Page 19 of Songs of Retribution

I ignored the shadow’s pull from the corner and smiled softly at Sai. "I'm guessing you've had a hell of a few weeks."

He chuckled. "You could say that."

"Lennox is here, obviously." Elisa tensed under my arm at the way I said his name, but I ignored it. "Lira?"

Sai's eyes darkened, and he looked away. "Still in the Seelie court." Before I could ask more, he continued speaking, his voice growing grave. "I don't wish to heap anything on you when you're barely back on your feet, however our timeline for the war with the Seelie has accelerated. I can't linger, but"—he smiled, though it looked pained as he clutched my arm again—"I'm so glad you're well. Kali has answered my prayers."

"Thank you, Sai."

He bobbed his head. "I'll give you and Elisa some time." He walked away, then I turned my attention towards Elisa who chewed on her bottom lip.

I pulled her body to mine, found her mouth, and kissed her until she grew soft and warm in my arms.

She tucked her head under my chin and nuzzled me like she'd fuse us together. "I thought I'd lost you."

"I thought the same." I choked over the words. "It was the worst day of my life when you fell off that cliff. Saints, I'm glad you're okay."

"Says the woman who has nearly died two dozen times in the last few weeks. If it wasn't for Lennox—"

"Oh, for the saints’ sake. Do not tell me I owe the Prince for sparing my life."

She leaned back and raised her chin. The sunlight behind her glowed through her curls like the sparks in a fire and my heart soared. I would have fought anything, any pain, and across worlds to land here in her arms again. She thrusted her lower lip out. "You can't still hold a grudge against him."

"It's very cute"—I traced my thumb over her lip which she'd puckered again—"that you've spent weeks worrying over my death and your first words to me are going to be about the fucking Seelie Prince of all things."

She huffed, but a smile pulled her cheeks up and she seemed to glow, like everything good and warm and heavenly had taken up residence within her. I tangled one of her curls around my finger and dropped my voice to a whisper. "Lennox was good to you on the pirate ship then?"

"He was and he used his magic to save you. You wouldn't be here otherwise, and I can never thank him enough."

I raised her fingers to my lips, kissed her knuckles. "Then I owe him thanks. And I'll try to be kind to him for your sake."

She smiled like I'd offered her the world. "Thank you, Neia."

I pulled an arm around her waist. "Come. Let me change out of this." I gestured to the simple linen hospital clothing. "Then maybe we can eat and you can catch me up on what is going on?"

"I'm afraid I know little. I've not left your side for more than a moment." A rush of love swelled within me at her devotion. I didn't deserve this woman, never had. But saints, fate had given me another chance, and I'd fight to be worthy of her. "However," she said as she dipped her chin and looked up at me with big eyes, "I know someone who does."

"You're going to say Lennox, aren't you?" I asked, attempting and failing to keep annoyance out of my voice.

"You'll like him if you give him a chance, Nei."

"Fine," I grumbled.

Elisa wrapped her arms around me and I pulled her tight as she whispered into my neck, "You do not know how grateful I am to be able to stand here and argue with you."

I chuckled and pulled her tighter. A few hours later, after I'd bathed—Elisa offered to help and ended up joining me, prolonging the process by over an hour—I pulled on clothes that didn't make me feel like I was dying. Then we met with Shaan and Lennox on a hill outside the palace, the sunset casting ripples of coral pinks and oranges over the ivory city wall.

Lennox grabbed another piece of naan and scooped up rice and curry with it, took a bite, and chewed and swallowed before speaking again. "Anyhow, that's what we know currently. Lira is in a precarious situation and all intelligence says my father is readying his armies. I don't believe it will be like before the monsoons when he used Lira as an excuse. He knows Margo and Sir Eldrick escaped but also,"—he grimaced, and Shaan squeezed his hand—"with information about his plans, as well. Eldrick was one of my father's senior advisors and knows much of their strategies. My father will move soon, though he probably doesn't have soldiers marching yet because he's reworking his procedures. However, I'd expect we have weeks at most."

Elisa sighed and drifted her head to my shoulder. I couldn't think of what to say in response. This wasn't good news, but it also wasn't unexpected. The Maharani had suspected a potential war for years. Now the Prasanna had all their heart stones and would have enhanced access to their magic. I swallowed as I considered the new powers I had. The shadow from the tree ahead of us seemed to call to me, whispering for me to slip into it. The strange thing was that it came as naturally as breathing. In fact, it was a fight not to slide into shadows.

"I hope what information I had to offer was helpful," Lennox said to Elisa.

She grinned at him. "Thank you."

He nodded at both of us, stood, brushed off his pants and offered Shaan a hand. Once he was up, Lennox tucked an arm over Shaan's shoulder and walked back towards the palace. Well, the Prince seemed more comfortable. Had everyone changed massively in the limited time I'd been out of it? Had everything in life flipped?

Elisa leaned closer to me, her curls splaying across my shoulder, and tangled her fingers with mine. No, not everything had changed at least. But, saints, we were about to race into an uncertain future.

---