Page 109 of The Shadow Wand

Pain flashes in Thierren’s eyes as a storm of emotion rages in Sparrow and she finds she needs to look away from his Mage face.

“Sparrow,” Thierren says after a pause, his tone gentler this time.

She looks up at him, the moment suspended as their eyes lock. Sparrow holds his distraught stare as her heart twists and the anger storms.

He’s proved himself to be a true ally to both her and Effrey over these past weeks, finding a way to see her almost every day. Never once touching her or giving her thatlook. He’s been so kind that there have been fleeting times when Sparrow has almost forgotten that he’s a Mage, a fragile bond of friendship struggling to form between them.

Sparrow moves a fraction toward Thierren, yearning for consolation but unable to shake her awareness of him as a Mage.

The dam inside her cracks, and Sparrow can’t hold back the deluge.

“Thierren,” she rasps as she closes her eyes and closes out his uniform and tears spring to life, an abyss of misery opening.

“You’re so brave,” Thierren says, as Sparrow cries tears of outrage, keeping her eyes tightly shut as emotion pummels through her. “I admire you more than you could ever know,” he admits, his voice breaking.

The dam inside Sparrow breaks clear apart as a small, safe space takes root between them. Sparrow nods in acknowledgment of it.

“We’ll make it East,” Thierren says, his tone hardening with resolve. “I’ll make sure you and Effrey make it East.”

“When do we leave?” Sparrow chokes out as she opens her tear-slicked eyes to look up at him, the concern in his gaze making it easier to ignore his Mage looks, his horrid uniform.

“Tomorrow morning,” Thierren says. His expression takes on a violent edge. “And if Silvern comes near you again, Iwillkill him.”

“You won’t.” Sparrow holds his gaze. “And I can avoid him for just one more day.”

A look of fierce struggle overtakes Thierren, but Sparrow knows he respects her enough to listen.

And that he knows this is not his battle to lead.

“Get me and Effrey East,” Sparrow says, determination rising. “And get Lukas and the Gardner girl East.” Simmering fury takes hold once more, infusing her words. “Then come back with them and the Vu Trin forces and anyone else who will fight with you. Andliberatethe Fae Islands.”

CHAPTER TWO

NEXT OF KIN

ELLOREN GARDNER

Sixth Month

Valgard, Gardneria

I stare at myself in the opulent vine-cloisonné-edged mirror before me as Sparrow brushes my hair with a Black Oak brush she’s retrieved from another room. She pulls my head gently and rhythmically back with each deft stroke, the two of us alone in my bedroom. Effrey is ensconced in their nearby servants’ quarters, polishing silver cutlery for the Sealing dinner, and I can hear theclinkof silver through the closed door.

Gray early-evening light filters through the windows, the next storm gathering in the distance, thunder a faraway rumble. The gardens are preternaturally still, bloodred roses standing at attention, buds pointed to the sky. No wind, no rain.

The whole world suspended.

But bearing down like the storm-charged air is the trap about to close in on Lukas and me.

I feel lost without Lukas and wish he was here, despite the tension between us and the ever-present grief for Yvan that pulls at my heart.

I draw in a shaky breath and eye the remote young woman in the reflection with me.

There’s a subtle tightness to Sparrow’s lavender-hued face that wasn’t there last night. She’s like Trystan, I realize, protecting herself behind a facade that hides all of her emotions save small clues. Growing up with Trystan has made me adept at reading such subtleties, and it’s clear to me that Sparrow’s having trouble maintaining her perpetually blank visage.

“I imagine Lukas has told you that we’re all leaving,” I venture, deciding it’s best at this point to just bluntly state the facts.

Sparrow lowers the brush and stills.