Chapter 5
The closer they got to the capital, the sharper the pain in Ava’s soul grew. She almost couldn’t breathe through the sensation.
“Hold on, Cas. We’re almost there.”
A shiver racked his body from the fever coursing through him, his skin a scalding brand against her own.
Ava kept her arms around him, refusing to let go despite the assistance of the vines.
The vines she had to concentrate on keeping secure, constantly feeding a steady stream of magic into their harness lest it loosen and they plunge to their deaths.
Bone deep exhaustion threatened to pull her under from having used so much of her magic. The combination of fighting, having her great tribulation and the portal being opened had nearly drained her.
The portal, she remembered with terror.
How long would it remain open? How many more of their forces would be able to enter?
They’d gotten the book, rescued Casimir and Isolde.
But at what cost? They still managed to use the magic in her blood for their own purposes.
And she’d lost the first friend she’d made upon her arrival in Eorhan.
The one who had been her lifeline during her imprisonment.
Remy was gone. Andras had killed him in seconds.
How were they going to defeat him? At this point Deidamia seemed less daunting than him.
And that felt strange, considering she was the daemon queen and he was supposedly just her assistant.
But he was much more involved than Deidamia.
He was the one who led the Oakshire attack.
He was the one she ran into at camp. And, for some reason, this didn’t sit right.
They were missing something.
Skye let out a cry, pulling Ava from her thoughts. They’d arrived. The familiar sight of the pale stone castle in the distance neared with every beat of the eagle’s wings like a warm welcome; a reprieve.
Home.
Ava placed a hand on Casimir’s forehead. Somehow, he was even hotter. “It’s okay now. You’re safe. I’ve got you. I’m going to take care of you,” she murmured against his temple, clutching him tighter. “We’re here. We’re home.”
Moments later, Skye landed near the training fields.
Thorne waited with a team of soldiers, his scarlet hair aglow in the sun cresting over the horizon.
Ava released the vines and lowered Casimir to the waiting crew.
She slid down Skye’s side and landed with a thud, sudden dizziness overwhelming her as she swayed on her feet.
Her brother rushed to her side and steadied her with an arm around her waist. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” he asked, panic in his voice.
“No. I just…I’m weak. I think I used up my magic too quickly.”
“You need rest,” he said, helping her walk into the castle behind the guards carrying Casimir. “Kai’s waiting in your bedroom with all the necessary supplies for Casimir.”
“I’m not resting until he’s okay.”
“Let’s go, then.”
A cool breeze whispered through the open air windows, the birds singing their early morning melodies, as they made their way through the alabaster hallways.
Reaching her suite, Thorne helped her into her bedroom where Kai and another healer were already feverishly working on Casimir. Thorne let go of Ava and pulled the large armchair as close to the bed as possible, pushing her to sit, then disappeared.
A little snarl echoed as Titus flew in the open windows and circled overhead, his iridescent wings bright against his black scales. Landing on her shoulder, he nuzzled into her hair. “I missed you too, little guy.” She scratched his head.
Her brother returned with a goblet of water and a blanket. Helping Ava get comfortable, he handed her the water, removed her boots, and tossed the blanket over her lap.
“Drink up and rest.” He sat on the ottoman across from her, keeping an eye on both her and Casimir.
“Kai,” Ava said, her voice so small. “Is he going to be okay?”
The healer turned around, his brown curls bouncing around the small horns at the top of his head. He knelt before her chair, holding her hand, and Ava braced herself for the news.
“He’ll live. But had you arrived just an hour later, I don’t know if he would have.”
Ava nodded through the blur of renewed tears.
“Ava,” Kai looked at her with concern. “My daughter…did you…?”
Squeezing his hand, she answered, “We found her. She’s unharmed and headed home. Jorrar’s safe too.”
Normally so calm and put together, Kai yanked her into a tight hug, his voice breaking. “Thank you. My grandchildren will have their mother back. I will have my daughter back.”
After a moment, he rose, wiping his eyes, and returned to the bed, rummaging through herbs and tinctures in his apothecary kit. “This will help bring his fever down.” He lifted Casimir’s head and poured a vial of blue liquid down his throat as the other healer worked on Casimir’s many wounds.
Casimir coughed, then swallowed. Ava pulled his large hand into her lap, tracing the top of it with gentle strokes of her thumb.
“Ava,” her brother said, still sitting on the ottoman. “Can you tell us everything that happened? Was anyone else injured?”
“Quinn’s fine,” she answered. “You’d better confess your love for her soon.”
Thorne tensed, glancing at the others as if he didn’t want them to overhear.
“We all know, Thorne. We’ve known for years,” Kai said with amusement.
Thorne shook his head and sighed. “What else? Why are you so weakened?”
Ava pulled the blanket closer. “I think I had my great tribulation.”
“What did it feel like?”
She explained how her magic erupted, what she was able to do, and how many daemons she killed with the flick of her wrist.
Thorne’s eyes widened. He ran his hand through his hair. “You absolutely had your tribulation. How do you feel right now?”
“Exhausted. Like I could sleep for days.”
“You don’t know how to control your magic yet. How to use it slowly and gradually. Using so much too quickly is draining.”
“Could it kill me?”
“No. But if we use our magic reserves up too fast it puts us in a vulnerable position. It weakens our bodies, sometimes to the point of needing days of rest.”
What he said made sense. Ava had never been this tired in her life. The only thing keeping her awake was the fear of Casimir somehow taking a turn for the worse, or waking up without her by his side.
“There’s one more thing.” She prepared herself for what she was about to reveal.
“What?”
“Andras trapped me. I was able to get away soon after, but he had me long enough to use my blood to open a portal…”
Kai gasped. Thorne went completely still.
“I’m sorry. There were symbols already drawn in the dirt as if he was ready.
His shadows held me while he cut my palm and forced me to open it.
I didn’t know…I should have fought harder, should have paid more attention.
” The words came spilling out. “I can’t believe I let him get a hold of me… Oh god, I’m so so sorry—”
“Ava,” her brother interrupted. “This is not your fault.” He squeezed her knee.
“I’m not angry with you. Andras is strong.
Do not blame yourself. When everyone returns, we’ll discuss this.
There’s nothing we can do about it at this moment.
Perhaps the book will give us information about what exactly this means. ”
Letting the other healer take over, Kai turned to Ava. “You must rest. You need food and then you need to sleep.”
“I don’t want to leave him.” Her eyes darted to Casimir as she squeezed his hand.
“I know. I have an idea. Go take a bath.” He handed her a vial of yellow liquid. “Put this in your water. It will help with the soreness of your muscles. Then come back, settle into this chair, and eat while we bathe Casimir. You can sleep in bed with him while he recovers.”
Ava’s heart leaped with hope. “I won’t hurt him?”
Kai shook his head. “No. As his soulbond, your nearness will help. And I know you want to be close to him.”
“Okay. That’s a good plan.” She turned to her brother. “I don’t know how long it will take everyone to get home, but hopefully they’ll arrive in a few days.”
He rose from his seat. “I’m going to update Aelerion and Thalia.
We’re close to finalizing plans to take back their kingdom.
Once you’re recovered, Jorrar will train you how to use portal magic with the book and Raine will continue coaching you on your earth abilities.
And once Casimir is recovered, we’ll be moving forward with our plans. ”
War wasn’t coming anymore. It was here. Beyond the horizon, like a beast preparing to attack. And it was going to get much worse before they made it to the other side.
Ava pulled her robe tight, evaluating herself in the mirror of the bathroom.
Her eyes were swollen from crying and dark circles beneath them proved her exhaustion.
She’d spent the majority of her bath in tears as she mourned Remy.
This time she didn’t ignore it, didn’t shove it away.
She was going to let herself grieve openly.
She was going to talk about him. Because she didn’t want to handle this death the way she handled Eleanor’s—ignoring her feelings and trying not to think about it.
She was going to hold Remy in her heart, along with Eleanor.
And her former guard, Zeph, and Sugha, the orc owner of the tavern in Oakshire, and all the others who had been sacrificed in the name of war.
And never forget them.
Ava padded back to the bedroom and plopped in her chair.
Cirilla, her room attendant, entered with a tray of food.
Titus had already made himself comfortable at the foot of the bed—as if he didn’t want to leave her presence for a moment—his little black body curled in a spiral, rising and falling while he slept.
“Eat,” Cirilla commanded, setting the tray on the small table next to Ava’s chair. “All of it.”
“Thank you.”
Cirilla paused before her, giving her a nod. “It’s my honor to assist you, Your Highness. You’ve come a long way from the scared woman who first arrived here.”
With a pat on Ava’s cheek, Cirilla left the room.
Several guards entered, lifting Casimir from the bed.
“Can I help?” she asked, starting to rise, but Kai put a firm hand on her shoulder.
“No,” he said sternly. She’d never seen him like that. “Rest.”
Kai’s companion, Ivy, rose from her spot in the corner where she’d been napping and laid her head upon Ava’s lap. Ava scratched the cinnamon-colored deer, paying special attention to the spot behind her ears. “Are you here to watch me and ensure I listen to Kai?”
Kai chuckled as if that’s exactly what he had ordered Ivy to do.
The soldiers carried Casimir to the bathroom. Running water and soft voices floated into the bedroom as Ava grabbed a roll and took a bite.
Twenty minutes later, after having devoured every last morsel on her plate, and after Cirilla had changed the bedding, the soldiers emerged with Casimir. His body was peppered with cuts and bruises, covering his older battle scars.
Ava tried not to cry at the sight of him, reminding herself he was safe. He was alive. They got him settled and left.
“I’m going to come check on him every hour or so,” Kai said. “But you can climb in and sleep.”
“Can I touch him?”
“Yes, but be gentle. His fever is mostly gone so you won’t overheat him. I’ve given him something to keep him asleep for several days because, knowing Cas, the moment he wakes he’s going to push himself too hard and not listen.”
Ava huffed a laugh. “You’re right.”
“Snuggle with him. Skin to skin. It will help.”
He left the room, the click of Ivy’s hooves echoing on the floor as she followed.
Ava rose from her chair on weak legs and removed her robe, no clothing underneath.
She climbed over and positioned herself between Casimir and the wall, sliding under the plush comforter and sheets.
The scent of him surrounded her and she inched her way closer until she was able to nuzzle into his chest.
Gently, she laid her head on his shoulder and draped her arm over him. He let out a quiet grunt as if sensing her presence, even through his unconsciousness, and his breathing evened out, peace clear on his face.
The steady rhythm of Casimir’s beating heart lulled her to sleep.