Chapter 19
The sound of a thundering boom woke Anelize, making her jump upright with her heart in her throat.
She blinked with bleary eyes when she realized she’d fallen asleep at the vanity.
Vials with Castian’s tonics were strewn about the table, the candle she’d lit flickering as the wax melted down the holder.
Her hands rested atop the pages she’d taken to scribbling her findings on which remedies have helped the prince the most. She must have been so exhausted she’d barely realized she had dozed off with thoughts of Aeric after she bid him good night.
Glancing over her shoulder to see that he’d remained in the chair, staring into the flames deep in thought.
The sound of rain falling and thunder rumbling beyond her window made her breathe out a sigh.
Running a hand over her face, she made to rise from the uncomfortable chair and sink into the bed when she froze.
When she saw a strange, shimmering light that did not belong to the lightning flashing outside the window or the candle.
Anelize felt her breath catch in her throat as she leaned toward the mirror and placed trembling fingers over her cheeks. To her eyes that were no longer a rich brown color, but a pale blue that appeared luminous. As if the moon itself had been caught within them.
And then, stepping into the brilliant light behind her through the reflection of the mirror, she saw her.
The gaunt face of a woman wrapped in a tattered cloak.
The scent of rot filling the air as she stepped closer, parted her cracked lips, and said, “Everything must come at a cost. And I have waited a long time for you, Anelize Yarrow.”
Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision as she stared at the woman—the Weaver—as she melded back into the darkness once more. Her voice a hiss as it faded away. “Time is running out. You must hurry.”
And as the light within her eyes faded, Anelize found she was lost to the nothingness that awaited her. Where she saw nothing at all.
Until she awoke in her bed with a scream.
“Saints, you look like death itself,” Adan muttered when he deigned to appear in the stables a few minutes after he’d told her to meet him here.
Sleep had not come to her last night, as much as she would have liked.
After the nightmare she had, seeing the Weaver again, the last thing she’d wanted was to close her eyes.
To her relief, the pale morning light pouring into her room had welcomed her and she finally had an excuse to get out of bed.
“I’m fine. Let’s just get this over with,” she grumbled, stepping into their circle without giving it much thought. The habit having been ingrained in her by his incessant barking.
While he didn’t look entirely convinced by her words, Adan commenced the lessons.
This time she was able to stop him before he could so much as take one step forward.
When she closed her eyes and felt him shift toward her, detecting his heart, she caught him before he could land a hand on her shoulder.
When they went on to sparring, while she doubted that she’d ever truly be skilled in the art of hand-to-hand combat, she’d managed to get in a few hits before Adan taught her exactly why he was as hardened and cruel as he was by knocking her onto the ground more times than she could count. Her pride bruised more than her body.
By the time they finished, she was out of breath but exhilarated all at once.
Adan arched a brow as he filled her a cup full of water from a carafe that Zara had brought for them earlier. “Looks like you did learn something after all.”
He handed one of the cups to her before she practically downed it in mere seconds.
“Then I’ve passed your test,” she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Unable to hold back the hope that filled her words.
He let out a grunt, his eyes unreadable until he spoke again. “If I say yes, can I trust that you’ll be able to truly defend yourself? That you won’t freeze at the first sight of danger?”
She paused, then set her cup down on the floor before she stepped up to him. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d been an eyesore to him these past few weeks, but for once she could see that there was genuine concern behind that mask of indifference of his. Adan cared, as Zara had said before.
Ensuring she could survive by any means necessary.
Anelize tilted her head up and, while the pain behind her eyes was still there, she did not waver as she said, “You can.”
It was a long time before Adan spoke again. “All right. I’ll tell Aeric you’re ready. Though, given how…nauseatingly attached he is, I can’t say for certain he would let you, even if I did insist upon it.”
Anelize frowned. “He’s not—”
“Anya is free to choose where she wishes to go. If she says she’s ready, I believe her,” Aeric’s voice sliced through the stables as he made his presence known from somewhere behind her.
Adan’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he stared at her, and she gritted her teeth. Ignoring him, she turned around and found Aeric standing in the doorway along with Castian, who had a knowing smile on his lips.
Aeric was wearing his usual leathers but this time he’d tied his hair back, taming the wave of curls save for that damn strand that hung over his eye.
“Is that what you wish?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said, meaning it this time. Knowing that the only way to go was forward if she stood a chance of reuniting with Enid.
There was still much she needed to do, and, perhaps to Adan, she may not be fully ready—their conversation from the previous night weighing upon her—but it was time to put an end to all of this. “I want to do this, for all of us.”
For a moment, she caught a flicker of sadness in his gaze mixed with admiration. So potent she felt it down to her very bones, in her blood. The fire within him warming her cold heart that only ever seemed to beat harder when he was near, it would seem.
“Very well, then I shall make the arrangements. We’ll get you settled before the Senin, so you know to find your way around.”
Castian stepped forward then and, with a reverence she hadn’t expected from the future king of Elvir, said, “Thank you, Anya. For everything you’re risking to save this kingdom.
My people. Should we all survive to see another day, and I manage to sit upon the throne, I will forever be in your debt. Make no mistake.”
Anelize smiled. “No pressure.”
The men chuckled at that.
Their amusement was short lived however, when a distant sound outside caused them all to shift their attention toward the stable doors. Footsteps stomped across the cobblestones in the street, multiple all at once.
Then the screams started.
Aeric and Adan stalked toward the doors and eased them open, peering outside where the screams grew louder.
Anelize stepped closer and watched as people ran down the street, tripping over each other as they looked behind them with wild eyes.
Whatever it was that sparked such fear sent an inkling of dread through her.
“What’s happening?” Castian asked, his concern unmistakable as he came to stand beside her.
The sound of pained cries from another street over was followed by the familiar barking orders of men.
“Watchmen?” Anelize asked Aeric, dread curling in her stomach.
“So it would seem.” His face was grim as Adan cursed and stalked past them.
“What are they doing?”
“That’s what I’m about to find out,” Aeric said, his tone filled with silent rage.
Adan returned, wearing a black mask that covered half of his face and a hood already over his head. He handed one to Aeric which he took before fastening it around his nose and mouth. “There’s no telling what they’re doing. No doubt an order issued by the council.”
“Or the king himself,” Adan snarled as he yanked the door open, letting the cold push itself inside the stables. He peered outside, and when he deemed it safe, he stepped out onto the street. Disappearing amidst the throng of people who kept running, their fear palpable.
“Stay here,” Aeric ordered this time, looking to both of them. As if he’d already sensed what Anelize and Castian were about to say. “Lock the door behind me and don’t let anyone inside. Tell Zara and Henry to close the tavern to anyone who may attempt to come in. Understand?”
“I’ll tell her. You worry about staying safe,” Castian said, his brows furrowed with worry even as he tried to sound sure of himself.
Aeric nodded once, before the prince was moving as quickly as he could back inside the tavern.
When Castian was out of sight, Aeric turned toward the door to follow after Adan, but she reached for his hand and gripped it tightly without a second thought.
If he sensed her apprehension, he did not say a word as he turned to face her. A crease between his brows.
“Be careful,” she told him.
“Don’t tell me you’re worried about me.” His eyes lit with mirth, though his voice was strained.
Anelize huffed. “Just…make sure you come back.”
His hand turned to hold hers, running his thumb over the back of her knuckles. His voice a dark rasp as he said, “Nothing will stop me from doing so.”
Before she could say another word, he released her and turned for the door. Disappeared far too quickly into the chaos unravelling before him. As if he had never been. If her heart weren’t thundering in her chest, her hand burning from his touch, she would have believed it.
Slowly, she walked to the stable doors and closed them, sealing him and the rest of the world away.
As Aeric had ordered, Zara and Henry had shut down the tavern and kept to making a plan in the case the Watchmen came knocking on their door. Escorting the children to one of the rooms to keep quiet that would lead into the cellar should the need arise.