Sitting up, he took a black Fey'cha from his chest straps and lightly scored the back of his hand. She stifled a cry of protest at the thin red line of blood that welled up in the wake of the blade's point, but when Rain wiped the blood away, she could see the skin had already mended.

Ellysetta reached for his hand, stroking the unmarked skin as she followed Rain's revelation to its obvious conclusion. "Fey shei'dalins are expert healers.”

"Aiyah, they can perform for mortals what nature does for the Fey.”

"Why have I never heard of that before?”

He shrugged. "It is a gift we have long worked to hide from the world. Too many ancient Fey texts in our Hall of Scrolls tell of shei'dalins enslaved and tortured by despots who demanded everlasting life. It is one of many reasons we guard our women so fiercely.”

"Of course. You'd have to. Eternal life." She gave a dazed laugh. “Just think of all the possibilities. The twins can take all the time they want to find a man they truly love.”

Rain frowned. "You misunderstand, Ellysetta. This gift is not one I can extend to your family. We grant it only to those who share the matebond with a Fey.”

Dreams of sharing the centuries with her family crashed abruptly. "But they're my family," she protested. "You can't think I'd want to live forever without them?”

"Everlasting life would be the greater cruelty, shei’tani. Mortal souls were not fashioned to endure the darkness of the ages. They become ... twisted and bitter.”

"Is that the fate in store for me?”

"Nei, never. The shei’tanitsa bond ensures eternal strength for both our souls, until the gods call us home. But a mortal soul unanchored by a matebond has no such protection." When she continued to frown, he added gently, "You know as well as I do your mother would never accept that gift at such a price, even if we could offer it to her.”

Ellie's gaze fell. He was right. Mama would never risk corrupting her soul.

Rain drew her into his arms. "This much at least I can offer: If your family comes to the Fading Lands, they will live free of illness and the effects of age until the end of their time.”

"Thank you, Rain." She knew how jealously the Fey guarded their borders, Rain more than most. Not since the end of the Mage Wars had the Fey opened the Fading Lands to any but their own kind, but his offer still seemed small consolation. Her parents were the beacons in her life, standing bright and strong even against sometimes terrifying darkness. She couldn't imagine facing centuries of life without them.

"I have upset you.”

"No, you haven't ... not really. All mortals know they must eventually face the fact of their parents’ deaths, but it's never been a thought I could bear without crying.”

"If I could offer you more, I would.”

"I know." She rose to her feet. "It's late. I should probably go to bed.”

"Of course." With a wave of his hand, her shimmering gown changed back to her plain, cotton night rail. He helped her slip back in through her bedroom window. "Will you be able to sleep now? Your fear is gone?”

She bit her lip. "You knew?”

"I knew.” He laid his palm over his heart. "I felt it here, through the first thread of our bond. It's why I left Teleos's dinner. I could not stay there once I sensed your distress. You should have asked Bel to call me earlier. I would have come.”

"I didn't want to be a bother.”

"You could never be that." He nodded towards the bed. "Shall I stay with you again, as I did last night?”

"Would you?" The hopeful question popped out before she could censor it. Immediately embarrassed, she hurried to demur. "I'm sorry. You don't have to. Really. I'll be fine.”

His brows rose. "You think spending another night holding you in my arms is an onerous task? Surely I did not leave you that impression." Without waiting for an answer, he swept her up into his arms and deposited her on the bed, then deftly stripped off his weapons belts and leather tunic before joining her. His arms slid around her, pulling her to the warm security of his chest, and as her eyelids began to droop, she felt the press of his lips against her hair.

"Sleep, shei’tani." His whisper spun over her like an enchantment. Without a whisper of protest, she did, and for the first time in weeks, she passed the entire night in dreamless peace.

CHAPTER EIGHT

I live

I fight

I bleed

I die

For love.

I am Fey.

-I am Fey, a warrior's poem by Evanaris vel Bahr

Dressed in a form-fitting coat and trousers, with a waistcoat woven of Tuelis Sebarre's precious spider-silk in shades of blue and green to accent his vivid eyes, Kolis Manza climbed Celieria's palace steps. Appreciative female gazes followed him as he went, but he ignored them. When he donned the persona of Ser Vale, Queen Annoura's Favorite, the Sulimage was used to drawing feminine attention.

Everything was progressing on schedule. The butcher's son, Den Brodson, was packed and heading up the North Road to put Master Maur's plans for Ellysetta Baristani in motion, Selianne was delivering Kolis's gift for the Feyreisa, and Kolis's newest pamphlets were already papering the streets of the South End, their incendiary accusations stirring the mobs into a frenzy. Now, as Vadim Maur and Kolis had agreed last night, it was time for Jiarine Montevero to earn the gifts and titles Kolis had bestowed upon her.