21. Hard to Grasp – Elias #3
I turned my gaze to the sky, letting my magic ripple through the air to get my bearings on where exactly within the forest we were.
"I would say we’re pretty close. The trees will thin out for the next six hours or so.
At the center of the forest, there’s a massive clearing, not unlike this one but far grander. That’s where we’re headed."
She dipped her head back into the water until her hair became drenched with it, then she ran her fingers through the wet strands, combing through it as she peered into the direction I had indicated. "This forest is larger than I thought it would be."
I nodded, acknowledging the challenge ahead. As I followed her gaze to the direction I had indicated, I pondered how long we could stay on course before straying. A chill ran through me, and I shivered. Rosemary noticed, raising an inquisitive brow.
"We will need to back track a bit. We cannot take the obvious path forward. It will lead us somewhere dangerous," I admitted.
We savored the chill of the stream briefly before stepping out. My trousers and tunic clung to me as I slipped on my boots. Rosemary tossed her travel dress on over damp undergarments. The cool touch of the damp fabric was refreshing as we continued our journey through the forest.
We fell into a comfortable silence as we hiked, but each step tugged at the wound along my ribs, the pain seemingly worsening with every passing minute.
Beads of sweat dotted along my skin even as the cool breeze should have left me chilled.
I brushed away the moisture with the back of my hand, determined not to show any signs of weakness.
The canopy above filtered sunlight into scattered patches across the forest floor.
As we wandered deeper, the trees grew taller and their trunks broader, with roots twisting like gnarled ropes along the ground.
The birds sang with a regal air, as though they too understood the history this land had seen.
My legs felt like lead, and I stumbled over the lifted roots several times. Each time, the quickened kick of my legs to catch myself before I fell tugged at my injury, until it became almost unbearable. I needed to inspect the wound.
Ahead, I spotted bright sunlight breaking through to a small clearing.
We could rest and eat. As we emerged from the trees, the sunlight embraced us warmly, and relief washed over me.
We settled on the soft grass, leaning against a large stone.
Rosemary shifted her pack into her lap and drew out bread, cheese, and dried meats.
I accepted what she offered, savoring the burst of flavors.
I let my magic warm the bread as if freshly baked.
Rosemary's gaze fell closed as she sighed, a bite of bread warm on her tongue as she chewed. "This is amazing," she whispered between mouthfuls. I smiled at the obvious appreciation she held for these simple things. "I wish I had this kind of magic."
"Your magic is better than mine," I replied softly. "It’s the kind that gives life. Mine only takes or is superficial."
She shook her head. "I have very little magic. It’s why I make potions and elixirs. I was never taught high seelie magic. At least, not enough of it to really matter."
I stared at her, seeing the truth to her words.
She truly believed what she said. I’d watched her use magic on that pup to assess the level of the curse within him, and she’d lended her power to the moonbell petals before administering them to the boy, strengthening their properties.
How else could the boy have woken so quickly?
Not to mention the magic used on the pixie.
But she didn't see that as using magic. If she ever learned how to harness the high seelie magics of the earth, she would be powerful beyond imagination. She had no idea.
With a smirk, I responded, "I think you will be surprised in the things you will be able to do very soon." I shifted, reaching for the water skin, and winced as it pulled at my side.
"Are you okay?" she asked again, worry etching into the creases along her brow as she studied me.
"I’m fine," I replied, smiling. "It is just a bruise."
With our meager meal finished, Rosemary eyed me warily, suggesting we rest for a small bit before continuing.
I didn't have it in me to argue, my exhaustion settling over me like a heavy weight I couldn't hope to lift.
I leaned my head back against the smooth stone at our backs and let my eyes drift closed. Within moments, sleep claimed me.
"Wake up, you idiot! Wake up!"
Rosemary's frantic voice felt far away. Too quiet and easily ignored as I settled deeper into unconsciousness. Yet, as that thought crossed my mind, something else demanded I stay awake. Something hummed soothingly, filling my mind with conflicting emotions.
Warmth surrounded me, a cozy, fuzzy sort of warmth that begged me to stay right where I was. But those words, her voice, cut through my dreams and shook me awake.
My eyes snapped open, and her beautiful face hovered over mine, her wide, brown gaze boring into mine as I blinked up at her.
Her soft touch cupped my cheek, her fingers clutching at the sides of my head as she held me firmly within her grasp.
"Elias!" she gasped, her tear-stained gaze filling with relief as I opened my eyes. "Elias, stay with me!"
I tried to speak, to reassure her that everything was all right. I hated the worry in her gaze. My throat felt tight, my mouth dry, and my eyes struggled to focus, her face blurring even as I fought to blink away the blurriness. Something wasn't right.
As reality seeped back in, I sat up, wincing at the dull ache pulsing through my body. Every muscle felt weighed down, heavier, and my limbs leaden. My head felt stuffy, as if my thoughts had been trapped inside a vat of thick syrup.
"You were burning up," she murmured, a soft frown marring her features.
"What..." I swallowed the dryness in my throat, struggling to form words. "What happened?"
Her fingers closed around my hand, as if she didn't trust putting any space between us. "You were shivering and then started to mumble nonsense," she answered, her voice trembling as she watched me. "Something was wrong, but I don't know what. I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't budge."
A wave of shame washed over me. I had kept my pain from her to avoid exactly this from happening. My vision was still blurred, but I could blink it clear. I still felt groggy, but perhaps the worst of it had passed.
"I am sorry," I said, "I..."
As I pressed my fingers beneath my tunic to the wound I'd concealed with magic, I felt the indented marks of a wolf bite.
Instantly, I realized my mistake. Werewolf bites were poisonous, and I had foolishly believed my fae blood could expel the venom.
I was wrong. The pain flared under my touch, confirming my arrogance.
Rosemary watched my fingers move beneath the thin fabric of my shirt, and she dropped my other hand before tearing the hem of my shirt upward until the wound became visible.
Anger flashed behind her brown eyes as she growled, her frustration bubbling from her throat.
"You are stupid. You’re traveling with a healer and let this fester to this point? Stupid!"
My head spun, and I lost my balance, my back hitting the rock again.
Rosemary caught my head just in time, preventing it from smashing into the stone.
I slid down, unable to stay upright as pain surged through me.
I glanced at the wound, noting the jagged teeth marks, the fiery redness surrounding each, and the black veins extending from them.
I lay back in the grass, my blurry-eyed gaze resting on the golden sunlight drifting down around us. It glittered along the brassy blond strands of Rosemary's hair, glowing around the crown of her head like a heavenly halo. So beautiful.
My dried lips cracked open as I tried to speak. "Rosie... I need..." But I couldn't get them out, as a sharp pain ricocheted through my body like the coldest of ice but burned hotter than a rippling fire.
"You stupid, stupid male. Why didn't you tell me earlier...
" She spoke each word between clenched teeth before her brow furrowed.
"Wait. What did you just call me?" The confusion in her voice cut through the poison haze in my mind.
Rosie. The name had slipped out so naturally, felt so right on my tongue.
Why did she look at me like that, as if the name meant something but she couldn't quite grasp what?
Fragments danced at the edge of my consciousness: sunlight, laughter, a young girl with strawberry hair calling my name…
I barely heard her words. Her voice felt far away again, as if I were drifting in a sea of darkness even as I lay beneath her on the soft grass.
The fire of the wolf's venom coursed through my veins, carrying its poison through my body, to my brain and down to my heart.
The agony screamed within my mind, and icy fists clenched around my heart, making each breath hard to grasp.
I blinked away the blurriness and looked up at my beautiful rose.
She gazed down at me with a worried expression, and I realized this was for the best. I needed her love to betray her, but as the sunlight framed her like a goddess, I knew I couldn't go through with it.
I longed to touch her soft cheek, but my hand refused to move.
So, I closed my eyes.