Page 72 of A Kingdom of Monsters

I winced. “I know, but if I do I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave.”

He didn’t look happy about that, but didn’t comment on it. I supposed he knew what I was thinking, given that he’d done the same thing when we were planning to leave for Aftermath.

I moved back toward the door. “Tell her I love her.”

“She knows that.”

“Fine, then tell her I’m sorry, and I’m only doing this to keep her safe.”

Scion raised an eyebrow. “She won’t like that either.”

I grinned. No, Lonnie probably wouldn’t like to hear that but it didn’t make it any less true. She was my entire damn world, and I’d do anything to protect her. Even if it meant I never saw her again.

22

LONNIE

THE CUTTHROAT DISTRICT, INBETWIXT

Iwoke up alone.

It took a long moment for me to realize where I was. Or, somewhat more importantly, why I wore nothing but a damp towel. Then, it all came rushing back to me–the vault, Bael’s injuries, the blood and terror. It all felt a bit like a dream. Like one of those overly vivid nightmares that I used to have often, but which lately had not plagued me.

I knew it hadn’t been, though. It wasn’t a dream, and yet I glanced down at my wrists for confirmation.

I blinked in surprise when I beheld the smooth, unmarked skin.

I hadn’t taken any blood from anyone else to heal myself, and usually I healed at the same rate as any other human. How odd.

On a hunch, I got up from the bed and walked directly over to the bathing room. I dropped my towel to the floor and stood naked in front of the long mirror, inspecting myself.

My skin looked entirely too smooth. Undamaged and unsecured by the many years of injuries I’d sustained as a servant and even afterward. I reached up and pressed my fingers into the point on my shoulder where a crossbow bolt had pierced me, and found no mark of it. I turned around, looking over my shoulder at my back. Once, there had been a jagged mark there from where the obsidian crown had cut into my spine. Now, of course, there was nothing. The only scar that remained was the imprint of Scion’s teeth on my throat, which stood out pink and raw, as if it had only just healed recently.

I supposed with all the magic I was using, my body was responding.

Distantly, I recalled Lady Thalia saying something about this. She’d commented that it was lucky that my scars were fading so completely, but I hadn’t thought about it much. Or indeed, bothered to check very carefully.

Suddenly, a wild thought struck me and I pushed my hair back from my face to inspect my ears.

I let out a sigh of relief when I found them unchanged. One, still round and human and the other jagged at the edge. Once, the large scar on my ear had been my greatest Source of insecurity, but now I hardly ever thought about it. The scar itself had disappeared like all the others. Though, I supposed, magic couldn’t replace the missing flesh that had been torn off the top.

I glanced up at myself again, almost surprised to find that I was smiling.

This likely also meant that Bael would have no scars from the incident yesterday. In time, it would be as if it had never happened.

Cheered by that thought, I splashed some water on my face and went in search of something to wear.

For the last day or so, I’d had nothing to wear but the gown I’d had on when we escaped from the mob at the would-be coronation. I’d torn the skirt off to make it easier to move, but now I couldn’t bear the thought of putting it back on. Not only was it filthy and bloodstained, it was damn uncomfortable.

After discovering that there was nothing in the bedroom, not even a robe, I wrapped myself in my towel once more. I opened the door slowly and poked my head out into the familiar hallway, listening.

There wasn’t a single sound.

Of course, I hadn’t really expected that there would be. We were the only people here, and I’d already gathered that Scion must have returned to the den to check on Bael. Still, I practically ran down the hall, nervous that someone might come upon me lurking the hallways in a towel.

I stopped in front of the first door on the right and poked my head inside. It was a store room, very like the one where Bael and I used to practice shadow walking. Not bothering to linger, I shut the door and moved on down the hall. I was sure there would be a dresser with clothes in it somewhere. This was Cross’s primary residence, was it not? He must have other rooms for his guests, or perhaps a closet where Siobhan might keep extra garments.

Finally, my search paid off. I threw open the last door along the hall and found myself standing in a lavish bedchamber. It was much larger than the room I typically slept in, and to my relief there were two long dressers pushed against the wall facingthe bed. I tiptoed quickly across the floor and threw open the top drawer. Immediately, I recognized the deep purple and red fabrics folded on top.

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