52
My breath catches as I stare into those bright green eyes, bloodshot from what I hope is just lack of sleep.
But when I really look at her, I see her still in the dress she wore at the ball. The edges frayed and parts of her dress ripped and stained from blood and dirt. Her hair, not in the bun it once was, an utter mess from time spent on what I can imagine would have been a cold stone floor.
My breath hitches and my heartbeat increases when I see the bruises that coat her arms with dried blood around them.
Her nose is bloodied and looks different, her lip cut, her eyes black.
But her face is nothing compared to the state of the rest of her body.
Her arms that would have been used to shield herself, taking the worst of it.
I stare at the hands of the guards that hold her wrists, too rough for the red flesh that I see beneath them from chains that would have held her.
Cool dark rage consumes me as I see what they’ve done to her. I know with fae healing that this was probably a lot worse when it originally happened. I’m only seeing the end stages and I don’t think I’d survive if I saw her back then.
My vision gets dragged from Maeve in an instant and I palm the dagger I kept hidden in my belt and turn on the King.
“What the fuck did you do?” I demand as I hold the dagger to his throat, wishing I had my swords as this would be so much more satisfying if I got to remove his head.
Hidale only smiles as beads of blood start to drip from his throat.
“You can’t kill me Xander.” He taunts.
I press the dagger in harder, the guards are trying to get to me but Cole once again has me shielded.
My ears, heart and body, all blinded with rage.
I struggle to take in anything else around me, complete tunnel vision on my current task.
Until I hear Maeve’s voice from behind me.
So soft, yet so rough from the times she would have been screaming.
“It wasn’t him.”
“Then who was it!” I demand without looking back at her. I see Hidale’s eyes gleam with humour as he notes my question.
I know I’ve given up my emotions, how I feel about her.
But I don't care.
“It doesn’t matter.” Maeve says from behind me and her answer fills me with more rage than before.
How could she say that? How could she think it doesn’t matter when it matters more than anything else.
I hear footsteps behind me and know that it must be my men returning.
I slice Hidale’s neck and watch as he clutches and gags for air. I stare down at him before I turn and walk towards my men, Cole and Maeve.
The guards that were holding her rush towards me but it’s useless when I have Cole to shield me. I look at Maeve, her eyes are wide when I reach her.
“What did you do?” She whispers to me.
I’m about to tell her to relax when flame erupts from behind me and I feel the heat on my back.
Her eyes go wild as she takes in the sight of Hidale completely engulfed in bright orange fire.
“Time to go.” I say to Cole and my men before turning to Maeve.
“Are you okay to walk?” I ask her as I gently touch her arm, hoping that I haven’t touched an overly sensitive spot. But I honestly don’t know where I could touch her at the moment. The bruises and cuts are so much worse from up close.
It takes everything in me not to demand who did this to her, not to abandon all thoughts of the plan and tear this city apart until I find who it was.
Maeve nods and I gently rest my hand on her lower back, nudging her forward softly to lead the way.
Cole shields the three of us and my soldiers follow along behind.
Hidale’s men seem to be more distracted by their King on fire at the moment to notice our departure but I still thought there would be at least one that would follow.
At least one that we’d have to fight off.
It’s completely dark when we enter the streets of the city below the castle. We’re able to blend into the shadows of the buildings now.
I keep looking over my shoulder expecting to see soldiers start pouring out of the gates, I was fully anticipating having to fight our way out of there or at the very least run.
“It’s too easy.” I whisper to Cole, who's walking next to me.
“I know.” He answers gravely and looks towards Maeve.
I don’t hesitate further and keep moving, whether it’s a trap or not, I’d rather get out of here.
We make it to the horses without any trouble and I don’t wait another moment before grabbing Maeve gently and helping her onto my horse. I quickly and carefully slip on behind her, not wanting to cause her any more pain.
I expect one of her usual comments but she doesn’t say anything at all.
Like there’s no bite left in her.
I take off slowly, positioning us in the middle of everyone, considering we’re the most vulnerable if anyone from Hidale does decide to follow us.
“Are you okay?” I ask her cautiously.
Maeve doesn’t say anything, only nods slowly, just once.
My body tenses as I wonder if it’s because of all that happened, or because of me.
We ride in silence down a dirt path surrounded by trees until we finally find a safe spot to rest for the remainder of the night. We direct our horses into the forest just off the main path, the trees thick enough to cover us from view.
I slowly slide off my horse, carefully making sure I don’t bump Maeve and then reach up to help her off.
I slide her down gently but leave my hands resting softly on her waist.
I search for her eyes, the ones that are looking anywhere but at me.
“Where are you hurt Maeve?” I ask but the question feels pointless when the answer seems to be everywhere.
“It’s just my wrist and my nose.” Maeve whispers softly, like her voice is so tired.
I look down to examine her wrist, seeing the swollen skin and bruises ever so slightly in the moonlight.
“It’s broken.” Maeve says.
I take my hands away from her waist and gently pick up her wrist to get a closer look at it.
There’s no bone protruding out, thank gods.
“Healer, now.” I command, not taking my eyes off her wrist.
I hear Mannuel walk over and I gently pass him her arm and nod to her nose.
“Anywhere else?” I ask Maeve sternly.
Maeve shakes her head gently. “None that I can’t heal myself– with a couple more days.”
I nod and watch as she closes her eyes, squeezing them to block out the pain of Mannuel fixing her wrist and then her nose.
When the light from his hands dissipates and he’s finished healing her, Manual gives her a soft smile.
One that I’m slightly surprised to see Maeve return, though her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
I resume my position in front of Maeve. Watching her as she still tries to avoid my gaze.
“Everyone clear off and secure the perimeter.” I command my soldiers and royal guard without looking at them. Cole seems to follow along as well but I wasn’t bothered about him listening.
I reach up and tuck a strand of tangled hair behind her ear. Maeve’s breath hitches and guilt settles in my stomach as I wonder if I’ve touched an overly sensitive spot.
I quickly withdraw my hand.
“Who was it?” I demand, trying and failing to keep the harshness out of my voice.
“I can’t.” Maeve says, looking at the ground.
The truth hits me harder than anything I have ever known.
“Why are you protecting them?” I ask her, my own voice strained.
“There’s just so much—so much that you don’t know.” She groans out, I can’t tell if she’s struggling from the pain all over her body or in her mind.
“Then tell me love, let me in.” I beg softly.
Maeve looks to the side, her brows knotting.
“It’s not that simple.” She whispers.
I just want to reach out and hold her, tell her everything’s going to be okay.
But I can’t.
“It’s the same person, isn’t it?” I ask her, making sure I mask my voice to be more gentle than I feel right now.
Maeve’s still looking towards the side, still refusing to bring her gaze towards me.
“Same as what?” She asks.
I reach up and brush her long tangled mess of brown hair past her shoulder.
“The same person who gave you these.” I reply softly, gesturing to the white scars I’ve seen line every inch of her back.
“You had to see them again didn’t you? They hurt you again.”
Maeve tucks in her bottom lip, her brows creasing further. She looks like she’s fighting something and I can’t stand it. She doesn’t answer my question but she doesn’t have to. I know it was the same person. It’s written all over her face.
When I find out who this person is, they’re dead.
My eyes soften as I’m brought away from my vicious thoughts and back to the woman in front of me.
I run my eyes over the assassin who has a whole other life I have yet to learn about.
Maeve, whose body is covered in more dried blood and bruises than clear skin. Maeve, who has had to endure so much in her lifetime that she can’t even tell me what happened. Like bringing it to words makes it more real, worse even.
“I’m so sorry, love.” I whisper, my voice straining.
“I’m so sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner, I—”
Unable to control my voice, it cracks slightly and I take a breath before continuing, taking in the sight of her.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop this.”
Maeve is quiet for a few moments, she still doesn’t look at me, she’s staring down at her hands.
“Why did you guys even come?”
Her question is so soft and so unexpected that I don’t even reply straight away.
My brows knot and my eyes run over her face, a quiet desperation in them. Begging her eyes to find mine.
“We couldn’t stomach the thought of you in pain— the thought of you back there, where I know you hated. Of course we came to save you love, you're one of us now.”
I watch as her breathing quickens and her throat bobs, like she’s holding something back and I don’t know what.
I never know what’s truly running through her mind.
“I’ve never—” She starts speaking and stops again looking down at her hands, starting to fidget.
I hate seeing her like this, not just in pain, not just covered in bruises but the uncertainty of her.
Maeve is always so sure of herself that whenever I see her fidgeting or looking nervous, it breaks me even more.
“You’ve never what, Maeve?” I push, allowing her to continue. Trying to give her back the confidence that she usually has.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this.” She says as she finally looks up at me and I take in the sight of those precious green eyes. The freckles on her cheeks, the bruises that blend in with them.
“No one has ever come to save me before, I’ve only ever had myself. Even with Raylin I—”
Maeve stops herself again and I can see the hurt that lies there, the pain covering all of her features.
Raylin betrayed her by sending her back to the Agency.
My anger at him returns and I wish I hadn’t left him alive back in Faystra.
I reach up and gently cup the sides of her face and watch as her eyes close for just a moment.
“I will always save you Maeve, no matter what.”
Her lip trembles slightly and when she opens her eyes, there’s a glassy sheen there. If I didn’t know any better, I would say she’s about to cry.
But I know Maeve and I know she won’t let go.
Not even now.
“I suppose I should say thank you.” Maeve says gently with a slight smile.
My breath catches and I get lost in her, lost in the sight of the smile I’d only been dreaming of.
The one that I thought I might not see again.
I smirk at her, so happy to see this side of her finally returning. “That would be a good start.”
I see the light in her eyes flicker back and it’s beautiful. I realise that I want nothing more than to never see that light fade again.
I slide one hand off her face to hold her hip. Being so careful to not press on any bruises and cause her more pain.
“Xander.” Maeve whispers, her voice so soft and gentle.
I blink.
That’s the first time she’s ever said my name, at the very least to me.
I watch as her eyes flick down and then back up to my own. The intensity in her green eyes is more than I can bear.
I start to lean in, knowing exactly what I’m doing but hoping to the gods that I haven’t been reading everything wrong. That she’s not going to stab me for this.
I watch as she closes her eyes and I smile slightly before closing my own and inching further.
“Your highness?”
I groan and tilt my head back, staring up at the sky.
“What is it?” I demand.
“Alistair needs to speak with you.”
I roll my eyes and step away from Maeve, instantly hating the lack of contact.
“Alistair, needs to learn to choose his times to interrupt me more carefully it seems.” I reply walking towards my soldier and tapping the front of his shoulder lightly.
“Later.” I promise softly to Maeve over my shoulder with a slight smile. I look around to find Cole and see him leaning against a tree staring out at us.
“Cole.” I say with a subtle command and a nod in Maeve’s direction. He doesn’t have to be told twice, he knows exactly what I meant.
Look after Maeve.