Chapter 64
Four days have passed, and I’m finally starting to feel almost back to normal again.
After another afternoon of sleeping at the healer’s, we had to move.
I woke that evening to Daegan seated beside me as usual.
He was asleep at first, slumped in his same chair, and I watched him quietly for a while, careful not to move or make a sound.
He needed that rest. He was already tired before I got stabbed, and I assumed he didn’t sleep much while he sat at my side for two days either.
Once I could stay awake and move around more, we realized it was best to leave.
Stay on the move. I finally met the healer on the way out, and I thanked him profusely.
All the times he tended to me I had been asleep, I guess.
He was a small, fragile elf with kind eyes, and he lived alone.
He told me a tale of his late wife who was his entire world.
They never had any children. It didn’t take me long to decide that I trusted him.
We found a rundown, shabby place to stay that seemed as secluded as we could hope for. The male elf running it only had eyes for our coin, barely paying us any mind.
We’ve all been getting antsy, though. Well, except for Daegan.
He insists I need to rest some more, but I’m tired of lying in bed while he waits on me all day and night.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a dream getting to spend all this time with him, but I feel guilty.
And the longer we stay in one spot, the more chances we have of being spotted.
My wound was deep, but it didn’t hit anything essential. And, luckily, there was no venom. I thought I was doomed for a moment there. Not this time, though.
“We need Kezra,” I say.
We’re all sitting around mine and Daegan’s room, discussing our next step.
It’s a special kind of torture having slept beside him these past few nights when he won’t touch me the way I want him to.
He says he’s afraid of hurting me, but I’m getting very frustrated and feeling like I want to crawl out of my skin.
Every time our eyes meet—which is all the time—or he touches me in any sort of way—which is also all the time—all I can think about is how I want him to ravish me.
Suddenly, Kezra appears. “You called?”
“You heard that? Where were you?”
“Not far, but far enough that I wasn’t able to eavesdrop on this conversation.”
“Then how—”
“The bond. I can always sense when you need me.”
“Oh.” I tilt my head and pinch my brows. “What else can you do?”
“Well, as you’ve recently learned, you’re healing faster than a normal elf. Also, the imbuing your weapons with my essence thing, and… oh yes, the hearing—no—sensing thing.”
“Is that all?” I say sarcastically.
“So unfair,” Raef mutters, shaking his head.
“I believe that might be all. But one never knows one’s true limits if they’ve never taken full opportunity to test such limits. You know?”
“Yes, actually… I do.”
“Anyways…” Raef interjects, facing me. “You know that castle better than anyone.”
“I do,” I agree.
“So our best option is that you, Kezra, and Daegan sneak in tonight, use Kezra to scout ahead, and get to your father’s private quarters. We can’t sit here and waste any more time. We need to just fucking do it.”
Beside me, Daegan stiffens, flexing a hand an almost undetectable amount. But I notice. I’m acutely aware of everything he does.
He doesn’t love the plan, nor the unknown variables it carries.
I wonder if he’s aware of what goes on in my head. I wonder if he’s noticed that I haven’t been able to take my eyes off his tight muscles as he sleeps nearly naked beside me every night.
“You’re right.” I stand and pace the room. Raef found a source in town who informed him that the king has been absent from the castle the last few days. I’m not surprised. He could charm anyone he wanted.
I don’t want to think about what my father could be doing away from Ellyar. He’s rarely left the capital in the last ten years, so it is worrisome. Is he making plans? Scouting for more allies? Looking for… me?
None of the options I can come up with are good.
“And you two will stand just beyond the gates, waiting?” Daegan looks at his lifelong friend, and I feel a pang of…
something. The look between them is a reminder that Meela is no longer with us.
I feel sadness seeping in but then resolve overpowers it.
I will do this for her, and for the countless others the curse took too soon.
“Yes,” Raef answers with a nod.
“I know a spot,” I say. “There’s a small tunnel in a section of the wall that guards don’t watch. I don’t even know if anyone knows about it besides me. I used to sneak out when I was younger. During the day only, of course.”
“We could just blast any spot with fire,” Raef says.
“True. Or I could just use my magic to melt a section.”
“Or that,” he agrees.
“Maybe a little too obvious, though. We’re trying to be inconspicuous,” Rhydra adds.
Daegan meets my gaze, something like amusement lighting his eyes. “You’ve always been reckless, haven’t you…”
“Reckless is one word for it,” Raef laughs.
I shoot him a scathing look. “Adventurous is what I would call it. With a healthy dose of curiosity.”
“Good thing you didn’t have an older sister around, telling you to stay put and killing that spirit as a result.
” The room goes quiet as I glance at Rhydra.
She’s looking back at me in silence, and I can feel Daegan’s eyes on me too.
I haven’t gotten around to bringing it up to him yet, but somehow, I think he already knows.
I shift my gaze from Rhydra to Daegan, and he gives me a subtle nod along with a tight-lipped smile.
He heard the whole conversation, and he’s been waiting for me to bring it up, I’d guess.
I linger on him a little longer, and something darkens in his eyes as he looks at me.
I’ve seen that look on him before. It sets my body on fire.
I look away before he completely flusters me. This isn’t the time.
The only one who seems lost—still glancing around the room, sensing the tension—is Raef. “What did I miss?” he finally asks.
I raise my eyebrows at Rhydra. She’s the one seeking vengeance on her mysterious father, after all. She’s kept this secret locked up this entire time.
Kezra hovers in the corner, poking at Lemakis and not really paying attention to the conversation. I’m guessing she already knew.
“My father,” Rhydra starts, facing the confused dragon shifter. But as she utters those words, he puts the pieces together. Realization washes over his face. I sneak a glance at Daegan, who’s already looking at me with a warm smile.
“No…”
“Yes. King Nerion Celenor.”
Raef looks back and forth between her and me, and instead of the horror I expected, there’s… absolute glee.
“This is amazing.”
“I don’t know if that’s what you’d call it…” Rhydra says, flashing me an apologetic look.
“Well, yeah… that guy sucks. But who cares about him. So what if your dad is the evil overlord of our lands… you two are sisters!” He looks like he’s about to celebrate, but then his eyebrows scrunch together.
“Wait… does this mean that you’re an elf?
” He shifts his body forward, inspecting the side of her head as if he hasn’t seen her ears hundreds of times.
“Part elf, part Skeldaryn, part… human, I’m pretty sure,” Rhydra answers with a shrug.
“But the humans died out nine-hundred years ago…” Raef seems determined to work all of this out.
“Maybe just the pureblooded ones,” I say. “We don’t know how many species mixed with them and survived. Other features are usually more prominent. A syloc’s hooves, a Skeldaryn’s…. size.”
“Wait… so what exactly was your mom? No way the king hooked up with a… large Skeldaryn. No offense,” Raef rambles.
“Just human and Skeldaryn, I think. She was normal-sized. Though she lied to him and told him she was a witch. I think that’s where she messed up.
He must have wanted to use her for something.
Perhaps he thought she’d know more about the curse…
I don’t know. She hurt his pride so badly when she escaped from him that he had her hunted down and murdered. ”
Everyone seems to think that over, but no one has a response.
“I’m sorry, Rhy,” Raef tells her.
“He’ll get what’s coming to him.”
Raef gives her a look of approval and unwavering support. “So you don’t wield any elemental powers? Are you sure you’re not a witch?” Raef scratches at his chin.
“No. And… what?” It’s Rhydra’s turn to look confused.
“You could still have witch ancestors. Maybe your mom wasn’t lying. Maybe that would explain your smaller size. Not human. Or maybe even Dothronite. The small and the large balanced themselves out.”
“No witch blood runs in my veins. I’d feel it. I’d know. As for Dothronite…” she tilts her head, contemplating that. As if she’d never considered it before. “Well, I have no idea. I suppose anything is possible.”
“Yeah.” Raef stands and stretches. “Especially if you already have some elf in you. Now that’s what should be impossible. Those snobs don’t mix with anyone.” He looks at me. “Sorry. No offense, Sand.”
I laugh. He doesn’t look sorry at all. “It’s okay.
You’re right, and I thought my father believed that more than anyone, but apparently only he’s allowed to do that for his nefarious intentions.
And anyways, I bet there are more out there.
They probably keep quiet so the king doesn’t hear about it and imprison them for being inbred or something. ”
“Yeah, probably,” Raef says with a grunt while he stretches his arms above his head.
“Okay.” Daegan also stands, making his way to the door. He opens it and looks back at the room. “We only have a few hours left before we walk straight back into enemy territory. I’d like some time alone with Elysande.”
“You’re kicking us out?” Raef’s mouth drops in mock offense.
“Yes. Goodbye.”
Rhydra is already on her way out, and Daegan pushes Raef along faster as he takes his time strutting out of the room. Daegan shuts the door, then glances at me, rubbing his hand along his jaw.
“How does your wound feel?”
“Fine.” I poke at it just to prove it to him, since he’s been so stubborn about it.
It’s nearly healed now. We realized a day or two in that I’m healing faster than I normally would, and the only reason we could come up with is that Kezra’s magical bond that’s flowing through me has quickened my healing abilities.
She didn’t confirm or deny that our suspicions were correct until tonight, only said another nonsensical thing about not knowing everything.
His heated gaze travels along my body, and my breathing hitches, realizing what that look means.
“Good. Because I can’t take another fucking night of sleeping beside you and not having all of you. I’ll try to be gentle, but I can’t make any promises.”
My smile is all the permission he needs. He crosses the room in two powerful strides.