36. Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Six
T he world feels right again when I wake in Viridian’s arms. As if this is right where I’m meant to be.
Then I remember Hylmfirth. And I wonder how long my peace will last.
But then I look at Viridian, still sleeping soundly beside me. With both of us still naked, the night’s events replay in my mind. Though, instead of feeling shy in his presence, knowing all the sinful things we did last night, I feel at ease. As if just being near Viridian is enough to relax me. He grounds me. He balances me.
My mate.
I can’t help but smile at the thought. Gently, I pull away and rise to a sitting position. Softly, I rest my palm on his cheek and let my thumb wander in small circular motions against his cheekbone.
He turns his face into my touch, and then opens his eyes slowly, adjusting to the light.
“Good morning,” he says, his voice a low rumble.
“Good morning.” I smile.
Covering my hand with his, he sits up and presses a kiss to my lips. He lingers, and I bring my free hand up to the other side of his face. Viridian’s arm slips around me, palm pressed to the small of my back.
We break from the kiss, and I feel Viridian’s stare on my face.
“What is it?” he asks. Warmth spreads in my chest, knowing that he knows me so well, he can immediately sense that something’s wrong.
“Hylmfirth,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “What I saw… They’re dying, Viridian. It’s not just the mining sickness. It’s starvation, too. I saw it with my own eyes. All the crops turned black, as if they’re diseased.”
“Like the East Tower,” Viridian murmurs.
“Yes.” I hesitate. “And if whatever dark magic poisoning the East Tower can spread that far—and to the other Courts—then it’s not just any dark magic.” I pause, meeting his eyes. “It’s a curse.”
I expect him to go pale, to ask questions. But he doesn’t. Instead, I get the sense that somehow, he already knows.
“Some part of me was still holding onto hope that it wasn’t,” he says softly. “But hearing reports of how much worse the situation has gotten… I knew that hope was misguided.”
His reaction tells me there’s more to this that he hasn’t shared with me yet.
I lean forward. “Tell me what happened while I was away.”
“My father. ” He practically spits out the word. “After the wedding, when he’d realized you were gone, he shut himself away in the East Tower. Since then, he’s had the castle on lockdown.”
“Right,” I say. “When I arrived, the guards at the gate told me no one was allowed in or out. Lymseia’s the only reason I’m here.”
“Exactly.” Viridian sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “The council is trapped here with the rest of us, but he refuses to see them. I’ve demanded an audience with him again and again, but he won’t even see me.” He takes a deep breath. “He’s panicking. That, I know.”
I reach for his hand, intertwining my fingers with his.
“Why?” I ask. “What is he so afraid of?”
“I’m not sure,” Viridian admits. “But I know him. He knows something about this curse. Much more than he wants us, and especially the council, to believe. But he won’t tell me anything.” Then he tilts his head back, pressing his eyes shut. “ You have no idea how many times I’ve asked. I don’t know what to do now. I’m at a loss, Cryssa.”
“I know.” I give his hand a light squeeze. “How is the council taking all this?”
“They’re absolutely furious.” His brows knit together. “I can’t blame them. I’m furious.” He shakes his head a little, passion filling his words. “What kind of king hides behind stone walls while his people are suffering? While they’re dying?” I see the spark light in his eyes. The fire that now burns. “I will not stand idly by while dark magic destroys this kingdom from the inside out. I can’t.”
“And you won’t,” I assure him. “We will get to the bottom of this. We will make things right.”
He nods, pressing his mouth into a fine line.
His gaze finds mine again, softening. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” I lean forward, touching my lips to his.
He kisses me and smiles against my lips before claiming my mouth again. My hands find the back of his head, my fingers stretching through his hair. He holds my face with both hands, and his sweet kisses lose their softness. My skin feels hot, electricity trickling across my body.
Then his mouth parts from mine. He lowers his head to my neck, touching his lips there. Waiting.
Letting out a breath, I close my eyes and lean my head back.
Viridian licks his lips and then presses more kisses to my neck, moving up and down. My breath quickens. He sucks and lightly nips at the skin just beneath my jawline.
I let out a soft moan.
Viridian’s hands cup my breasts, lightly kneading them. The touch stokes the fire burning inside me. I lay back, pulling him down with me. He steadies himself above me, hips pinned to mine.
“Mmm,” he hums, voice low. The sound alone is enough to melt my core. “Do you want more, Little Fawn?”
“Yes,” I breathe. “Gods, yes.”
He grins wickedly. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
He rocks his hips, driving his hard length against me. I curse, wrapping my legs around his waist. I’m already wet for him.
And he knows it.
But he doesn’t make me wait, this time. Lowering his hand to his erection, he poises himself against me and thrusts. I gasp, my fingernails clawing at his back.
Viridian quickens his pace, pounding into me over and over and over. His grunts fall in time with my moans. My breathing grows heavy, and so does Viridian’s.
Sensing how close I am, Viridian’s mouth mingles with mine, drowning out my cries when I climax. He works himself through my waves of pleasure, until he groans, and his ecstasy washes over me.
Finding my gaze, Viridian catches his breath. Tenderly, he brushes my hair out of my eyes and presses a kiss to my lips, before nestling his face into the crook of my neck. He lays here, on my chest, and I run my fingers through his hair. Every moment we spend like this, entangled in each other, is pure bliss.
I wish it would last forever.
Because something tells me I might not have many moments like this left.
A hurried knock at the door has both of us lurching upright. I clutch the sheets, holding them up to my chest in an effort to cover myself.
He glances at me before clearing his throat. “Enter.”
My chamber door opens, revealing a near-trembling servant.
“What is it?” Viridian asks, dark brows pinched together.
The servant casts a shy glance at his feet. “The High King demands to see you, Your Highness.”
Viridian groans, touching his fingers to his forehead, between his brows. “Very well. Tell my father we’ll arrive momentarily.”
“Oh, His Majesty was very clear—he only wants to see you, Your Highness.” The servant pauses, eyes shifting to me. “Not Miss Thurdred—erm, I mean, Her Highness.”
That leaves a sour taste on my tongue.
Why would Vorr single me out?
Viridian seems to share my distaste. “All the same, tell him my wife and I will see him in the throne room shortly.”
Swallowing hard, the servant nods and disappears.
Rushing from the bed, Viridian and I dress quickly .
“Tell me you weren’t expecting this,” I say, peering over at him as I attempt to fasten my bodice.
“No,” he huffs, pulling up his pants. “I was not.”
“All right,” I mutter to myself, wondering what’s come over the High King. Something’s drawn him out of the East Tower.
And I don’t know if that’s a good thing.
V iridian scowls the whole way to the throne room. I can’t blame him. My own brows are furrowed, and tension gathers in my shoulders.
He shoves open the set of double doors and storms inside. Raising the crown of my head, I follow at his heels.
The High King sits before us. Touching a gloved hand to his forehead, a weighted expression wears down his features. His breathing is ragged, sluggish, as if every breath is riddled with struggle and pain.
Vorr slowly lifts his eyes to Viridian. Then, they shift past him and land on me, narrowing.
He directs his attention back to Viridian. “You were told to come alone.”
Viridian stays silent, amber eyes simmering.
“If you’d excuse us, Miss Thurdred,” the High King says, not once breaking eye contact with Viridian, “I’d like a moment alone with my son. ”
I hesitate for a moment, and then turn to leave.
“No,” Viridian says, a wave of power rippling from him. “My wife—my mate stays.”
Butterflies flutter in my stomach, pride swelling in my chest.
His mate.
Vorr starts, “Viridian—”
“Anything you wish to say to me, you say to her, too.”
Vorr furrows his brow. “So be it.” He takes a breath. “Let it be known that I warned you—neither of you will enjoy what I have to tell you.”
“Very well.” Viridian steps closer to me. Hooking his arm around my waist, he pulls me to him, pressing my back to his torso.
Vorr hangs his head. “The mining sickness you spoke of… I know the cause.”
If he hadn’t already gotten my attention, then he does now.
“What is it?” Viridian asks, his voice carrying the weight of his—and my—concern.
“Dark magic,” Vorr says, his voice low. “A horrible curse— my curse.”
My abdomen tightens. The image of Hylmfirth is clear in my mind.
“Your curse?” Viridian echoes, as if he doesn’t believe him.
“Yes.” Vorr lifts his head, burnt-orange eyes swimming with guilt. “When I was young and in love, I—I made a mistake. One I almost regret.”
“What did you do, Father?”
“I took something.” Vorr’s voice weakens. “Something that wasn’t mine to take.”
“What did you take?” Viridian asks. “Perhaps it can be returned. There may still be a chance we can repair what’s been bro—”
“No.” Vorr’s expression hardens. “It can’t. The time for that is long gone.”
“Why not?” Viridian asks, shaking his head slightly, as if he can’t contain the tidal wave of emotions swirling inside.
Vorr says nothing, pressing his lips into a fine line.
“Father,” Viridian presses. “Tell me.”
“Another time, son.” Vorr’s eyes shine with pain. “Please.”
“Fine.” Viridian grumbles. “But we will return to this matter.”
“I’d expect nothing less from the future king.”
I give them a moment, before interjecting. “What does any of this have to do with the mining sickness? And the ruined metals?”
“A cursed sickness shall poison everything the wrongdoer touches,” Vorr recites, as if he heard the words for the first time just yesterday. “But by the blessing of Theelia, the righteous heir and lost golden daughter will unite as one. For from the bonds of love will come the ultimate sacrifice. And only from that sacred gift, shall these wrongs be righted, and this curse be broken.”
My head is swimming.
“Viridian…” I start. “There’s still something I haven’t told you.”
In front of us, Vorr closes his eyes, as if to brace himself for a blow.
Viridian slows, and the intensity of his stare tells me that I have his undivided attention. As if his father weren’t still here with us. “You can tell me anything.”
“I know,” I assure him. Placing my palm on his upper arm, I give him a light squeeze. “When I saw my father—” I pause, struggling to find the words. “ I’m the lost golden daughter, Viridian. Lady Helenia Pelleveron is my birth mother.”
His dark brows rise, shock hanging on his features. “How?”
“My mother, Nira, served the Pelleverons. At the time, Lady Helenia had a human lover.”
I see Viridian working out the details in his mind. “She took you home.”
“Yes.”
The color drains from his face when he realizes. “ The righteous heir and lost golden daughter will unite as one,” he recites, putting the pieces together. “For from the bonds of love will come the ultimate sacrifice. And only from that sacred gift, shall these wrongs be righted, and this curse be broken.”
Turning back to his father, Viridian’s handsome face twists with anger. With pain. “This marriage… It was all a scheme to right your wrongs.”
Vorr doesn’t even try to deny it. “Yes.”
“The ultimate sacrifice…” My voice trails off. I cover my mouth. “Viridian… One of us has to die.”
My nightmare suddenly makes sense now. The God of Death’s words fill my mind.
“When the time comes, you must choose. Choose life, without love, in a cursed land. Or choose death in the name of love, and sacred sacrifice.”
No.
Not one of us.
Me.
I’m the only one that can break the curse.
“No.” Viridian’s voice is hard. “No. No one is going to die.” He looks down at me now, holding my face between both hands. “You hear me? I will not let anything happen to you. Not now, and not ever, Little Fawn.”
I nod, though the motion is empty.
Then a terrible realization dawns on me. One so awful, I almost can’t bear to speak it aloud.
But I do. “Viridian, your mother…”
What feels like forever ago, Viridian told me that his mother had been with child for a second time, and that both she and the child died. Now, I see that was a lie. A story meant to conceal the true cause of her death.
His amber eyes sharpen. Then he turns those daggers onto his father.
“Mother didn’t die in childbirth, did she? There was no second child.”
Vorr just stares at him and swallows.
“ Did she ?”
“No,” Vorr rasps at last, looking down at his gloved hands. “She didn’t.”
“That’s why you wear the gloves,” I say, voicing my realization out loud. “Because anything you touch—”
“Falls ill,” Vorr finishes for me, eyes sad. “Yes.”
“And all the miners…” Viridian’s voice rises. The air surrounding us hums with electricity, goosebumps trickling down my arms. “How many will die before your sins have been atoned for?”
“I don’t know.” Vorr is near silent. “I know I’ve been a coward, Viridian. I’ve been too ashamed to face what I’ve done.” He takes a breath, touching his fingers to his forehead. “You and your mate are the kingdom’s only hope, now. My time has… My sins have come for me. I can feel it.”
“What?” Viridian’s voice loses its edge, and the electricity pulsing around us subsides.
“My time in this realm is nearly gone.” Vorr looks at us through clouded eyes. His words sound like a goodbye. “You are a far greater male than I could ever be. And a far better king. ”
“Father—” Viridian protests, voice wavering.
“It’s all right, son.” He forces a small smile.
Viridian’s lip quivers, but his hard expression doesn’t break. I hold him closer and rest my head on his shoulder. He leans into the gesture.
“Go now.” Weakly, Vorr waves us away. “I’d like to be alone with my thoughts.”
Viridian merely bows his head. Tightly grasping my hand, we leave the throne room.
Double doors close behind us, and it feels like the final nail in Vorr’s coffin.