Page 52 of Shadow Wings

“Um.” Was I not supposed to know? “Someone must’ve said something.” I shrugged, relieved when they let it drop. Plus, I didn’t have to fight my way through the Phaetyn guards or climb any trees.Good, good. I stopped in the middle of the trees and found a large oak that reminded me of the trees at the edge of Zivost. I placed my hands on its rough trunk, closed my eyes, and asked the tree to tell me what it knew aboutLuna.

The beautiful Phaetyn queen appeared in an accelerated blur of memories. She lowered and raised the wall multiple times as she left and returned. Sometimes, she had guards with her, and other times, she was alone. The images flashed faster and faster before one stilled with jarring suddenness. The Phaetyn Queen left, lowering the jagged rocks, but this time as she crossed the path, a man waited for her. She returned, and the imagesfaded.

The scene sped up, and the next time Queen Luna left, her belly was swollen with child. She wore a hood, and two guards flanked her. She glanced furtively behind her, her eyes welling with tears. The images blurred, showing the queen holding a child. She was outside of the wall. She kissed the baby and gave it back to the man, and she kissed him before returning toZivost.

When she returned to the tree line, Alani stepped out of the forest, her face contorted in rage as she faced her sister. Angry words flew between the two, and when they stood in the tense aftermath, both of their expressions werepained.

A new image of Queen Luna materialized as she left again, this time as a hooded figure, alone, stooped as she tried to avoid pryingeyes.

Alani was hiding in the forest, this time with Queen Luna's mate, Kaelan. When Luna embraced the man on the other side of the wall, his hood tipped back. His ears were rounded. He washuman.

I gasped. Queen Luna had a baby with ahuman.

Another image materialized. Luna embraced her sister at the edge of the rock barrier. Tears streamed down the queen’s face, but though Alani embraced her sister, her eyes were as hard as agates. Luna stooped to pick up a small valise, and the walls lowered. Queen Luna and her two guards crossed to the broken rock. As the wall rose, and the queen’s human lover rushed out to embrace her, dozens of Druman swarmed around the group. Swords glinted in the moonlight, and the Druman slaughtered the queen’s guards and her human lover, all while they held her, forcing her towatch.

And all the while, Alani and Kaelan observed from the shadows of Zivost, their eyesgleaming.

A shadow flew overhead and descended to the blood-splattered rocks. An emerald Drae landed, and the air around him shimmered as heshifted.

I wrenched my arms to my sides, clasping my hands to my chest as I curled over, keening for the queen of the Phaetyn. I fell to my knees and sobbed for the twisted and sick betrayal I’d witnessed in the images. The previous queen had a child; I’d seen it. Luna had loved a human. If Alani so badly wanted to strengthen the barrier, why hadn’t she sent out search parties to find this child? Unless . . . Alani didn’tknowabout the child? Unless none of themknew.

Alani and Kaelan had just stood there and watched while Luna wastaken.

My stomach turned, and a black hollowness spread through mychest.

“What did yousee?”

I’d been crying for several minutes and had completely forgotten the presence of the others. I stood, my fists clenched at my sides, and looked each of the Phaetyn in the eye. My very life was a gift from Queen Luna, and I owed her a debt. Even though I didn’t want to be involved, I was, and I couldn’t turn my back on the very reason I had life. There was no question Queen Luna would help her people if she were here. The story of her life was a clear example of her belief in self-governance. Still, I needed to think of the implications before I divulged what I’d seen. This situation was out ofcontrol.

I dropped my eyes. “I saw Tyrrik falling from the sky again,” I said, woodenly. “It wasterrible.”

* * *

Istormedthe circle of guards surrounding the elm tree. I was certain they were there to keep me out, no one else. Queen Alani hadn’t wanted me to discover thetruth.

Holy Drae-batter pancakes. She’d watched her sister be taken by the Emperor’s Druman and donenothing.I didn’t even want to think about how Alani had ended up with Kaelan. Because he’d been with Luna first. For all I knew, Alani had arranged to have Luna taken. The thought chilled me to mycore.

I’dneverexpected the Queen of Phaetyn to be as evil as Irdelron. Was every sovereign in the entire realm like this? As far as I was concerned, they should be deposed, preferably followed by a public execution. Or Tyrrik could behead them. I’d even offer to help at this point because . . .really?

I reached the tree, filled with righteous indignation, and charged the guard with the most decorations on his purple uniform. I glared at him. “Where isKamoi?”

“Prince Kamoi is presently detainedelsewhere.”

“You don’t say,” I observed, rolling myeyes.

The guard blinked at my heavy sarcasm, which only irritated mefurther.

“It’s in Kamoi’s interest to speak with me, immediately.” My teeth extended, my Drae fangs emerging, and while it should’ve made me appear more frightening, their presence made my face contort while I spoke. “It’s a matter ofsecurity.”

The guard’s lips trembled, and he raised his hand to cover hismouth.

If he laughed, I would pull his shiny hairout.

The Phaetyn regained control and, this time seeming genuine, said, “Prince Kamoi is on the southern side of the forest with the rest of our army, trying to quell unrest. He really isbusy.”

I deflated, feeling my teeth recede. “Drak.”

I had a few words to say to that freakin’ prince. Starting with the binding-thing and ending with how his mother was a grade-A pile of horsemanure.

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