Page 118 of The Reaping Rose

“It’s worse than Atlas warned,” Darvel says.

I glance at him, and it’s clear he’s been told about the Beating. “Your son needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.”

“I’ve tried to warn him.” Darvel offers a grim smile. “You can’t battle like this, Wilder.”

“I just did.”

He pulls the chair out and sits to face me. “You’re lucky it didn’t kill you. I don’t know how it didn’t.”

Me either, I think, but I don’t say it. By all accounts, I should be dead.

“I’d rather die beside our men than sit to the side and watch it destroy us.” I lean back in the chair and catch my breath as my magic struggles in my veins.

Magic is of the blood—the being. But lately, mine feels separate. Like it swims at a different speed, and I can’t quite connect.

“Then help in other ways,” Darvel says, looking from Rior to me. “We can’t battle this alone. Not anymore. We need help. We need to all come together.”

“You want me to talk to Celeste,” I guess.

Darvel nods.

“She won’t listen to me,” I argue.

“She will listen to her king.” Darvel reaches out, grabbing my shoulder. “She’ll listen if you ask her.”

I nod, not sure he’s right, but willing to try. If the Well doesn’t tear us apart, the distance between the territories will. There used to be a greater cooperation between us. The past century has changed that.

“King Riven.” A warrior bursts into the tent, and I can’t help that I bristle at the name. “You’re needed back at the palace.”

“Never a dull moment.” Darvel grins, shaking my shoulder. “Thank you for being here. Many more would have died had you not been.”

I nod, finding my footing without allowing anyone to see how my legs shake. I follow him out of the tent and to the Gate.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s the human girl you asked us to watch. Something happened to her.”

Letia. My chest tightens.

“She started screaming. I don’t know what hap—” The warrior doesn’t get the chance to finish his sentence as I step through the Gate beside him.

The moment I’m through, a scream rattles the palace. Letia’s piercing cries echo in my ears.

“She was fine,” the guard says, coming through right after me with Rior at his side. “Then, out of nowhere, everything changed.”

I push into the room, finding Letia writhing on a bed. Her skin and clothes are drenched in sweat. This time, when she cries, her mouth is open, but her scream is silent.

“Letia.” I drop to a knee beside her, fear tearing through me.

I promised Elorie I would keep her safe. I promised I’d protect her people.

I can’t let her down.

Elorie mentioned Letia was having a reaction to the aeraliss, but it was barely a rash the last time I saw her, nothing like this. Dark-red lines web over Letia’s hand, starting where the ring sits, climbing all the way up her arm. They stretch along her neck and onto her cheek.

“How many of the humans are experiencing this?”

“Just her,” the guard answers, his face pale.