Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(39)

He quirked a brow at me, and I rolled my hand in a gesture, indicating for him to continue. There was no way I was going to come back and find he’d been injured. I didn’t quite understand how people twisted words and made loopholes, but I knew words and orders could be easily manipulated and misunderstood by now.

Kamoi sighed and added, “If we return and find a single scratch on him, your lives are forfeit.”

The guard shifted uneasily, his gaze darting from Kamoi to me then back.

Threaten their families, I mouthed, once the guard’s attention was back on the prince.

Kamoi glared at me.

Like I care. I smiled back, putting my hand on my hip.

“And your families will also die,” he said. “Understood?”

The pale-faced guard nodded and exited the chamber.

I turned to see Dyter pulling off Tyrrik’s boots. I raced over to help. Grabbing a pillow, I lifted the Drae’s head to push it underneath.

“Will he be okay, Dyter?” I asked in a low voice. “Shouldn’t he be awake by now?”

“He came as near to death as is possible for a Drae,” the prince answered. “His healing will be slow, but he will heal.”

“Don’t sound so happy about it,” I muttered.

The Phaetyn shrugged, saying, “There will be time to care for the Drae afterward. I will see that everything you need is brought here, but my mother, the queen, awaits us.”

I stole one last look at Tyrrik’s relaxed face, my gut churning at the thought of leaving him vulnerable. My options were limited, and I hated that. Dyter jerked his head to the door, and I nodded, following Kamoi out.

“Your wives and children,” I hissed at the, now, three guards outside. I watched their eyes widen, and I hurried after the prince.

We wound down two more halls before the Phaetyn prince stopped. I bumped into him, putting both of my hands on his back to steady myself. Yep, about as muscular as I expected. I stepped back, rubbing the tip of my nose as he turned around to look at me. I did my best to ignore his small smile, acting as if I’d meant to paw at him like that.

The smile faded as he took hold of the handle and, with a deep breath, pushed the door open.

Dyter and I shared a glance, and he entered; there was something more going on, only I wasn’t sure what. I inched into the room after him, and the scent of stagnant air and illness slapped my senses. Someone needed to open a window and air the place out and maybe offer to bathe the queen.

Queen Alani lay in the middle of a four poster bed made of polished ash. Her sallow skin was almost as blanched of color as the bedding. Deep purple-blue circles marred the area under her eyes, and her silver hair held no luster. Her thin body was hidden in the folds of the hemp blankets, and she didn’t even stir as we came to stand around her large bed.

Movement in the corner drew my gaze. A handsome man stood there, staring at Dyter and me, gripping a spear though Kamoi’s presence seemed to be holding the man back from advancing. The strange Phaetyn acted like we’d surprised them by entering the room, yet I distinctly remembered the prince telling his sister to go and alert the king and queen of our approach.

“Kamoi,” the queen whispered, her dry and raspy voice sounding like rubbing paper.

Everyone turned to the bed, but I angled my body to keep the unknown man in sight.

“Mother,” Kamoi bent and kissed her waxen cheek. “I have some people I would like you to meet.”

“If this isn’t a good time . . .” I said, eying the door. The queen looked ready to kick it; she was practically decaying in her bed. The Phaetyn outside already hated me. I didn’t even want to contemplate what they’d do if their leader died with me in the room.

“It’s as good a time as any,” the queen said. “Help me sit.”

Kamoi helped prop her against the headboard, stuffing pillows behind her.

“Are you ill, Queen Alani?” Dyter asked, bowing low.

“After a fashion, yes,” she said, eyeing first Dyter then me. Her pale lavender eyes were flat and watery.

Great. Another one of those cryptic people.

“Mother,” Kamoi said, nodding at the other man. “I traveled to Verald and discovered the rumors to be true. There was indeed another Phaetyn there.” He gestured to me, and I waved. “This is Ryn. She is Drae and Phaetyn.”

The Queen gasped, “Faatasi uma? Leaga le malaia.”

I frowned at Dyter. “That didn’t sound complimentary.”

“Life and death,” the man behind us said. “How is such a thing possible?”

Why were they acting so surprised? Kamoi tree-talked ahead and told them all this. I held up a hand, which was all I could think of to be polite. No one said anything, so I jumped in and asked the man, “Are you Kamoi’s father?”

“I apologize, Ryn,” Kamoi said. “Yes, this is my father, Kaelan.”

“Nice to meet you.” I dipped my head and bobbed a little then did the same to the queen because she was their leader.

The three Phaetyn observed me, and the silence stretched and became awkward. I shifted my gaze between the three royals, waiting for one of them to speak. Maybe I should’ve asked Dyter for etiquette lessons instead of the history of Gemond.

Kamoi broke the weird staring contest. “The Ash Tree showed Ryn visions, Mother. She was also able to grant Lord Irrik access through our barrier by resting a hand upon him.”