Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
KAIROTH
I ’d forgotten how fragile mortals were, especially when Bellamy was so strong and fierce. But with her laying limp in my arms as I flew through the sky, she was a stark reminder. She was so pale, and she looked so small in my arms, so defenseless. Nothing like the fierce, wild woman I was used to.
Wind and rain battled against me. I was strong, but I wasn’t Ysar. I couldn’t control these elements. The wind pushed me this way and that, and I tightened my grip on Bellamy, her eyes closed, the wounds on her swollen hands so angry and red.
After she’d fallen asleep, I’d curled my body behind her, hoping to keep her warm. It had felt good. Far too good to have her pressed up against me, especially after she’d opened up to me like that. Told me about her brothers and this curse. Trusted me.
I’d woken up in the middle of the night, Bellamy thrashing in my arms, her head on fire. She was so out of it. I’d hoped she wouldn’t feel any pain as I lifted her and took her through the skies.
Rain soaked us, and lightning crackled above. I needed to get her back to my castle as soon as possible. I needed the pixies to help her heal. My heart twisted at the thought of something happening to her. I wasn’t exactly sure when it had happened, but sometime over the last month, I’d grown to care for her.
It was foolish, especially given what I had to do. But this woman with her scowls and glowering and courage had somehow done something no one ever had: she’d seen me. Now that she had, I never wanted her to stop. As soon as she was healed, I was going to tell her everything, the entire sordid tale of me and what happened with the gods.
She squirmed in my arms, a moan escaping her lips.
“Shhh,” I soothed, hoping she didn’t accidentally speak.
She’d never forgive herself if she did.
I flew harder, the tall peaks of my castle appearing in the distance. The wind pushed against me, but I pushed back, thinking only of Bellamy, of getting her to safety.
Soon the terrace came into view. I landed and burst through the doors and into the castle, calling for help.
“Jerome!”
Wesley!”
“Goji!”
I roared their names, rain dripping from my hair and my clothes, splattering to the floor. Bellamy had lost all color now, and despite just flying through gusting winds and torrid rain, when I felt her head, it was still far too hot. I had been so stupid.
I might have told her that I didn’t want to fly her back to the castle in her condition, and that was a small part of it, but the truth was I wanted her all to myself for a little while. Away from prying eyes. Now she would pay the price for my selfishness.
The pixies appeared, Driscoll and Leoni not far behind them, both of them rubbing their eyes until they saw me standing there with Bellamy. Then, all the sleepiness fled as they raced up the stairs toward us while the pixies flew.
“What happened?” Leoni cried.
“She’s sick,” I said. “I think it’s the poison from those nettle weeds.”
Driscoll swore. “I knew we should’ve made her see a healer.”
“What healer?” Leoni asked.
The pixies looked at each other, and Goji nodded. “I’ll return shortly. Get her into her room and out of those soaked clothes.” She looked at Jerome. “Wake Cook and have him make broth. She’s going to need to stay hydrated.”
“What can we do?” Driscoll asked with wide eyes.
“Stay by her side,” Goji said. “Talk to her. It can help when someone is dying.”
Dying. The words were a gut punch.
“Can’t you do something?” Driscoll waved his hand as I lifted from the balcony to fly Bellamy to her room. “You know, use your god powers to save her.”
“That’s not how it works,” I snapped, hating the reminder that for all my power, I couldn’t save her.
I was not a healer. I was death. I was darkness. And the only woman who didn’t see me as that might be lost to me forever.