The House Of Gaian

more than you’ve lied to me this evening. You used my heart against me, Lucian. You used our kinship as a weapon. I won’t forget that, nor will I forgive it.”
    “And I won’t forgive your betrayal, Aiden. You should have supported Dianna and me. But that doesn’t matter now. Once Ari is back at Brightwood, Dianna will regain her full power, and we’ll take care of that usurper who stole her place as the Lady of the Moon.” Lucian took a step toward the door.
    “No!” Aiden grabbed Lucian’s arms.
    Heat filled his hands. Searing, staggering heat. He screamed as they burst into flames.
    Lucian shoved him. He fell against the bed, scrambled wildly to pull the covers around his burning hands and smother the flames. He heard Lucian fling the door open and run down the corridor.
    He howled out his anguish, but he couldn’t have said if the cry was for the pain in his hands or his heart.
    Half-listening to the story Lyrra was telling Morphia, Sheridan, and Morag, Ashk moved closer to the door. Her keen hearing was picking up the sound of male voices—arguing. Who was arguing?
    She opened the door a crack. Morphia and Sheridan had the room next to this one, which she was sharing with Morag. Aiden and Lyrra were across the hall from Morphia and Sheridan.
    When Lyrra knocked on the door a little while ago, she said Aiden wanted a little privacy. But the voices were coming from their room. Who was Aiden talking to? Why not tell Lyrra he wanted to talk to someone instead of implying he wanted some time alone?
    Unless he didn’t want anyone to know he’d arranged to talk to someone. And there was only one person she could think of whom Aiden would prefer to meet in secret.
    Her stomach tightened. She turned away from the door. She didn’t want to lose her trust in Aiden, not only because she liked him but because the Bard was a strong ally.
    Then she heard a scream of pain, heard a door flung open.
    Whipping her own door open, she saw Lucian running down the corridor to the staircase.

    Hearing an anguished cry, she rushed into the other room, then froze for a moment when she saw Aiden half sprawled on the bed, a thin curl of smoke rising from the covers bunched over his hands.
    She was across the room, grabbing the pitcher of water, before Lyrra reached the doorway and screamed, “Aiden!”
    Lyrra stumbled in her haste to reach Aiden, catching herself before she fell against him. She rested her hands on his shoulders, her eyes full of panic as she stared at the covers hiding his hands.
    Ashk tugged at the covers just enough to get past the top layer, then poured the water over the rest. The sheet was charred, but she couldn’t see Aiden’s hands yet.
    Sheridan burst, into the room. “Ashk?”
    “More water. Now!”
    Gasping, Aiden said, “I’m sorry,” over and over.
    “Who did this?” Ashk snapped. “Was it Lucian?”
    Aiden nodded.
    Sheridan returned, carrying two water pitchers from other rooms. As Ashk grabbed one from him, she saw Morag standing in the doorway.
    “Where is Lucian?” Morag asked.
    Ashk bared her teeth. “Who cares where—” She stopped. Stared at Morag. Then she looked at Aiden.
    “Does he know about Ari? Does he know where to find her?”
    “I didn’t tell him,” Aiden gasped. “Only that she was alive. But he guessed ... because I’m traveling with you.”
    Ashk looked up.
    Morag was already gone.
    One thing at a time. “Get the basin and fill it with water,” she told Sheridan. When the basin was on the bed and filled, she reached for the sodden cloth over Aiden’s hands.
    Shuddering, Aiden closed his eyes. Lyrra turned her head.
    Carefully, Ashk lifted the cloth—and sighed with relief. Lightly gripping his wrists, she raised his hands high enough for Sheridan to push the basin under them. Then she gently lowered Aiden’s hands into the water.
    Not what she’d feared. Nothing like she’d feared. A few blisters were rising, and his hands were a bright red. She’d seen skin that red when young farmers foolishly stripped to the waist and worked in the fields all day early in planting season. She doubted Aiden would be comfortable for a few days, but he would be all right.
    “Stay with him.” She ran out of the room and down the corridor, passing Morphia and the Clan healer the Sleep Sister must have fetched.
    Down the stairs and through the communal rooms. Out of the Clan house, running through the gardens until she reached the stable.
    “Have you seen the