Claire turned to look back. Where the door had once been, three figures had sunk to their knees, hugging each other tight. Sena’s shoulders shook with sobs as Sylvia, a woman with hair even brighter than Sena’s, and Mathieu, his smile too big for even his russet beard to hide, hugged their daughter tight to them, looking as though they would never let go.

Claire looked away, wanting to give the newly found family privacy. And she also needed to ask the unicorn a question—so many questions!

She made to move out of the tent, but the dizziness she’d felt earlier swung back in, and suddenly, Claire found herself falling, tumbling toward Nadia’s plush carpet.

“Claire? Claire!”

She heard someone calling her name. Sophie. Maybe Nett.

“What’s wrong with her?”

She was on the ground, and could feel someone grasping her arm. Then she heard words, full of fear, reply: “Slug soot, that’s a Spyden’s bite! How long has she had it? Claire, hold on!”

But Claire had already let go.

Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER

25

Claire woke to constellations painted on a stone ceiling—strangely familiar constellations that reminded her of the tower bedroom she and Sophie had shared at Starscrape Citadel. But Greenwood was at least two weeks’ journey from Stonehaven. So she couldn’t be at the Citadel unless … Had she slept for two weeks? Startled, she tried to sit up.

“Hold up there, no need to be in a stitch,” said the warm and friendly voice of Aunt Nadia. Her aunt’s face broke into a smile. “Everyone will be very glad to see you’re awake.”

“Claire!” Nett popped his head over. “About time!”

“Nett!” Claire said. This was all getting more and more confusing. “What are you doing in Stonehaven? Where’s Sophie? Where’s the unicorn?”

Nett shook his head. “I thought I asked a lot of questions.”

Leaning against the pillows, Claire saw she was indeed back in their room, but with some adjustments. A few chairs had been pulled up around her bed, along with crumpled blankets. “Sophie and Sena and her parents have been checking on you, though I came in so they could help with the war preparations,” Nadia explained as she followed Claire’s gaze.

“War?” Claire asked. “How long have I been asleep?” She was worried. Magic had never before exhausted her so much.

“Not so long,” Nett said, coming to stand next to her. “Especially when you consider the fact that you let Spyden venom fester in your blood for days! Why didn’t you tell anyone that a Spyden bit you? The poison is slow-acting, but if not removed, it starts shutting everything down.”

Claire shook her head. “It didn’t hurt anymore, so I didn’t know!”