17
I collapse to the ground as soon as I exit the chamber, too exhausted mentally and physically. My lips are chapped and begging for any form of hydration.
I sink lower to the ground, trying to find a way to press on. I must move forward and tell Xander what I found out about the prophecy and kick his ass for making me go in there.
I feel a hand at my back just as the person says my name. It causes me to startle and I roll back, looking up to see who else is here.
“Hey, it’s just me.” The King says and holds his hands up. I look at Cole and he looks me over cautiously, like he’s expecting me to do something.
“You guys stayed, or did you come back?” I ask, my voice trembling, hoarse and barely recognisable.
“What?” It’s Cole who replies.
“I’ve been stuck in there for days.” I state, the last word dripping with venom as it passes my lips. I’m so fucking mad at them for making me go in there.
“What—what are you talking about?” The King demands, confusion and what could be mistaken for concern dripping off his features.
My brows crease as I behold the two of them.
“You didn’t know? How could you have been—”
I stop myself and look at them, really look at them.
They’re wearing the same clothes, they both look exactly the same. Their eyes show the same level of tiredness, skin texture and colour the same, no difference in any way to when I saw them three days ago.
“What in the gods' names is going on?” I breathe, not able to raise my voice any higher, the exhaustion hitting me hard.
“That’s what we’d like to know.” Cole says.
“How long exactly, have you been in there?” The King asks carefully.
“Three days.” I say, barely a whisper.
They look at me and then at each other, their faces unreadable.
Like they can’t decide if I’m lying or telling the truth.
Then the King looks at me, really looks at me and I see the realisation written on his face.
Like he’s finally taken in the dark circles that I’m sure are around my eyes, the puffiness certainly there from the hours spent crying and my skin that’s surely so pale from the lack of food, water and sunlight.
“You really have, haven’t you?” He breathes out.
I nod a small nod, with all the energy I can muster.
“How is that possible?” Cole asks the King, “we’ve been here not three hours.”
“Three hours?” I croak out.
“What have you been doing for three days?” The King asks, careful concern on his face but the question is asked sternly. In his King voice that I know all too well.
I look away, not ready to reface the memories of that room and all the ways it ruined me. Not wanting to let another memory of Abigail escape.
“Maeve.” Xander says and looks me in the eyes, it’s almost a command.
“I can’t.” Is all I say.
Cole lets out a sharp breath and looks around. “We should get out of here.”
The guys both approach me and help me to my feet, my body so weak it struggles to even obey this.
We leave through the tunnels, the King staying near in case I fall. He offered to help me the whole way but I can’t stoop that low, I will always walk away from a mission myself.
Carefully, we make it out, climbing back over the stones the avalanche left. Back through the transporter, back to their home.
I collapse yet again as we arrive. I’ve never been this weak from lack of food but I have a feeling this fatigue has more to do with my mind than anything.
Xander bends down to help me but I shake him off. I’m stronger than this, I’ve survived hunger more times than I can count and I’ll survive the memory of her resurfacing.
The King holds up his hands in defence and I see Cole glare at him. An emotion I can’t place in his eyes as he looks at his King.
I sink into one of the chairs in Xander’s office. Sighing at the comfort it brings after nights on a stone floor.
Gods, I swear I end up sleeping on more floors than beds these days.
The King motions for one of the guards to grab some food and water, which I am thankful for but don’t say it.
I just sit and stare into the fire, listening quietly, while I wait for food. Not talking, not thinking, just existing.
Cole and the King are talking amongst themselves but I don’t bother to listen. My mind is elsewhere at the moment.
The guard finally arrives with the food and gets ordered away as soon as he sets it down. I grab the plate and devour the roast vegetables and chicken after gulping down water.
After minutes of eating and nothing else, I look up to find them both watching me.
“Gods, it really was three days.” Cole says and looks as though he shivers. He and the King exchange a look, another one of their private conversations.
I wipe my mouth. “I suppose you’re both waiting for me to tell you the prophecy.”
“Obviously.” Cole says, giving me no further sympathy.
I throw him a scowl and explain what I found out. I never mention what kept me there for days, what happened or what was uncovered. I only explain what that voice had told me.
“A half shadow wraith half fae.” The King murmurs.
“At first I thought it might mean you.” I say offhandedly.
The King looks at me, amusement flooding his features. “Why me?”
“You can read minds, that’s one of the traits.”
“Yes.” He says sitting forward and leaning his forearms over his knees. “But only one, I cannot wield shadows.”
I shrug. “That remains to be seen.”
He scoffs. “Trust me, I wish it was me, it would be so much easier.”
He looks away from me after this, seemingly just as distracted by his own mind as I am tonight.
“So you don’t know any Nytherin’s or even shadow wraiths?”
He shakes his head. “The only one I knew of died long ago and is no use to us now of course.”
I’m quiet for a moment but my mind is racing.
“There’s something else.” I blurt out suddenly.
The King looks across to me and gestures with his hand for me to continue.
“It said that the Nytherin must wield the artifact powered by a King— to kill Hidale.”
The King’s eyes flare every so slightly before he schools his features.
He didn’t know.
He looks over at Cole and they both share a look.
“Do you know where it is or what King should power it?” I push, to see if he might know anything else or even if he knows that I had stolen what I presume is the artifact in question, that night.
But when the King looks back at me, he shares nothing in those calculating blue eyes. His face is back to that cold mask. Bidding no secrets, sharing no further thoughts.
He is still yet to trust me.
“That’ll do for tonight.” The King says, ignoring my questions. I shoot him a glare that he ignores as well.
“Come on Maeve, I’ll walk you to your room.” Xander says suddenly.
“No need.” I bite out standing up, the weakness has dissipated significantly since eating and drinking. I’m ever so thankful for efficient fae healing.
“That wasn’t a question.” The King says sternly as he stands and motions towards the door.
I scoff at him. “So much for always having a choice.”
He laughs as he follows me down the hall.
We walk most of the way in silence, though it’s not entirely uncomfortable.
“Maeve.” The King says after a few moments, almost like a question.
“Yes.”
“Are you okay?” He asks and looks across to me as we’re walking. There’s something that seems like worry in his eyes but I know better than to fall for that.
“I’m always okay.” I reply as I look away from him.
“I somehow don’t believe that.”
“Hm, believe what you want, I don’t care.” I say casually, hoping the mask of my real emotions will stop him from pushing further.
He doesn’t respond but I feel him stealing glances of me as we continue to walk down the hall. His gaze is all too careful like he doesn’t know what could set me off. I hate it, I decide, I hate that look.
“That thing said something else to me.” I start to say, looking sideways at Xander. Wanting to distract him from his thoughts and move on from the look in his eyes.
“What did it say?” He asks, his voice curious yet soft.
“It was about you.” I reply and wait for his reaction.
But he says nothing, just nods gently and waits for me to continue.
“It said you’ve been lying to me—about your intentions.”
Xander doesn’t look at me, he just slowly nods his head, like he’s considering what he should say. I think the being in that chamber might’ve been telling the truth.
“Maeve.” He says gently and looks across to me. “There are things I can’t share with you yet. Things about what we’re doing and about myself— the risk is too great.”
I just nod my reply. I understand him, truly.
There are things I can’t share with him either. Things I haven’t and won’t share with anyone.
“Just promise me you’ll tell me what I need to know, anything about me or anything that affects my actions.” I request the King. I understand the risk he’s taking, especially when the fate of Aressor is essentially in his hands. But I need to know the information that involves me.
“Of course.” Xander answers quietly and goes back to his thoughts.
We make it to my room and I reach my hand out to open the door. But I don’t get a chance to go further, not as he puts his hand on my wrist to stop me, gentle but firm. I turn and glare at him until he removes his hand.
His blue eyes soften ever so slightly as he prepares to ask the question that he seems to have been battling with the rest of the way here.
“You were there for three days Maeve, what happened in there?” He asks, his voice coming out in a whisper.
“It doesn’t concern you.” My own voice, a stark contrast to his as it cuts through the air like a blade.
“It most certainly does!” He shouts, turning that King voice back on, his sudden outburst almost enough to make me jump.
He looks away and then back at me, like he’s trying to conceal his anger or calm down.
“I sent you in there— I made you get that information for me, it absolutely concerns me.” Xander says, his voice clipped like he’s struggling to get the words out, like he almost can’t believe what he’s saying.
I shrug. “You’re paying me, I went in there of my own accord.” I stop and look away before speaking again. “Though a warning would have been nice.”
He lets out a sharp breath. “I knew it would play tricks and it wouldn’t willingly give up the information. But I didn’t know that would mean keeping you in there and bending time.”
I don’t want to talk about this anymore or be reminded of what happened in there. I just want to rest.
“It has been and done, there’s nothing that can be changed and honestly, would you—” I pause for a moment, “if you could I mean?”
“Would. I. What?” He asks, gritting out each word with that lethal stern voice.
“Change the past, not put me in there.”
He looks away for a moment, like he’s sorting through his thoughts. Either deciding his answer or what he wishes to share with me.
“No, I wouldn’t.” He says, still not looking at me.
I gesture to him with my hand. “See, you needed this information, no matter the cost.”
“I still don’t know what the cost was.” He says bluntly, turning back to face me, quiet fury in those blue eyes.
“Some things are better left a secret.” I say quietly and open the door to my room.
“Goodnight, your highness.”
“Goodnight, love.”