Chapter 37
A short time later, we leave the people to their celebration.
The joy around us is infectious, adding a bounce to each of my steps as we return to Elias’s room to gather my copy of the potion recipe and some of the ingredients we found.
Hallam will collect the human bone and bring it to Vada’s workroom to be powdered and added to the mix.
My blood worked. Elias has his sword and will be better able to defend his people.
The land is beginning to heal. We finally have all the ingredients for the potion to heal Matt.
Everything is working out, and it almost feels too good to be true, like walking through a dream.
A tipsy-like buzz zips through my veins, though I haven’t had a sip of fae wine or any other intoxicating beverage.
Sounds of celebration fill the air on the way to the workroom.
Everyone we pass is beaming in delight, showing grand deference to their king and me.
Elias still wears his armor, including the helm, looking hard and stoic as ever.
He told me once of the importance of a king appearing strong before his people.
It gives them strength and discourages others who might wish to try to seize power for themselves.
Even in this world where the land itself chooses the ruler, some fae get it in their minds that it could be them.
A toxic thought if ever there was one but a fault humans often share as well.
Sometimes our own mind is our own worst enemy. It has been mine before.
But for just once, I wish Elias would let his guard down in front of the others. Celebrate with them, share in their joy.
“You’re quiet.” I poke him in the side, though he can probably barely feel it through his armor.
“I am often quiet.” He adjusts the strap of my pack looped over his arm. It was easier to just bring it since it contains several of the ingredients already.
I frown. Not that he can see it since he’s still staring straight ahead, not even looking at me. Something is wrong. I stop abruptly in an empty stretch of the hall. Most of them are quiet now, the people gathering with one another on the lower levels to celebrate.
It takes a few seconds before he notices and finally stops, turning back to me. “Aimee?”
“Something is bothering you.” Unease sits like a stone within me. “Is it my hand being healed and that we don’t quite know how that happened?” I tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.
He looks away before giving a short shake of his head. “Come on.” He turns back down the hall. “They may already be waiting for us, and I know you want that potion for your brother. Didn’t you once say you weren’t sure how much time he had?”
Oh no. I know what’s upset him. The thought of it has me hunching forward like I’ve been punched, my chest suddenly tight.
“Elias,” I start.
He’s already started down the hall again but stops at the sound of his name. I run to him.
“Wait!” I slip in front of him, blocking his path down the hall with my hands stretched wide. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” I drop my arms, feeling defeated. I know it’s true before he ever responds.
“Your brother is in the human lands.” His tone is dark. Hard. “How else would you get it to him but by taking it back to him yourself?” He stalks closer, angling me back toward the wall.
My heel hits first then my back, as he closes in, planting his forearms on either side of me as he leans in.
“Would you trust it to the Seelie?” He says the word like something foul. “Give them the potion and ask one of their humans to pass it along?”
“Elias.”
The curtain of his white fair slips over one shoulder as he leans in. “Would you? Or would you trust it to one of the humans who helped you enter this world?”
I swallow the knot in my throat. Would I? If it were the only option. But would they give it to him? Something so powerful might be too much temptation to give away.
“Only if I had to,” I say at last. “If there were no other option.”
He cups my cheek, tilting my chin up until our eyes lock. The metal of his armor is cool against my skin. “So you will leave and go to him.”
You will leave me. He doesn’t say it, but it’s there. And it hurts, cutting me up like the jagged, twisted truth it is.
My response is barely a whisper. “I wish I didn’t have to.”
Who knows what will happen when I do, when the coven learns that not only did I fail in my mission to deliver the king to them—because there is no way I’m letting him anywhere near that door—but I also heightened his power as well as that of this sword and his land.
It’s the literal opposite of what they wanted.
I’d be a fool to think there won’t be consequences.
Why would they help me further when I betrayed them?
Matt will live.
If the potion works. If I can get it to him. If I’m not too late.
So many ifs. But one thing I know for sure. If I don’t go to him, he will die. Soon, most likely.
Elias’s hand slides lower, drifting down the column of my throat to settle at the base of my neck. He leans in so close that his helm nearly brushes my cheek. His breath tickles my skin as he whispers, “A good king would do what’s best for his people and keep you here.”
I stiffen, holding my breath.
His thumb strokes my neck.
“Will you?” I ask when the silence becomes too painful to bear.
He leans his head against the wall above mine and lets out a ragged sigh. “I refuse to be like my father.” Elias releases me and shoves off the wall all at once. “Let’s get this over with already.”
Cool air fills the space he vacated. I suck down one breath then another, before I finally peel myself off the wall and follow him.
No, he would never want to be like his father. But he also didn’t answer my question.