35 #2
“That he can.” Xander says as he looks towards the arched window, his dark hair flowing ever so slightly with the soft breeze coming through.
“Castor is very very old.” He looks back at me now with a smirk.
“I know you like to call me old Maeve but I’m sure you know that the King has centuries on me.”
I smile and nod, waiting for him to continue. Enjoying the normalcy coming back.
“Therefore, he has learned to master his abilities. When Castor was much younger, he couldn’t control someone’s heartbeat unless his hand was on their chest, then he learned to do it from a short distance and from there, he learned to imbed his powers in weapons, thus creating the artifact.”
I look between Cole and the King, eyes wild with understanding. “So the artifact can control a person’s heartbeat?”
“Once activated, yes.” Cole says with certainty.
I suppress a shiver. “And why do you two want it activated?”
“For the prophecy.” Xander says matter of factly as he pushes off the pillar and walks back over to sit next to me on the sofa.
“As I once told you in my office, the King of Hidale is incredibly hard to kill. I’ve tried multiple times and the bastard is functionally invincible.”
“How?”
I may have grown up in the King's lands and completed missions for him recently but we don’t get to learn much about him.
The King stays off the battlefield, rarely attends meetings with anyone outside of his immediate circle and is almost always getting other people to do his bidding.
So in Hidale, none of us really know what he does or ever really see him.
“He’s a hybrid.” Xander says finally.
I stare at him, heart racing as shock covers my features. I glance between him and Cole.
“Half fae half what?” I ask.
“Fire wraith.”
A soft gasp escapes me. “So he’s an Emberwyn?”
Xander nods and looks at Cole.
I huff out a laugh and the guys turn to look at me, like I’m crazy.
“You guys have to see the irony here.” I say.
Xander looks at me and smiles slightly.
“Glad you find this amusing Maeve.” Cole says relaxing back in his seat opposite me.
Realisation hits me again, as I recall what I’ve read about fire wraiths.
“So he can resurrect himself from his ashes?” I spit out, glancing between the two of them.
“Yes.” Xander says from beside me, “you kill him, he sets himself on fire, burns and then comes back from the ashes. It’s all very dramatic and annoying as fuck.”
“And you think stopping his heart can kill him? That the Nytherin must do this?” I ask, not really believing that could work.
“Not kill him, no.”
“So what’s the plan?”
Cole and Xander glance at each other, like they’re having a silent conversation and I realise they’re deciding whether or not they can trust me.
“Have I not proven myself so far?” I ask, disappointment flooding my voice. “I have just told you about my past, which is not something I do often and I have completed all missions without any deviations, not to mention saving the people in that small town in Erador.”
I look between them both, Xander looks into his lap and Cole looks off into the distance.
Neither wanting to look my way.
“No, absolutely not! If you two want my help, I need to know what’s going on, what I’m getting into!”
Cole sighs, running a hand through his hair. “She’s right Xan.”
Xander stares at him for a moment before turning back to me. He offers me a soft sad smile, like he feels bad for holding back. I return his smile with a glare.
Xander sighs. “The artifact is not going to kill him but it can slow his heart down to the point just before death, to where he does not have the energy to fight back or even let off a spark and his body doesn’t automatically combust.”
Horror crashes into me, settling in my stomach. Hidale is a terrible man but that is a fate I wouldn’t wish on many. You’d be conscious the whole time, mind racing but in unbearable pain, barely able to breathe.
“The Nytherin will use the artifact to bring him down, to then finally finish the job and fulfill the prophecy.”
I jump to my feet and start pacing. My mind becomes a mess of thoughts that I try my best to sort through.
“Why would King Castor activate something so dangerous? What’s to stop you using it on others even before the Nytherin can use it?”
I look over at Xander and he shrugs. “Anyone will do anything for the right price and I doubt he wants his home in the hands of Hidale.”
“What and he’ll just trust that you won’t use it against him!” I exclaim, still walking back and forth.
“First of all, it cannot be used on him but yes, he’d have to trust my word and whatever I grant him in return. We have also been allies for a while, need I remind you. He’s helped me in the war.”
I stop pacing and turn to stare at him, he really has thought this through, possibly for decades.
“Maeve.” He says gently and stands up to meet me, “what are you thinking?”
“That you and Cole are most certainly insane.”
Cole snorts from where he is sitting behind us.
“That makes three of us.” He chokes out and I pin him with a glare.
“So?” Xander pushes, inching even closer, causing me to take a step back and hit the stone column behind me. Reminding me yet again of last night and sending a warmth across my cheeks. Xander notices and seems to also remember as he smiles down at me.
“So what?” I snap.
“So are you still wanting to help us? Because we will need a lot of help to find the Nytherin after the artifact is powered.”
I look into his eyes, blue and bold and currently airing with a side of caution or uncertainty. He doesn’t know what I’ll say.
“Yes.” I answer him sternly.
“If it saves the hybrids and stops Hidale ruling over Aressor, I will help.”
Xander smiles brightly in response to my answer.
I try to ignore what it does to my emotions.