Chapter 42
Aurora
Caelum demands Camryn rests, so he carries her off to his room. I give her a soft smile and promise I will come see her later.
The rest of us—Arc, Draven, Soren, and myself—stand dumbfounded in the dining room.
“I think this calls for a drink,” Arc chokes out.
Soren and I exchange glances before following the cursed lord to a well-stocked bar across the room. All inklings of pleasure were snuffed out with the mention of Isolde’s name. Talk about a cock block.
We settle onto leather-covered stools, and I startle when the silent incubus appears next to me. He slides onto a seat, and I thank the gods no more lust magic ripples off his body. I’m truly not in the mood.
Arc pours a deep amber liquor into our glasses.
I take a long pull. “I can’t be the only one terrified Isolde has joined with the king, right?
What do you think she’s doing? I mean, the last time I saw her, she burst into ashes.
How is it even possible she’s alive?” I swallow, heat trailing down my throat.
Caelum strides back into the room without Camryn. “She’s betraying us. Her family.” He nods to me and I take it to mean Camryn is sleeping.
“She’s looking for a way out.” Draven’s voice is barely above a whisper.
“That’s bullshit!” Caelum scoffs as he pours himself his own glass of liquor.
The incubus’ eyes flash to him. “We all know what she’s become. Does it really surprise you? She’d do anything to see Arc fail.”
Caelum paces in front of the bar. “Come on, man! Feel something for once. Our friend—your lover—has fucked us in the worst way.”
Something sparks in Draven’s eyes. “I have to believe the real Isolde is still in there somewhere.”
My brow furrows, and I stare at the incubus. Her lover? I can’t picture anyone besides a monster being intimate with that woman. It makes me wonder what hides beneath Draven’s stoic exterior.
“What do you mean, the real Isolde?” I ask. “The one I knew was awful.” My mind flashes back to her glamoured as Soren, stealing me away to the cave, desperate for the portal location. Soren squeezes my knee, recalling his own dark memories of the shadow weaver.
Caelum stares at Draven, who sighs. He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“She wasn’t always so … cold. She made a choice.
” His gaze shifts to Arc, who stands silently in the corner.
“She did what she could to protect herself. To protect the ones she cared about. After what happened with Alice and then Vespera, she was just … broken.” Draven looks at me with sad eyes.
Questions linger in my mind, and it’s Caelum who answers them.
He tells me about how Isolde arrived at the palace.
How she was sold by her neglectful father.
How she developed feelings for Arc, and how he couldn’t give her what she wanted because of the curse that we now know was pointless.
He tells me about Alice, a traveler who was falling in love with Arc, which made Isolde jealous.
So much so that she couldn’t take it and she snapped, killing the woman.
Isolde confided in Vespera about what she’d done, and it cost the sprite her tongue.
I scowl at Arc while Caelum speaks. Arc’s icy gaze remains fixed on an unseen, distant focal point.
After all that happened to Isolde, she couldn’t bear hurting anyone else because of her heart—so she froze it. She blocked out all ability to feel love and empathy, allowing herself only to be fueled by rage.
Hearing the others speak of her, their friend, paints a different picture of the female I had known. Her story is tragic. But it doesn’t change how I feel knowing she’s aligned with our enemy. She’s a malevolent force.
“What are we going to do?” I ask, my head heavy.
Draven nods toward Caelum. “I could go back in. Find out what she’s doing. See if I can reason with her.”
The large warrior shakes his head. “No. Camryn doesn’t need to endure any more.”
Draven parts his lips to protest when Soren speaks up beside me. “I agree with Caelum. I imagine we will find out her intentions soon enough. The best we can do is to be ready for when they make landfall.”
I swallow the bile rising in my throat.
A voice echoes from the corner. “I hate to say it, but I agree with the sentinel as well.” Arc sets his glass on the bar.
“My father will make a play for the palace since he suspects the Dreamer is here. He will probably arrive elsewhere and unleash his army, causing chaos and destruction to serve as a distraction. I want to play into it. The rebels should march to the coast near Hollowbrook. It’s best to tell your commanders to prepare themselves. ” He nods to Soren.
“I smell battle plans,” Numara says as she slinks into the hall, wearing not much more than a sheer silver slip that makes me avert my eyes from her glorious body.
Soren clears his throat and turns his gaze to me, assuring me he isn’t giving her the attention she wants.
Numara strides over to Arc, leaning in close to reach around him and grab his liquor glass from the bar. She raises it to her full lips while staring directly into his eyes as she throws back the rest of the drink. He remains still as stone.
I have to admire her confidence.
“As much as I’d love to remain here to watch whatever your father has in store for you, I must ensure the safety of my people and help Thorn.
” She turns to eye Caelum. “Plus, I love any chance to stretch my wings.” She tilts her head toward her back as her wings stretch out wide, white and gleaming.
“Thank you, Numara,” Soren says.
“I will send our army from the north with you,” Arc adds. He looks around at the group of us. “I’m assuming the rest will remain here?”
I look at Soren and nod. “What about Clara? And Maeve and Mei?”
“We’re staying, of course, my dear.” I twirl to see Clara and Mei stride into the room.
She hugs my shoulders before ordering Arc to pour her and Mei a drink.
To my shock, he complies without complaint.
Wielding stern maternal energy certainly has its advantages.
Clara gives me a wink as she settles at the bar.
“I don’t like the idea of involving young Maeve, but something tells me she will fare just fine,” Clara says.
I think of the girl and fear for her being a child in a fae battle. But she is strong and has a sense of confidence and courage that rivals many adults.
I down the rest of my drink and wince. I kiss Soren’s cheek and my lips brush against scratchy stubble as I leave to visit Camryn. She’s tucked away in Caelum’s room. The door is ajar and her eyes flutter open as I pad across the floor.
Despite her increased appetite at dinner and a bit of rest, she still looks exhausted. I bite my lip to hide my concern. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
She pushes back the covers and scoots over, inviting me to lie beside her. I slip into the plush bedding and face her.
“I just want it to be over,” she sighs.
“More nightmares?”
She nods. “I’m glad Draven figured out who Isolde was, but I almost wish I would have been powerless rather than having to deal with terror every time I close my eyes.”
“I’m sorry.” I frown, feeling helpless. “Is there anything I can do?”
Camryn chuckles sadly. “Trade places?”
I sigh. “I would do it in a heartbeat.”
Her brown eyes scan mine. “So, your friend Isolde is back?”
A scowl spreads across my face. “I guess so. I just wish I knew what she was planning.”
Camryn gives me a soft smile. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”
A lingering presence tickles the back of my neck, and I roll over and jolt at the sight of Maeve standing beside the bed, staring down at us. “Maeve! What are you doing here?”
“You can cast out the darkness,” she says in her sing-song voice.
“What?” Camryn asks, wary of the child seer.
Maeve looks from me to Camryn’s hollow eyes. “You’re the light. She’s the dark. You can banish the darkness so she can heal. Can rest.” She blinks her dark eyes at me.
Camryn and I exchange looks. What the hell does she mean?
Maeve reaches down, grasping my hand. She places it atop Camryn’s and looks at me. “Stay while she sleeps. The nightmares won’t come if she lets in the light.”
I gaze up at the young girl. “How do you know that?”
Maeve shrugs her shoulders. “I’ve seen it.” She places her palm to her forehead. “Camryn was walking through darkness—pitch black. Then you appeared, bathed in light.
You gripped her hand and everything turned light.”
I gape at her. Unable to make sense of her visions. She smiles kindly before slipping out the door as quietly as she arrived.
“She freaks me out,” Camryn says as she watches the girl disappear into the shadows.
I chew on my lip. “I wonder if it will work, though?”
Camryn looks at me as she yawns. “I guess we’re having a slumber party.”
I wrap my fingers tightly around hers. “I guess so.”