Page 171 of Wrath of the Fae

I take it in mine, feeling her squeeze it.

‘I’m okay. You?’

She gives a single and poised nod. ‘Never thought I would ever be so glad to see you. But I find myself very glad indeed.’ She gives my hand another affectionate crush.

Rhea and El share a stunned look between us before Tessa pulls away and cups her hands elegantly in front of herself.

‘Where are they?’ I ask Rhea. ‘I felt their pain. Their fear. Are they… I mean… Are they d-dead?’

‘Not dead,’ she assures me. ‘Very much alive and well. They are with Lucca. Practising.’

‘Practising what?’

I can’t think of anything that would keep them from me when I was unconscious. Usually, it’s all “I’ll tear your head off if you try to separate us”.

Tessa hands me an ornated handheld mirror.

I look into the reflection with bated breath.

‘Whoa…’ I whisper. ‘That is… whoa…’

I have eyes again. But I know they’re not mine. I have, however, looked into them a hundred times or more. Seeing them peer back at me through my reflection is the most surreal thing I have ever felt.

One eye is a piercing pale blue. The other is a striking silver.

’How…’ I breathe, staring at them both. ‘How do I have their eyes?’

‘They insisted. You passed out, and they took their opportunity, knowing you would never agree to it if you were awake.’ Rhea leans in, examining each eye intently. ‘It was the strangest procedure.’

‘They gave me their eyes?’

‘One each,’ Tessa interjects. ‘They were most insistent on helping their Bonded Mate.’

I catch the hint of coldness in her words, but she seems to shake it off and busies herself by passing me a glass of water.

‘You must say straight away if there is pain. It means there is a risk of rejection. But if you three are anything to go by, I doubt rejection will ever be an issue.’ I take the drink, and she closes my mouth with a finger under my chin. ‘A queen does not gape like a fish, Raven.’ Another nod to the water.

‘It’s not poisoned, is it?’ El asks from the doorway.

‘Not today,’ Tessa teases.

I sip. It’s that same sweet water I was given in the cells.

‘You should know that there is a tear in the sky,’ Tessa continues, very matter of factly. ‘It’s spread over the entire thirteen kingdoms, branching off in all directions.’

‘I thought we were going to wait to tell her,’ Rhea snaps at her. ‘Let her gather her strength.’

I never thought I would be so happy to see Tessa roll her eyes.

‘She doesn’t need coddling, Rhea. Raven likes to know all the facts. And she hates secrets and being kept in the dark. You, of all people, should know that.’

‘Tessa,’ I gently warn, raising my brow.

She gives me another eye roll and carries on. ‘As I was saying. After you fell unconscious, the crack became more of a tear. It’s widened, and something came through. Rather…. Lots of somethings.’

My pulse races at her words.

‘What? W-what came through?’ I dare ask, dreading the answer.

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