Page 25 of A Legacy of Wrath and Reckoning

“Still. You used what nature provided. Pulled it from the aether.”

“But other Fae can do those things, my—” Zylah stopped herself. Sucked in a breath and exhaled, slowly. “Those aren’t unique abilities.”

“No. But the way you use them is. I saw the salves and tinctures you made for the sick humans back at the court. No human taught you that, either.” Zylah was quiet as Deyna secured the cloth behind her head, all traces of light disappearing. It was true, she’d bolstered what her father had taught her with her own learning, had always had a knack for it. “Your eyes need rest. Since you won’t, we need to keep them covered. Try to draw out the venom with this. It’s a light oil, gentle on the eyes but a potent anti-venom.”

Nastura and celandia. A hint of feverroot. A few other herbs Zylah could pick out from the mingling scents. “How often do I need to replace it?”

Deyna pushed a tin into her hands. “Morning and night. Your body is working to heal itself, but with Ranon still draining your abilities, we can’t take any risks.”

Zylah didn’t miss the implication, that her body might not heal at all. She gave her thanks, pushed to her feet, and fumbled around for her bag.

“I could have done that for you.” The witch clicked her tongue but didn’t intervene.

Zylah pulled on her cloak and her bag, held her spear firmly in her hand, and used the other to feel along the wall of the tent for the door. She was no use to Holt if she couldn’t adapt quickly. Raised voices outside told her Arlan and Kej were arguing again, only now Daizin had joined them, something about Asters and thralls moving in patterns.

This time, the witch didn’t try to protest as Zylah made to leave the tent. Perhaps she sensed the futility in it because Zylah wasn’t about to sit still a moment longer. Frigid air hit her face and she raised the hood of the new cloak Rin had given her, Kopi settling in at the crook of her neck.

“Good to have you up and about.” Zylah almost chuckled at the way Daizin avoided using the wordsee, picturing the tattoos that ran down the side of his face, the way he’d be wearing his hair fastened in a knot.

She moved slowly at first, adjusting to the crushed snow underfoot, the lack of shadows to rely on. But there were plenty of sounds to go by: heartbeats, breaths, Arlan’s charged pacing that Zylah felt in the air over her skin. She needed to show them she could do this, no matter how scared shitless she felt at the prospect of losing her vision permanently. They needed to know she wasn’t a liability, that she wasn’t going to slow them down wherever they planned to go next. Because she had no intentions of returning to the Aquaris Court.

“It’s good to be back on my feet.” And she meant it. “I know Deyna will be rolling her eyes at this,”—she gestured back to the tent—“but if the Asters and thralls are moving in tighter circles, they’re looking for me, so staying here is out of the question.”

“We can take them.” Kej almost sounded enthusiastic, like he was looking forward to another fight.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But if the choice is losing my eyesight or losing one of you, you already know my decision.”

Arlan hummed. Approval, perhaps, Zylah wasn’t certain, but then a ripple in the air had her turning, spear tight in her grip until she registered the steady rhythm of a wildcat’s gait. Rin.

This time, Zylah felt the Fae shift, the press of magic against her skin.

“Enalla was attacked,” Rin gasped through broken breaths.

A roar echoed in the distance and Zylah’s skin prickled. An Aster.

“Kej, Daizin, you’re with me,” Arlan snapped. “Isaias, get them out of here and come back for us.”

Rin made a noise in protest, but the wave of Kej’s shifting magic and the crunch of snow told Zylah they’d already gone, leaving only the sound of Rin catching her breath. The Fae was just as capable as her twin, and Zylah suspected Arlan knew it. Still, now was not the time to voice her opinion.

“Deyna?” she called out.

“I heard that cantankerous old boot. I’m coming.”

Rin huffed a laugh at Zylah’s side, but then another sound had her pivoting in its direction. Grimms. Her friend must have heard it too, the press of magic over Zylah’s skin telling her the Fae had already shifted.

“Rin, wait,” she breathed. But it was too late, a low growl fading as the wildcat darted away. “Isaias, take Deyna and return for us. Bring another scout, if you can.”

“Understood,” the Fae replied, but Zylah was already moving, running after Rin, the spear a staff to steady herself whenever she lost her footing, Kopi darting out from under her hood.

Another shriek, much closer, and Zylah snapped her spear over her head and pivoted, her weight following the path her weapon cut through the air. It met with something heavy, and Zylah didn’t waste any time moving to hurl it away. With every sense on alert, she moved closer to her friend, the wildcat’s throaty growls her beacon.

Each swipe of her spear was a calculated guess; some hits struck true, others missed and had her stumbling, narrowly evading the teeth and claws of the creatures flapping around her. Perhaps it was better she couldn’t see them, could only imagine how ghastly they looked from the sounds they made.

What had Rin been thinking? If the Asters and thralls found them, they were truly fucked. Her next strike had her spear wedged in the body of a grimm, the thing shrieking in pain as she slammed it into the snow. Rin’s snarl was the only warning she had to draw her sword and slash at another as it attacked from behind.

“Zylah?” Isaias. Zylah almost laughed with relief, swinging her sword instead at another too-fast-approaching shadow. Another miss, one she only narrowly avoided.

“Over here!” Another slash, and this time her blade cut through flesh. Zylah panted as she pulled her sword free, trying not to worry about wherever Kopi had flown off to. Every one of her senses was on high alert, ears straining for any sounds of approaching foe.

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