Page 83 of Kingdom of Spirits

Tahlia held her breath. “What ceremony?”

“You’re welcome to call it off, but I assumed you would want to wed me as soon as you were awake.”

Tahlia jumped at him, landing in his lap, body aching and heart dancing. She kissed his forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and down his gorgeous neck. “Yes, yes, yes!”

He laughed loud then, a sound that would have brought her back to life if the curse had won the day. Gods, he was so beautiful. The knot in his throat bobbed as he laughed, and the corners of his eyes crinkled.

“Please always laugh like that, my delicious commander.” She slid her palms up his broad chest, enjoying the feel of the powerful muscle under his thin woolen tunic.

He looked down at her, eyes practically smoking. “I will do as you ask, Lady of the Skies. You are an absolute madwoman in battle, and in bed, and I am at your mercy in every situation.” He kissed her again. “But don’t tell anyone else or I’ll lose my job.”

They laughed, and it was a dream she hadn’t dared to dream coming true. They were healed, happy, and together. She refrained from pinching herself to make certain she was awake, but it was a close thing.

“So when is the bonding ritual? Do we have a date?” she asked, more than prepared to leave the Healers’ quarters immediately.

Chapter 35

Tahlia

In the end, they decided to wed on the castle’s grounds. It only seemed fitting for two Mist Knights to marry amid dragons and the highest peaks. Tahlia selected a cluster of crystals as the sacred handfasting site. Marius had approved of the creativity and told her that Ragewing was in full agreement. Lija preferred it as well because she still wasn’t able to fly, so she couldn’t travel far.

The Druid had arrived to see if he could help Lija heal. Fara couldn’t stop grinning at the idea of learning under the Druid’s tutelage, even though she hadn’t been promised such a situation. “Try to stop me,” she’d said to Marius, narrowing her eyes. Marius had replied that he’d never even considered such an act.

In the corridor outside of Tahlia and Fara’s room, Healer Albus whispered to them and Marius.

“They found runes charcoaled onto the floor in Ophelia’s chambers. The Bloodworkers also determined that both the former commander’s and Ophelia’s blood were present on a knife found in the former commander’s rooms as well as on the small rug that had covered the runes in Ophelia’s apartments.”

Tahlia wasn’t surprised. But she had more questions. Rumors were zipping about the castle, and there were a lotof hushed mentions of a ritual book. “What book is everyone whispering about?”

“Yes,” Albus said, “the dark magic book. Unseelie runes and so forth. A witness saw Ophelia take the book from the library. They asked to remain anonymous.”

“Don’t blame them,” Fara mumbled.

Marius crossed his arms. Anger rolled off him, threads of the deepest orange shimmering from his body to lace around Tahlia like a protective barrier. “So Ophelia did indeed murder her father to do blood magic.”

“I believe so,” Albus said. “I don’t think she knew exactly what she was doing though. At least to the extent of the evil she wrought. The Druid confirmed that when I met with him upon his arrival.”

Fara grinned. “I love him so much.”

Albus nodded at his new Healer student. “Talented male, for certain. We are blessed to have him in the Realm of Lights.”

“What about Ophelia’s admission to Tahlia about the poisoning? Any physical proof for the others?” Marius asked, brows knitted.

“We found two vials of ghostmint, one full and one empty, in Ophelia’s bedchamber.”

“I’d say I’m surprised about all of this,” Tahlia said, “but I’d be lying.”

All sets of eyes snapped to her face. Her human blood would never stop making her stick out a bit from the crowd at Dragon Tail Peak.

Marius let his arms fall and the threads around him faded into that ghostly transparency they normally had when Tahlia wasn’t focusing on them and when the emotions of anyone nearby weren’t running high.

“I knew it, too,” Marius said. “And I apologize for not pressing the issue to Commander Gaius as soon as I guessed it.”

“Stop apologizing for that,” Tahlia said. “I forgave you already. Let’s move on to what I’m actually annoyed with you about.”

Marius raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “If you bring up the fact that I let you sleep through breakfast again…”

Fara stepped between Tahlia and Marius as Albus chuckled.