46. Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Five
Archer
Lily was pacing through my library while Cliff stood against a wall, his arms crossed, looking uncomfortable to be out of the stables and servants’ quarters.
Owen brooded in an armchair when I returned to my quarters.
He was petting Onyx almost absentmindedly as the cat purred in his lap, soaking in the attention neither Isoria nor myself had been free to give him recently.
Under any other circumstances, I might have laughed at my friend, for he’d always pretended to be standoffish toward my cat, claiming the smaller versions weren’t much different from Cliff’s jaguars.
As it was, I forced a smile instead, listing my head carelessly to the side as if it hadn’t taken me by surprise to find my friends already waiting for me. There was a hole in my chest like an open wound, actively stifling every breath I took.
My grin felt like a dare, a challenge, as I jested like nothing was wrong, like Mortius’ curse wasn’t draining the strength from my body. “I see you’re not giving me time to wash the prison filth off before invading my quarters,” I told my friends.
Lily whirled toward me, her green eyes wide, her golden red hair tumbling wildly around her shoulders at the movement.
“The king summoned us and announced that you were being released—that you’re taking a trusted group to Vithenna's temple, where she can break a blood bond you have with…with Isoria?”
Father had rushed to assemble the friends he knew I would want to travel with. He probably expected me to leave tonight, to hasten to break this bond so he could execute the phoenix shifter plaguing his nightmares. My stomach clenched. “Yes, that’s what he wants me to do,” I muttered.
Lily scrubbed a hand across her face. “I still don’t understand. She’s a phoenix shifter? You hunt phoenixes.”
Owen spoke up, his voice quiet from the armchair he hadn’t moved from. “He also freed one.”
Lily paused, shaking her head, shooting me with a reproachful look. “Did you know all along? You didn’t tell us.” Her voice wobbled. “Why?”
“We’re blood-bonded,” I whispered. “I encountered her in a graveyard after a revenant attack. She healed me, and we discovered the bond. If we’re more than a mile apart, we’ll both die. It’s why Father is agreeing to let us both travel to Vithenna's temple to break the bond.”
Lily blinked back tears. “And you didn’t trust us enough to tell us?”
My gaze snapped to Owen, whose mouth was downturned. “Yes. Why did you keep this from us? Especially after we helped you with that other phoenix and her son.”
I looked to where Cliff watched silently, his brow scrunched in confusion. He didn’t know about that escapade, and it was hard to read what he thought of it or Isoria’s identity. I’d never seen Cliff angry, but surely I deserved everyone’s anger now, whether friend or servant.
“I figured the fewer who knew the truth, the safer you would be.” The excuse felt flimsy as I spoke it aloud.
Maybe that had been the truth at first, but later, had I held the secret so closely because I didn’t want my friends changing how they viewed Isoria?
Trying to convince me my growing feelings were only from the bond and wrong?
“It hurts, knowing you didn’t trust us with something this immense.” Owen scrubbed a hand through his hair and shifted in his seat. Annoyed, Onyx hopped off his lap and padded across the library to me.
Still leaning against the doorframe, I lifted my cat and cradled him close, eager to have his comforting presence and something to do with my hands.
“We have already defied your father with you, many times,” Lily added.
My eyes strayed to Cliff again, who finally spoke.
“My loyalty will always be to you, Your Highness. You’re a good male. A good prince. You love Emberglade, and I trust your judgment.”
I sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry, to all of you. I didn’t mean to…” I sighed. “I was confused. Trapped in an unwanted bond with one I was supposed to execute, only to find she’s—”
Lily studied me closely, thoughtfully. “Not what you expected?” she supplied.
“Not at all. She’s intelligent and warm. Kind and self-sacrificing, prepared to heal and build and repair, even those who would harm her if they knew who she was.”
This time, Lily’s mouth curled into a smile. “No wonder your engagement was so convincing. You love her.”
I stiffened. “She changed my mind about all phoenix shifters being cruel and hateful, but that doesn’t mean…” Hesitating, I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I need to know: Will you help me now? Help us?”
“Do you trust her?” It was Owen.
Setting down Onyx, I stepped further into the room, needing my friends to see the sincerity in my eyes.
Hear the conviction in my voice. “Of course. She’s still the same female you’ve befriended.
This is Isa I’m talking about. There’s only one soul she’s ever harmed, and it wasn’t exactly intentional.
Her magic protected her when Dell attacked her, and even after he murdered her, she feels remorse.
She’s still your friend. We have to save her. ”
Lily nodded along, setting me at ease. She was with me. With Isoria. “Tell us everything, quickly, and we’ll make a plan.”