Page 17 of Princess Takes Academy
I didn’t have to see to know it was Keras in the dreams.
Dozing in and out, I couldn’t wake up enough to see if he was nearby, and I couldn’t feel him at all. After so many years of sharing a Blood bond, it was strange, but also a relief in a way. My relentless curiosity would have made me search through his feelings to see exactly what he thought of me.
This way, I didn’t have to face the fact that he probably hated me. I could keep my fears and doubts to myself, along with my silly infatuation.
Hovering somewhere between sleep and awareness, I heard Mama talking.
“She’s better.” Yet I still heard the worry tightening her voice. “At least we found her before the unthinkable happened.”
Another voice answered. “If I’d managed to kill the vizier in Heliopolis, thennoneof this would have happened.”
Auntie Shara. I forced my eyes open, but everything was still blurry. My eyes ached with strain, even though I’d just opened them, but at least I could see.
“You couldn’t have known where the bastard went or what he was up to. Tepeyollotl still wants to go after the crocodile, but I managed to convince him to wait until we know that Xochitl has fully recovered.”
The thought of losing Papa made me jerk upright in bed. “No, Mama. Don’t let him go!”
Sitting on the edge of my bed, Auntie Shara wrapped an arm around me. “She’s right, Mayte. Sobek is a formidable river god who’s been strengthened by an unknown number of queens thanks to Ra’s despicable vizier. I’ve notified the rest of the Triune and details are being dispersed to all the queens. We’ll get a guard posted at that spot and monitor the situation before risking anyone’s life going after such a mighty god.”
I leaned against her, pressing my face into her shoulder. She radiated power and love so strongly that I couldn’t be afraid. Not with her near.
She kissed the top of my head and pulled me closer. “We almost lost you, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut so the tears couldn’t leak out. “I didn’t mean to get into so much trouble.”
“You nevermeanto, Xochitl.” Mama’s voice rang with frustration and anger. “You have to start thinking before you act. When you endanger your life, you endanger everyone. Me, Papa, Keras. The entire nest depends on you. If we lose you, House Zaniyah will be no more.”
It was very nearly the same thing Keras had said to me in the heart tree. I had to start thinking of more than myself.
It was time to grow up. Stop being so selfish and wild and reckless.
Sniffling, I lifted my head and squared my shoulders. I met Mama’s fierce gaze so she would see how serious I was. “I know, Mama. It won’t happen again. I know what I did was stupid.”
Her gaze softened and she stroked her fingers over my cheek. “We can’t lose you, dearest. I couldn’t bear it.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. “I was so scared he would get you. He was awful.”
“I had our queen to help me if necessary, but let’s not risk facing a god again anytime soon.” Mama leaned down closer so she could stare into my eyes. I shivered as her power swept over my face, prickling and tickling with energy. “How do your eyes feel?”
I blinked several times and shrugged. “Okay. A bit tired and watery, but I can see.”
She frowned, making my tummy knot up with anxiety. Her power sank deeper into me, gentle but strange as if magical fingers were stirring around in my insides. “You feel different to me. Are you trying to hide something?”
My eyes widened. “No. I promise, Mama. What’s wrong?”
Slowly, she straightened, her face carefully reserved. Though I felt her worry in our bond. “Your power. It’s gone.”
9
Keras
On the plus side, Tepeyollotl didn’t kill me as soon as we got back to the nest. However, I feared I was on borrowed time until Xochitl recovered. Everyone tiptoed around the nest, casting scared looks upstairs toward the princess’s bedroom.
She was House Zaniyah’s entire future. Our hope. If she didn’t recover…
I paced at the foot of the stairs, afraid to ask to be with her as her Blood—when I’d abandoned her. But I couldn’t bear to be far from her either. I couldn’t feel her any longer.
Which was maddening.
