Chapter 39 #2
The answer comes when Rian finally looks at me. My stomach flips traitorously as the memory of that almost-kiss in the alley presses in. I grit my teeth and shove it away.
“Elara has a deal to fulfill,” he says.
My back straightens. What?
“What in the hells are you talking about?” Ferria snarls.
Sparks drop onto the rug. It’s a miracle it doesn’t catch fire.
She gestures at Darius. “Pretty boy is awake. My sister fulfilled her deal!”
“No,” Jaxon replies, and his gaze locks on mine. His voice is steady, but there’s a faint thread of apology weaving through it that makes my stomach twist. “Not completely.”
Dread punches holes in my lungs.
“You’re wrong.” My legs shake as I swing them over the edge of the cot and rise.
Ferria grips my elbow. I flinch, but her flames don’t burn.
I lift my chin and meet Rian’s stoic stare. “I healed Darius.”
I force myself to look at the Fae prince.
His lips twist in sympathy before he speaks. “You gave me back my mind, sweet Elara, but the curse remains within my soul.”
His eyes flick down. I follow—
And gasp.
The shadowed vines still crawl over my arms. Solid. Unyielding.
“No.” My voice cracks as disbelief hollows me out.
My knees buckle. Ferria pulls me into her side, holding me up.
“Th-that’s not possible.”
Darius lifts his chin and taps his chest. “See for yourself.”
I don’t hesitate. Weakened magic flows from my fingers and floats across the tent, the light dimmer, but just as determined as I am to discover if all our efforts—all our pain—has been for nothing.
A growl vibrates in Rian’s throat when my power brushes Darius’s torso. I ignore him. If he thinks I’m not going to confirm for myself that the curse remains, he’s delusional.
My power burrows deep, weaving through Darius’s veins toward his heart.
At first, there’s nothing. No darkness. No resistance.
Hope flares.
Then…agony.
I cry out , and my body locks up.
“Elara!” Ferria shouts.
The tiniest pebble of black snaps out and tries to capture my magic. The darkness pulses at the contact, seeming to swell in size. Darius grunts.
With a scream, I yank my power out of Darius’s chest. It wavers before flying back to me, like a wounded animal seeking shelter. I stumble and fall back onto the cot.
“Lara!” Ferria sits next to me, holding my shoulders tight.
Her hands tremble.
My chest heaves, eyes wide with horror as I stare at Darius’s chest.
“It’s still there,” I whisper.
Ferria sucks in a breath. “What? How?”
I can’t answer.
Gods, help me…I don’t know.
My eyes sting as I drag them to Rian. He’s already staring. His expression is unreadable, mercilessly distant.
“You will be coming with us, Elara,” he says, voice stripped of all warmth. “Until Darius is freed of the curse entirely.”
My heart thrashes like it wants out of my chest.
“This isn’t fair!” Ferria explodes. “You can’t do this.”
“I can,” Rian says flatly as shadows curl above him. “And I am. Elara comes with us until Darius is cured to fulfill our deal.”
The markings on my arms writhe, and panic skitters over my skin.
Calm down, Elara. Think!
I won’t be with the Fae forever. This is just until I can fulfill my end of the bargain.
Ferria continues arguing with the Fae. I tune them out and check on my power.
Magic coils in my chest, fatigued from its recent efforts. It doesn’t have the energy to try and remove Darius’s curse right now.
There’s no avoiding it—I will be leaving Verdanthia with the Fae. But I have one stipulation.
“Ferria comes with us,” I say, cutting off whatever speech Jaxon was in the middle of giving.
The friendlier Fae grimaces, then turns to Rian.
When Rian doesn’t speak, Jaxon sighs and rubs a hand over his head. “Unfortunately, that can’t happen.”
I frown. “Why not?”
He presses his lips together, then says, “Where we are going isn’t welcoming to outsiders. It will be hard enough to convince them to allow one strange magic wielder in their territory, let alone two.”
“That’s absurd. You’re powerful. Surely you can convince them to let both of us in.”
“We can’t risk it,” Jaxon says, not without remorse.
“Why not?”
“Because we need something from them,” Rian replies.
Shadows rise off his shoulder, coiling into a pattern over his head. They almost look like shifting vines, reminiscent of my arm’s markings.
And is that a selmary flower?
I tear my eyes away from their mesmerizing dance and glare at Rian. “You also need something from me. And I swear, I will not lift a finger to help Darius if Ferria— AH!”
Pain detonates over my forearms.
I double over, a ragged cry ripping from my throat. Blood trickles hot and wet down my arms as the markings carve deep gashes, shredding flesh like paper.
“Elara!” Ferria drops to her knees beside me, frantic. “Stop it! Stop it right now!”
I barely register her words. My vision tilts. Blood drips onto my lap, onto the cot, pooling. The world shrinks to red and pain and the shadowed markings slashing me apart.
And to think…I missed them.
“....agree to the terms.”
I catch the end of Rian’s words.
“She agrees!” Ferria screams, her hands hovering over my weeping arms. “Just make it stop!”
“She must speak the words.”
Ferria snarls, then cups the sides of my face with shaking hands. “Elara, look at me!”
My dazed eyes lock onto her blurry face. I’m losing too much blood. I know this, and yet my magic doesn’t rise to the surface to try and mend the wounds.
No, that’s not right. The warmth I associate with my power has grown into a fierce inferno in my chest, but it’s like it’s trapped there, unable to help me.
“You need to say you will help Darius—that you still agree to the deal!” Ferria shouts.
It takes a moment for the words to pierce the fog.
Once they do, hatred rises, a vicious tide, but I shove it down. I need to survive this. Retribution can come later.
“I-I will help Darius,” I rasp. “I agree to the deal.”
Shadows pulse outward, swallowing the tent in total darkness. Cold swirls over my skin.
I gasp.
Ferria curses.
Then the darkness recedes.
I blink and stare at my arms. The skin is mended. All traces of blood are gone. Only the black vines remain, coiled into my flesh.
Slowly, I drag my eyes up.
Rian watches me.
For a heartbeat, something unsettled crosses his face—regret, maybe. His jaw tightens, his gaze drops, and hope flares in my chest before I can stop it. Maybe he has changed his mind and will free me from the deal.
I’m mistaken.
When Rian’s eyes lift again, the softness has vanished, replaced by something sharp and assured. Triumphant. Pleased.
Like he’s already won, and he knows there’s nothing I can do about it.
And just like that, any and all affection I thought I had for the Fae disappears like smoke on the breeze.
He watched his shadows shred my skin without balking. Same for Darius and Jaxon. The Fae are cruel, ruthless creatures who will do anything to get what they want.
And right now, that includes me.
Until I can heal Darius, I’m their captive.
“You’re a monster,” I say.
Rian smirks. “I never claimed to be anything else. Now, rest. We leave at dawn.”
With that, he turns, shadows fold around him, and he disappears through the tent opening. Darius follows without a backward glance.
Jaxon lingers, remorse in his eyes.
Ferria notices.
“Get out,” she snarls.
With a sigh, Jaxon follows his friends.
Once we’re alone, Ferria’s face crumples, her eyes shining with fear I’ve never seen before. The sight tears something inside me, and I collapse into her arms.
We cling to each other, sobbing, weeping for all we’ve lost and all we have left to lose.
Because Velmira knows, no matter how much I wish otherwise, this is only the beginning.
And only she and her fellow Gods know how this will end.