Chapter 16 #2
He swallowed hard, as if even that small motion cost him. “I thought…” His voice cracked like shallow ice. “I wasn’t sure the plan would work.”
“That’s what happens when you give an important job to a pair of dimwits.”
He smiled, and it was like the most beautiful sunrise had cast away the grimmest night of my life. “Thank the Goddess for those dimwits, then.”
“We’re going to keep watch,” Ravin said, gesturing to Maelis and Dahna. “I don’t think I need to remind you that if word gets to your mother about this, Maelis is going to have more patients to attend to.”
“I won’t be long,” I said to him, acknowledging the risk everyone was taking on our behalf.
Jack’s fingers tightened around mine as Ravin and the healers stepped outside to give us privacy. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I wouldn’t have asked for you if I didn’t need to see you.”
“If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me. If I hadn’t gone into the Warrens, none of this would’ve happened.” I could no longer hold back the tears.
He wiped at my wet cheeks with his calloused fingers.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for this.
I was reckless with my magic, and an innocent person died.
But I need you to know,” he said, bringing me closer and leaning his forehead against mine.
“If I had to do it again, I’d do it without a second thought. ”
“She didn’t have to subject you to that type of punishment,” I whimpered.
“The worst is over. I survived.” He pulled back and arrowed his gaze into mine.
“I survived because of you. As much as I hated that you had to see me at my worst—chained up, powerless, and bleeding onto the courtyard stones like a butchered animal—knowing you were on that balcony kept me breathing.”
“I hated that I couldn’t do more. That I…”
He tucked loose strands of hair behind my ear, his touch a soothing balm. “Hush, Syl. You did more for me than you’ll ever know. I’m so grateful for you, elskan mín.”
We were so close, our breaths mingled. Every speck of silver swimming in his eyes shone with their own internal light…his magic. Goddess, his magic had returned. I reached for his neck and swiped my fingers against the reddish welt that encircled his entire neck.
Jack hissed at my touch.
“I’m sorry,” I said, retrieving my hand, but he halted me.
“It’s okay, just tender.” He stretched his neck, showing me the extent of the damage caused by the spelled collar.
“If it’s removed, shouldn’t you be healed by now?”
“The collar not only nullifies magic, but it also absorbs it. And I’d already used a significant amount of my power the night before, so I was already drained. My magic has returned, but it’s not as strong as it should be. It will take days to build up my strength and heal.”
I dropped my gaze, knowing it was also my fault he’d been drained of his magic.
He lifted my chin, a pained smirk ghosting across his lips. “Hey, don’t do that. I chose to give you my magic, Syl. And given the same circumstances, I’d make the same choices again and again.”
“Why?”
“Why?” he asked incredulously, almost hurt.
“Syl, don’t you know…” He cupped my jaw and drew me so close, our lips almost touched.
My heart hammered against my chest, my breaths running ragged.
His chest rose and fell, each one a laboring task that seemed to take too much of his strength. “Syl, I… I’ve always…”
He paused, closing his eyes as if trying to find the right words to say. The silence was deafening.
“Jack, what are you trying to say?”
He licked his cracked lips, eyes straining with each breath. “That something inside me aches, Syl. Something I’ve always known. And it aches and yearns for—”
Ravin rushed into the room, the healers trailing behind him. “Guards are coming. We need to get you out of here, Sylvi.”
“There’s no time,” Maelis said. “Captain, come here. Pull your hood over your eyes and join me at the stove and start stirring that pot. Whatever you hear, you stay focused on that pot, you understand?”
A wave of nausea hit me. If the queen discovered I’d snuck out…
“Go, quickly,” Jack said. “Do as Maelis says.”
I barely made it to the stove before two royal guards stepped into the room. They didn’t even bother with pleasantries. “The queen demands an update on the prince.”
Maelis turned around to respond, but Jack cut her off, his voice hoarse but steely. “Tell my mother I’m not dead. There’s no reason for concern.”
“But your injuries, Your Highness…” the second guard uttered. “They seem—”
“My injuries are not for you to assess, Lieutenant. Inform the queen that I will be ready to ride at dawn. You are dismissed.”
Their armor clinked as they stepped out of the infirmary in a hurry.
The five of us let out a collective breath.
Ravin checked to make sure the guards were gone, then he gave the all-clear.
I stormed toward Jack. “What do you mean you’ll be ready to ride at dawn?
Jack, there is no way you can ride in your condition. ”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Nonsense.”
“That’s what I tried to tell him,” Ravin said, waving his hand at his friend. “But he’s more stubborn than a bushant.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, shooting Jack an angry stare.
“You’re one to talk,” he shot back.
“We’re not talking about me, and I’m not the one with a torn open back. For Skadi’s sake, you’re still bleeding. Your magic is not fully back, and your healing is very slow. You could develop a sickness. Isn’t that right, Maelis?”
“I’m afraid we’ve already had this conversation with the prince,” she said, eyeing Ravin. “He’s made up his mind.”
“Jack,” I implored. “We can postpone the envoy for a couple of days. Until you’re fully healed.”
“Listen to her,” Ravin said. “The journey to Thrymgard is treacherous. What if you encounter an attack?”
“It’s a risk I have to take. To postpone the envoy would announce to the kingdom that their prince is weak—that they broke me—and I cannot allow that.
I’m sure you can both understand why that’s important to me.
The Unseelie King is expecting us. If we delay the envoy, it could have political consequences, and I can’t put the safety of the realm in jeopardy because of an injured back. ”
“It’s not just an injured back,” I said, flustered. “I don’t even know how you’re sitting here talking to me.”
“Trust me, it’s taking every ounce of strength I have left not to collapse onto this table.”
“More of a reason to delay this trip.”
He simply stared at me, that look of determination solid as rock. I looked to Ravin, who simply shrugged in defeat. When my eyes met the healer’s, her gaze softened. They’d already fought and lost this battle.
Maelis said, “Sascha will be traveling with the envoy. She will be the prince’s personal healer and will ensure he receives the salve treatments throughout the day.”
I stepped closer to him. “You stubborn ass. You’re lucky I love you.”
“I am lucky.”
“You better do as Sascha tells you, or I swear…” I said, sounding exactly how he had when Maelis had advised me against doing too much.
“I wouldn’t dream of disobeying her orders…or yours.”
“Sylvi,” Ravin said, “we really need to get you back to your room.”
I nodded. “Try to rest as much as you can tonight, please. Promise me, Jack. Don’t try to be a hero. Do everything Maelis tells you.”
“I promise,” he said with a crooked smile that barely made the corners of his eyes crinkle.
I gave him a soft kiss on the cheek that might have lingered longer than was appropriate, but I didn’t care. I relished the warmth of his skin, the rough stubble on his face. Beneath the scent of blood and grime was that faint cedar and fresh frost smell that could imprison me in his aura forever.
I inhaled it deeply, until it felt like Jack lived inside my lungs, then and only then, was I able to pull away. “I’ll see you in the morning, Prince.”