Page 87 of Shadow Queen
“And a liar,” Sana snapped. “You serve the Shadows?”
Alexander bristled, deeply insulted. “I’m not a liar, and I serve Mercia’s queen.”
“If you’re not a seer, what are you?” she demanded.
Norah’s mind spun. Alexander wasn’t a seer. He had no powers. But what were the sisters sensing? He glanced back at her, and she could see he had no idea how to answer.
“If you truly come with no ill will, you’ll let us look inside him,” Sana said to Norah.
Alexander tightened his stance, his bow ready. But Norah hadn’t come for violence. She’d come for answers. She needed their help, and she realized she needed to make the first move of trust.
“Alexander,” Norah called to him. “Put down your bow.”
He hesitated a moment, then reluctantly, he lowered it.
Sana nodded to Naavi, and the green-hued woman moved toward Alexander. She reached out to touch him, but he stepped back. The Wild woman looked at Norah.
Norah couldn’t deny her own curiosity. What power did they think Alexander had? “Let her touch you,” she told him.
Alexander stilled as Naavi reached out again. She put her palm against his chest. Norah glanced at Mikael and Soren, then at Caspian. They all watched with equal curiosity. The forest was silent as they stood, waiting.
Naavi’s eyes widened, and she looked back at her sister. Something unspoken passed between them, but Norah wasn’t sure what.
“What are you?” Sana asked Alexander again. “What is this power?”
“I told you, I’m but a man.”
Naavi took a step back, giving some space between them. “You serve Mercia but ally yourself with the Shadow King?” she asked him.
“I serve Norah Andell, Queen of Merciaandthe Shadowlands.”
Both sisters jerked their heads toward Norah in surprise. “How is this possible?” Naavi breathed.
“The most obvious way,” Mikael said shortly. “We’re wed.”
Naavi’s face twisted. “Norah, this cannot be true.”
“It’s true,” she confirmed. Although she didn’t want to talk about her marriage, she wanted to understand what had happened with Alexander. But she didn’t get a chance.
“We cannot help you,” Sana said firmly.
Cannotorwill not? “But I’ve been helped here before,” Norah pressed. “It was you, wasn’t it?” she asked Naavi, the green-hued sister she felt the most connection to. “You helped me escape the drifters.”
Sana scowled at Naavi, who didn’t answer, but Norah could see she was right.
“I came here riding a horse of the Wild,” Norah continued, “and I’ve been told my father’s ridden the same. Whatever this bond, whatever this connection, I beg you, can you help me? I have no memories, and I’m desperate to get them back.”
But Naavi shook her head sadly. “No.”
“Who can?” Norah pressed.
“No one,” Sana said. “Once memories die, they’re gone.”
“No,” Norah breathed, shaking her head. “That’s not true! Pieces have come back. I just need to find out how to get the rest.”
Naavi’s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked back at Sana. “This cannot be. Perhaps I missed something.”
Missed something?
