“Really?” Keita stepped into the dress. “So all those rumors about you and your coven attacking the Darkest Night temples?”

Meihui sat on the bed, her arms stretched out behind her, long legs crossed at the ankles. “That’s none of your concern, Keita.”

“No, of course not.” She pulled the sleeves of the dress up her arms. “But I am curious. As always.”

“Your curiosity has always gotten you into trouble.”

“Very true.” She walked over to Meihui and turned. “Tie me up?”

Meihui stood and proceeded to lace up the back of Keita’s dress.

“I hear you have a mate now.”

“Something like that.”

“Do you like him?”

“I do . . . which is surprising. I never thought I would.”

“All done.”

Keita turned and smiled at her old friend.

Brushing Keita’s hair off her forehead, Meihui asked, “Why are you really here, Keita the Viper?”

“To see the Empress.”

Meihui leaned in close. “I truly hope I don’t have to kill you, my friend.”

“Me?” Laughing a little, Keita kissed Meihui on the cheek, then lifted her skirt and twirled a few times. “I forgot how much I used to love this dress!”

* * *

Brannie woke up human . . . but that was strange because she didn’t remember shifting to human.

She was stomach down on a bed with Aidan asleep in a chair beside her. Snoring.

“Not very royal.”

Gritting her teeth, Brannie took her time turning over and sitting up. She remembered well when that lightning bolt had hit her in the back and she was just grateful to be alive. She wasn’t about to risk her progress by jumping up and running around the room.

When she was sitting and comfortable, she got to her feet, again, taking her time. When the room was no longer spinning, she made her way over to a tall mirror on the other side. Brannie turned and tried to see her back. In her human form, the wound went from her shoulder to the back of her calf.

“If you’re wondering,” Aidan said from his chair, “your wing is fine.”

She had been wondering, and hearing that information . . . She closed her eyes and let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“Good. How long have I been out?”

“A day.” Aidan frowned, looked over his shoulder at the darkness outside. “Okay, maybe two. Barely.”

“How is everyone else?” she asked, heading back to the bed and carefully stretching out.

“The same. Fine. Mostly sleeping in, though.”

Brannie lay down on her back but it hurt; so she rolled over onto her stomach, using her elbows to raise her chest up a bit.

“Did I shift?” she asked.

“No,” he said on a yawn, stretching in the chair. “The witches shifted you to human after they took care of your wound while you were still dragon.”

“What witches?”

“Human warrior witches. Heaven’s Destroyers. We’re at their temple.”

“Never heard of them.”