Page 87 of Shifting Winds
“Maybe not a complete betrayal, but they’re going to try to trick me?”
He bobbed his head. “Be careful.” Poe flapped over to land on my shoulder. He rubbed his head against my cheek. “Love Evie. Love Fee.”
“I love you too.”
“Open door.”
I snorted. “Done with me already?”
“Home. Fee.”
“Alright. Don’t be a stranger, Poe.”
He flew off into the night in a flash of purple blue. I was just about to head back inside when I felt a disturbance at the edge of my wards.
Garrett stood there, holding Thalia’s limp form in his arms, the woman’s eyes glowing an unearthly silver. She mumbled something under her breath I couldn’t hear.
“Let us in!” Garrett shouted. “Thalia needs help.”
I rushed downstairs. “Then why aren’t you helping her?”
His jaw tightened. “Because, you quarrelsome woman, she insisted on coming here.”
“I’m not a medic!” With a word, the wards opened. Garrett stalked inside.
“Follow me.”
For once, Garrett didn’t argue. When we were inside, he carefully laid the young woman on the couch. Thalia’s face was etched in lines of misery, her eyes wide open and unseeing.
“Evie. Evie. Are you there?”
I took her hand, concerned by Thalia’s frigid touch. I reached for the wool blanket and covered her up. “I’m here.”
“A decision. A crown. A tree. Death or Dominion. Blood. Family.” A sob bubbled from Thalia’s lips.
I stroked her hair. “It’s okay.” I glanced at Garrett. “Can you sit with her for a minute? I’ll make her some tea.”
“No!” Her hoarse bark made me freeze. “Understand. Heed me. You must choose, Evie. Choose what you want to be. Or you will die.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, fingers going limp in my hands. Garrett went to his knees, eyes wide with concern. I slowly backed away, wondering at the force of his reaction to her. The usually unruffled Garrett was very much ruffled for this girl.
“She’s unconscious,” I said quietly. “That’s all. Seers expend a lot of energy during their visions, and this seemed like a powerful one.”
Garrett brushed Thalia’s hair from her face and didn’t respond.
I touched him on the shoulder on my way to the kitchen. “I’ll make some coffee too.”
While both were brewing, I texted Caelan.
Is she okay?he responded.
Unconscious but breathing. She should be fine in a little while.
And Garrett?
Unusually kind to Thalia. Something going on?
Wolves have a protective streak,was all he said.
