Chapter 2
Ishake my head. “All we know about the attackers is that they were firefae. Three of them. Leon was hurt.” New torture fractures me. “I’m so, so sorry, Nueena. The garden. It’s gone. They destroyed everything.”
Nueena blinks away tears and straightens her shoulders. “We will find a way to restore it.” She looks past me. “The honeyguards have Leon. Let’s follow them.”
I spin around, nearly tripping again, and take off running towards the group leaving the garden.
The honeyguards are on high alert, surrounding a floating Leon, Lillian running next to him, her magic keeping him suspended.
A healer races after them towards the palace, her white healing magic circling him.
“Lillian!” My vision blurs with more tears, but the devastation to his body is clear.
“He’s alive! Della, have you been wounded in any way?”
“No, no, Leon saved me.” I grip his hand.
He lies there, frozen by magic, unmoving.
Our group moves as one. With a brief blessing from the goddess Ellova, the healer’s chambers are not far, just inside the palace back entrance.
The fae lights flashing in the hallway let the healers know they are needed immediately.
We are ushered into the first room, Leon’s body floating gently to a soft bed. Our escort leaves, and Lillian seals Nueena and Tavien inside with me.
Blood stains tarnish the white marble as Leon’s wounds drip into a puddle at my feet.
Every crimson droplet is a reminder he would have died protecting me.
Ashlea, the palace’s head healer, rushes towards Leon, cuts open his ruined shirt with her jeweled dagger, and places her tan, tattooed palms on him.
Her hands glow as she fills his body with her magic.
Light shines out of every wound, highlighting his injuries.
His bleeding slows, the wounds knitting back together.
The shine of the healing magic dims, and the angry red blisters of his burned skin slowly fade to pink.
The cerulean-haired healer lowers her glowing hands, glancing around at us. “If I am not mistaken, this man is mortal.”
Oh no.
“He is,” Nueena says calmly. “I would appreciate your discretion. He poses no harm to Ellova and is here with the High Court’s blessing.”
Ashlea bows slightly. “Of course. Healing magic works quickly to stop any life-threatening injuries, but severe wounds take more time. I am unfamiliar with mortal anatomy so I cannot offer any promises of a complete recovery, he has lost a staggering amount of blood. Rest is what he needs now.”
Leon’s shallow breaths slowly even out and that is enough for now, my shoulders drop with relief. “Thank you, Ash.”
She pulls up a cushioned stool with the Ink Court’s symbol embroidered on it and motions for me to sit next to Leon, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder after I’m seated.
Ashlea waves her hand, and the blood vanishes from Leon and me, our clothing torn but clean. She bows to Nueena before exiting, leaving Lillian, Tavien, Nueena, and me alone with Leon.
What if he doesn’t survive this dreadful night? He’s mortal. Even fae healing magic might not be enough.
Nueena leans down and wraps her arms around me from behind. “I need to speak with my parents, but I will be back as soon as I can. They need to know what happened.”
I hate to wake them up, to ruin anyone else's night, but I nod.
“Del, I’m incredibly relieved you are safe, that you both are.”
I place my hands over hers, pulling her tighter. “Thank Ellova you were not there. You could have been hurt.”
Nueena lets out a little laugh, “I would have loved to see them try.” She kisses the top of my head.
Tavien peers down at Leon. “The two of you found something rare and precious. The time you have together is already not enough. He would not have any of it stolen for something as trivial as death.”
I cannot help but smile at his kind words for a moment. “I feel so guilty, Tav. If he hadn’t—”
“He and I have not been friends long, but I know what he would say, and I'd tell Nueena the same thing: it was worth it. Leon would not want your guilt. He has fought to stay with you at every turn for this exact reason.”
I know he is right, but the guilt eats at me, swallowing me whole. Nueena holds out her hand, and he takes it. They leave together, arm in arm.
Lillian walks over to me with glossy eyes. “This never should have happened. I was a fool for placing too much trust in the safety of the palace.” My friend of many years gazes down at Leon. “He has my eternal gratitude for saving you.” Her throat bobs.
“Oh, Lil.” I stand so I can embrace her.
Her arms slowly wrap around me. I’ve known her for over a hundred years and I have never seen her hold back tears.
She is always so stoic and strong, an unbreakable shield, showing softness only to her mate.
“You do a wonderful job of protecting Ellova. I have no doubt we will find whoever was responsible for this and make them pay.”
She pulls back first. “I will give you time alone with him. I need to go to Viella. I’m sure she’s still awake at this hour and will need to be updated on tonight’s events.” She pats my cheek affectionately. “Try and get some sleep.”
I let out a little laugh. “I make no promises.”
The door closes with a soft click, and Leon and I are alone. I return to my place beside him.
The peaceful chamber is decorated with soft blue walls and shelves lined with herbs and remedies. A small marble fountain bubbles in the corner, creating a soothing sound. The crystal window outside the door reveals multiple honeyguards standing on alert, amid chairs for visitors lining the wall.
How I wish Farren were here instead of exploring the forest around my cottage. My sweet fox has always been such a comfort when I needed him. Stroking his soft black fur is more calming than any tonic.
I lay my head on Leon’s chest and my tears glisten on his skin. He is going to be all right. I tell myself this over and over again, but it does nothing to calm my racing heart.
I love Leon, but how can I tell him now?
He deserves to know how deeply I care for him, but if I say it, I cannot take the words back.
I know he feels what I do, that he patiently holds back, waiting for me to confess it first. If he knows I love him, if I say those words, he will never leave.
No amount of begging or bargaining would convince him to abandon me here.
Just the way my father couldn’t—wouldn’t—stay away from my mother and me. Not even when he forgot who we were, becoming angry, confused, and lost in the Merawood Forest. Or when we were reduced to picnics on the Divide, my mother and me on one side, him on the other.
Leon would rather die—by the burning hands of masked firefae or his own madness consuming his mind—than be parted from me. The guilt of his constant sacrifice is a knife to my gut.
He risked himself, as if my life is more important than his.
He shouldn’t have to choose.
No, I cannot tell him what he truly means to me. It will only lead him to destruction.
The sight of him in this room causes my chest to tighten painfully. Eventually, I fall asleep, tears still falling, comforted by his slow, rhythmic heartbeats.
Movement startles me awake. “Leon?” I whisper into the darkness.
The dim lights slowly brighten the room, and blinding joy erupts in me when Leon’s green eyes flicker open.
“Not exactly the ending to the evening I hoped for.” His joke turns into a cough. I find no humor in it, but I try to smile at him. I’m sure it comes out more of a grimace.
“Leon, I cannot express how mournful I am.”
He watches me with concerned eyes and pulls my wrist to his mouth.
“It’s over. You are safe and that is all that matters,” he whispers into my skin before pressing a soft kiss there and pulling me into the bed with him.
I curl up into his side. It’s not all that matters, but arguing with this selfless man is hopeless.
Still trembling, I cling to him; his soft strokes down my back are blissful.
I turn my head to rest my chin on his chest, watching him.
The firefae who attacked us could have taken me and the crown.
Unless whoever is hunting me knows how to remove this blasted thing, they’d find a way to kill me just to get it off my head.
Leon would have died attempting to stop them.
If they are working with Grayden, they will use the magic to destroy Kalvorn and possibly Ellova.
I shove down the urge to scream and cry and beg Leon to leave here, return to the mortal realm, and find safety away from the affairs of the fae.
“Izadella, stop.”
My brows pull together. “Stop what?”
Leon reaches up and rubs my cheek with his thumb. “I know what you’re thinking. It's written all over your beautiful face. You want me to leave, don’t you?”
He knows me too well.
“Of course, I don’t want you to but tonight proved you’re not safe here.”
He shakes his head. “No, tonight proved I was right. You are not as protected in Ellova as you swore you were. Even more reason for me to stay. The only thing that will separate us is time, and even then, I will fight for every last divine second.”
I close my eyes and bury my face into him, our bodies pressed together. The emotions that swell within me pour out, and the traitorous tears leave a small splash on his chest as evidence of my breaking heart.
Leon’s lips graze my temple and linger there, whispering comfort into my skin. “Oh, strawberries.” He pets my head in soft, sweeping motions. “There will always be danger. No place is truly safe, but our futures are entwined. I am meant to be beside you. I am yours, always.”
I do not speak, only focusing on his calming touch.
Always.
With his arms wrapped tightly around me, we stay like that for a long while. The terrors of today are seared so deeply within me, only Leon can heal it, parts of me only he can soothe. The words I love you balance on the tip of my tongue, but I keep my feelings close to my heart.