Page 80 of Madness of Her Mages

My blood ran cold, and I squeezed Drae’s hand tight as I fought the urge to turn on my heel and use my siren’s call to make Felicity jump out the window. I would kill my aunt or anyone else who tried to involve the children in this war.

Once we reached a secluded alcove, I checked my mates for injuries, relieved when I saw nothing serious. I still couldn’t get that image of Furori about to stab Nikkos from my mind.

My mates and I shared a group hug, expelling breaths of relief, though it did little to assuage the pain in my chest.

I wiped moisture from my eyes as I kissed each of their cheeks.

I almost lost you back there,I said to Nikkos through thought, my chest tightening with emotion as I touched his chin. He’d need to treat the wound, but it was a minor cut.

He shrugged.Nah.

I scowled.Nah? Really? Furori had a knife at your heart.

He averted his gaze.I would’ve blocked him in time.

I gritted my teeth to keep from swearing, though there was no use arguing now.I never thought she’d go to Fachnan’s court,I projected to my mates,not after what he did to the shifters.

Drae’s dark voice echoed in my skull.She must’ve had no choice.

I swiped away angry, hot tears.What did Malvolia expect would happen when she sent an army of a thousand fire mages after her?

I clutched my chest, straining for each breath. And now my sister was in a demon court, surrounded by those who would use her or even kill her, and I feared Felicity was right, and my aunt would try to use the children as bait if it looked like we would lose the war.

Feeling on the verge of suffocation, I grasped my bodice with trembling hands, my fingers fumbling with the laces.Help me get this off!

Drae reached for me.Wait until we reach our bedchamber.

I shook my head, my breaths turning more shallow.I can’t breathe.

His eyes widened, and he spun me around, ripping at my stays and opening my bodice. My gown ballooned around me as I threw it to the floor, but it wasn’t enough. I breathed through a wheeze while fighting to get out of that ridiculous hoop.

Help me!I cried.

Blaze was under my dress, freeing me from the contraption with amazing speed.

My gown hung off my shoulder and dragged the floor as I clutched my chest. It still wasn’t enough, and I knew what I needed.

I turned pleading eyes to Blaze.Fly me to the girls. Please hurry!

His eyes widened before he swept me into his arms and flew above courtiers’ heads through the hall. We moved in a blur, flying from one hall to another and then through the atrium until we reached a lower floor. I thought I heard my other mates calling us, but I didn’t care. I had to reach the girls. I had to see that they were alive and safe.

When Blaze and I reached the nursery, I stumbled out of his arms, running past the two startled guards and through the door, gasping in alarm when I spun around the darkened, empty room.

“Where are they?” I called out loud.

I heard a commotion from the other end of the room and saw a lamp light flicker. Legs numb from panic, I pushed myself toward that direction, Blaze close behind me lighting the way by using his hand as a torch.

“Your Highness?” Miss Grethel stood from a rocking chair beside the bed, smoothing her hands down her frock. She gasped as she looked at me, no doubt startled by my state of undress.

I didn’t care. I ignored her and pulled back the drapes that hung over the bed, Blaze holding his light above my shoulder. My heart sighed in relief when I saw my two sleeping cherubs within. My relief was quickly replaced by aggravation as I turned on the nursemaid with a scowl. “What are they doing in bed?”

She gave me a questioning look, as if I wasn’t expected to care about their welfare. “Oh, they’re all tucked in for the night. They’ve been out since shortly after supper.”

“Shortly after supper?” So early. Ire heated my veins as I shared an annoyed look with Blaze. “But I didn’t get to kiss them goodnight, and I never gave permission for them to sleep in their nursery.”

She tilted her head, a look of annoyance flashing in her eyes. “But they belong in the nursery.”

“No,” I corrected, my words punctured with aggravation, “they belong with me.”

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