Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,82

floor as I hastily straightened my clothes to make myself presentable. Mother eyed me from head to toe, her lips pressed together, her emotions hidden.

“You’ve returned . . . unharmed,” she questioned, and one dark eyebrow rose.

“Y-yes,” I stammered. “I’m fine, but there’s a problem, a sorceress and—”

You’re in so much trouble, Maeve smirked at me.

“Good. Then see to your chores,” Mother ordered.

“Wait, I have to talk to you. They need help. Our help.”

Mother shook her head. “No, we will discuss this no further. You will not go back to Rya . . . ever.” She removed her cloak, hung it on a peg by the door, and brushed past us into her drying room, the door slamming behind her.

“That was anticlimactic.” Maeve sighed, drumming her fingers on the table. “I expected yelling, death threats, and curses.”

“That’s a weekly occurrence for when you disobey,” Rhea said. “This is Aura. She never gets in trouble.”

Maeve shrugged. “Sorry, it’s in my blood, mischief and mayhem.”

“Now what are you going to do?” Rhea glanced at me.

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

Sleep wouldn’t come. Night after night, I struggled to rest. Each of my dreams filled with nightmares about escaping the fog, the onwae attack; thorn branches crawled up and over me, wrapping around my throat and choking me. I would wake up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath.

Worry plagued my days, and I often froze during my chores and stared north, hoping, praying that Liam was all right. Did he worry about me like I worried about him? Was Devin okay?

I lost my appetite and tried to pretend to eat, but instead stirred my dinner with my spoon.

Hack brushed against my leg under the table in solace, but I barely noticed. It was Mother who watched me closely, monitored my moods, her brows furrowing in worry, her frown growing each day.

A week went by, and I barely recognized the person in the mirror. Dark circles hung under my eyes, my face looked sallow, and my dress fit loose.

Rhea took me aside and chastised me.

“Snap out of it, Aura.” She gave me a hard shake. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“You don’t know that. I don’t know that.” I finally let the fear and turmoil I had been hiding rise to the surface. “The blasted mirror is only showing that cursed fog. My friends could be in danger. Liam could be hurt.”

“For all you know, they could be dead,” Rhea hissed. “And the kingdom already lost.”

“Don’t!” I yelled. “Don’t you say such things.” Rhea winced and grabbed her head. My mental anguish thrust upon her unwillingly. “Sorry.” I reached out to touch her to remove the pain, but she avoided my touch.

“There’s nothing you can do,” Rhea said.

“But there is. I mean, I have to try.”

“No, Aura. That’s not your gifting. You can barely survive going into town without having a breakdown. I spoke with Eden. She told me how you reacted after one day in the city. And you want to walk into the middle of a war between an enraged mage and the human king of Rya? It would be your undoing. I don’t care how much shield magic your knight has. It wouldn’t be enough.” Rhea walked forward and placed her palms on my cheeks. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“But Rhea,” I sobbed, my heart breaking. “Without Liam in my life, I’m already lost. I feel the emptiness here.” I touched my chest. “He gives me hope. Hope that I can do something great before I spiral out of control.”

Rhea pulled me into a hug, her arms, reassuring. “I only hope to fall in love that hard one day.” She pulled back and wiped at my tears. “Does he feel the same way about you?”

“I think so.”

She gave me a sideways glance. “How can you not know what he is thinking?”

I wiped at my tears and smiled. “He is really good at hiding his thoughts from me.”

“Lucky guy.” She chucked me under the chin. “And lucky you. I will try to make another travelling charm. It will take a few weeks, but I will work through the night if I have to. Just don’t tell Mother.”

“Thank you!” I tacked Rhea in another hug.

“Maybe all will not be lost by the time you return. He could still be alive.”

It was those words that gave me hope and haunted me that night.

Sitting up in bed, I stared around at my sparse bedroom and the two empty beds that once belonged to