trio of servants that pushed a cart past us could hear.I’m assuming today at Kyan’s Temple.

Kyan’s temple?I gaped at Blaze, then at his brothers.Is that in Windhaven?

It is.Blaze grimaced.In the capital city of Ventus.

Ventus was a stone’s throw away from Thebes. My sister was so close to us.What was she doing there?

Blaze gave me a helpless look.I don’t know.

My gut twisted and turned, and my chest felt like it would cave in from fear and longing.Do you know if she’s still there?

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