Chapter 35
They’d been traveling for almost a week, fortunately without incident, and tomorrow morning they would breach the edge of the Wastelands. Nervous was an understatement. Ava was petrified.
They had brought a company of soldiers, along with Gisela—the hybrid captain of the ship they’d taken to Saxumdale—for her ice magic; each ability now represented.
After Jorrar had explained all he knew about their barren destination—which wasn’t much—none of their party was enthusiastic about trekking through the heat and perils of the desert.
“Do you think Jareth truly wants to help?” Ava asked Casimir as they rode beside each other on their horses.
“I have no idea.”
“Regardless of his motivations, he’s here,” Raine called from ahead on his own steed next to Maeryn.
“You know I can hear you,” Jareth yelled from the back of the group. Alone. No one wished to ride with him.
“And you know we do not care!” Raine quipped.
But they’d brought Jareth along anyway. When he showed up that evening with a map, they had no choice. Apparently, he’d gotten into a physical altercation with his father, broken into his study yet again, and discovered it. A map that would lead them directly to the cave system.
Jareth appeared to want to fight against Andras and his forces. Whether it was a political move, revenge against his father, or he cared about Eorhan, Ava didn’t know. But she supposed it didn’t matter. They needed his help.
At least Jareth hadn’t killed Orion…yet. The last thing they needed in the middle of the war was the assassination of a king to upend everything.
“Let’s camp here for tonight,” Casimir ordered, pulling into a nearby clearing.
The terrain changed the closer they got to their destination. The trees were sparse now, their leaves a dull grayish green. The bark peeled off in sheets with the slightest breeze and the only wildlife to be found were odd little lizards scurrying about.
The party stopped, dismounting and leading their horses to a nearby pond. Raine used his magic to create a makeshift pen, allowing their steeds to roam freely without wandering off.
Firewood was gathered, lit by Maeryn’s lava, and before long one of the soldiers was roasting several rabbits over the flame.
I’m going to go hunt with the rest of the animals, Luna said, disappearing after Aro and Sabriel into a small copse of trees.
Casimir approached from behind, his hands on Ava’s shoulders as he dug his thumbs into her stiff muscles. “You’re tense, love.” He placed a kiss on her temple.
“I’m nervous about this desert.”
“As am I. Come, sit by the fire.”
Casimir took his place on a log, gesturing for her to sit between his legs, and continued his massage. She leaned into his touch, savoring the way he worked the tension from her body.
“Is there a plan for tomorrow, or are we just barreling through without thought?” Jareth asked, seated across from them.
Imsel had taken a seat next to him, watching everyone closely.
They didn’t speak much unless they had something important to say, more content with observing the dynamics of the group.
It was something Ava liked about them. Their quiet presence was welcomed among the arguments that often ensued between Jareth and everyone else.
Because even though he was here to help, Jareth still couldn’t stop himself from poking at every member of their party.
Maeryn raised an eyebrow at him. “Might you have a suggestion? You seem to speak a lot without saying much.”
Raine looked at her with pride on his face while the others tried to hide their laughter.
“I assumed the generals would be taking charge,” Jareth replied, ignoring her comment. “Since there are two of them here.”
Casimir continued kneading his thumbs in between Ava’s shoulder blades. “It’s hard to plan when we don’t know much about what we’re walking into. The most important thing is to stay vigilant. We leave at dawn. Stick together and make sure to have each other’s backs.”
Though Ava couldn’t see his face, she knew he was staring pointedly at his brother as he emphasized those last words.
“Once we locate the cave and gather what we need, Ava will portal us back to Mosshaven,” Casimir finished.
Jareth nodded, staring into the fire. Raine leaned close to Maeryn, whispering something in her ear. She smiled sheepishly and Ava’s heart swelled. She hoped they’d be able to work through whatever was holding them back. Their own grief and guilt over the losses of their old loves.
Because the way they looked at each other reminded her of Casimir and herself.
“Why do you hate your father so much?” Gisela asked, her white hair almost orange in the firelight.
He flinched, immediately trying to hide it. “Who said I hated my father?”
“It’s quite obvious, prince. The spoiled brat who always gets his way but secretly wants dear old daddy’s throne. You wear your emotions on your sleeve, though you think you’re hiding them. Showing up here, though he refuses to help, proves my point.”
Imsel watched the exchange thoughtfully, but Ava could have sworn there was a hint of something like humor in their eyes. As if they enjoyed seeing Jareth taken down a notch.
“If you grew up with a man like him, you’d hate him too.” Jareth turned away and stared into the fire.
Gisela waved a hand, not finished with the conversation. “You don’t fool me. There’s more to it than that.”
“Well, it’s none of your damned business.” Jareth rose and stalked off, disappearing in the trees.
“That hit a nerve,” Imsel murmured.
And Ava knew exactly what nerve it had hit. But even though Jareth was a pompous bastard, she wouldn’t reveal what had happened to Celine. No one else needed to know. It would do no good at this point.
Ava rose to follow Jareth. She didn’t know why, but she needed to talk to him.
“I’ll be right back,” she said to Casimir.
“Ava…”
“I’ll be fine. I promise.” She gave him a quick kiss and stalked after his brother.
Minutes later, she found him leaning against a tree, a ball of starlight hovering in his hand. He raised a brow at her approach.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Cut the shit, Jareth,” Ava said. “Why are you here? Why are you helping?”
He extinguished his starlight and crossed his arms, evaluating her with his violet eyes.
Ava shook her head, walking away. “Never mind.”
“Why do you care?” he called after her.
She halted. Good question. Why did she?
Perhaps it was because—in some strange, twisted way—she felt a sense of connection with him after what they’d experienced in his father’s office.
Did she like him? No. Did she want to be his friend?
Not at all. But she’d glimpsed a tiny bit of humanity in him that night when he’d collapsed with tears in his eyes at the sight of Celine.
Slowly, she turned around and made her way back to him.
“I care because I think there’s more to you than what you show everyone else. I care, because I think you do too.”
“Then you are more na?ve than I thought.” He stalked toward her. “There are two things I care about. Getting my father off the throne. And ending this ridiculous war.”
“Why do you care if this war ends? It hasn’t affected you.”
“You just don’t give up, do you?” he asked.
She put her hands on her hips and remained silent.
“What do you want to hear? That I want to save Eorhan? That I care about the fae and our people? Is that it? Or that I’m more honorable than my father?
I’ll run the kingdom with kindness and compassion?
” Jareth stepped closer. “You’re a damned fool, Ava.
Not everyone cares the way you think they should.
My goal? My only goal?” He lowered his voice. “Is revenge.”
“Revenge on your father.”
He tipped his head.
“It won’t bring her back, you know.”
He took another step forward, his face now inches from hers and violence in his eyes. “Do not speak about her.”
“I’m sorry Orion did that…I—”
“Enough. One more word and I’ll—” He paused.
Ava tilted her head. “You’ll what? I’m not scared of you.”
“Go back to your friends and stop doing whatever it is you’re trying to do.”
She ignored him. “Why do you want to end the war?”
“Because it will be much easier to run a kingdom without a war going on, don’t you think?”
Ava stared him down. There was anger in his eyes. Anger and hatred and pain that seemed to hover beneath it. “Alright then. I guess I was mistaken. You truly only care about yourself.”
He sneered at her. “And it’s best you don’t forget that.”
She trudged away, calling over her shoulder, “Then you’re exactly like your father.”