Chapter 13 #2
Some in the circle closed their eyes. A green line of magic streamed from Lizzy’s chest and into the cauldron.
Another flare burst from Lydia, then one from Jane, Kitty, Mary, and finally Mrs. Bennet—each a different hue that felt just like them.
A surge followed from Wickham and Frank, one a dark red and the other a deep blue.
Then an orange one for Riley and another silver one for Charles.
Concentrating, I thought about Mr. Bennet.
I wanted him to heal because he was important to Lizzy.
I wanted him to heal because this was my family’s fault.
“Darcy, focus,” Lizzy murmured. “I know you want this more than any of us.”
I did, but it wasn’t about proving anything. I wanted to be different from my parents and what they taught me. I wanted to be a person who accepted those around me. Because these people around me had become my friends, and they had taught me what genuine friendship—and true love—was like.
And I wanted that in my life.
A stream of soft turquoise shot out from my torso and into the cauldron. My heart welled, and our combined power pulsed through the room, drawing out of us. The magic grew and united into something undeniable, strong and… beautiful.
“We’re finished,” Mary said. “The potion should be ready to be administered.”
We all went up the stairs to Mr. Bennet’s room. The men let the women crowd in front to be near their father. Lizzy carried the vial of swirling fuchsia potion, and she moved to Mr. Bennet’s bedside.
I stood at the back, near the door. Even when welcomed among them, I still thought myself the one least worthy to attend.
Though nobody else seemed to be of the same opinion.
Mrs. Bennet had flipped a switch the minute she found out I was the prince, but it had nothing to do with me as a person and everything to do with my title.
Still—seeing her stand next to Lizzy and the care and love in her eyes as she gazed at Mr. Bennet, I had to admit that even Mrs. Bennet had some redeeming qualities.
“Dad? We have something for you. We want you to try it.” Lizzy eased onto the edge of her father’s bed.
Mr. Bennet lay there, pale and weak. His open shirt revealed the large swirling Moonrot mark covering his entire chest. When he saw Lizzy, he attempted a slight smile. “My Lizzy.”
“Please take this. We think it will make you better.”
“Oh,” he said weakly. “Another medicine. Too many medicines, my dear.” He waved a frail hand.
“We think this one is different, Dad. We believe…” She swallowed, the hope and fear battling within her gaze at the same time. “We hope this will be the last medicine you’ll have to take.”
“Fine, my Lizzy, for you.” He grasped the vial in his hands, raised it to his lips, and downed the contents.
I held my breath. Even though I considered myself unfit to be there, I needed to know whether this worked. If it didn’t—or worse, if something terrible somehow happened—I couldn’t avoid feeling like it would be my fault. This had been my idea.
Mr. Bennet relaxed onto the bed, exhausted. For one long moment, nothing transpired. And then…
“Look! Look at his chest!” Kitty cried.
“It’s going away!” Jane exclaimed.
The mark on Mr. Bennet’s chest faded into nothing.
Suddenly, everyone in the room was hugging and crying. Lizzy, her mom, and Kitty were in a tight hug, tears streaming down their cheeks. Frank was holding Mary, and Charles pulled Jane into a sweet kiss.
I released a long breath, letting the tension within me unravel. Lizzy’s father was healed, and we’d found a remedy that ended the curse my parents started.
Somehow Mary found herself by my side. “We’ll start brewing more batches right away.”
I nodded. “Will you send me the recipe so I can send it out to others?”
Mary bit her lip. “I can, but you won’t have werewolves and vampires willing to come forward to aid you.”
“Not unless they’re offered a royal pardon if they do.”
“And a guarantee of assistance,” Mary added.
“I’ll secure the council’s approval. We need to get this written into the law.”
“You’re a good person, Darcy.”
I glanced at Lizzy, now hugging her father. Mr. Bennet was laughing as if it had all been a big joke.
“Not good enough,” I said.
Lydia grabbed Mary and pulled her into a hug with her sisters.
I stepped out of the room to allow those who deserved it to enjoy their celebrations. I walked through the Bennets’ front living area to their entrance door, shrugged on my coat, and reached for the doorknob.
“Darcy, where are you going?”
I turned back to see Lizzy coming toward me, wiping tears from her eyes.
“I didn’t want to intrude.”
She let out a small laugh. “You’re not intruding. I heard you in there talking to Mary. You’re going to expose your parents’ actions not just to my family, but to the council, to everyone, so that you can heal those with Moonrot.”
“It’s the least I can do. What my parents did—”
“Is not your fault,” she said firmly. “Darcy, thank you.”
I gave a small nod. For a moment, I stood there and stared into those beautiful eyes with that earnest gaze and thought about staying.
But no, this wasn’t my place. We’d found the cure, healed Lizzy’s father.
My reason for being with her was done. Staying would only drag out the pain of what couldn’t be. “I should get going.”
“Right,” she said. “I suppose you have a wedding to plan now.”
Rosalie. My heart dropped. I’d promised myself to another woman, and as a fae, I had to see it through, no matter how much I longed to be with Lizzy.
She fidgeted, twisting her fingers together. “Can I—give you a hug?”
I nodded. Maybe I shouldn’t have because it was hard enough walking away, but I wanted to.
She stepped close, and I inhaled her soft, flowery scent one last time.
I wrapped my arms around her, and she did the same, burying her face in my shoulder.
She held tighter, and suddenly I hated to let her go, because the moment I did, it would be all over.
She’d move on with her life without me, and I’d be the prince who was engaged to marry another.
I don’t know how long we stood there, neither of us moving. But then she released me and gave me a slow smile. “I hope you’ll be happy with her.”
I wouldn’t. I’d never be happy with anyone who wasn’t Elizabeth Bennet. “Glad I could help, Lizzy.”
And with that, I turned and walked out the door.