Book 15: This Family

Blake

It’s late afternoon when we finally return to Moonrise. Marianna slumps in my arms as I spirit us directly into my suite, which is dark, the curtains pulled, and the blinds closed to the outside world. Rain pelts the windows. I lay Marianna in my bed, and she groans, blinking wearily up at me while her skin flushes a pale green.

“How do you people travel like that without throwing up every time?” she rushes out, trembling.

“Most of my family members do, in fact, throw up. You haven’t yet, so consider yourself one of the strong ones.”

She’s limp with her eyes shut before I even finish the sentence.

I walk through the fifth floor’s eastern wing of the palace, which I normally have to myself, when Leona comes rushing around a corner, nearly knocking me over. I grab her by the shoulders to steady her as she gasps in surprise. “Blake! I heard you were back, and she–”

“She’s fine.” I slide the keys to my suite into her hand. “She’