34. Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Janelle
F or the first time in two days, the harsh light of the sun dimmed, though only a fraction. It hadn't set, but the furious storm clouds and lightning in the distance blocked enough of it out to allow the temperature to drop a few degrees.
"Here we go," Erik said with a sigh, dropping his plate on the ground and standing. He brushed off the knees of his trousers, then turned to face the oncoming storm and crossed his arms.
"What do you think’s happening?" Janelle asked, identifying the telltale gray lightning that meant their fearless king and her best friend's husband was furious about something.
"Who knows these days? There's no clear way forward anymore. All Gray wants to do is protect this kingdom, and especially, Lea. I worry his temper will only rise the longer this takes."
"And the closer the last petal is to falling," Janelle added softly.
Erik faced back toward the storm, and sure enough, within moments, the clouds rolled over their heads, following behind Gray as he stormed back into Howen. The storm was even more furious as it neared, lightning crashing dangerously close and Gray’s shadows billowing in all directions. In his arms was a visibly frustrated Lea, her face red and her eyes narrowed as she hissed something at Gray under her breath. They were both soaking wet, and Janelle gave her best friend a mental high five for what she imagined had happened—a fight that led to Lea shoving Gray in the water, then jumping in after him to dunk his head under for good measure.
Fae men were so intense in their emotions. Too intense. Even Erik, sometimes. She loved him more than she’d ever loved anyone or anything. She could admit that now, even though it made her feel a confusing mix of being vulnerable and sappy. But the things that came out of their mouth sometimes? Way over the top.
Neither Gray nor Erik were going to burn the entire world down for any reason, no matter how many times they threatened it. It just wasn't possible.
"Where. Is. Evangeline?" Gray snapped, placing Lea down on the ground to lean up against what used to be the town bakery.
"Over by the church, going through everything again with the survivors. She's worried we're missing something," Erik said.
"So am I," Gray growled, storming toward the burned-out building. Lea attempted to rise to her feet, but Gray spun around, pointing at her and pinning her with a look. "Sit. Eat. Hydrate. For the love of the gods, hydrate. This can't happen again, Lea. You can't weaken yourself like that. Especially if we do find Alaric in the next town we come to."
Lea rolled her eyes, but sat down, and Gray’s shoulders relaxed. "Thank you," he said, his eyes softening for just a moment before narrowing again as he stomped off toward the church.
"Wanna tell me why there's blood coming out of your nose?" Janelle asked, settling next to Lea against the wall. She knew better than to actually be worried about her. Her face still had color, and Gray would never have left her if she was actually injured or at risk of injury.
Lea wiped at her bloody nose with the back of her hand. "I still haven't found a way to take Alaric’s magic. Only Genevieve’s, and I don’t know why it worked that time. Maybe because I was in a vision?" She rubbed at her forehead. "I don’t know. I tried again just now…"
"And got a headache and bloody nose and fainted?" Janelle finished for her.
"Explains the clouds," Erik said, shaking his head as he turned to watch Gray in a heated discussion with the blind witch.
"Evangeline said it's the only way. What else am I supposed to do? We know it's possible. The goddess said I could defeat him. I just need to practice more."
Erik laughed. "Good luck with that." he leaned against the wall, pointing up towards the storm clouds.
"I don't have a choice." Lea turned to Janelle and tilted her head. "Erik, close your ears," she ordered.
"Not happening."
"Then don’t blame me for what you’re about to hear." She waved him off and grabbed Janelle’s hands. "I have a tiny, basically insignificant favor to ask you," Lea said, her voice sweet and calm.
Erik straightened. "No. The two of you scheming is never a good thing. Not once has it ended well. Do you remember the trial? That's stupid satchel you had her sneak in?"
"We’re running out of time, Erik, and you know it." Lea snapped, pointing to her crown. "I'm not trying to save Thomas with some half assed plan. I’m not a stupid, naive girl anymore. I'm a woman—a queen—put in an impossible situation, working with the only thing I have. I’m desperately trying to save our people the only way Evangeline sees us winning." She stopped, taking a deep breath. "Alaric’s magic has to be diminished, and until we can find another way to make that happen, we have no choice. I have to learn how to take his magic, even if it hurts me."
"Sounds reasonable to me." Janelle shrugged. "You can practice on me."
"No. She will not," Erik said, his chest puffing out. Janelle held up a hand.
"Not your decision," she quipped, winking at him. "That territorial Fae shit? It doesn’t work on me."
Erik sighed heavily, running his hand up his face and through his hair. "Gods above. Maybe you two need to take Alaric out together. You'll kill him out of sheer frustration."
"That's an idea. We’re open to any and all reasonable suggestions that don’t involve Lea not practicing on me," Janelle said, and Erik glared at her.
"Listen," Lea said, standing. Janelle chuckled, knowing Erik was dying to tell her to sit back down, just as Gray had, but choosing to keep his mouth shut.
"Smart man," she whispered to him, but he ignored her, the only indication he’d heard her at all the slight tipping up of his lips.
"Gray is too blind with fear trying to keep me safe. I love him, but at this point, I don’t know if he can make unbiased decisions. And you know it, too. If we fail, we die anyway. I'm not going beyond the veil again without knowing that I did everything I could to save us. I'm doing this, and as your queen and your friend, I'm asking you not to tell Gray."
"Fuck me," Erik said, huffing and shifting from side to side. Janelle opened her mouth, a joke on the very tip of her tongue.
"Not now." His eyes flashed with heat.
"Later," Janelle mouthed, and Erik couldn't help but laugh. Booming, bubbly laughter, that made a few nearby villagers turn.
"I’m so sorry," he said to them, his face turning red.
"Can you not take anything seriously?" Lea asked Janelle, but there was no anger or bite to her words.
Janelle tilted her head. "I mean, you're the one saying we're all probably gonna die. If that's the case, I wanna get laid as much as I can before we go."
"Gods, I don't think we're all gonna die. That's what I'm trying to prevent. And I can only do that if I practice. Okay?" Lea quirked an eyebrow at Erik, and his demeanor turned serious again.
"If anything goes wrong, you need to tell me. And if it becomes too much, you have to promise me you'll stop. We’ll keep searching for another way to end this." He sighed. "But you're right. If Evangeline thinks it’s the only way, then this might be our only hope."