“Luci feels awful about the burn. She’ll be happy to hear you got it healed. It might soothe some of the lingering guilt. She gets on quite well with the . . . Well, we call it a fire demon for lack of a better term. Once the blood witches have recovered, we’re hoping one of them has more answers about how it got here, or what it is exactly.”

Astrid lectured Ronan and I as the mountain rose high above us. We were on the opposite side from the female drakens, near another set of lava tubes. Astrid said Luci had agreed to meet us.

“Wren?”

The voice sounded so small and sad. I whipped around and Luci was there, looking taller and more grown up than I’d last seen her. I put a hand to my mouth.

“Look at you!” I moved to take a step forward towards her, and she did the same. Luci froze as pain flashed through my body, paralyzing me for a moment before I fell to my knees.

“I’m sorry!” Luci wailed, backing up immediately.

Ronan tilted his head, confused.

“It’s too much white magick. I knew this would happen,” Astrid muttered. Her lips pursed, and she shot a heated look at Ronan.

Luci’s lower lip trembled, her fear a sharper knife to my heart than my own pain.

“It’s ok. We’ll get this figured out.” My voice trembled as I spoke.

Luci fled back into the lava tube, her sobs echoing behind her. Astrid shot Ronan a filthy look.

“He will never agree!” Ronan warned.

I had no idea what they were talking about. The amount of pain spreading throughout my body was quickening, and I tried to focus on breathing.

Astrid’s spine straightened, anger turning her face hard. “I don’t care what he thinks. It is dangerous to leave either of these girls with so much white magick. Wren’s siphon is keeping it at bay, but for how long? Do you want another explosion on this island? You are risking the destruction of everything you’ve built!” Astrid whirled around and went after Luci, disappearing from view into the volcano.

Ronan’s ears blushed red, but he didn’t argue further. “I will speak to him,” he promised to the empty air.

I struggled to my feet. “Speak to who about what?” I demanded, trying to ignore the lingering aches.

Ronan sighed and met my gaze. “We’re going to have to let Thad come to Lyoness.”

Chapter Twenty

Benedict

I knew what they wanted as soon as I saw their serious, drawn faces. Kieran and Ronan’s shoulders were stiff, and Wyrren strode behind them. As if his presence would somehow sway me either way. My thoughts froze as I spied Wren in Kieran’s arms, her eyes tight and exhausted.

“What happened? Was the fire witch unable—”

“It’s much worse now. The close proximity with Luci’s white magick set her off, and now she won’t stop seizing. Her tattoo is only prolonging it, unable to get rid of it completely.”