CHAPTER 22 #2
“Then I’ll carry her,” Kilian said roughly.
He scooped gentle arms beneath my legs and waist, drawing me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face against his shoulder, breathing him in.
He felt so warm and safe, and so much like home that I trembled.
All the fear and pain I had felt the past few days tumbled to the surface, and I held onto him like a lifeline.
Kilian ran a soothing hand across my hair and pressed a quick kiss to my temple, then turned to Aaron. “Thank you. Whatever you need, Valhan House will oblige.”
“The blades,” I murmured against Kilian’s neck. “The weapon.”
Aaron stared down at the ruby-hilted daggers, hesitation curling his lip. “I’d like to keep them. To study them.”
Kilian glanced above the elven’s head, to a whiteboard I’d missed from my vantage point at the bed but could now see quite clearly.
It was filled with notes and drawings, red string linking different points, and a map of the boundary separating Cosanus from Lortan, with various checkpoints marked out.
“It’s not yours to keep,” Kilian said. “And I don’t advise you to continue searching for a way to cross the boundary. There is nothing but death waiting on Cosanus.”
Aaron’s mouth set in a grimly determined line, like he didn’t much care about the supposed threat of death. His eyes remained focused on the daggers, clearly unwilling to part with them.
“They won’t help you cross over,” Kilian said, eyes falling to the blades. “They don’t serve that sort of purpose.”
“What purpose do they serve, then?” Aaron asked, unable to help his curiosity. I wanted to know too.
Kilian narrowed his eyes. “It is not your business. Give them to me, or I will take them from you.”
“Don’t be rude,” I chastised weakly. “Aaron saved my life.”
“And I am grateful for it, but if he wants to keep his, he will not delay us any longer.” He looked down at me. “You’re injured.”
Aaron gave the daggers one final wistful look, but at the menacing glare Kilian shot his way, he hastily thrust them toward us, muttering, “I don’t want any trouble. Just go.”
Kilian adjusted me so that he could sheath the blades in the bandolier across his chest and I murmured a quick, final thank you to Aaron before we left. Kilian’s arms were strong around me as he took me away from the hut, from Aaron, from the closest encounter I had ever had with death.
“You came for me,” I whispered when we were out of earshot of the hut.
He peered down at me, eyes glowing once more.
“Of course I did. I’m just sorry it took so long.
As soon as Caleb came back without you, I tried reopening the scry, but I told you how temperamental it is.
It didn’t allow me to input the coordinates fast enough.
And when I eventually did manage to open it, you weren’t there.
I spent days searching the border for you.
I thought you hadn’t managed to cross. I nearly went out of my mind.
” I felt his throat bob hard as he swallowed.
I stroked the side of his neck, more to remind myself that he was real. He was here. “How did you find me?”
“Calendula.”
The single word was enough to make me shudder in relief. “She’s okay?”
“She’s resting at the house. She flew nonstop across the Green Sea, from Greyhaven to Lomask to tell me what happened. Where to find you.”
I stopped breathing entirely. “She did what?”
“She flew an ocean for you.”
Emotion choked my throat and tears pressed against the corners of my eyes.
Sprites could barely fly for a few hours before sleep took them.
Their bodies couldn’t handle the exertion.
For Calendula to have crossed the Green Sea, it must have taken her days of continuous flight. “That’s impossible. How did she do it?”
“She drew on our oath. The power that flows through me also flows through her. It’s old magic.”
“But she’s alright?”
“Yes, Lirah. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” My skin still itched, but it was more uncomfortable than it was painful. Nothing compared to a few days ago. “The geysers got me.”
“Conserve your strength,” he murmured. “You can tell me all about it once I’ve gotten you back to the room and given you a healing tonic, a hot bath and some food.”
“The room? We aren’t going back to Valhan House?” In fact, we had been walking a while now, with seemingly no direction.
He shook his head. “The beacon point for the scry is in central town. Once you’ve healed and had a good night’s sleep, we’ll make our way back to Lomask.”
I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder again, allowing the relief and surety of him to wash over me as we walked.
The room turned out to be inside a cozy inn, nestled on the outskirts of a lush garden. Kilian paid no mind to the housekeeper at reception as he bustled toward the staircase. He hadn’t so much as broken a sweat carrying me from Aaron’s hut to the inn and up several flights of stairs to the room.
“Do you come here often?” I asked.
“I have a standing reservation for when I attend Greyhaven on business.” He strode into the room and set me down gently on the large bed.
The room wasn’t anything to write home about.
Just the bed, small cabinet, white sheets and a desk set against the opposite wall beside another open door.
I could make out a porcelain sink and the edge of a clawfoot bathtub just beyond.
Floating shelves were affixed above the tub, an array of bath salts, soap and sponges lined neatly atop them.
Kilian rummaged in the desk, drawing out a small vial with clear liquid inside. He handed it to me. “Drink this.”
I brought it to my nose, sniffing delicately.
There was a slight hint of licorice and rose.
I raised it to my lips and drank. The liquid traced a fiery path down my throat and I coughed.
Kilian dropped before me on his knees, gently pulling at one of the leaves stuck to my bare leg. It fell away, revealing unmarred skin.
“That’s amazing,” I breathed.
“Midius’ emergency tonic,” he murmured, running his hands up the length of my calf to the next leaf that wrapped around the back of my thigh.
He freed it, tossing it to land atop the other.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the elven who found you, but I want to murder him for taking your pants off. ”
I huffed a breathy chuckle, his knuckles brushing the sensitive skin behind my knees.
The simplest touch from him set me alight.
The sight of him, on his knees before me, sent thoughts racing through my mind.
But I was also aware that I had spent an hour running through Cosanus, nearly been eaten by a fae, had the skin on my body melt off and regrow, and had not bathed in gods only knew how long.
I placed a hand on his to stop him from pulling off the next leaf that covered my upper thigh. His hand stilled immediately, silver eyes flickering up to meet mine.
“I need a bath.” I smiled softly.
He stood and crossed to the ensuite. I heard water running a second later. He stuck his head out the door to ask, “Lemon or lavender?”
“Lavender.” I peeled the remaining mud leaves off my body and strode to the bathroom.
When the last one had left my skin, the link crashed through me with such force I had to grip the edge of the bathtub to steady myself.
The steam from the tub wafted up to greet me, and I focused on the swirling tendrils as I breathed through the tidal wave of emotions.
Sharp agony sliced through me, pain that wrenched a jagged arrow right through my heart. No, not pain. Relief. Relief so pure and unfiltered that it hurt.
Kilian’s hands wrapped around my shoulders, and he rubbed soothing circles along my back. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“The mud leaves,” I murmured. “I can feel you again.”
I turned to look up at him, but he only stared back.
“Now you know how grateful I am that you’re alive. These past few days…” He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze going to the ceiling, then back to me. “Lirah, I thought I’d lost you.”
If I hadn’t believed his admission that day we’d trained in the park, the absolute relief pouring from him was confirmation enough.
I wanted to kiss him. But I was also painfully aware of how utterly gross I felt.
“Bathe. We’ll talk after,” he said, sensing my reluctance.
When I emerged from the bathroom sometime later, I found Kilian at the desk, examining the daggers.
He looked up as I entered, wrapped in a thick towel, wet hair hanging down my back. “Feel better?”
“Loads.”
“You should eat something.” He gestured to the bed, where a spread of meat, cheese and bread had been arranged with mini tarts and scones to the side. I reached for a tart – strawberry, judging by the slices artfully arranged atop what looked to be custard.
Halfway to raising it to my lips, I paused. “It’s not elven, is it?”
“Of course not. I didn’t spend days praying you were alive only to allow you to be poisoned by a pastry.” He was still staring intently at me, like he expected me to vanish if he blinked.
I bit into the shortcrust, delighting in the sweet custard and tangy strawberry. “I think this is the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten.”
I held it out to him, surprised when he actually obliged, biting into the corner.
He chewed thoughtfully. “It’s not terrible. I’ve had better.”
I popped the remainder into my mouth. “You’re such a liar.”
“I’m not lying.” His hand circled my wrist, and he drew me onto his lap.
My legs fell on either side of the chair.
He brushed a wet lock of hair behind my shoulder. A drop of water slid down my arm and he met it with his tongue. He looked up at me, through dark lashes. “You’re far tastier than any tart.”
I linked my fingers around his neck. “Maybe you just haven’t eaten many tarts.”
“I’ve had plenty,” he murmured.
He kissed me and I felt the full range of his emotions.
Rage, as he pulled me closer, fingers sinking into my hair.
Sorrow as his lips moved gently, devoutly, against mine.