Page 37 of Shrine of Fire

It was a startling reminder that his time here was limited.

I pushed away fresh sadness at the thought. “Thank you for your help.”

“No thanks needed.” He brushed my hand. “If you will allow me to bring you through, you should be able to wake up in your body again.”

“Yes.” I braced myself, expecting to feel the rush of distance traveled.

Instead, I closed my eyes and reopened them in my bedroom in the Ember Palace.

Aki, Hashir, and Stefan’s identically worried faces bent over me.

“Oh, thank the spirits,” Hashir said, pushing some hair out of his face. “When you didn’t wake up, I thought the worst.”

I shifted slightly in the bed, and saw that Kalahar was lying next to me. He opened his eyes slowly and looked around.

Someone pounded at the door. “Nova? Are you in there? I heard shouting.”

It took me a second to place the voice.

It was Baylin.

Stefan’s face fell. “What is he doing—”

“There was shouting from the princess’s chambers,” Aki grimaced. “I’ll stall him.”

“Everyone get in bed, quickly,” I said. “There’s no other reason for all of you to be here.”

Stefan frowned, but Hashir yanked his sleeve. For a moment it was a rush of activity. I scooted over, Hashir flanking my other side, while Kalahar pulled the covers over himself. Aki slid in next to Kalahar, and Stefan was left climbing in after Hashir.

I put a smile on my face.

Baylin rushed into the room, sword in hand. He paused.

I gasped and pulled the covers over my shoulder. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry, sorry.” He frowned looking around the room. “I came to see how you were settling in, but then I heard shouting.”

“So you did,” Stefan said, glaring at the Lord Chamberlain. “These are the private bedchambers of an omega, and your future queen.”

“My apologies.” Baylin took a step back, seemingly unsettled, for once. “I worried that someone was trying to harm you, Nova.”

I grinned. “As you can see, I’ll require privacy during the Engagement Tour. Can you make sure the bedchambers are adequate?”

“Certainly.” Lord Baylin gave a short bow, his gaze moving between Aki and Kalahar. “I did not realize the Royal Pack had grown so large.”

“Fire magic has many needs,” I said. It was as good of a way to introduce them as part of the pack as any. “But the final decision is up to Crown Prince Stefan.”

“Of course.” Baylin nodded, then bowed briefly. “I apologize once more for the interruption. I shall see you all later.”

As he left the room, Hashir put an arm around me, pulling me tight against him.

“You’re alright?”

I nodded and looked at Kalahar. He was warm next to me, like a furnace. “Kalahar pulled me out of Hella Mora’s grasp.”

“I don’t like it,” Hashir growled. “That spirit shouldn’t be able to get to you like that.”

“It is a conduit the spirit uses,” Kalahar said calmly. “It is how she grew so powerful last time. Drawing on the grief of the masses to bend them to her cause.”

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