Page 232 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

I chuckle, not wasting any time, hoisting my tunic over my head and tossing it to the nearby table. I settle on my cot. “How bad is it?”

She sidles up behind me. “It looks mostly healed.” Cool fingers trace the raw flesh. “It’s going to leave a bad scar, though.”

“If Tuella is right, I won’t be here to live with it.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Apparently, she has seen my death in the stars.”

A long silence ensues. “Maybe she read them wrong.”

I chuckle. “Maybe. But something tells me your one power, as she calls it, can only get me so far.” I meet Romeria’s gaze. “Where is Gracen?”

“Safe.”

“I know. But where?”

Her lips purse.

“What am I going to do? We go into battle tomorrow, Romeria.”

After another long pause, she sighs. “She’s in Ulysede. Malachi can’t touch her there.” Kneeling behind me on my cot, she asks, “The conjurer. What do you know about her?”

“Not much. She can manipulate birds. And other creatures too. Not your dragons, though,” I add quickly. “Unless she was lying to me when I asked.”

“Let’s hope not. Hold still.”

Warmth blooms in my shoulder, spreading along my muscles and tendons, deep into my bones as her power knits whatever is still broken inside.

“I guess I wasn’t as mended as I thought.” I roll my shoulder when she finishes, testing it. It feels as good as new. “Thank you. Truly.” I let her see my eyes, hoping she can read my genuine gratitude. “For everything.” Saving not just my life but Gracen’s and all those children I foolishly corralled in the castle before riding off to my near-death.

“Do not give me yet another reason to kill you, Brother.” Zander strolls in. “You’ve already given me so many.”

“He’s fixed. Well, his arm is, anyway.” Romeria flicks my ear before climbing off my bed. “I’m sure there’s still plenty wrong with him.”

I chuckle and redress. “Anything important I should know?”

“Malachi and his key caster are with the army. We tried killing them today, but Sofie is too quick.” Zander inspects my armor. “They’ll be moving in at dawn.”

“And how long before they attack?”

“We shall see.”

“How many will we bring for a parley—”

“No parley,” Romeria snaps, her glare brokering no disagreement.

My eyebrows pop. I’m not used to seeing that side of her. “No parley. Got it.”

“He and his creatures cannot be trusted to follow the rules of engagement. The rules of anything, really,” Zander adds, more cordially.

“I took your advice,” Romeria says after a moment.

“You will have to be more specific.” I tuck my tunic into my breeches. “I give such great advice and a lot of it.”

She rolls her eyes. “We summoned the fates.”

My mouth drops, my hands stalled. “And?”

---