Oria's Enchantment (Sorcerous Moons Book 5) by Jeffe Kennedy

Author:Jeffe Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction
Publisher: Brightlynx
Published: 2019-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

9

ORIA ADJUSTED THE fur-wrapped bundle of the sleeping Chuffta. One of Vycayla’s many assistants had contrived the sling from the ones women used for carrying recently delivered infants home again. It looped over her shoulders and kept him safely cuddled against her under her fur cloak, while leaving her hands free.

And, thanks to the successful negotiation with Lonen, she now had the mask to use at her discretion—though for now she kept it safely wrapped in its own bag. Time enough to answer its dark siren call. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? That she could bide her time before tasting the powerful rush of that magic again. Her arguments had been sound and logical or she wouldn’t have been able to convince Lonen. He was far more rational than she was, especially about the mask.

She had to learn to use it. So much better this way, that Lonen had agreed.

He stood off to the side, speaking with Vycayla, so Oria checked on Chuffta—for the umpteenth time—parting the furs to peek at him. He did look so much better. Vycayla had splinted his wings and stitched up the bites, bandaging him in places. She’d worked her healing magic on him, too, so that he wasn’t even bruised. He might be only sleeping, if not for the utter lack of his presence in her mind.

She couldn’t think about that too closely, as scrutinizing that aching empty hole sent flutters of panic through her. The evening before, when she’d found herself alone—and acutely lonely—she’d distracted herself with the mask. Then, when Lonen took it from her, she’d distracted herself with him. Fortunately sex with Lonen worked nearly as well, almost as hypnotically seductive as the mask’s magic.

“Farewell, Oria,” Vycayla called. “Swift journeys and may Arill bless your endeavors.”

Oria lifted a gloved hand in acknowledgement. It was a graceful and generous thing to say, but Oria couldn’t yet shed the fury over Vycayla callously suggesting she replace Chuffta with another derkesthai. She’d nearly suggested Vycayla replace her dead son with another, but had bit back those cruel words.

Vycayla didn’t understand. None of the Destrye could, really, and Oria had to remind herself of that reality. Even in Bára, no one else had been paired with a derkesthai Familiar in generations, not since Oria’s great-grandmother. Oria only received Chuffta because her mother had journeyed to a colony when Oria turned seven. Queen Rhianna had recognized Oria’s unusual sensitivity to magic and had known her precocious daughter would need a Familiar to help her through the difficult trials life would hold for her—as Rhianna’s own grandmother had.

Oria frowned to herself, thinking back as Lonen embraced Vycayla. Queen Rhianna had said something more before Oria and Lonen fled Bára, something about how Oria would need Chuffta’s help in other ways—much as Lonen had said when he lied to his mother about the duel.

Maybe it hadn’t been such an untruth. Of everyone around her, Lonen understood her relationship with—and dependence on—Chuffta better than anyone. That was

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