Page 86 of A Blightress of Wrath
Iclosed my eyes for just a moment, promising myself to open them again.
“Youcan feel each other?Allthe fae?”Revasked, bending to my side, pulling my hand in his.
IsensedMoira’seye roll without needing to see it. “Barons, leaders of the forest, humans who know nothing.”Shecoughed and added, “Nooffense,Karus.”
Ifelt the tug of a smile at my lips.
“Whatnow?”Revichasked.
“Bequiet and letFelgrenreplenish what she has lost.”
Ifelt the roots of trees grow over my legs, the pop of blooms opening around my head.
Pompeiiquestioned somewhere nearby, “BaronRevich, do you think this wise?”
Revsqueezed my hand once, refusing to let go even as long blades of grass swept over our fingers, growing from the earth beside my arms. “Moirakept her alive and well for seven years through the darkest winter this forest has ever seen.Iwon’t question her now.”
Moirahuffed and murmured under her breath, “Smartestthingyou’veever said.”
Theforest hummed.Itgrew its roots, its flowers, its grass over my skin, my rounded belly, my chest, sending with it that whisper of my name on the wind—the oneI’dknown and first heard years ago across the sway of trees on newly unfurled leaves in that first spring.
Felgrenlived in me andIin it.Ourfates linked, our lives sprung from the same source of power.Terrible, endless power, but we would decide what to do with it.Wewould decide our own fates and paths.
Anothersmile tugged at my lips as a bloom burst open at my chin, tickling me andIlaughed.
Revsqueezed my hand tighter and the silence was not silent at all.
Itwas warm and many sounds at once.
Ifelt the scurry of something small racing through the underbrush nearby.
Iheard the creaks and groans from the ancient trees above me, who fed me their life through the roots woven over my legs.
Ismelled the late spring air, wondering if it had yet turned to summer, the season our daughter would be born into this forest, healthy, and new, and loved.
Withher perfect timing, she kicked andIchoked out a groan.
Myeyes opened to see the wall of flowers, purple, blue, and pink surrounding the shape of my head.Moira’slong pointed face came into view, andIgrinned, matching her own.
“Thereyou are.”Herlips pulled to the side.Irecognized her sharp canines and the flicker of light and color as her wings buzzed in a rapid hum.
Anotherface shifted into view, his eyes a worry of black that melted to blue at the sight of my glow.
Forglowing,Iwas.
Aradiating green washed over my skin.Icould see it there, following the swirl of power as it drifted, unbidden but a part of me just the same.
Revichsmiled, a laugh escaping him. “Moira,” he started, not taking his eyes from mine. “Thankyou.”Hetouched my cheek. “Thankyou for loving her, too.”
Chapter41
Rev
Holdingher hand tightly in mine,ItwirledKarusaround as she laughed.Thesound of her voice lifted through our rooms in a bright call that would always guide me home.Shestepped back to me andIcaught her at my chest, one arm wrapped round her back to pull her close, the other holding her hand over my heart, so she could feel the joy that she gave to me.
Ourdaughter, heavier and only a few months away from joining this world, separated us more than usual andKaruslooked down, knowing my thoughts.
AfterKarushad been replenished byFelgren, we’d gone straight to the dining hall whereJesslynhad providedKaruswith an endless amount of food.Wesat, eating our first meal together in months, andIcaught her up on everything that had happened in the timeI’dwaited for her in that tunnel.
