Chapter 35 #2
A minute later, I finally felt a softening in Gweneira’s organs as the poison relaxed its grip. My head spun from the prolonged effort, but I kept going. When her heart struggled back to life, I nearly wept. “It’s working,” I gasped.
Her lungs recovered next, pulling in desperate breaths. Gweneira’s eyes flew open, though her gaze was unfocused.
“You’re all right,” I said as Triana stroked her brow. “You’re safe.”
I pulled my magic out of her, then dropped my sweaty forehead against the arm of the couch as fatigue swept over me. Black spots drifted at the edges of my vision, and the pool of power in my chest was nearly empty.
Gweneira blinked rapidly, and awareness came back into her gaze. She sat up, then coughed, pressing a hand to her throat. “What—” she wheezed.
“Poison,” I said. “Murdoch brought you here.”
Shock washed over her delicate features. “You saved me.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.” She looked around, and I saw the moment she realized where she was and what the implications were. Shock shifted into horror. “Did I lose Light House?”
There was no point softening the truth. “Yes.”
She closed her eyes, making an anguished sound. “My supporters?”
“Murdoch said Torin and Rowena are rounding them up. The ones who surrender, at least.” Gweneira undoubtedly knew what would happen to the rest.
She stood and started to pace. Her dress was rumpled and vomit-streaked, her hair was damp with sweat, and she still had a sickly pallor, but her eyes blazed with hatred. “I will destroy them,” she spat. “No matter what it takes. I will end them.”
The house door rumbled in the distance. Moments later, a handful of blood-spattered Light faeries staggered into the hall.
Gweneira gasped, then ran towards them. They held an urgent discussion, and then two more refugees arrived, and then three more.
Triana and Maude went to retrieve Nadine, and soon the hall buzzed with activity as the servants took care of the new arrivals.
I watched from the floor, certain that if I stood, I’d faint.
Nearly a hundred Light faeries arrived at Blood House over the next few minutes—wounded and weeping, ashen-faced and devastated. The commotion alerted more of my house members, who leapt into action to escort the Light faeries upstairs.
Finally, Lara and Murdoch returned. When Lara spotted Gweneira, she made a relieved noise and rushed forward. The two clasped hands as they exchanged quiet words, and then all three faeries joined me at the couch.
“There are no more coming,” Murdoch told me grimly. “The doors to Light House are barred.”
I managed to get to my feet, knees shaking. “At least this many escaped.”
Grief shone in Gweneira’s eyes. “Thank you for taking them in,” she said, looking at me and then Lara. “Most wouldn’t.”
“They can stay so long as they agree to follow my rules.” I was still angry with her over that bird at her belt, so the next words came reluctantly. “You can stay, too.”
She was still, face frozen like a statue’s. “Thank you for that as well.”
We both knew it was a bitter gift. “It’s not forever,” I said, offering that small comfort. Maybe it was a lie, but if a lie got us through the worst times, it was enough. “You’ll regain the house.”
“May your words grow wings.” She turned to Murdoch. “Do Torin and Rowena know where everyone escaped to?”
“I’m hoping not, since the Sun Soldiers were too occupied with the last pockets of resistance to pursue them. Princess Kenna is known for taking in refugees, though.”
Gweneira rubbed her forehead. “We need to seed rumors quickly. Someone saw our people fleeing to an outcast colony, someone else saw them heading aboveground. Confuse the narrative in case there were any witnesses.”
“And you?” Lara asked, eyes wide and hands clasped at her chest.
“I’m dead,” Gweneira said bluntly. “My corpse went missing, but I’m sure we can come up with a convincing fabrication.”
Murdoch nodded. “I wanted to give you a secret burial. I took you with me when I ran.”
“Plausible, since Rowena would have strung me up in the entrance hall.” Gweneira sighed, shoulders slumping. “Let’s get our best remaining minds together and start strategizing.”
“I’ll stay here tonight,” I told her.
“No,” she said instantly. “You have to go to the masquerade.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t, they’ll definitely know the Light faeries came here.” Her expression grew more determined with each second. “Let them think us defeated. Let them believe me buried and my people scattered. If they think they’ve won, they won’t be prepared when we strike back.”
The last thing I wanted was to drink and dance among enemies after our alliance had been dealt such a brutal blow. We’d needed Gweneira’s soldiers, but we’d also needed the hope she provided. She’d been proof that rebellion could grow even in Light House’s strict walls.
But if my attendance helped lay the groundwork for revenge against Torin and Rowena, I would dance all night. “All right,” I said. “I’ll go.”
Though there was someone I needed to see first.