Page 397 of Kingdoms of Night

Felix set his hands on Viridi’s shoulders. “If she is still with us then, I will protect her like I protect Juno. But you’re not going to lose your mind to the jeweltrees. You’ll control this magic set on your soul. I have no doubt.”

Hot tears burned Viridi’s eyes, but he held them back. He tried to summon the words to thank him, but nothing he could say would have enough strength, so he simply set his hands on Felix’s and nodded gravely as emotion attempted to sweep him away.

He bid Felix good rest and his friend stepped backward toward his home tree. The tree’s magic shimmered and sparked, enveloping Felix until he was no longer visible.

For the first time in as long as Viridi could remember, he didn’t wish to fall into a tree to sleep. He looked toward his oaken castle and smiled, Isa’s face once more flashing through his thoughts. It was wonderful to be excited about life again, if only for a while.

As he strode down the path with the trees shifting slightly, nodding leaf-heavy limbs and rolling their roots to honor him, he tried to come up with a timeline.

When did he need to help Isa leave his island? How long would it be safe for her and Nico to be in his presence? He couldn’t let them stay for such a time as to give up a life elsewhere. Even if he could hold off his transformation for moons, it would be wrong to persuade them to remain.

Just a few days, then.

He sighed, but picked up his pace, determined to make the most of the short visit with this woman whose warm soul called to him so strongly.

Claim her…

Drain her…

She can be yours…

The jeweltrees’ voices threaded through his mind, brightening the image of Isa he’d conjured up and making his heart beat faster.

He whirled and faced the deepest part of the woods. “Stop.”

The trees went silent.

Swallowing and shaking off a chill, he continued on to the castle.

Maybe just two days. Two days and then he would see them on their boat and gone safely. Two days and then he would somehow persuade all the other dryads to leave this island. He would give into the will of the forest and become the monster he was born to be.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

ISA

Isa woke to Calva holding a tray of steaming white buns. The dryad woman set them on the table where the afternoon sun glowed over the deep wood grain.

Isa climbed out of the hammock and sat at the table. “I think maybe I died and this is the blessed afterlife.” The buns smelled sweet, and when she took a bite they were pleasantly chewy. “What’s in these?”

“They are made from beans.”

Reaching for a second, Isa paused. The light from the window glittered over the side of her hand. She stared, her blood going cold as she splayed her fingers. Tiny patches of the palest blue ran down her pinkie finger all the way to her wrist. The strange patches reflected the sunlight like pieces of window glass.

“What is it, My Lady? Are you injured?”

Inhaling quickly and tugging her sleeve down, she forced a grin. “Oh, no. I’m fine. Sorry, you were saying?”

“The buns are made from beans.”

“Interesting,” Isa said, sounding a bit too loud. “They’re my new favorite food.” Perhaps she could ask Werian and Rhianne about her hand. Maybe Werian could heal her.

Calva smiled, nodding, and filled a wooden mug with wine. “I’ll leave you to your meal, Lady of the Sun. The prince asks if he may visit you again.”

Her heart jumped, and she turned in her chair, wishing to see him, but he wasn’t there. “Yes, he’s welcome anytime.”

A small laugh bubbled from Calva and she bowed before leaving.

Isa drank down three big swallows of wine. Goddess save her, she was acting like a fool, leaping at any mention of Viridi. Calva would tell the prince how excited she was to see him and he would be put off by her ridiculous desperation.

---