Chapter 5 #4
The way her smile softened was like watching the sun come out on the darkest day. “Makes me think of the list of things I’m going to do to you once I’m human.”
It was tempting to slip into the spectral plane with her. All I would need was a little soil to bind to the spellwork she provided to bring us there. But it was different in that realm. Here in the real world, she was warm. Solid.
If we survived the gala, we could have it all.
Sylvia stroked the side of my hand pensively. “Listen, I’m sorry Cliff is—”
“Throwing a bitchfit?”
“—upset,” Sylvia finished pointedly. “And I’m sorry I complicated this. As much as the gemstone can give us, I know it can make me a little…blind.”
I thought of the frantically desperate look on her face before she disappeared into the hotel and the way it heightened when I tried to stop her in the hall.
But it was the glare of betrayal she had given me that really stung.
I couldn’t wrap my mind around how to keep her safe while holding myself to the promise of never trapping her.
“Don’t let it get to you,” I said, shaking the thought for now. “We’ve been dragging you into hunts since the night we met. Besides, it wasn’t just the gem that brought us here. We would have been splattered across the road if you hadn’t guided me.”
She made a face. “Thanks for the image.”
I chuckled. “I kinda hate to admit it, but maybe it is lucky we ran into those weirdos before anyone else could intercept us. Lee’s right. These monsters can’t get into the hands of druglords and politicians. I can’t even imagine the lives lost if we can’t pull this off. If Ben hadn’t sensed you…”
Her expression pinched further—almost fearfully.
“Are you jumpy about strange fairies after Veloria?” I asked. “Or just him?”
She looked at me like it was obvious. “His magic is frightening, Jon. Locked doors are the least of our worries. That’s just basic warding. A powerful glamour fairy can completely ensnare the will of others with compulsion. Some can alter memories, too.”
The idea sent a shiver down my spine, but it wouldn’t be the first time that fairy magic had horrified me in its sheer power.
“Wouldn’t he have forced us to go along with this without pushback?” I pointed out. “Are you sure he can do all that?”
“I’m not well-versed enough in his affinity,” she admitted, absently tracing the mark on her cheek. “The Elysian council would never have permitted his type of glamour spells. He would have been branded at once if he dared to attempt anything.”
I frowned. “Aren’t affinities pretty innate? What if someone’s born as a glamour affinity?”
“Only a handful are trained safely. They’re expected to fortify the boundaries around Elysia that keep humans away. Nothing more. They must focus their attention on their secondary affinities instead. It’s less dangerous that way.”
Although I was certainly no fan of Ben’s, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him. “You told me that not using your ice makes you feel empty.”
“Are you really surprised Elysia would be so restrictive?”
My smile grew wry. “I’m only surprised that you would be dead set on buying into restrictions. Doesn’t seem like you.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Are you encouraging me to make friends with someone who knocked me out cold?”
“Hardly. But let’s be honest, you’ve made worse choices in friends. A ghost for starters.”
She broke into a genuine laugh that made my heart jump. “Oh, Alice… I still dream about her sometimes.” Sylvia’s smile became tinged with melancholy. “Do you think dreams can be more than what they appear?”
“I think that’s almost exclusively true.”
She rolled her eyes. “I love traveling with hunters. You’re so delightfully superstitious. It makes things more interesting.”
The sound and sight of her grin was so out of place, yet aching with comfort. After last night’s shitshow, I wanted to protect that smile for all I was worth. But here we were, about to dive headfirst into a den of vipers again.
“Are you alright?” she asked, sobering when I couldn’t quite match her levity.
I dodged her gaze, once again plagued by the memory of caging her outside Veloria. I’d been frantic, desperate to protect her. But it had been monstrous nonetheless.
“I know I can’t ask you to hang back, but…
The thought of there being people here who wouldn’t hesitate to use you, I—” My hand drew closer behind her like a shield as Rhett’s face flashed in my mind.
It was almost a shame the sirens had finished him off before I'd had the chance to end him myself. “I’d rip every single one of them apart before I let that happen.”
“And I’d help you,” she said, bracing her hand against my palm.
“However we play this, I just need to know you’ll keep a clear head and stay safe—whatever happens. You can’t vanish on us. Not again.”
Guilt flickered across her face. “I’ll do everything I can to stay focused,” she said. “More than the gem is on the line. Whoever Eros is, he can’t be allowed to ever set his sights on fairies again. Aelthorin is nearby. We need to make sure this madness doesn’t touch it.”
“We’ll keep it safe,” I agreed.
She brightened again. “Look at you—champion of the fairies and slayer of beasts.” Her voice lowered conspiratorially. “You don’t suppose there’s any fresh soil around here, do you? I’d kill for a minute to feel safe in our own little world with you.”
“After,” I promised. “And if all goes well, maybe the next time I’m holding you properly, it’ll be in this dimension.”