Page 45 of Lady of Starfire
“I cannot leave,” Ashtine said.
“We will wait and go in the morning,” Sawyer said, shooting a look at Razik that dared him to argue. Razik crossed his arms, annoyance clear on his features.
“You misunderstand,” Ashtine said, exhaustion and defeat heavy in her tone now. “I cannot leave this continent.”
“Why not?” Azrael demanded.
The Wind Princess reached up and tugged aside the neckline of the gown she was wearing, and Razik swore. Callan didn’t know why. There was nothing there that he could see. Apparently none of the Fae could see it either. Only Razik.
The Avonleyan took a step towards her then paused. “May I?” Ashtine nodded, and he moved before her, leaning down to study…whatever it was he could see. Her head tipped back against the sofa, eyes falling closed. Razik’s gaze flicked up to her face. “Did he say what would happen if you broke it?”
She didn’t open her eyes, but her hands moved to rest atop her belly, and Razik cursed under his breath.
“What?” Eliza asked.
He straightened, looking over at her. “She has a Binding Mark. It has various purposes depending on how it is drawn. I cannot say for sure what this is binding her to—not without looking at a book I have at home—but the cost of breaking it is the lives of the babes.”
“I am bound to these lands. I cannot leave,” Ashtine repeated.
Silence fell again, the magic-wielders all glancing among themselves. Then Sawyer stepped towards her again, gently tugging off the blanket. “That is enough with the questions for tonight. I promised Briar I would look after her until he returned. She is clearly exhausted.”
“I heard the winds again,” Ashtine whispered, so quietly Callan almost didn’t hear her with his mortal hearing.
“I am glad to hear that, your Highness,” Sawyer said gently. “Come, you can rest.”
“I will come and help,” Eliza said.
“I am not sure if it is me they seek or the one in my womb,” the Wind Princess continued as though no one else had spoken, her eyes still closed.
Azrael and Sawyer exchanged a look. “Can you speak with her?” Sawyer asked. “Briar…” He swiped a hand through his white-blond hair that matched his brother’s. “He knows how to speak to her.”
Azrael nodded. “Ashtine, did the winds tell you any secrets?”
“It is an odd thing,” she answered, “to carry secrets you do not understand. But perhaps one simply wishes not to acknowledge such truths.”
Azrael seemed to think this over, and Callan watched in fascination as everyone else waited for him to decide how to respond to that. He had little experience with the Wind Princess. The only other time he’d seen her was when she’d fought in the throne room, and then he’d watched her and Briar say goodbye.
“What secrets did they share, Ashtine?” Azrael finally asked.
“They spoke of other worlds.”
“Avonleya?” Sawyer asked.
“They spoke of wars. Past. Present. Future.” Her eyes opened then, sky blue irises landing on Sawyer. “They spoke of sacrifices to be made.”
“Who?” Sawyer asked in a hushed tone.
She held his stare. “Too many to name.”
Sawyer’s lips thinned, a muscle in his jaw clenching as he understood something Callan did not. “Come, Princess,” he said, bending to scoop her off the sofa. “You need to rest. We will figure everything else out in the morning.”
As she settled against his chest, her eyes landed on Callan. “Thank you, your Majesty. For letting her come. Paja was with her. She will be safe.” He nodded to her, not sure what else to say. Her eyes fluttered closed again, her head falling to Sawyer’s shoulder as she murmured, “I hope the winds are wrong about many things, but they rarely are.”
Eliza followed them out, and when the doors closed behind them, the Fae all released a collective breath.
“She is not well,” Azrael said, taking the goblet that Sariah was passing to him.
“The rest in a safe place will help,” Arianna said, but she appeared somewhat rattled by the state of the princess.