Chapter 42
When we return to the house, the others are sitting in the living room discussing recent events. To my surprise, Oak is sitting among the group. Heavy purple circles sit under his eyes, and his typically bright hair appears dull.
Fen sits next to Warrick as always, while Larkin is closest to the blazing fire, sitting beside Rose who is holding a cup of tea.
As we descend the carpeted staircase, Oak lifts his gaze, and a smile appears on his face that doesn’t reach his eyes.
I can’t help but notice how Warrick always keeps an eye on Fen, as if she’s seconds away from disappearing from his grasp.
“There you two are,” Fen says as she stands. “I thought I was going to have to come pull you two out of Ophidian’s.”
“Have you both been speaking to Cyrus this entire time?” Larkin asks.
“Doubtful,” Warrick mumbles. “He’s never stayed anywhere for that long.”
Silas shoots me a smirk.
I respond before he can embarrass me. “Something like that.”
“Well, come join us.” Fen waves us over as she tucks back into Warrick.
We stride across the vast living space, and I marvel at my surroundings—I don’t think this house will ever cease to amaze me.
Each time I descend the stairs, I find myself awestruck by the beauty of this home and its stunning views.
My eyes linger on the large windows, looking out at the sun, which hangs low in the sky, casting shades of pink and red across the horizon like a mix of melted flowers.
I watch it dip lower with each passing second, the crimson hues quickly overtaking the pink—brighter than I’ve ever seen a sunset—reminding me of dripping blood inking the sky.
I tear my gaze away and shake off the unsettling feeling.
Warrick and Rose begin a new conversation, likely talking about their travels, while Larkin and Fenmore spat about who will drink more ale at Ophidian’s when this is all over.
I move immediately to Oak and sit before him. “How is she?”
“She’s asleep right now,” Oak replies, with a heavy sigh. “That’s about all she does currently, but the healers assure me it’s how the body will heal itself faster. She should wake up more in the coming days.”
“Those healers know what they are doing,” I assure him. “Trust them.”
“How was your day?” he asks.
“Gods, we don’t have the time to cover everything that happened in our day.”
“Everything went okay, though?” he pushes, looking for more information.
I don’t want to burden him further with the uncertainties of what the next few days will bring, but I can’t bring myself to lie to him, either. He deserves to be included like everyone else, and keeping him informed will only make us more prepared and united when the time comes.
I shake my head. “I don’t really know, to be honest. I know you heard we spoke with Cyrus. The conversation went well, in that he listened, but I’m not sure I did a good enough job convincing him. As far as Silas announcing he is now the King of Andorwood…” I pause. “It could have gone better.”
I feel the stares from the others after hearing Cyrus’s name, and I can’t help but look directly at Warrick. His brows tighten, and he fidgets with a piece of fuzz on his thigh.
“It will be a gamble if he helps us take down the ship, and it will be an even bigger gamble if we can rely on him in the future,” I say.
“He won’t help,” Warrick grumbles. “He looks out for one person and one person only. He’ll leave us on that pier to fight alone.”
“Maybe he won’t,” Larkin adds.
Warrick furrows his brows. “He will, and when we win, I plan to make sure everyone knows that the rebels are cowards.”
Fen jerks her head in his direction. “Warrick, no, you won’t.”
“I won’t?” he asks, annoyance flashing in his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I?”
The rest of us remain quiet, watching.
Warrick continues, “He is a piece of shit. I should expose him for what he is.”
“How would that be helpful for our future goals?” she bites back, narrowing her eyes.
“And what are our future goals, Fenmore?” Warrick’s anger rises.
“To save—” she starts, but he cuts her off.
“To save Rohhit? To put you in danger so you can drag him back from the Gods know where?”
I can see how quickly resentment begins to fuel his words. He’s hurt that Fenmore is tethered to another, and it’s been evident for days.
“Yes, Warrick,” she says, lowering her voice. “That is the plan.”
“Amazing,” he responds, sarcastically.
“Warrick,” she snaps.
“What?” he bites back.
“I’m choosing to save someone’s life because they are good, and they don’t deserve the fate they have been given.”
“You don’t even know him.” Warrick stands. “He doesn’t know you, and you are so willing to risk everything for him already.”
Her face reddens. “I do know him.”
“No, you fucking don’t,” Warrick shouts, and from his expression, I can see he instantly regrets his harsh words.
“Please, Warrick,” Fen whispers, letting every crushing word pull her deeper into her guilt. “Just calm down.”
Silas stands. “Warrick, sit down and lower your voice.”
“Take it easy, buddy,” Larkin adds.
“Is it true?” Warrick steps toward Silas, curling his fist. “What she says?”
“About Rohhit?” Silas responds.
“Yes,” Warrick snaps. “The connection.”
Silas glances at Fen, who remains motionless, watching with wide eyes—as if wishing he wouldn't ask. I can’t help but feel for her. It's a sensation that feels so natural with the tether clicked into place, yet so terrible as she witnesses Warrick’s heart shatter before her eyes.
“It’s true,” Silas says.
Warrick huffs, tossing his hands in the air.
“It’s a connection I can never fully describe to someone who can’t feel it. It’s raw, powerful, and all-consuming.” Silas acts as if he doesn’t want to speak the following words. “She claims to know him because, with everything that she is, she truly does—deeper than he may know himself.”
Warrick blinks slowly and brushes his hands through his blonde hair, striding to the open balcony doors.
“I can’t do this anymore, Fen.”
“Do what?” Tears well in her eyes.
He turns to her. “Love you while you love someone else.”
She lets out a sob. “It’s not like that; I don’t love him.”
“Yet,” Warrick snaps. “Right?”
“Please,” she begs.
“Fine. Then I will not stick around to witness you fall in love with someone else.”
“Warrick!” she weeps.
“I’m going to get some air.”
“Please, don’t leave,” she begs, standing as if she wants to follow him.
He glances over his shoulder. “With Hux gone, someone needs to patrol the island. I’m going to check on the men stationed around.”
“Warrick,” she pleads, stepping closer in an attempt to reach him.
“I’ll be back later.”
“No,” she snaps.
Warrick’s gaze remains glued to her for a moment.
He slowly pans his head toward the open air, and shifts—a trail of white light lingers in his wake.
Fen watches the empty space—as if she expects him to return at any moment and apologize—but only the fading daylight and sea breeze drift through that door.
A tear rolls down her cheek, and she slowly returns to her seat, crumbling into the cushions.
Larkin stands. “I’ll go after him.”
Silas nods, watching the balcony.
Larkin walks directly to Fen before heading to the open balcony doors. “You two will be okay.”
“No,” she whispers. “We won’t.”
“Just give him some space to breathe,” Larkin replies, and he leans in and kisses her cheek before striding to the balcony to shift.
Even with two people gone, the room feels cramped—unable to hold the swirling emotions that we all feel. My heart breaks for Warrick and Fenmore, and I dive into my own thoughts, trying to think of anything that can help.
Silas watches Larkin leave in silence, then turns back to Fen. “He is just confused. He doesn’t understand, but this isn’t your fault, Fen.”
“I don’t even understand this, Silas.” She turns to glare at her brother. “And yes, this is my fault—I’m the reason he’s hurting.”
“You aren’t doing anything wrong,” he says, and tries to take a step toward her.
“Oh, I’m just doing exactly what I was designed to do. Well, what if I don’t want this?” Fen sits forward in the chair. “It’s not real—the feelings aren’t real—they are forced. You couldn’t ignore them, but maybe I can. I don’t want to hurt Warrick anymore. He doesn’t deserve this pain.”
Her words swirl in my mind because I have had the same thoughts.
“You can’t blame her for thinking that.” I say to Silas in my mind, then ask, “Are these feelings real?”
Silas snaps his head in my direction and snaps, “Don’t you fucking think that.”
The others go rigid, knowing something just happened that isn’t group knowledge.
I grimace but keep my gaze strong. “Fen is just trying to figure this out like we all are, Silas. It’s normal to have doubts. You know exactly what our first few meetings were like. Give her time to sort this out.”
Fenmore rubs her temples, and I can see how tense her body is from across the sitting area. Her nails dig into her scalp. “I can ignore this. I think I can ignore this if I try.”
Dread crashes into me.
We can’t save Rohhit without her, but I keep my mouth shut. I can’t bombard her right now.
“You can’t, Fen. Even if you wanted to,” Silas warns. “Stop acting this way.”
“I can.”
“How?” Silas steps toward her, and I grab his arm to keep him at a distance. “How can you ignore something like that?”
“Because I haven’t felt his tug or heard him in almost three days.”
My legs go numb, and I try not to show the panic on my face. Oak keeps his head low, not wanting to interject, and Rose shuffles to the kitchen, likely to pretend to make something.
“Why didn’t you say anything, Fenmore? This isn’t a game.” Silas furrows his brow. “I know this is unfortunate for you, and you feel torn, but this is serious. Keeping things from us can result in our loss.”
“This is my life, Silas.”
“It can lead to our realm turning to shit. This also affects all our lives.”
She doesn’t respond.
I walk toward her and pause. “Can you try to speak to him now?”