41. Elorie
Elorie
The inn bustles today, louder than it has been since we first arrived. A new group of travelers is passing through, and the ceiling rattles with their footsteps as they move back and forth. My gaze follows the creaks above my head as I will them to be quiet.
Below our room is another group constantly chattering. I can’t make out what they’re saying with my dulled senses, but every so often, Perame glances down and chuckles, so I assume she isn’t struggling to pick up on the conversation like I am.
Perame, Callum, and I rotate who takes trips into town, usually traveling only in a group when necessary because it draws more attention.
Tonight was Callum’s turn. He left before the sun set, and he’s yet to come back.
There’s a distance in his eyes lately. Something that weighs heavier than it did when we were in Quietus.
Even when we’re sharing a room, he rarely speaks of anything but our plans, and I can’t help but worry about my friend. It’s always been difficult to navigate the walls he keeps up around himself, but lately, it’s become even more so.
Shortly after he left, I went and found dinner for Perame and me. Her hood hides her ears, but her unique purple eyes draw attention, so it’s better if I go when direct interaction is required.
As I returned with food, the innkeeper stopped me to ask about Callum.
He’s as popular with the women here as he was in the village, so I shouldn’t be surprised. But just like then, he doesn’t show them an ounce of attention. I wonder why—I’ve gone as far as to ask—but Callum brushed it off without answering.
Even so, I indulged the innkeeper in a few moments of conversation, casually bringing up the parade to see if she heard anything new about the overlord. Like many others, she’s kept her distance because of Esen, so she didn’t know much about the cursed girl, as she called her.
I don’t know Esen, but my heart breaks for her. To be outcast for the mark on her face and the destruction the humans think she brings to their realm must be isolating. They know nothing of the void, but they judge her based on what they fear because of the dark veins on her face.
Perame and I still haven’t figured out how we’re going to convince Esen to return with us to Vaelier.
She made it clear she has no interest in helping, and Perame said that simply touching Esen’s illusion was a shock to her magic in a way she’d never felt.
We won’t be able to force her to come with us, which means we need to find a way to convince her—to help her understand.
Except, this is her home. Dying, but known. Why would she leave to help us save our realm when hers struggles? What if she has a family she’s protecting?
I turn the page even though I haven’t read a word.
“Mine isn’t much better.” Perame frowns at her book. “Humans find these stories interesting? They hardly seem accurate.”
“That’s not the point. If you want something historical, go back to the journals.” I point at the stack of them on a side table, and she frowns. “These are for the romance. I’m surprised you’re not enjoying it with all the time you’ve been spending with Seren lately.”
“You noticed.” She frowns, and my smile falls.
“I didn’t realize I shouldn’t.”
“It’s not that.” She sighs. “It’s the rumors. They’re endless. Ruthless. Why is it my brother can bed half the court, and I’m the one they whisper about?”
“Because no matter what realm we’re in, females are held to different rules, apparently.”
Growing up, the women in the village were chastised for the slightest bit of promiscuity, while men were celebrated for it.
We were all dying on that island. Cold and lonely.
But only men could get away with distracting themselves in others’ beds without being whispered about.
I knew it too well when I opted for occasional company over relationships.
Gods forbid a single female enjoy herself.
“Hypocrites,” Perame grumbles. “Seren is amazing, but she hasn’t appreciated the stories already swirling around about my exes.”
“She can’t possibly expect you to have been celibate before her?”
“She doesn’t. But knowing my history and hearing about it aren’t the same. You get it, don’t you? I’ve tried to tell Atlas to think before he speaks, but he forgets that not everyone appreciates his jokes. It’s an old habit for him to give Wilder a hard time, but it’s all in the past.”
“I know it is,” I say honestly. “I’m not naive.
Wilder lived entire lifetimes before I was born.
It’s unfair to wish he had spent all those years alone.
I wouldn’t want that for one human lifetime, much less the six or seven he lived before me.
Do I want to think about who occupied his time?
No. But before Wilder came into my life, I had my own fun.
None of it compared to him. He’s made it clear he feels the same.
All that matters is what we have with each other. Surely, Seren must understand.”
“Not all humans are that understanding.” Perame pinches the bridge of her nose. “And the argument of immortality didn’t help in my case anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because she pointed out that in a blink of my life, she’ll grow old and die.”
I frown, my stomach churning.
“Sorry.” Perame winces. “I didn’t think—I don’t know how immortality works with the half-Fae.”
“Me either. Callum researched it for me, but the records contradict each other. Some live as long as Fae, others age at the speed of humans. With my hair continuing to change at the rate it does, he believes my mortality hasn’t slowed as a Fae’s would have by now.
But again, being half-Fae, we won’t know for a few more years. ”
“What do you hope for?”
I glance toward the window, considering her question. My mortality has never bothered me. But now, knowing that I might live many more years while my mate suffers the Beating, I don’t know how to answer that question.
“Immortality with Wilder sounds like everything I could ever want, but the fates will do as they wish. Without him… I’d rather join his soul in the After.”
“He told us about the Beating.” Perame frowns.
“Some things even magic can’t fix.” I swallow hard. “I don’t know how much time we have either way, but I’ll take what I can get. That’s all that matters in the end. Do you like Seren?”
“Yes, more than I have anyone in a while. But I’ve never entertained a relationship with a human. It’s rare I entertain them at all. But for her… Do you know she collects flower petals?”
I shake my head, not knowing much about Seren even though we grew up a few houses apart. We were never friends. She was always busy with her family, and I was distracted by Callum and Letia.
“She said it’s her way of preserving a moment in time. A reminder of beauty when Alyssium would strip it all away so quickly. I’ve never thought much about a flower, but she always sees the beauty in life.” Perame sighs. “And now she’ll barely talk to me.”
“Don’t give up. Find a way like Wilder did with me. You deserve to be happy, and if she makes you happy, you should find a way to get her to talk to you. You have a lot to offer, Perame.”
She rolls her eyes. “Like my passive magic. It’s not flashy or impressive.”
“Who said Seren cares about your magic or wants anything flashy?”
“She doesn’t,” Perame agrees. “She cares about things I haven’t thought of in a long time. The downside of immortality. She sees the beauty in things I forget are temporary because I don’t pay attention anymore. I’m out of my depth with her.”
A wistful sigh leaves her lips, and it sounds more like love than being out of her depth, but I keep that to myself.
“You’re closer to figuring it out than you think.”
“I hope you’re right.” Perame picks up her book, turning her attention back to the pages with a scrunch of her nose. “For now, I guess I’m stuck with vampires. I don’t understand the appeal of these creatures.”
“You’ve never shared blood?” I hitch an eyebrow, and Perame laughs.
“Oh, I’ve definitely shared blood. That rush…” She shivers like she can feel it right now. “What’s the point of bedding someone if you’re not going to have fun with it?”
Fun in bed is something I didn’t fully understand until I met Wilder. There’s relief to be found in the body of another, but it’s nothing like what unwinds when I’m with my mate. The urge to be closer to him grows with every passing day.
I sense Perame is also tense from the lack of company in this realm. She struck me as quiet at first. Sweet. Innocent even. The longer I spent in the Quietus Court, the more I learned she was just as flirty as her brother, but more subtle about it. And now, we’re both going without.
“Blood sharing is—”
“Hot.” I finish her sentence, shivering at the thought of Wilder’s teeth piercing my flesh.
Only one thing is greater than him drinking from me, and that’s me drinking from him. His hot blood flowing through me, warming me to the bone.
My toes curl simply thinking about it.
Perame chuckles, eyeing me like she knows exactly what just crossed my mind. “Yes, very hot. But blood isn’t food for us; it’s fun. With vampires it’s all blood, blood, blood.” Her face puckers. “Too messy without the perks of an orgasm.”
“Who says they’re not having an orgasm?” I challenge.
“You’re just reading the wrong book. There was this one back at the village where he’d watch her through her windows.
Until one night, she left it open, and she woke to find him standing over her.
Let me tell you, she was not scared, and there were plenty of orgasms. With and without blood. ”
Perame slaps the book shut and shoves it aside. “Clearly, I’m reading the wrong book. What are you holding back from me over there?”
“This is something different.” I glance down at the one in my hands. “Werewolves.”
“Those aren’t real.” She rolls her eyes.
“That’s not the point.” I tilt my chin up. “Besides, it’s not like vampires are real either.”
“Who said that?” Callum walks into the room, shrugging off his cloak.
Human clothes are a bit tight on his large frame, hugging his arms to the point the fabric is fighting at the seams.
“You’re saying vampires are real?” My interest piques.
“Stories are rarely rooted in nothing. Although, I doubt you’ll find truth in the books you’re reading.” He chuckles.
“There’s nothing wrong with wishing for sweet endings,” I argue.
“There’s nothing sweet when it comes to vampires. I once visited a realm where they wandered in secret until something killed a majority of the humans, and the vampires took control. It was brutal, and we were closed off from visiting after that.”
I roll my eyes, tossing my book down on the bed. “Well, now that you’re clearly back to ruin all our fun, please tell us you at least learned something from your visit to the tavern.”
He drops onto the end of Perame’s bed, grinning at me. “I did, and I have a plan.”
“Finally.” I lean forward, anxious to hear it.
With each passing day, the hope of returning with what we need diminishes. And that’s if we manage to return at all.
The distance between me and Wilder grows. Somewhere deep in the thread, I sense his struggle in Quietus, but it’s a fleeting emotion that worries more than it soothes. The longer I’m in the Mortal Realm, the duller the connection becomes, like he’s drifting away.
Any thoughts sent through the thread are unanswered. Which has me wondering if he’s receiving anything I send him.
I lie awake at night worrying about it. Staring out the window at the sliver of moon peeking through dead tree branches. It hangs differently here than back home, like a mocking smile in the night. Red stains the edge as if it’s been dipped in blood.
Searching the stars from here is different from how it was in Vaelier because I can’t help but wonder where my home might be in the darkness. Home has never felt so far.
Callum shifts his legs, pulling my attention.
“Overlord Farseth is paranoid. He believes the queen is trying to summon the Fae to protect her throne and heal whatever is destroying their forests. It’s why he keeps Esen close.
He must know how her magic voids others because he believes she protects him from whatever magic the queen wields. ”
“Interesting, considering he uses magic to his advantage as well.” I huff, unsurprised at the hypocrisy.
Callum nods. “Things are easily justified in the name of right and wrong.”
“When those same people tend to be on the side of that which they crucify.” I shake my head. “What’s the plan?”
“We use his paranoia against him,” Callum suggests. “If the Fae returning is what he’s trying to prevent, then we can use that to our advantage. He’ll have no choice but to investigate if he thinks the queen is making a move. Except it won’t be the queen.”
“It will be us,” I guess, and Callum nods. “So you want to spread rumors of Fae in town to draw him out?”
“Not quite. That might start a riot given the opinions about the Fae I’ve overheard at the tavern.” His expression turns grim. “We need to keep this quiet.”
“While getting his attention? How?” I quirk an eyebrow.
“We go to him.”
“At the manor? It’s heavily guarded.”
“It’s safer than risking a confrontation out in the open.” His gaze drifts off, jaw tense. “We need to keep this contained. Lure the overlord away so we can get to Esen and convince her to leave with us. It’s our only shot. We can’t stay here much longer. It’s barely better than it is back home.”
“We’re not going to be able to send the villagers here when we return, are we?” I frown.
Callum shakes his head. “Maybe once we take care of the orb… the realms—we can reevaluate then.”
If Letia survives.
If any of them do.
We’re running out of time.
“So we go to the overlord,” I say, shoving my doubts down. “And then what?”
Callum smirks, glancing at Perame. “We hand ourselves over.”