Page 14 of Rage of Her Ravens

No. If you saw her magic—Flora, it was magnificent.My father’s voice shook with what felt like awe.She broke a curse chamber, turned Malvolia’s mages to dust, and she brought back the prince from the dead.

What prince? And my sister was alive? How? And why would my parents keep her from me? From her children?

Necromancy?my mother asked, disgust and maybe fear, ringing in her voice.

She used Inretius flowers, but yes.

My mother hissed.Not even Maiadra had the power of necromancy.

Then certainly she’d also have Maiadra’s power to control the wyverns.My father sounded excited, agitated.

What do you think they’re planning?

I heard rumors in Cyrene that Helian’s brothers are alive, that he brought them to Thesan.

Wait. Was my father speaking of my sister’s shifter mates, my nieces’ fathers? I thought they had perished when King Fachnan’s dragon army had razed Lupine, the shifter stronghold.

Alive?My mother’s cry reverberated like a gong.How?

I dug my fingers into the wood, not even caring about the splinters any longer, or the chill from the outside air that seeped into my bones.

The prince intercepted them before they reached the slaughter.

They’ve been in Thesan all this time?

My father paused for several tense moments. If the rumors are true.

You think that’s where they’re going?

Most likely.

They’ll recognize her scent.

No doubt.

Oh, Derrick!my mother cried.What have we done?

Too late for remorse, Mother,I thought to myself.

What had to be done, my father snapped, his voice sounding so different from the tender, loving parent I thought I’d known.

Malvolia won’t stop hunting her.The fear in my mother’s voice was palpable.

Which means they’ll have no choice but to seek sanctuary with Fachnan.There was a strange, almost maniacal undercurrent in my father’s voice, and for the first time in my life, I was frightened of the man I’d always trusted above all others to keep me safe.

The prophecy is coming true.

It is,my father rumbled, which is why we need to go to Peloponese.

What about Shirina and the children?

I held my breath, my heart pounding a drum in my ears while waiting for my father’s answer.

I was thinking they could stay with Thorin,he finally said after a long pause.

The breath whooshed from my lungs. Thorin? My mother had told me about her old friend, the mind-spinning mage. Why would she send us to live with him?

You want him to take their memories, too?my mother asked.