36. Chapter 36

Chapter 36

A roaring fire crackles nearby on my right, judging by the warmth on my side. Iron coats my tongue, and I can't open my eyes.

"We're not out of the woods yet," a voice says. I think it's Mads. "Tip her head back."

More liquid iron drips across my tongue, and my blinding headache lessens. Fingers press against the pulse in my neck, and someone sighs as I slip back into darkness.

***

"Whoa, whoa, whoa . . ." Shouting startles me.

I'm too weak to move, but I'm relieved I can look around now. Mads sits beside me near the fire, and August stands across from Luc.

"You coddled, useless little bitch," August shouts and points in Luc's face. Mads tenses, placing a hand on his dagger.

August grabs the front of Luc's shirt and twists, knocking him back over his leg, and shoves him to the ground. Luc lands with a wet thud and scrambles backward.

Flames ignite across August's shoulders and arms as he stands over Luc. "If you think the underworld is frightening, I'll give you something to fear. I can go all night." He snarls, baring his teeth.

I stir, and Mads notices me. He helps me sit up. The forest around us spins, and I lose part of the conversation.

Luc stands again, facing August and Razenna.

"Coddled?" Luc asks with a scoff. "Just because my own mother didn't send me off to war college and to fight in the Peasant's War doesn't make me coddled. Maybe my mother just loved me more than yours did."

"And the girl. . . You're all worked up about that hedge-born harlot?" Luc scoffs. "You brought her to me. If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself." He spits on the ground. "You owed me a favor, and I called it in. You didn't have to pick that girl to stop the wedding. You and Razenna could have easily pulled it off on your own." He points at August's chest, amplifying his accusation.

"Stop!" Razenna shouts at us as she moves back towards the fire. "She's awake."

August spins. "Is she well enough to travel yet?"

"Not far," Mads responds.

August runs his fingers through his beard. "I saw one of Rumensfield's kids back at the university. Red hair, you can't miss him." He turns to Mads. "Ride fast."

A drop of red splats against the blanket wrapped around me. And another. I wipe my nose, and a streak of red stains the back of my hand.

"I need to lie down."

***

Warm hands jostle me, sitting me back up. A young, handsome face with freckles is inches from mine. "You're going to be okay. Let's get you home." The auburn-haired male picks me up, and August and Mads touch his shoulder. We phase to a stone archway.

"Thank you," August says to the male as he takes me from him. "I won't forget this."

We pass through the archway to Selene soil, where we promptly phase to the Star Suite.

"Find a healer and pray we aren't too late," August orders Mads.

My back sinks into cool, crisp linens as he lays me down, gently pulling a blanket over my shoulders. "Stay with us," he says, brushing the hair away from my face.

Feet pound rapidly through the hall, and Mads and a healer enter the room, followed close behind by Ciaran and Eoin.

Eoin meets my eyes, and his face pales. He charges August, but Ciaran acts quickly, grabbing him around the middle and spinning him back.

"Ah, there it is." August remains unbothered. "I thought you should be a little cursed by now."

Eoin drops and swings a leg out, knocking Ciaran to the ground.

August's head snaps to the side as a fist collides with his jaw. Damn, Eoin is fast.

He turns to Eoin slowly and wipes the blood from his lip. "You dare strike me?" He bares his fangs, reminding us all what he is, but Eoin doesn't waver.

"I'll do it again," he charges, but August shields himself.

"Get him out of here," August yells.

"You were supposed to protect her! That's the whole reason you were there. I could have protected her."

My eyelids are heavy, closing as Ciaran drags Eoin from my room.

***

My door clicks, and my eyes fly open. I sit up and rub my eyes before taking in my surroundings. The last few days have been a haze of fever dreams and small glimpses of handmaidens coming and going. Warm sunlight radiates in long beams through my balcony window, and tiny dust particles swirl through the air as if someone has just passed through. My hearth is lit with fresh logs and crackles alongside the chirping birds on my balcony.

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs fully. I feel good, aside from the mild headache and stiffness from lying in bed for. . . How long has it been?

I gently slide off the bed and grab onto the end table to steady myself. The table jostles a goblet, and water spills over the edge before I catch it. Someone left me a glass of water and a beignet.

I down the water and bite into the beignet, noticing the small note neatly folded underneath. ‘I'm sorry' is all it says. I recognize August's handwriting and huff, blowing powdered sugar onto my bed.

"Shit." I swat at the bed, trying my best to clean up the powdery mess—my poor maids. What is August sorry for?

Eoin. Powdered sugar poofs across the bed as I drop the remainder of my beignet.

I throw on a plain shirt and yank on my pants, which are now slightly looser than the last time I wore them. With boots in hand, I crack the door and find the hall empty.

My wool socks make sneaking through the hall a breeze as I quickly reach Eoin's hall. I round the corner, and my shoulders slump. The heads of two armed guards swivel my way.

"You're up," one of them says.

"I'll inform the High Lord." The second guard leaves, and I drop to the floor, sliding my boots on.

"Eoin is in there, I take it?"

He nods and cracks the door open as I stand. Inside, Eoin sits in the window reading ‘Mages through the Ages.' The book falls to the ground as he meets my eyes and jumps up.

"Bronwyn."

We meet each other in the middle of the room, squeezing each other tightly.

"I was so scared he did something to you." I squeeze him harder as the guard steps back into the hall and closes the door. "Then I was scared you may still be angry with me, and I wouldn't get to make things right. I don't want to fight with you or hide things from you."

"I don't either." He releases me and looks me over, searching my eyes with concern.

"I'm okay. I just have a small headache now. I mean it, Eoin. I won't leave anything out, and I'll answer all of your questions." My head throbs, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

"You should sit," Eoin says, gesturing to his bed. I climb up on the unmade bed and fold my legs under myself.

"I really don't want to know everything this time." He frowns slightly, and the bed shifts as he sits beside me. "Mads thinks August and I may be a little cursed at the moment, and that's why things got so heated. They're keeping me separated. Apparently, the curse fades after a while if we stay apart."

"Oh." A ringing intensifies in my ears as my head feels like it's been placed in a wood stove. "So, you already know about me and. . ."

"I have a general idea. I knew it was a possibility when I watched you leave." He shrugs and cracks a smile when he turns to me. "You're so red."

I hide my face in my hands, and he huffs a laugh. "Stop, it's fine. It's probably a good thing I'll be going away for a while."

"What do you mean?"

"They're sending me back to Ravton. I punched him, Bron. There were witnesses."

Something shy of panic grips me. I'm not sure what life without Eoin looks like. How long will he be gone?

"They wanted to send me back days ago, but I convinced them to let me stay until I knew you were well."

"What about the relics?"

"August is sending me with what I've earned so far. I'll be able to buy a plot and start building a house. You can continue with the quest if you want. You're half done already. I suspect you could return by Yule, and you'll have enough to build and buy livestock."

It's hard to swallow. My fingers roll the hem of my shirt, and I realize that, in my haste, I threw it on backward.

"I don't want you to go."

"Why?"

"Because. . .I don't know. You're my best friend, and I like seeing you every day. I need you."

He clenches his jaw and walks to his dresser.

"See, that's just it. I don't know if I just want to be best friends anymore. This feels like so much more." His eyes flit to mine, and my heart beats harder for him, or maybe even with him.

"You've been precious to me for longer than I care to admit." He pulls something out of his dresser and holds it in a closed fist. "You're amazing, Bron. I love your drive and the way your nose crinkles when you don't like something. The way your eyes flit across pocket-sized valuables whenever we enter a new room and the way you fit just perfectly against me." He squeezes his eyes shut, and something squeezes my heart in unison.

"I can't tell you how long your face has been on every woman in my bed, and for the sake of my pride, I'll stop myself there." The words tumble out of his mouth as he strides toward me.

"I have terrible timing. I see the way you look at him."

Guilt pulls at my stomach, but I hold his gaze.

"And now they speak of a curse. I am your friend, Bronwyn. I'll always be your friend. But I still need to get Tomas, and I have much to think about. I want you to be happy, and if that's here without me, so be it." He drops the contents of his hand onto my palm. I hold up the necklace, and the pine-needle-sized rod dangles from the chain, spinning. Light glistens on several minuscule runes etched into the tiny bar.

He points to the needle. "But if you're ever in trouble, I want you to snap that. I made it. It will light up a tracking pin on my modified globe." He points a thumb at a small globe on his windowsill. "I can't phase, but I'll come as fast as I can, even if you just want to come back home."

"Eoin." My voice cracks. "I don't know what to say." If he had confessed this a month ago, I'd be racing back with him. But the embers of a spark between August and I remain. It feels dishonest to deny that. And yet, I don't want him to go.

"It's okay." He twirls a lock of my hair before tucking it behind my ear. "I'm not asking you to choose or anything right now. We have time, and we both have much to ponder."

"You really have learned a lot while here," I say, examining the necklace. "Can you?" I hop off the bed and hold up the necklace for him to take. Cool air hits my neck as I lift my hair, and Eoin takes his time sliding the delicate chain around my neck, fastening it with the faintest click.

"Eoin, that reminds me. There is a small, discreet gate archway in the mountain. I don't think many know it's there. You could maybe use that. I could show you."

"I haven't figured out how to use those without the keys. Besides, I've laid a few discreet rune gates around here and Helios in case I need to quickly come and go. You know me—always have an escape plan." The sadness in his eyes looks less like goodbye and more like regret.

The door opens. "Time to go," Ciaran says as he enters the room with August.

"Right now?" I raise my voice, directing my anger toward August.

Eoin throws a few of his belongings into a rucksack as Ciaran approaches, and before I can object further, they're gone.