Page 50 of A Kiss of Flame

‘Did you?’ Elodie’s voice grated against the insides of her throat. She meant did they feel it, but did they think she’d been lost worked too. She hardly cared which answer she got. ‘And the others?’

‘They saw it. They saw everything.’ Carefully, Maryn lifted her head and then brought a mug of water to her lips, helping her drink.

That hurt too. It burned as it went down her throat.

They were in the garden of the Sanctum, just beyond the doors of the chamber of the Aurum, safe within the retreat of the maidens. There were birds singing somewhere. Far off, Elodie could hear music. Someone was celebrating something. She hoped it was nothing to do with her. The other maidens had retreated, leaving her with Maryn, sitting at her side while she lay on one of the low divans they used for the infirm. Elodie forced herself to sit up and instantly regretted it.

‘What was the Ilanthian trying to do, Elodie?’ Maryn asked. ‘Why would he do that to you?’

Elodie wanted to laugh, she really did. What was Leander trying to do? Perhaps he didn’t really even know that. He wanted to expose Wren, and she couldn’t allow that, so she had seized all the power of the Aurum to protect the girl. It had been a moment of madness. But she would do it again in an instant.

She had felt the surge of shadows around Wren as the summoning took hold. A moment later and it would have been too late. They all would have seen the truth, and they would have turned on her. They would have torn her little girl apart.

Or at least, they would have tried.

Elodie could not allow that to happen.

All she had wanted to do was to stop it. Even if it meant destroying everything. She had to protect Wren. That had been the whole purpose of her life for twenty years. She’d give anything, even herself.

‘I think I did that to me. Or the Aurum did. I’m not sure. Everything is… a bit blurred.’

An understatement. Roland had been there, she remembered that. He had called to her. He had brought her back.

His arms around her, cradling her. His eyes, so dark, reflecting the light that burned through her. Her Roland…

She couldn’t think about that. Not now. She needed to focus. Oh, but her head ached, and all she wanted to do was ask if he was there, if he was all right. If she could see him, talk to him…

Explain.

How could she ever hope to explain?

‘It could have burned right through you,’ Maryn said, a gentle admonishment when Elodie didn’t elaborate.

‘If that was what had to happen, then yes, it would have.’ She wasn’t in the mood for an argument.

Maryn frowned. ‘You always were obstinate.’

‘So were you.’

‘And the girl?’

‘Almost as bad as me, wasn’t that what you said? And she’s a woman, not a girl. One who knows her own mind.’ Maryn laughed then, a soft chuckle which drew a smile across Elodie’s face. Relief bubbled up through her. ‘She’s my daughter, Maryn. In every way that matters. Do you understand?’

Maryn embraced her, held her close. ‘Yes. More so than ever. Someone is trying to put her on the throne, El. Someone who doesn’t care about the consequences of that. And they want you out of the way. Someone on the council.’

‘Ylena?’

Maryn froze, and then pulled back to look Elodie in the face. ‘I would put nothing past my mother. But I swear to you?—’

Elodie lifted a hand to stop her. ‘She was always the same. With my mother, and with you.’

‘She has power now. Power she never had with you here. I hate to say it, but perhaps she doesn’t want you back.’

Elodie laughed softly. ‘I’m sure she doesn’t. But what about you? You have a claim on the throne as well, don’t you?’

Maryn recoiled, horrified. ‘No. Not I. My service is here, among the maidens, in Sanctum and Sacrum. I serve you. You know that, don’t you? Elodie, I would never?—’

‘I know, I know.’ She shushed her cousin, a wash of fondness making her tears well up in her eyes.