Chapter Thirty-Nine
We’ve been running for three days.
The first night, we had an advantage with Daemon’s ability to transport us, so we could move across valleys and peaks that took the riders much longer. That helped us lose Cillian’s army.
The next two days we traveled almost constantly. We’d stumbled across a caravan that sold a couple horses to us, and we’d made our way steadily east. We’d stopped for an hour or two at a time to eat and sleep.
But by the third night we were both depleted, so we’d found an inn at the edge of a small town. Daemon set up spells all around the place so we’d know if anyone was coming. We’d eaten our first hearty meal, and then we took turns bathing in a tiny clawfoot tub.
“You can sleep in the bed,” Daemon says. “I’ll take the chair.”
We hadn’t spoken much the whole time we’d been on the run. Not only did we not have the chance, but so much had happened. So many secrets revealed in such a short span of time.
“No,” I say softly. “We can share the bed. Just to sleep.”
He eyes me for several moments, his expression impassive, and then he nods. I pull back the blanket from my side and crawl in, and he follows a moment later. It’s not a big bed, so we’re right up against each other. Daemon’s green eyes burn into mine, spinning with sorrow and unspoken words.
“I know you haven’t forgiven me,” he says, “And I understand if you don’t. Just know that I regret not telling you. I never meant to break your trust in me.”
“You’re right.” I pause, trying to find the right thing to say. “I haven’t forgiven you. And I don’t know if I ever can. But maybe that’s for the best.”
Daemon’s brow furrows, but then his jaw tightens and rolls. “Because of the prophecy.”
I nod slowly. “If we can’t be together without causing some horrible atrocity… then maybe it’s better this way.”
“If the prophecy is true,” he says.
“Well, Julian seemed to think it was.” My gaze drops as I think of his sacrifice. “And I’m not willing to risk it.”
“Agreed.” Daemon falls silent for several long moments. “We don’t have time for feelings anyways. We have to warn the Queen, and then we have to find the druids.”
“The Druids of Erissed,” I murmur. “Have you heard of them before?”
He nods. “Here and there. I thought they were a myth. Usually only discussed as campfire tales or bedtime stories.”
“What kind of stories?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.
Daemon’s expression is somber. “Not good ones. They’re usually the bad guys in the story.”
I shiver. “But he seems to think they can help us. When he said they could help us break the curse, do you think he meant the curse that befalls champions who withdraw from the tournament? I mean, it’s been a few days and nothing has happened yet.”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out.”
I shiver a second time, and Daemon reaches out and pulls the blanket higher over my shoulder. “I’m not going to let your cousin have you, Embyr. I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”
He brushes a finger down the side of my cheek, and I lean into his touch. Completely by impulse, my body acting of its own accord. Daemon’s expression darkens, and I can feel my magic pulse through my veins like a storm.
“Your eyes,” Daemon says, low and dark, with the edge of a growl.
“You shouldn’t touch me, then. My magic has a mind of its own.”
His tone is dubious. “Your magic?”
“Just turn around, okay?”
“Whatever you say, little Phoenix.”
And he turns and faces away from me, and I turn, too, so that we’re back to back.
I’m still mad at Daemon, and I don’t trust him, but we’re stuck together for the foreseeable future, and I can’t help how I react to him.
But I’m going to have to keep it under control, because the consequences are too dire otherwise.
Fate brought us together, but fate, in its cruel way, is keeping us apart now.
Silence falls between us for several minutes, but I can’t fall asleep. The thing that’s been burning in my mind the last three days needs to be spoken.
“Daemon?”
“Yes?”
“There’s something else… something else I remembered from that night. Eight years ago.”
He remains silent, waiting for me to continue.
“Before you rescued me from the fire, I helped my sister escape out into one of the alleys.”
I can feel his body tense up against mine.
“Cillian took her. My sister is alive, and he took her.”
Daemon turns back over, and I do, too.
“Embyr…” His eyes burn with concern.
“We will warn the Queen,” I say. “And we will find the druids and figure out this prophecy.” I can feel my eyes start to glow again, this time for an entirely different reason.
“But then—then we’re going to find my sister, and if Cillian tries to stand in my way, prophecy or no prophecy, I will burn this whole world to get her back.”
I hope you enjoyed Embyr and Daemon’s story, which continues in A Fate of Flame and Onyx.