Chapter 11
Gold and pink hues skimmed the horizon. Lush green filled the path once more, like we had exited one room and entered another. The warm wind thrashed against my body, keeping me alert.
Veylar darted forward. Our pace was dangerous. Lioran’s body slumped against Fyn. For hours he moaned and shifted in the saddle, but in the last hour, it all stopped.
The once even beat of Veylar’s hooves floundered. His ears drooped, but he pressed on as if the bond between them were deeper than my command.
“Follow the river to the right!” Fyn hollered. “We’re almost there.”
As we rounded the corner, racing alongside the river, an enormous stone castle glimmered in the last flicker of sunlight. Massive trees arched over the castle and entwined themselves through a city built upon the forest.
Fyn let out a startled groan, tugging me back into the moment.
“Veylar will take you the rest of the way!” Fyn yelled.
His horse challenged fate as it raced over the path, until they faded from view. We were so close, but Fyn raced ahead. It could only mean one thing.
We were losing him.
I couldn’t breathe. “Veylar, we need to get to him,” I cried.
Despite Veylar’s exhaustion, despite mine, we raced on. I held onto the sliver of hope that he could be saved.
Shifting winds propelled us forward. With each jolt, we grew closer.
The castle grew larger, the trees more massive as we stopped before it.
I jumped down from Veylar onto the pebbled path. Fyn’s horse stood still. Several fae lifted Lioran from Fyn’s horse. His body was lifeless, his hands dangled.
Lioran’s chest heaved as they lay him out on a cloth draped frame. I cradled Lioran’s clammy hands in mine.
Breathless sobs escaped me.
Fyn's arms wrapped around me. He pulled me back from Lioran.
“We’ve done what we can. The healer has him now.”
A woman in a plain brown gown ran her hands over him. Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded to the fae around her.
“It’s…my fault.” My chest tightened. “He can’t…”
Fyn spun me to face him. “Lioran chose to do what he did.”
A woman ran down the stone stairs of the castle, her copper hair glowing in the emerging moonlight. She darted to his side, cupping his hand in hers. Her body crumpled over him as she wailed—her cries so deep they echoed through the Heart.
Fyn didn’t pull her back—not the way he did with me.
“I need to…” I murmured, then collapsed into Fyn.
“There’s nothing you can do.” His voice cracked.
“Take him inside, to the infirmary.” The healer turned toward us, her head bowed to Fyn before she followed behind him.
They lifted the carrying frame and darted inside. The red-headed woman spun toward us. “How?”
“We were intercepted this morning before we got to Othryl. Lioran did his best to protect—” His voice trailed off.
“You should have—” she said.
“Stopped him?” Fyn’s eyes narrowed. “You know him better than that, Cora. When he has his mind made up on something…”
Only then did her eyes meet mine—fury boiled behind her emerald glare.
Cora ran back into the castle. I stayed at Fyn’s side. It wasn’t my place to follow Lioran, but maybe it was hers.
I looked to the stars; they glimmered in the darkness as if they didn’t know what would be lost if he didn’t make it. Could they even hear me?
“There’s nothing we can do out here,” Fyn said quietly.
Fyn parted with me only for a moment. “Juniper will guide you to your room, my lady.” He returned with a slender younger fae woman.
“Here?” Our voices carried through the entrance of Lioran’s castle.
“I promised I would look after you.” Streaks of red ran through Fyn’s eyes. He exhaled. “He wanted you here.”
Lioran used his remaining strength to tell him—to ensure I was safe.
“Please send for me if anything changes.”
“I will.” His hands trembled around mine.
We ascended a grand staircase in the entry and followed the corridor to the very back. My muscles throbbed with every step I took down the dimly lit stone halls.
“Your room is here, my lady. I will help you with whatever you need.”
“Thank you.” I pressed my hand against the wall. “I don’t know what I need.”
Juniper pried open the door. “Let’s get you bathed and changed.”
“We’ve readied her chambers,” another fae woman whispered to Juniper as she slipped out of the space behind us.
Candles lined the open windowsills, a soothing glow cast light on the grand room. Stone ceilings pitched high above.
“My lady, you’re covered in blood. Do you need a healer? Lord Fyn didn’t tell me.” She hesitated before peeling back the bloodstained tunic.
“They should all be with the prince now.” I loosened the bandage on my arm, the tear still visible, but the bleeding stopped. “I will be fine.”
My wound would heal, but if we lost him a part of me would never recover.
“If you change your mind, let me know.” She gestured to a large wooden soaking tub. Steam rose from it. My heart dropped as my clothes fell to the floor—the satchel wasn’t with me. I left the book inside of it.
“I had a satchel. I think I left it on Prince Lioran’s horse.” My palms were drenched in sweat. “I need it.” I reached for my neck and relaxed as I realized I was still wearing the gemstone.
“I will send someone to fetch it for you, my lady.” She slipped out of the room.
I plunged my head under the surface, letting the heat wash over me. My breath held for only a moment. The grime slipped away as I came up for air. Hot water wouldn’t ease the chill that flooded my body.
Silence tore through me. The storm strengthened within me. I scrubbed at my skin until the last of Lioran’s blood ran into the water.
My thoughts drifted to the red-headed woman. She was probably with him now. Maybe she already knew whether he would live or die.
Juniper’s voice was soft as she opened the chamber door. “I will bring the satchel in when they find it, along with food. You must be starving from the journey.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said.
Water pooled at my feet as they hit the stone floor. Juniper dropped a blanket around my trembling shoulders and gestured to the nightgown on the bed. “Would you like help?”
“No, thank you.” She nodded before departing. Wet hair clung to my back. The chill of the stone floor was unforgiving as I made my way to the bed.
I traced the delicate leaf carving of the headboard.
The tears hadn’t stopped falling, but for a moment I forgot I was crying.
Juniper quietly slipped back into the room with the satchel.
She placed it on the chair in the corner and crept back out without another word.
As soon as the door closed, I darted for it.
The book was still inside. I should have been relieved, but all I could think of was Lioran. His lifeless face flashed through my mind. His hand hanging off the carrying frame.
How could he go from calling me insufferable to just laying there?
“He almost died because of her.” Cora’s voice carried through the corridor.
I held myself in the corner of the corridor, steps from them, but still out of view.
“They were hunting her, Cora…” A long pause held between them. “You know how he is.”
“He’s so stubborn. He insisted on all of this.”
“She held him up for hours on the back of Veylar.” Fyn’s boots scuffed against the stone floor.
“In less than a week, she’s learned she’s half-fae, crossed the divide, escaped a sylkren, and battled for her life.
She did whatever she could to take care of him.
I can’t even comprehend how she did it. Have you looked at the girl? She’s tiny.”
I stepped out from the corner and into view. “Are there any updates?”
“It was a long night. He’s stable, but depleted,” Fyn said.
My hand slid to my mouth as I caught my breath. Fyn’s eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was disheveled. Had he been there with him all night?
The red-headed woman looked the same. A pang of guilt ran through me for sleeping while they waited with him.
“We made it…in time.” I steadied my hands at my sides.
“Lady Cora, Lord Fyn, his highness has asked to see you both.” A slender fae man approached. “Keep your visit brief. He requires rest more than he needs visitors right now.”
He was awake.
My lips parted, but what I wanted remained unsaid.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask to go with them. Would he even want me there? I leaned against the wall, watching them as they left for the infirmary. Fyn didn’t look back at me.
My body slid down the wall.
“Aelira, Lioran would like to see you.” Fyn crouched down to get eye level with me.
Our footsteps echoed down the quiet corridor. I grasped my gemstone, embracing its gentle warmth. My breath held as we entered the infirmary wing.
Cora tucked her hair behind her ears. She hovered over Lioran from a nearby chair. His hand was in hers.
A hint of pink brushed across Lioran’s cheeks. “I need a…moment…with Aelira,” he said.
He struggled as he attempted to sit. The healer pressed against his shoulder, her eyes narrowing on him. Cora hadn’t released his hand. Fyn tugged on her arm. She finally let him go.
“You…do not let him sit up. If he doesn’t listen, you come get me,” the healer warned me as she pointed to the door. I nodded. “Your Highness, do not overexert yourself.”
“Rowena has a point. Maybe I should stay to help.” Cora hesitated at the door.
“Cora.” He groaned. “I’m not…asking.”
She watched him until she slipped through the door.
He was so large, yet so frail in the infirmary bed. “Aelira…” He strained to lift his hand. “You’re…okay.”
I sat beside him. “Yes, I’m fine. How could you possibly worry about me?”
His laughter was fleeting—a moan soon followed.
“I’m so incredibly sorry. I would have never put you and Fyn in that position had I known.” Tears rolled down my cheeks.
He wiggled his fingers, lifting them ever so slightly.
“Don’t…be sorry.” He gasped as he tried to adjust himself in the bed.
“You need rest.” I instinctively grabbed his hand but pulled back. If he and Cora were something more. If they were together, this was overstepping.
“I wanted you…here.” He reached his hand toward mine, straining. “Thank…you.” He was reaching for me, the way I reached for him.
“Why are you thanking me?” I rested my hand next to his until our fingers brushed. Warmth flooded me.
“Fyn told me…how you…” He tried to shift in the bed, then clamped his jaw tightly, groaning through his teeth. I laid a hand on his shoulder, gently steadying him. “Took care…of me.”
“It was the least I could do. You saved me.”
His dull gaze caught mine, but a hint of a smile lingered. “And you saved me…so now we’re even.”
It was so good to see him smile.
“Do you want me to send Cora back in?”
He winced and his eyebrow raised. “No…she’ll just…chastise…me some…more.”
I stifled my laughter. “She despises me.”
“No…she’s just…overprotective. There’s no way…she can…hate you. Not if…she gets to…know you like…I do.” His breath grew heavier.
“Please rest. You can tell me I’m insufferable when you’re better.”
He smirked and his eyes closed.