Page 26 of The Dragon Queen

Hergrasponmyhandtightensfurther. "AnyenemyofErembour'sisanallyofyours."

"But--"

"You'llbringthemhere,"sheorders,andyeah,okay,thatsoundslikeagreatideaintheory,butinpractice,myheadswims.

"Grandma--"Delaynieinsertsherselfatthesideofthebednexttomeagain. "Youshouldberesting."

Mariutzaignoresher.Herhandtravelsupmyarmuntilit'stouchingmybareleftwrist,andit'slikeashockofblackmagicshootingstraightintomyveins. "Youmustfixwhat'sbeenbroken."

"But--"

"Promiseme."Purpleflamesburninhereyes.

AndwhatcanIdo? "Ipromise.Imean.I'lltry."

Withthat,theflamesinhereyesflickeranddie.Shefallsbackintothepillows,andherhandunclenches,releasingmywrist.Ipullmyarmintomychest,curlingprotectivelyaroundit.Theimprintsofherfingersarepinprickbruises,risingonmyskin.

"Grandma--"Delaynieshouts.

Mariutza'seyesflutterclosed,andforasecond,terrorstrikesmyheart.

Butthensheopenshermouth.Andoutcomestheloudest,mostridiculoussnore.

Islumpbackinmychair,mymindspinning.

Gatheryourallies.

Fixwhatisbroken.

Nopressureoranything.

Asmygazerefocuses,IfindDelayniesittingontheedgeofthebed,regardingmewithalookthat'ssympatheticbutfirm. "Thankyouforvisiting--itmeansalottousboth.ButIthinkmygrandmotherneedstorest."

It'saverypolitewayoftellingmetogetthehelloutofhere;honestly,it'smorepolitethanIdeserve.

Numb,stilltryingtoprocessMariutza'sdirectives,Inodandstand. "I'llvisitagainwhenshe'sfeeling...stronger."

Asifthat'stheproblem.Foraminutethere,shewasstrongerthanIam,rattlingmewiththeforceofhergrip.

Delayniemanagesapainedsmile.

Gatheringmyself,Iheadforthedoor,whereRhiannonandAmyarewaitingforme.

"What--"Rhiannonstartstoask.

Ishakemyhead,needingsomespace.

ButbeforeIcangofar,abroadhandwrapsaroundmyarm.Ispinonmyheels.

ButRook'sgripispunishing,hiseyesblack.

Ilookdown.Hisfingersarecurledaroundmywrist,exactlywhereMariutzagrabbedme.

ExactlywheretheShadowBraceroncelay.

"Ember."Apalenoteoffearcracksthedeeptimbreofhisvoice. "Tellmeeverything."

Chapter

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