Page 128 of Between Wrath and Mercy

Why did she speak in riddles? Why couldn’t she have been more clear? Maybe it had something to do with being Rain’s twin flame? Perhaps the Myriad suspected there was more to us than a normal pair of conduits who wanted to perform the ritual? But then why had Rain’s experience with the Supreme gone smoothly? I focused my divinity on my own heart, trying to calm its beating. One problem at a time—Rain was right. It would definitely be a problem, though, the minute the Myriad caught wind of Elora being the Beloved. I was surprised they didn’t know already, given what happened in the throne room the other day. They would try to do to her what they did to Lucia. But now, after what I’d been a part of today? I would never allow it. I supposed her protection from them might be one more perk of being queen. The Myriad had been so firmly enmeshed in royal affairs for so long, though, I wondered how hard it would be to extricate from it.

The moment my eyes grew heavy, there was a knock at my door. I sat up, confused. Rain wouldn’t knock. I pulled a match out of my nightstand and lit my lamp, calling out for whoever it was to enter.

“Hey there.” Lavenia’s voice was low and quiet, tired.

“Ven!” I jumped out of bed, glad to see my friend. The woman who helped save my life by stopping her father. From keeping him at bay. But how was she here?

“I just wanted to check on you. I heard things were pretty rough for a while.”

I smiled and wondered if her first stop upon returning was to see me rather than to go rest. “I’ll be good as new by tomorrow. You sound exhausted. Areyoualright?”

Lavenia sat down heavily on the end of the bed. “He’s far gone now. I don’t know if it was my compulsion or not, but I was there all day today and didn’t need to use it once. Mama is staying with him and will siphon him if she needs to until I can get back. But neither of us think he’ll wake again.”

It was strange to hear her refer to Shivani the way she did, but I imagined the two of them had spent a fair amount of time together the last few days, and maybe some closeness between them had been restored. “He’s dying?”

She gave me a look and snorted. “He’sbeendying. I think we just hastened it along.” She hung her head, and I didn’t know how to react. Rain had said they all agreed to it, but I was sure the decision weighed heavily over all of them. Save for Dewalt; I couldn’t believe Dewalt would feel any remorse for the king.

“I’m sorry. Thank you—for everything.” I grasped her hand, and she squeezed mine.

“I’m sorry too—for impulsing you so much. And you’re welcome.” Her expression was somber, but the sigh and slight smile she afforded me seemed more like relief than anything. “I’ll have to check with Rainier, but I think we’re doing the cleansing tomorrow.”

I cocked my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Of course, he didn’t mention it. I forget the real reason for it; it’s such an old tradition for royalty. It doesn’t even mean anything anymore. Something to do with the cleansing of our pasts and coming together as a family or something. It’s turned into an excuse for a day of pampering. It will just be you, me, and Mama. If Elora were here, she’d participate too.” We exchanged a sad smile but knew with Soren’s ailing health, we didn’t have time to spare.

“Ordinarily, your father should be there to participate with Rainier, but there is no time. It’ll just be him and Dewalt.”

“Divine hell, I suppose I should send a message to him. ‘Hello Papa, do I have a surprise for you.’” Lavenia gave a mild chuckle, yawning before she headed to the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Lavenia.” She waved my words away and left.

Ididn’tfallintoan illusion but had restless dreams instead. Though I didn’t remember a single one, I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach when I woke. I was lying in the center of the bed on my side, and Rain was behind me, a heavy arm around my waist. Sighing, I wiggled happily against him, having missed him while he attended to all the responsibilities I inadvertently thrust upon him. His absence the past two nights was bothering me, and I felt pathetic for it. I interlaced my fingers with the hand wrapped around my waist, and he tugged me backward toward him in his sleep. He gave a soft snore, making me smile. I loved waking up in his arms or on his chest or just near him. I’d never felt that sort of intimacy. When I shared a bed with Faxon, I tended to sleep on the edge of it, curled away from him. In all our years living in hiding, I only remembered waking up to his touch once, and it was an accident, my cold feet seeking body heat in the night. Even in Rain’s sleep, he held me like he was going to lose me. I adjusted in his arms before falling back into unconsciousness, comfortable and relaxed, my uneasiness gone.

I didn’t think it was too much later when he woke me, nuzzling my neck.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this.”

“Mmm?” I kept my eyes closed and snuggled against him.

“Every morning I wake next to you, it takes me a moment to realize I’m not still dreaming.” I made a happy noise in my throat and felt the smile spreading across my face.

“I’ve missed you.”

“I know.” I snorted, and he kissed that spot, right behind my ear, making my skin pebble and my heart soar. “I met with my shifters; They suspect Cyran and Elora are in Evenmoor but haven’t had time to follow up. Aedwyn and Aerfen will be checking to see if Declan suspects anything. I’ve also had to tend to concerns within the council. Some of them aren’t thrilled we are bypassing their approval for the ritual. But surprisingly, Mother has helped me deal with it, since my father . . . well, did Lavenia speak to you last night?”

“She did. He still hasn’t woken up?”

“No, and I hope he doesn’t. It makes things easier. With him unwell, my mother gave me free rein. Until he dies and we are crowned as king and queen, everything will have to go through her first, but she’s given me almost absolute permission to run things as necessary.”

“I was told I’m to spend the day with her and Lavenia while you and Dewalt do the same? The cleansing or something, she called it?” I felt him nod.

“Dewalt and I are leaving in the afternoon for a short hunt and a night of smoking draíbea and drinking. I don’t think you’ll have as much fun with Ven and my mother.”

“Ass.” He chuckled and kissed me lower, moving down my neck.

“You, my venomous little demon, will be pampered, plucked, and prepped for me to defile you tomorrow night.” I chuckled, squirming away, but he hauled me back against him, rewarding me with a twitch from him against my backside.

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