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I wrapped my arms around his neck as he moved a short distance and settled us onto the couch. He held me on his lap, comfortably seated with my back to his chest and his strong arms wrapped around me. I was encased in his solid alpha strength. He hadn't tried to take me away and lock me in my room. But clearly watching me suffer had become too much for him to bear. I patted his arm to let him know I wasn't angry.

But someone else was clearly miffed. "Snake," Robin warned in a low voice.

I waved her away. "He's fine. Maybe it will help my energy to have him close. Now tell me what your next devious plan is."

Achlys said using our powers this way–purposefully reaching out to try to determine a person's future demise, wasn't a sure thing. Circumstances could always change. What we saw in the moment could easily be invalidated by the person taking a different route to work or reacting differently to an argument… anything could change the outcome, really. But some circumstances were a bit more solid. Doing things this way, hearing about Robin's proposed plan, then focusing in on the emperor and my court members, would give me a good idea whether the proposed plan had a better chance of success or failure.

It wasn't foolproof. It wasn't very exact. But at least it was something. So far, the scenarios we had tried had all ended up with one or more of the court dead, and the emperor escaping. The further out into the future the death was, the fuzzier it became. We were guessing, but it seemed that I couldn't see more than a couple of weeks ahead.

"What if we call in favors from the sorcerers, the curse breaker, and the griffins," Robin said, laying a new sheet of paper before me with a bullet list of steps outlined in her neat, flowing handwriting.

I listened as she detailed the basics of how that would all work and what she would ask everyone to do, Then I closed my eyes and focused on the emperor and the people I loved.

I gasped as I felt the sensation of falling. Sanka, tumbling through the air in a freefall as the gryphon he rode was taken out from underneath him with some sort of blast. He hit the ground and broke, a bright flash of immense pain as his life bled out from his crushed body.

Other images and sensations assaulted me, other lives flashed before my eyes. I snapped off the connection to my power, drawing in a gasping breath as I shuddered. Sadavir rubbed his big hands up and down my arms as I came back to myself. And someone pressed Yukio's cocoa into my hands again.

I felt ill. But I forced myself to take a few sips of the calming drink and let it work its magic, as much as it could.

"Sanka," I whispered, my voice rough from emotion. "Yukio. Robin."

"Damn it," Sanka grumbled.

"Not the most desirable outcome," Robin said blandly. "That's enough for today, Ruya." Come. I will walk you back to your room so you can rest.

Sadavir's arms tightened around me. Martina spoke from nearby. "Someone else can escort her, princess."

Robin scoffed. When she spoke, a faint whiff of smoke filled the air, and her voice was deceptively soft. "Are you challenging me, naga? And you, Martina… are you questioning my ability to keep the people under my care safe?"

Sadavir hissed.

Martina snorted. "Of course not. But I am questioning whether being in your presence might trigger another vision, since she's been focusing on you so hard."

I sighed. "I've been focusing on all of you. Robin is no threat to me. Sadavir…"

He continued to hold me in a crushing hug.

"Fine," I said tiredly. "You can both come. But I can walk to my room on my own."

Sadavir reluctantly released me so I could stand, and he and Robin shadowed me as I headed out of the room and down the hall toward my bedroom.

I felt like I could sleep for days after all that. My banshee magic was different from my healing magic. It depleted faster, leaving me feeling empty of a vital part of myself.

But then again… I doubted I'd be able to sleep after all I had seen and felt. And even if I managed to relax enough to fall asleep, I'd probably have nightmares.

A flutter of pixie wings distracted me from my thoughts, and I halted as Yukio called my name. He caught up to us when we paused. "Here," he said to one of the others. "Make sure she drinks this." Then to me. "It will help you sleep." He pressed a cool, hard kiss to my lips, then moved away, his light footsteps signaling a hasty retreat.

Robin gave a throaty laugh. "Yes," she said, probably in response to something Sadavir had signed. "He's absolutely smitten."

I shook my head. "He cares about my wellbeing." I said with a sniff, raising my chin in playful haughtiness. "Which is why he's my favorite."

I let out a squeal of surprise when Sadavir scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder, giving my ass a playful swat in punishment.

Robin growled softly, but didn't reprimand the other alpha for manhandling me. "Ungrateful witch," she said in a haughty tone of her own.

Sadavir refused to put me down until we'd reached my room. And when he did, he stole a scorching kiss.

"Watch it, snake," Robin murmured. "That's my mate you're defiling."

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