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We were going home now that I remembered where home was.
30
Barbie
Iflashed open my eyes and smiled at the chaos prince.
Blossoms fell like little stars. The wind rippled across the icy lake. The shadow beasts howled, assuring me that they were taking their sentinel duty seriously.
I’d returned to Underhill, the safest haven for me.
Killian’s mouth departed mine, yet warmth lingered on my lips.
“There you are, my little scorpion,” the prince said.
I blinked at him, taking in his handsome features greedily. I could look at him like that forever.
“Barbie!” Pucker materialized beside us, floating above the lake, grinning like an idiot. “Glad you’re okay! I helped, didn’t I?”
“I chose you for a reason.” I smiled at him. “I know you’d never let me down.”
“Of course,” he said, rubbing his hands in appreciation. “I’m now one of the elites Underhill lets in! To give you a brief, you were in a catatonic state before we got you here. You’re in safe hands now, but many candidates and sentinels weren’t as lucky.” His voice remained gleeful. “It was the worst casualty rate in the history of Shades Academy!”
My heart sank with grief, and tears burned behind the curtain of my eyelids. If I’d never come here, no one would have died.
It’s not true, Sy chided. Ruin will find this realm sooner or later. Magic is already fading in Mist of Cinder. Our coming will change its fate. In the course of history, whenever a revolution happened, death was inevitable, but it paved the way for a new future. War, though not for the faint of heart, is the way of things. And know this: we’re the protector of the realm.
I blinked. Sy was evolving at rapid speed.
So, you won’t eat other intelligent beings anymore, right? I asked, but she refused to make any commitment.
“Are the other princes safe?” I asked Killian.
My sugar Rowan is safe. Sy preened. He’ll be looking for me soon. You need to check your messages as soon as you get out of here! I need to feed for both of us. The Seed is still in you. We aren’t out of the woods.
“The other heirs are fine,” Killian answered me. “The healers have tended to them, and they’ve returned to their own houses to take care of house affairs. There’s a lot to do, and we all need to strengthen our security on academy grounds.”
“Shouldn’t you go back to the house too, high sir?” I asked.
He pressed me closer to him. “Cami is keeping the house in order during my absence. Rock can take care of security without me. They’re capable, and I’m where I’m needed the most.” He slanted a glance at Pucker. “Return to the house, guardian. Come back only if there’s an emergency.”
Pucker smiled at me, bowed at Killian, and vanished.
“You came for me again,” I said.
“Always,” he said softly. “You knew I would.”
“Do you know your—your betrothed skyjacked my mind to her Underworld?” I asked.
Killian’s face turned grim. “Queen Lilith has strong mind-bending power.” His throat moved up and down. His eyes grew colder. “I’ll warn her away from you.”
“No need,” I said. “I can handle her. She tried to make me forget about myself, and you as well. I almost did, until I didn’t want to forget.” While I was in the Underworld, it was almost blissful not to remember the horrors of my past and to push away the worry for my future. “I don’t want to not remember you.”
He cupped my cheeks, pride in his eyes. “My brave little scorpion.”
I beamed at him. “I don’t stay down, sir. I always get up swinging.”
“I’ll train you in shielding your mind,” he offered.
