Now I can’t help the barking laugh that escapes me. “You passed out from your wounds. I gave us both doses of the thayar concentrate to heal you quickly. I’m not exactly sure how long I’m going to look like this, but it might be awhile…” I trail off.

“Fionn and Silene? Did they…”

“They took them,” I whisper quietly. The memory of our enemies disappearing with our friends makes my heart skip a beat. I continue with steely resolve, no room for argument in my voice, “We’ll get them back.”

“I have no doubt about that, sunbeam,” he says as he stands, keeping his eyes closed to protect them from my burning light. I guide him to sit on the couch, not caring one bit about the mess of the blood that still covers him. “But before we do that, let’s see if we can get that light of yours under control. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, then imagine yourself as a candle or an orb of light. Physically picture the image in your mind.” He waits a few moments before continuing, “You got the mental image?” I nod. “Good, now envision yourself blowing the candle out, or covering the orb with a bowl, whatever makes sense.”

I concentrate on the candle in my mind, then imagine a great wind sweeping through and blowing it out. I slowly open my eyes, and the room has returned to its usual brightness.

“I did it,” I exclaim, and Thorne opens his eyes with a grin.

Admon claps. “Excellent work, Your Majesty. Can you tell me what happened now?” Thorne and I together relay the events to Admon, who furrows his brows. “They knew you were mates? Who else knows?”

“Carex,” Thorne and I snarl together, aether in my voice and another hint of it in Thorne’s, causing Admon to take a step back from the force of our magic-laced words.

“Surely you don’t think he betrayed your secret?” Admon asks. The deep lines of his face pinch together in worry, and his eyes are unseeing as he thinks through all he’s learned.

“I don’t know what I believe anymore,” I say with a sigh. “But if Nemesia is innocent, then that leaves someone on the Council who knew about me using the plant channelers to help coax the thayar populations. Until I can question him myself, arrest him and keep him in his rooms under guard. I’ve learned a lesson with Nemesia, so I won’t have him sent to the cells without proof, but he will not leave this palace until I know more. Thorne and I are going to go get Fionn and Silene.”