Page 275 of A Realm of Shattered Lies

Fear pulses in my chest, and I’m at her side in an instant, ready to cloak her in my shadows.

The two fae manipulating the plants try to stop me, digging thorns into my flesh, but I rip through them with ease.

Only the bronze-haired male leaning before Blaise holds up a hand, not one intent on stopping me, but one that brings my attention to my wife.

To the sunlight that cuts across her face but doesn’t burn.

To the blood that smells like that of a human.

Relief floods me, followed by confusion mingled with panic as I search my soul for the bloodsharing bond, but it’s still there, tying us together, as strong as it’s ever been.

Blaise’s eyes flutter open, and though I want nothing more than to scoop her into my arms, there’s something so human about her now. Apprehension that I might hurt her stops me.

“They’re alive,” says the male I recognize from the Rip. “Blaise, Ellie and our daughter—they both lived.”

The muscles at the edges of Blaise’s mouth twitch in disbelief. “Andy, I’m so sorry.”

“They’re alive,” he repeats, and Blaise blinks.

“They’re alive,” she whispers back.

The male smiles.

“Nox?” Blaise groans, panic returning to her voice.

I clutch her hands in mine. “I’m right here.”

This seems to settle her, and when she looks up at me, it’s the Blaise I remember.

I realize I have no idea what Blaise did. What just happened.

“Nox, this is Andy,” she says, rolling her head lazily toward the male kneeling over her, eyes wide with relief. “Andy, this is Nox.”

“I believe we’ve already met.” I clench my teeth at the memory of this male, of the cruel things he said to Blaise, crushing her, until I want nothing more than to rip his throat out.

Which, as it turns out, I get the perfect chance to do, because, to my shock, Andy embraces me.

He pulls back, a firm grip on my shoulder as he grins. “So you’re the one who puts up with Blaise, here?”

I am momentarily speechless, but Blaise just crawls into my lap, letting the shadows cloak the two of us as she wraps her arms around my neck, settling herself into my grasp.

I brace myself for the bloodlust, but it doesn’t come. Blaise looks human, and though I initially thought her blood smelled human, there’s something about it that…isn’t.

I’m about to ask what in Alondria is going on when the female plant-wielder pipes up. “Where can I get some of those?”

I turn toward her, though I realize she can’t see my face. She seems comfortable in my personal space all the same.

“Pretty sure you have to kill someone to get a set,” says the male standing next to her.

She turns to the male and bats the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen. He crosses his arms, rolling his eyes.

“Can you please get me some?” she asks, while she snaps her fingers absentmindedly, strangling a mere that just leapt out of the shadows with a set of thorny vines.

Yep. I cannot wait to get back to the quiet, peopleless Mystral.

“Kiran.” Blaise snaps back from my embrace. “I need to get to Kiran,” she says, realization settling over her expression.

I stand to join her, but she shakes her head. “You should help defend the city.”

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