Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(50)

Alani was hiding in the forest, this time with Queen Luna's mate, Kaelan. When Luna embraced the man on the other side of the wall, his hood tipped back. His ears were rounded. He was human.

I gasped. Queen Luna had a baby with a human.

Another image materialized. Luna embraced her sister at the edge of the rock barrier. Tears streamed down the queen’s face, but though Alani embraced her sister, her eyes were as hard as agates. Luna stooped to pick up a small valise, and the walls lowered. Queen Luna and her two guards crossed to the broken rock. As the wall rose, and the queen’s human lover rushed out to embrace her, dozens of Druman swarmed around the group. Swords glinted in the moonlight, and the Druman slaughtered the queen’s guards and her human lover, all while they held her, forcing her to watch.

And all the while, Alani and Kaelan observed from the shadows of Zivost, their eyes gleaming.

A shadow flew overhead and descended to the blood-splattered rocks. An emerald Drae landed, and the air around him shimmered as he shifted.

I wrenched my arms to my sides, clasping my hands to my chest as I curled over, keening for the queen of the Phaetyn. I fell to my knees and sobbed for the twisted and sick betrayal I’d witnessed in the images. The previous queen had a child; I’d seen it. Luna had loved a human. If Alani so badly wanted to strengthen the barrier, why hadn’t she sent out search parties to find this child? Unless . . . Alani didn’t know about the child? Unless none of them knew.

Alani and Kaelan had just stood there and watched while Luna was taken.

My stomach turned, and a black hollowness spread through my chest.

“What did you see?”

I’d been crying for several minutes and had completely forgotten the presence of the others. I stood, my fists clenched at my sides, and looked each of the Phaetyn in the eye. My very life was a gift from Queen Luna, and I owed her a debt. Even though I didn’t want to be involved, I was, and I couldn’t turn my back on the very reason I had life. There was no question Queen Luna would help her people if she were here. The story of her life was a clear example of her belief in self-governance. Still, I needed to think of the implications before I divulged what I’d seen. This situation was out of control.

I dropped my eyes. “I saw Tyrrik falling from the sky again,” I said, woodenly. “It was terrible.”



I stormed the circle of guards surrounding the elm tree. I was certain they were there to keep me out, no one else. Queen Alani hadn’t wanted me to discover the truth.

Holy Drae-batter pancakes. She’d watched her sister be taken by the Emperor’s Druman and done nothing. I didn’t even want to think about how Alani had ended up with Kaelan. Because he’d been with Luna first. For all I knew, Alani had arranged to have Luna taken. The thought chilled me to my core.

I’d never expected the Queen of Phaetyn to be as evil as Irdelron. Was every sovereign in the entire realm like this? As far as I was concerned, they should be deposed, preferably followed by a public execution. Or Tyrrik could behead them. I’d even offer to help at this point because . . . really?

I reached the tree, filled with righteous indignation, and charged the guard with the most decorations on his purple uniform. I glared at him. “Where is Kamoi?”

“Prince Kamoi is presently detained elsewhere.”

“You don’t say,” I observed, rolling my eyes.

The guard blinked at my heavy sarcasm, which only irritated me further.

“It’s in Kamoi’s interest to speak with me, immediately.” My teeth extended, my Drae fangs emerging, and while it should’ve made me appear more frightening, their presence made my face contort while I spoke. “It’s a matter of security.”

The guard’s lips trembled, and he raised his hand to cover his mouth.

If he laughed, I would pull his shiny hair out.

The Phaetyn regained control and, this time seeming genuine, said, “Prince Kamoi is on the southern side of the forest with the rest of our army, trying to quell unrest. He really is busy.”

I deflated, feeling my teeth recede. “Drak.”

I had a few words to say to that freakin’ prince. Starting with the binding-thing and ending with how his mother was a grade-A pile of horse manure.

“Please inform him I would like to see him when he’s back,” I muttered.

“As you say.” The guard bowed.

I dipped my head. At least that guy was nice enough. Maybe they should promote him for not being a pointy-eared jerk. “Thank you.”

He looked startled by my gratitude, and a real smile lifted his lips.

They should totally give him a medal or something. With a sigh, I walked away, unaccountably weary. I ignored the side-long looks from the violet-eyed Phaetyn as I passed. The Phaetyn seemed unsure of whether I was an intruder or not. These silver robes were like magic.

Emboldened by my disguise, I followed the rush of water through the trees to my right, I adjusted my course and, a few minutes later, sank to my knees beside a bubbling brook. There were many Phaetyn around, some collecting water, some just talking, and others hurrying by to get other jobs done, maybe even to go join the fight happening somewhere in the forest. No one said anything to me, and I stared at the crystal water.

I didn’t want to get involved in all this Phaetyn drama. I felt a debt because of my connection to the trees and Luna, but this wasn’t my battle. Yet several Phaetyn were trying to force my hand, each in their different ways; Kamoi with plans to pitch the fork and do the Maypole dance with me, and his mother . . . Well, I wasn’t sure what her game was yet, aside from trying to bar me from finding out anything else, and the Phaetyn today asking me to look at the tree’s memories.